Koh Lipe is a small island in southern Thailand, known for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters.
In this complete guide I wanted to collect the tips to organize a trip to Kho Lipe and to experience a perfect stay.
You will find all the answers to the doubts that usually arise when planning a stay on the island: how to reach it, when to go, where to stay, what to do, where to change the currency, which are the best beaches, etc.
Koh Lipe Travel Tips
How to reach Koh Lipe
It is possible to reach Koh Lipe by ferry all year round, departing from the port of Pak Bara. While only in high season there are connections from the ports of Langkawi, Koh Lanta, Phuket and Phi Phi Islands.
So let's see the various possibilities to get to Koh Lipe.
Airplane - Combo Ticket
The nearest airport is Hat Yay. From here you will have to reach the port of Pak Bara, about 1 hour and thirty minutes by car.
The best solution is to purchase a “combo ticket” from the AirAsia or Nok Air website, which includes the flight, transfer to the port and the ferry to the island.
To go from Koh Lipe to Bangkok (DMK) we relied on AirAsia and I must say that we had a great time.
Buying the combo ticket is simple: just connect to the AirAsia website and enter as your destination, or possibly departure, Lipe (Sunrise Beach). This way you will buy the complete package. Be careful because if you enter Hat Yai airport, you only buy the plane ticket.
If you are leaving from Koh Lipe, you will have to go 30 minutes before departure to the Air Asia desk which is located on Pattaya Beach, 100 meters on the left as you exit Walking Street. To be on the safe side, I recommend that you go there the day before to make sure everything is confirmed.
Ferry
In addition to the ferry from Pak Bara, Koh Lipe can also be reached from Langkawi, Phuket, Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, but only from late October to late May.
From Langkawi: about 1 hour and a half by motorboat. Read also: from Langkawi to Koh Lipe
From Phuket: about 8 hours by ferry.
Phi Phi Island: about 6 hours by ferry.
Koh Lanta: about 5 hours by ferry or 3 hours by speedboat.
Minivan
Finally there is the Minivan option from Krabi to the port of Pak Bara (4/5 hours) and ferry to the island of Lipe.
When to Go to Koh Lipe
The best time to go to Kho Lipe is from late November to April, during the high season. In this period the days are almost always sunny, it rains little, there is little wind and the sea is calm. So the climatic conditions are ideal.
Just keep in mind at the beginning of the dry season, from late November to late December, the weather can be more uncertain and variable.
However, it should be considered that during the tourist season the costs are higher and the island is more crowded, especially during the Christmas holidays.
It is therefore important to book the hotel with some time in advance if you plan to go to Koh Lipe in high season.
Also keep in mind that weekends are getting more and more crowded, as Thai and Malaysian tourists come to spend the weekend on the island.
A good period can also be the end of the high season, let's say around March, when the climate should still be favorable and there are fewer tourists.
The low season runs from May to October. Obviously in this period the island is not as crowded as in the tourist season and the prices are lower. However, the climate is uncertain, with risk of rain and above all it is very hot.
Also not all the facilities are open, many could be under renovation. Avoid the months of September and October, which are usually rainier. Do you think that until a few years ago in the low season there were not even connections. So also put in the estimate that the crossing will not be the most comfortable.
Move to Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is tiny and can be easily explored on foot. There is a main street, the famous one Walking Street, which connects the beaches of Pattaya and Sunrise. It takes no more than 15 minutes to complete it.
The farthest beach from Walking street is Sunset Beach (about 1 km), which can be reached on foot or by tuk-tuk taxis.
There are also long-tail boats that make taxi service for travel between the various beaches, but if you can avoid, especially for an environmental issue.
Where to Stay on Koh Lipe
Even if the island is very small it is still important to choose the right location according to your preferences.
Near the three main beaches of Koh Lipe (Pattaya Beach, Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach) and around Walking Street there are most of the tourist facilities.
Keep in mind that the evening life takes place mainly on Walking Street and on Pattaya beach, where there are several restaurants and clubs.
So let's see which area to prefer:
PATTAYA
It is the beach where the Walking Street begins, full of clubs, restaurants and various structures where to stay. Staying near Pattaya you will have the convenience of easily reaching any place and you will have one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
SUNRISE
Sunrise Beach is located on the opposite side of Pattaya about 600 meters from it.
In my opinion Sunrise is the most beautiful beach. There are some of the best resorts on the island and in my opinion it is the perfect solution for those who want to stay directly on a beautiful beach, but at the same time want to stay close to the center, a stone's throw from Walking Street.
SUNSET BEACH
Sunset Beach is an equally beautiful beach, but it remains further away than the walking street. Here the strong point, you will understand from the name, are its wonderful sunsets. However, the area is a little too isolated and I do not recommend it for accommodation. Unless you are looking for a quiet beach away from it all.
In my opinion the best choice to stay on Koh Lipe is near Pattaya Beach or Sunrise Beach.
We have stayed at the Luna Italian Restaurant e Accomodation, is located more or less in the center of Walking Street but in a neighboring street, therefore in a quiet and strategic position.
I recommend this property because we had a great time, the room was spacious and very clean. The owner, Davide, is a very kind person who tries in every way to satisfy the needs of his guests. He is also always ready to give advice on the island; he has lived there for 10 years and knows it perfectly and makes a very good pizza!
Important: I repeat that Koh Lipe in high season is one of the most popular Thai islands, so book the hotel several months in advance, especially if you plan to leave during the Christmas holidays.
