Thailand is a stunning place, and so is its island that makes the country a must-visit tropical paradise. And amongst numerous such islands, Koh Lipe is one to plan a trip to. This island may not be as popular as others, but it is definitely a territory to explore and enjoy. Located in the Andaman sea, 60 kilometers from the mainland and 35 kilometers from Langkawi, Malaysia, Koh Lipe is a great place to vacation.
The distinctive feature of Koh Lipe is its lush vegetation that covers the majority of the land paired with beautiful sandy beaches and clyster clear waters that make the landscape of the island mesmerizing. The island is a perfect place to indulge in water sports such as diving or snorkeling. In fact, just lying on the beach and taking in all the beauty is a good way to go around the island.
Koh Lipe is a hidden gem of Thailand, but once you explore the place, there is no denying the beauty it possesses and the great recreational activities it offers. From exploration to enjoyments to just relaxing, Koh Lipe is the best place to be, especially for those who love to see new places and want a different yet wholesome Thailand vibe.
Koh Lipe
With that said, let’s jump into the ultimate guide of things to do in Koh Lipe, Thailand, and really familiarize you with the wonders this island holds.
Koh Lipe may have numerous things to explore, but surprisingly enough, it won't charge you a lot to explore the island. Why? Because the island is relatively small with only 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide, making it is so easy to move around the island on foot.
In fact, the main street is Koh Lipe, Thailand is called 'Walking Street', and the most extensive walking area would be from one beach to another, and that to only takes around 30 – 40 mins max. Other than the beaches, the island has various restaurants, markets, and massage parlors that can be enjoyed.
An interesting fact about Koh Lipe, Thailand, is that its right at the border of Tarutao National Marine Park, one of the first national parks in Thailand built in the year 1974, and is a vital landmark for the country.
Though Koh Adang may not be a part of Koh Lipe, but this island is right across Koh Lipe and is huge in size. And the great thing is this massive land of paradise is uninhabited, making its exploration fun and challenging. And with ease in reaching Koh Adang, a trip to Koh Lipe is elevated exponentially. If you are a fan of 'Tomb Raider,' or 'The journey to Mysterious Island or any other such adventurous film, exploring Koh Adang will be the activity you would love a lot.
There are two ways to reach the island from Koh Lipe, Thailand; either you can opt for a Longtail boat or Kayak. Kayaking may be the funniest way to reach the island, but if you're new, unfit, or just don't want the hassle it comes with, especially the big waves, choosing the Longtail boat is convenient, quicker, and safer. At the Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, there are many longtail boats docked that take around 500 BAHT to reach Koh Adang.
Once you reach there, there are numerous things you can try, from hiking up to have an amazing view of the Andaman Sea from the southern end of the island. You may not understand the gravity of this view until you witness it yourself but climbing the mountain on Koh Adang and getting the birds-eye view is breathtaking; in fact, people often label the view as 'Maldives of Thailand'.
That's not all; once you make your way to the lush green jungles of Koh Adang, you will witness the stunning hidden waterfalls and pools. And if that wasn't enough, this island literally fosters swimming with the sea creatures in the crystal clear waters. As for the beaches, they are pristine and a great place to relax. As for food, there's a small kitchen by the National Park, which cools exquisite food from authentic Thai cuisine to other popular dishes and is sold at a very affordable price point, lower than what you can get at Koh Lipe.
As for the west coast of Koh Adang, there are great beaches and fresh lagoons to explore ad enjoy. The snorkeling at this end is amazing, to say the least, and reaching this area from Koh Lipe is easy too, though a bit expensive but unquestionably worth it.
View point to see Koh Lipe from Koh Adang
Koh Lipe is graced with three stunning beaches that make the island more appealing and a perfect recreational spot. However, don’t get fooled; though the island may be small, the distance between the beaches is quite apparent. In fact, despite being close in proximity, all three beaches have something unique to offer.
Pattaya Beach
This beach in Koh Lipe, Thailand, is gorgeous; despite being a sheltered bay, this is one of the largest beaches Koh Lipe houses with stunning powdery white sand beaches and good fresh large pools to swim in. This beach also serves as an arrival spot for numerous ferries, as it provides easy access to bars, restaurants, hotels, in general, an easy gateway to the famous ‘Walking Street.’
Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach may be a small beach located on the west side of the island but is a great place to hang, especially to camp. With a rocky landscape and tranquil water, it serves as a great place and a likely ambiance for outdoor adventures. There are a few bars and restaurants around the corner, too, to facilitate the visitors. But the best part of this beach would be the beautiful sunset view it has to offer, hence its name. This beach is the perfect spot to pop up big questions or say your true feelings out loud and trust us paired with the undeniably beautiful ambiance; no question will go unturned!
Sunrise Beach
This beach is located at the east of Koh Lipe Island and is famous for its incredible sunrises paired with a cool breeze and an amazing overview of the whole island and soothing water. This beach has a pleasant aura throughout the day and is popular for offering great fun snorkeling and water sports experience. This beach offers all a great view, fun, and relaxing recreational activities, and a wide range of eatery places to tie the whole beach experience together.
Koh Lipe is unquestionably one of the best places in Thailand to venture into the world of water sports, popular for snorkeling and diving; this island ensures a fun and safe time to indulge in water activities. The island has really clear and blue waters and houses 25% of the world’s tropical fish species, making snorkeling here more breathtaking.
Though you can snorkel anywhere around Koh Lipe, but it is recommended to stay close to Sunrise Beach as it’s the best spot to explore the underwater and is relatively safe during high rides. However, it is advised to be aware of the coral reefs, especially at low tides, as being in contact with them can cause problems.
Kayaking is another popular activity here at Koh Lipe, Thailand. With relatively calm waters and a large area, kayaking is fun here; in fact, the hotels offer free kayaks to their guests, making it more appealing to try.
