It’s much less well-known than other Thai islands, such as Koh Tao or the famous Koh Phangan, but travellers who have visited it claim that Koh Lipe has the best waters they’ve seen in the country. Beloved by backpackers, this southwestern island is the perfect stop if you’re coming from Malaysia, specifically from Langkawi Island, as they are neighbours.
However, despite being less well-known, Koh Lipe has already charmed many travellers and is by no means an isolated island. Even so, the atmosphere is still much more relaxed than in other beach areas of Thailand and many say it is the smaller version of the famous Koh Phi Phi, being able to walk almost anywhere. But this is just the beginning; I still have many charms to tell you about this beautiful enclave.
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Koh Lipe: Why this small Thai island steals your heart at first sight
Besides having breathtaking crystal-clear waters, Koh Lipe wins over its visitors with the sunsets it offers from different vantage points. One of the most outstanding is North Point. As if that weren’t enough, its sand is white and fine. Snorkelling enthusiasts will also find Ko Lipe a paradise. Coral reefs, clear waters, and countless marine animals… Don’t forget your mask and snorkel if you set foot on its beaches. In fact, the corals of Koh Lipe are very healthy, much more so than in other parts of the country. If, in addition to all this, I tell you that this island is known as the “Thai Maldives,” I think I’ve just convinced you that it absolutely has to be on your itinerary to Thailand.
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How to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Malaysia
Koh Lipe is part of the Adang archipelago, which is made up of ten islands. All of them are uninhabited (except Koh Lipe) and are part of Tarutao National Park, which includes fifty other islands. Flying is completely out of the question, as it’s so small it doesn’t have an airport. However, it’s very easy to get there from various parts of southern Thailand, as well as from Malaysia, the neighbouring country that shares a southern border.
Let’s start with the latter. The most common way to visit Koh Lipe after a trip to Malaysia is to depart from Langkawi Island or Penang Island. From Langkawi, there are direct ferries. From Penang, there are several options. The fastest and most recommended is to fly to Langkawi and then take the ferry.
Getting from Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, to Koh Lipe is also easy. These are the fastest options:
- Fly or take the train to Trang. Once there, head to Hat Yao Pier to catch the ferry to Koh Lipe.
- Fly or take the train to Hat Yai. Then, go to Pak Bara Seaport, where you’ll catch the ferry.
To make the trip from Bangkok to Koh Lipe cheaper, many travellers book combined trips (flight/train + bus + ferry). Keep this in mind.
Finally, from both Krabi and Phuket, there are direct ferries and others that make stops, but getting there is fairly easy in both cases. However, since they are quite far from Koh Lipe, the journey is usually quite long. Therefore, they aren’t the best starting points for reaching the island. Many travellers even recommend taking a bus to Trang or Hat Yai from Krabi or Phuket and then taking the ferry from there, especially if you don’t usually enjoy sea travel.
Best time to travel to Koh Lipe and how many days to stay
High season in Koh Lipe is from November to April.. Although there are more tourists and prices rise, it’s the best time to visit the island, as the weather is ideal, and it hardly rains. If you decide to visit during this period, be sure to book well in advance because everything fills up quickly.
From May to October, although there are far fewer tourists and prices drop, rain is common. In addition, many establishments close, and you won’t find as many ferries to take you to the island because the sea is usually rougher. In fact, sometimes services are canceled, making it impossible to reach the island.
Four days is the minimum that tourists recommend spending on the island. And sometimes it’s said that if you can stay longer, all the better. This is because you’ll spend practically all the first and last days travelling to and from Koh Lipe (although that will depend on where you’re departing from). But that’s not the only reason. For example, if you want to take a day trip to Koh Adang, that will take up a whole day.
What to see and do in Koh Lipe in 2–3 days?
Koh Lipe Beaches: Pattaya, Sunrise, and Sunset Beach
These are the three most important and spectacular islands. Since it’s a small island, you can walk from one to another. Pattaya is where most of the resorts and buildings are located, making it the island’s hub. One of the things that most attracts visitors is its sandy texture, which doesn’t burn even during the hottest hours of the day.
Sunrise Beach, for its part, stands out for its incredibly clear waters and for being one of the best spots in the area for snorkelling, especially around the islets located just offshore. It’s quieter than Pattaya.
Sunset Beach, finally, remains relatively empty during the day, as it’s smaller than the others. But after six in the evening, it transforms. Everyone comes to sit on the sand to watch the romantic sunset.
Snorkelling and diving in the reefs of Ko Lipe
In both Pattaya and Sunrise Beach, snorkelling is possible. Its enthusiasts love swimming in these waters, as you don’t have to go too far out to enjoy the wonderful underwater flora and fauna of Koh Lipe. In fact, at Sunrise Beach, very close to the sand, you can already start to see clownfish and anemones.
Besides snorkelling, you can also go scuba diving in Koh Lipe, and there are several schools.
- If you love Thailand’s nature and want to continue discovering it, find out here everything to see in Khao Sok, one of the best national parks in the country where you can immerse yourself in the authentic Thai jungle.
Boat Excursions to Islands and Marine Parks
Most tourists who visit Koh Lipe choose to take one of the two excursions offered to the neighbouring islands; however, if you love the experience, you can join both. The first one takes you to Koh Adang, a deserted island, but much larger. It is mostly covered in forest and beaches.
Excursions to Koh Adang are done on longtail boats (like the one pictured below), which take visitors to its shores so they can snorkel and enjoy the fascinating underwater world. But the charm of this island isn’t just in its waters. Its mountainous terrain offers incredible views from several viewpoints, with Chado Cliff being the most famous.