How Much to Stay in Kho Lipe
How many days to dedicate to Koh Lipe depends on how much time you have available for the trip and how you want to experience your holiday. In general, 5 nights is the ideal number for a stay on the island; you will have the opportunity to relax and take some excursions in the surrounding area.
And if you have a few more days, even a week is fine, you can spend more time on excursions or enjoy the island and its beaches.
Beaches of Koh Lipe
The three main beaches of Kho Lipe are: Pattaya, Sunrise e Sunset. In addition to these, there are some less known coves.
Pattaya Beach
It is generally the access point to the island and where the immigration office is also present. The beach is beautiful, white sand, so soft that it looks like talcum powder, and a transparent and crystalline sea. The sore point is that all the boats that pass around the island are parked here.
If you reach Pattaya Beach from the walking street I suggest you go to the right, where you will find points with fewer boats. At the end of the beach there is a wooden walkway, along it you will arrive at a small beach, known as Sanom Beach, generally not very busy and without boats.
Sunrise Beach
In my opinion it is the most beautiful beach on Koh Lipe. Here too there are a little too many boats but fewer than in Pattaya. Coming from Walking Street, I suggest you head left (facing the sea) and stop shortly after the Andaman Resort.
It is the best point of the beach with a sea of incredible colors. Swimming towards Koh Adang there are some perfect spots for snorkeling.
Sunset Beach
It is considered by many to be the least beautiful beach on Koh Lipe, but I still recommend visiting it especially at sunset. This stretch of coast is more indented and there are several coves.
In particular I recommend you Fortourslovers Beach, so renamed by me and my partner, is a deserted cove, located between the Cliff Resort and the Sawan Resort, where you can relax or do one of the best snorkeling on the island. Swimming for about 200 meters you arrive at the reef and if you are lucky you may also see some black tip shark. We were unlucky, too bad!
Unfortunately, some garbage is deposited on the beach, brought by the sea.
What to do on Koh Lipe
Let's see now what to do in Koh Lipe.
Excursions
Around Koh Lipe there are some wonderful islands, belonging to the Koh Tarutao Marine National Park, such as Koh Adang, Koh Rawi and Koh Tong. You can participate in group excursions with fixed routes, or rent a long-tail and organize private tours; if you are more people or if you meet someone on the island you can share the expense.
Diving
The Tarutao Marine Park offers wonderful seabeds and many diving sites. It is no coincidence that Koh Lipe is considered as one of Thailand's best diving destinations, suitable for both beginners and experts.
There are several diving centers on Walking Street.
snorkeling
If, on the other hand, you are, like me, a snorkeler, it will be even easier. In fact, you will not have to take part in organized tours, since there are several places on the island where you can swim and see many fish and corals.
If you don't have the equipment with you, you can rent it along the walking street or directly on the beach, at some restaurants.
Kayak
Exploring Koh Lipe's surroundings by kayak can be a lot of fun. It is possible to rent it anywhere, even through your hotel. The cost should be around 500 baht per day. From Sunrise beach you can also get to Adang by kayak.
Tramonto a Sunset Beach
Don't miss a stop at Sunset Beach during sunset. There is a few small kiosks on the beach, where you can have a drink and enjoy the spectacular colors.
Stroll down The Walking Street
Exploring the island on foot and strolling the famous Walking Street is a must on Koh Lipe.
Nightlife
Koh Lipe is not the island of nightlife par excellence. However, there is no shortage of bars and places on the beach where you can have a drink or listen to music.
On the walking street there are many places to spend the evenings, I recommend the Maya Bar, located right in the center of the main street.
Costs Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is not a cheap island, especially in the high season.
To eat, you should calculate on average around € 18 for two. Then of course it depends on what you eat, for example Italian restaurants are a bit more expensive, while if you settle for a classic Pad Thai you could spend even less.
Then if you want sweets and want to spend little, at the end of the walking street towards Sunrise, follow the catchphrase of the island: ten bath..ten bath..coco dunuts!
As for accommodation, Koh Lipe is very expensive and the value for money is low, so choose carefully, reading the various reviews. Sometimes it is better to get away from the beach a little but to have cleaner and more comfortable accommodation.
Exchange / ATM
On Walking Street you will find both ATMs and exchange offices.
If you come from Bangkok I recommend you change your money there, it is certainly cheaper. We started from Koh Lanta and in any case the change was advantageous compared to Ko Lipe. So if you can, you already arrive with Bath enough for your stay.
Koh Lipe review
Reading the various discussions on the internet I had found conflicting opinions on Koh Lipe, those who described it as the last of the paradises and those who were disappointed.
In my opinion, Koh Lipe is one of the most beautiful islands I've ever seen, with incredible sea and unique colors.
Obviously it is not the uncontaminated and unknown island that it could have been a few years ago, but it is a tourist place that in high season is filled with people.
We were there the second week of January and I must say that we did not find all this chaos, the beaches were not so crowded and looking for some completely deserted coves.
What I really like about Koh Lipe is that I can walk around it.
The only thing that spoils the island's charm a little is all these long-tail boats parked in front of the beaches.
For the rest I absolutely recommend Koh Lipe, especially if you are looking for an island with a wonderful sea and a wide choice of bars and restaurants where you can spend pleasant evenings.
Conclusions
We have seen all the tips to organize and better enjoy a holiday in Koh Lipe. If you have other doubts, comment on the article or write me in private.
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