Kayaking on Koh Lipe
Following the pattern of water activities, boating is another water activity that is quite famous here at Koh Lipe. The great way to do island hopping and make the most of the Koh Lipe trip in a fast, safe, and convenient way.
The boating trip here allows is a great way to explore the wonders of this island, from interesting rock formations to seeing wildlife in their true form, exploring the extraordinary bioluminescent planktons and high chances of discovering a hidden beach or a cave, making the experience that more enjoyable and adventurous.
All in all, boat trips in Thailand are a great way to enjoy, explore and admire the true beauty of Thailand and the numerous recreational opportunities it provides.
Koh Lipe may be small but does not deprive its visitors of a full-fledged beach experience; hence homes really nice breach bars and restaurants that offer a wide range of options fitting for everyone. From fresh drinks to hard ones, from authentic Thai cuisine to world popular dishes, there is everything to indulge in.
However, the best Beach bars and restaurants are located in Sunrise Beach, and the best place to go there is ‘ Sea la Vie,’ a great eatery place with a relaxing and cool ambiance. The seating arrangement here is exquisite, with chairs placed on the sand and swings looking over the ocean. Paired with music and a friendly crowd, dining here is incredible and also great for the wallets as food and drink are very affordable.
As much as the days are stunning, after a quick swim or snorkel heading to enjoy a refreshing drink at the bar or asking a server to bring one while you sunbathe is a great bit the nights, under the gorgeous sky, sparkling stars, and cool ocean breeze with mouthwatering food, the vibe is uncanny! There is no beating the vibe Koh Lipe’s beaches foster.
Restaurant on Koh Lipe
Unlike other islands in Thailand, the nightlife here at Koh Lipe is relatively calm and quiet as most of the bars close around midnight. However, there are places people can go to enjoy the night at is fullest. Maya Bar is a famous go-to place for locals and visitors where they can hear really good music, dance their gears our and meet new people.
The bar is located in the center of the walking street and is considered to be the coolest bar in all of Thailand. The Bat jas two levels with a dance floor, and the other with a lounge area, both accompanied with lovely decoration, great ambiance, and exquisite drinks to enjoy the night.
We hope by now you may be interested in Koh Lipe and may want to plan your next trip to this paradisiacal island in Thailand. Hence the general question that might come to your mind would be how to reach to Koh Lipe?
Well, going to Koh Lipe is not easy as other islands in Thailand, hence one of the reasons why this island is so calm, quiet, and not crowded. However, don’t let this discourage you from planning a trip to Koh Lipa, Thailand, because though accessibility may be relatively hard, there are ways to reach the island, safe and sound. Therefore to make things simpler, we have made a list city-wise to reach Koh Lipe for your ease.
Bangkok is the main city in Thailand that is often the place where people travel from on their Thailand trip. Reaching Koh Lipe from Bangkok is comparatively easy. All is required is to take a 1.5hr flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai and from there a minibus ride to Pak Bara, which is generally 2 hrs long. And finally, from there a speedboat ride to Koh Lipe which takes around 1.5hrs.
The journey may seem long, but trust us, it’s the quickest because if you oft for a bus or a train, this 6-7 hr ride can be doubled easily. Another thing to know, it is advised to take the first flight early in the morning so that the whole day is not wasted in traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lipe.
If you happen to be traveling from the Southern regions of Thailand to Koh Lipe, your best bet would be to opt for speedboats. They are the most quickest way to reach the island and back. However, during the peak season, the boat trips are often booked in advance, so in order to avoid any inconvenience, it is recommended to book tickets in advance, ideally two weeks prior to the visit. As for the low season, you can often get tickets on the spot too.
Here is the price list of reaching to Koh Lipe from different islands in the South. (the price list is tentative and can be changed depending upon inflation, season, and other circumstances)
Speed-boats-to-Koh-Lipe
If you are in Malaysia and want to explore the wonders of Koh Lipe, we have got you covered! Langkawi in Malaysia is the closest area to Loh Lipe, and to reach the island is relatively easy. All it is required is a speedboat trip from one land to another. It takes around 1.5 hr to reach Koh Lipe and the speedboat runes multiple times a day. And the best part, no need for the lengthy visa immigration queues; there is a Malaysian Immigration Office in Langkawi, and a Thai Immigration Office at Pattaya Beach, Koh Lipe, making it easy for visitors to move back and forth the two islands.
Surprisingly enough, you can travel from Singapore to Koh Lipe too, and the quickest way to do so is taking a morning flight from Singapore to Langkawi, which is generally 1.5 hr to 2 hr long, and from there a speedboat ride to Koh Lipe.
Thailand is known to have two prominent seasons, the wet season and the hot one, and these two seasons affect the vacation time exponentially! Similarly, Koh Lipe to has more or less the same seasons; however, the months differ. Therefore we made a proper guide for the time to visit Koh Lipe too, to make your planning a bit easier.
Wet seasons are often considered to be the low season as the crowd is comparatively quite low due to the heavy downpour Thailand receives. The rain is often witnessed every day for hours and hours; hence fewer tourists find it a favorable condition to go to. However, if someone is on a budget, this could be the best time as fares and rates are significantly low, and there are numerous other things to do at Koh Lipe, and when skies are clear, or rain is minimal, the landscape is to die for.
The dry season is very popular amongst tourists as the days are normally sunny, the temperature is around 25 degrees Celcius, and no sighting of excessive rain, making it the peak season for people to plan their trips. With a large influx of crowds during this season, the rates and fares are generally high. But despite that, the trip is no less than awesome during this season.
Our creative itinerary ideas will give you some travel inspirations. We will definitely tailor make unique trip for you and there are many more options available.