The second most popular excursion is to Koh Rawi. It’s farther away than Koh Adang, and many visitors agree that its waters are even more beautiful and the sand is softer.
Like the previous one, it also has viewpoints and hiking trails.
In both cases, the excursions can also stop at some of the small uninhabited islands that are also part of the archipelago.
Besides boat trips, it’s common to rent kayaks on Koh Lipe to take short independent excursions and explore the island’s coast more freely.
Where to sleep in Koh Lipe: best areas and types of accommodation
Although accommodation prices in Koh Lipe are higher than in the rest of Thailand during peak season, there are options for everyone. There are options for all budgets, from budget bungalows to resorts. Most are located on the three beaches mentioned earlier. However, you can also find some on the island’s main street (Walking Street), as well as in the more secluded western area.
The best advice we can give you about where to stay in Koh Lipe is that location is the least important factor. Being a small island, unlike other places where choosing a hotel close to the areas you plan to visit is crucial, here you can prioritize whether you like the hotel and the views it offers, as well as whether it fits your budget.
Staying near Pattaya Beach in Koh Lipe
As we’ve already mentioned, Pattaya is the island’s main beach. It’s the one with the most atmosphere and where the main accommodations are concentrated.
Quiet bungalows in Sunrise and Sunset Beach
Sunrise Beach is usually the most popular area for travelers in terms of accommodations. Sunset Beach, on the other hand, while having fewer accommodation options, is a favorite among backpackers, as it’s where you’ll find the most affordable bungalows.
You might also be interested to know that you can stay on Koh Adang, the island near Ko Lipe from which some boat trips depart. If you want to feel like you’re on a deserted island, but with all the comforts of home, it’s definitely for you. There is only one resort, and it is truly wonderful.
Traditional cuisine of Koh Lipe
One thing is clear: you can’t leave Koh Lipe without having a coconut on one of its beaches. But, apart from that, the typical food of this island is fish and seafood. From Passporter, your travel organizer, we recommend that you try the grilled fish and seafood, as well as the Gypsy-style seafood salad.
The name comes from the “sea gypsies” (also known as the Chao Ley), the native inhabitants of the island. Their origins date back to the Chinese migrations that took place more than 4,000 years ago. I invite you to discover more about them if you visit Koh Lipe, as their history is fascinating.
Among the many interesting facts we can find about them, one is that they speak a language called Rawi, a mix of Malay and Thai. But, because they don’t have a written language, they transmit all their knowledge orally from generation to generation.
Walking Street: shops, bars and restaurants
Both on the beaches (especially Pattaya Beach) and on Walking Street, the main street of Koh Lipe, you’ll find a wide variety of restaurants and shops. But it’s on this beach where we recommend trying the seafood delicacies served on the island.
Practical tips for traveling to Koh Lipe: money, clothing, and transportation
- Book in advance. Koh Lipe is already a very popular tourist island. Although it hasn’t yet reached the level of other islands in the country and its popularity isn’t as widespread (because it became known later), you could find yourself without accommodation if you’re not careful. And we’re not just talking about booking accommodation, but also ferries, as the number of seats is limited. Furthermore, when it comes to boat trips (both excursions and trips to the island), it’s usually cheaper to book them online in advance than to buy them on the spot.
- Bring cash. Although there are ATMs on Koh Lipe, they often run out of cash. This, along with the fact that shops and restaurants on the island usually charge a commission for card payments (and sometimes don’t even accept them), makes it very important to carry cash.
- Wear water shoes on the sand and while swimming. The sand on Koh Lipe is beautiful, but it’s not usually very pleasant to walk on, as there are remnants of coral and shells. Therefore, it’s advisable to wear water shoes. This is also recommended while swimming to prevent sea urchins from hurting the soles of your feet while you dive.
- Get an eSIM. In some bungalows on the island, internet is only available in the common areas, not in the bedrooms. Hiring an eSIM, in addition to allowing you to have a connection from the moment you land, will make everything related to the internet much easier, since you won’t have to buy a physical card. Find out here: What is the best eSIM for internet on your trip to Thailand?
What do travelers think about visiting Koh Lipe?
Most travelers who say they want to return to Koh Lipe say they would do so to explore the surrounding islands they haven’t yet visited and to do more snorkeling in its waters. And, although getting there can be a long and complicated adventure if you’re coming from far away, it’s absolutely worth it for most people.
But if there’s one thing that stands out about Koh Lipe, it’s the clarity of its waters, considered by many experienced travelers in Thailand to be the best. In short, if you’ve never visited Koh Lipe, it’s something you should do at least once in your life.
Also, don’t forget to visit our Thai destinations such as Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai and Koh Tao.
Frequently Asked Questions about Koh Lipe
Most travellers say that prices are higher than in other tourist destinations in Thailand.
Yes, as it belongs to the Tarutao National Marine Park, there is an access fee, which funds conservation efforts. The price can vary, so we won’t give exact figures, but adults pay a higher fee than children.
However, once you pay the fee, you can access any of the islands in the park, not just Koh Lipe.
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Key Entities: Passporter + What to see in Koh Lipe, Thailand’s most paradisiacal island + Koh Lipe Guide: why it’s captivating, how to get there, best time to visit, and ideal days to go; What to see in 2–3 days (beaches, snorkeling, diving, and excursions); where to stay (Pattaya, Sunrise, Sunset); food, Walking Street, practical tips, and traveler reviews.
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