Koh Lipe Travel Guide: Koh Lipe (pronounced "go lipe") is a small island in the province of Satun in southern Thailand. Famous for its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters in incredible shades of blue and turquoise, it arguably boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand and is therefore often called the Thai Maldives. There are also some very nice dive sites off the coast of Koh Lipe. All these advantages make the island very touristy during the high season (from mid-November to the end of April). For some, it can be too crowded. The most popular beaches on Koh Lipe are Pattaya Beach, where speedboats arrive with tourists and which, due to the high volume of boat traffic during the high season, is the least suitable for swimming; Sunrise Beach, which is more pleasant as part of it is a boat-free zone; the smaller and more secluded Sunset Beach; and several other quieter or less easily accessible beaches. Snorkeling is possible from some beaches (for example, at the stunning beach at the foot of the Serendipity Resort). Renting a kayak and exploring the nearby small islands like Koh Usen or the larger Koh Adang is also a wonderful experience. Walking Street, which runs from Koh Lipe village to Pattaya Beach and transforms into a pedestrian zone every evening, offers a wide variety of restaurants and bars, souvenir shops, massage parlors, dive centers, and even an international clinic—not to mention a 7-Eleven. It's the heart of Koh Lipe's nightlife, with bars and restaurants setting up tables and cushions on Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach (during the off-season, with the exception of the Zodiac Bar at the end of Sunrise Beach, which is more like Pattaya Beach). The first inhabitants of Koh Lipe were the Urak Lawoi, who belong to the Chaolay sea nomads. Although the rapid development of tourism has completely transformed the island's appearance and atmosphere, many Chaolay still live here, some of whom still fish and make softwood fish traps. However, tourism clearly dominates the island today. Although Koh Lipe is only accessible by speedboat – a turbulent journey that takes at least 1.5 hours even in good weather (and can completely ruin the stay for those prone to seasickness or boat anxiety) – its ever-increasing popularity has made the island a very busy tourist destination during peak season. So, if you're looking for an unspoiled and tranquil island, this is probably not the place for you. At least not from mid-November to early May, and especially not from December to the end of March. All the information you need about getting around Koh Lipe can be found in our section "Getting Around Koh Lipe".

Accommodation on Koh Lipe: The accommodation options on Koh Lipe are constantly evolving. Beach resorts are naturally more expensive, although you can find bungalows at reasonable prices, especially at the Forra Dive Resort. Personally, I recommend a resort on Sunrise Beach during high season, as it's more pleasant than Pattaya Beach. Alternatively, you can find cheaper rooms in Koh Lipe village, as these accommodations don't have direct beach access. Hotel prices on Koh Lipe are significantly higher during high season, and within the same hotel, the beach bungalows are the most expensive. Keep in mind that some resorts close for a few months during the off-season. Find accommodation on Koh Lipe. Choose a destination: Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories less than 300 THB from 300 to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB // grey Less prices not available in the city selection ("All prices are available at any time") function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for(var i=0;i<categories.options.length;i++) { var val=categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled=!(val=="all" || val=="-" || (Math.pow(2,parseInt(val,10))&price)); } } (function() { var forms=document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form=forms[forms.length-1]; if(form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Koh Lipe. Serendipity Beach Resort Koh Lipe Hotel in Koh Lipe, Serendipity Beach (8.9/10) Book now More details Forra Diving Resort Pattaya Beach Hotel in Koh Lipe, Pattaya Beach (7.0/10) Book now More details arrow_circle_right View all accommodations in Koh Lipe

Practical information about Koh Lipe: Koh Lipe is open to tourists year-round (though during the off-season, only speedboats operate from Pakbara Pier). During the off-season (May to mid-November), the number of tourists drops drastically, making the island much quieter. However, the weather is more unpredictable, and many restaurants, shops, and even some accommodations close. All dive sites in the western part of the marine park are also closed for several weeks, but there are still plenty of other dive spots for great diving trips. The cost of staying on Koh Lipe can quickly add up, as prices—like on any slightly more remote island—are higher. For example, everything at 7-Eleven costs twice as much as usual. However, there are some reasonably priced restaurants in the village.

How do you get to Koh Lipe? To get to Koh Lipe, you absolutely must take a speedboat, at least for the end of your trip. There is no ferry to Koh Lipe. And if you are prone to seasickness or don't like rough seas, this is definitely not for you! Even in good weather, it's quite choppy! During the off-season (mid-May to October), speedboats only run to Koh Lipe from Pakbara Pier in Satun Province. The rest of the year, speedboats run from Phuket, the islands of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan, and Koh Mook in Trang Province, as well as from Langkawi Island in Malaysia. The most popular route from Bangkok to Koh Lipe is via Hat Yai (plane or train). There are regular buses between Hat Yai and Pakbara Pier. Alternatively, you can travel via Trang (plane or night train). From there, there are daily combined minibus and speedboat services to Koh Lipe. arrow_circle_right See all options for getting to Koh Lipe

What's the best way to get around Koh Lipe? Koh Lipe is a fairly small island that's easily explored on foot. A tuk-tuk ride costs 50 baht per person, regardless of the distance. Tuk-tuks here are motor scooters with a sidecar and roof. Only two-wheeled vehicles and those with sidecars are allowed on Koh Lipe. Some hotels offer tuk-tuks, but not cars. Tourists can't rent motorbikes on Koh Lipe, but they can rent bicycles.

How do you ask for directions to Koh Lipe in Thai? I want to go to Koh Lipe / Yak pai thi Go lipé. Where is Koh Lipe? / Go lipé yu thi nai?