Travel tips for Ko Lipe
- Heike Panagoulias
- Dec 27, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 28, 2024
Table of contents
My travel tips for Ko Lipe
Ko Lipe is a beautiful island in the very south of Thailand. It is located near the Malaysian border and belongs to the province of Satun. It is an island paradise in the Andaman Sea. It is also often referred to as the Maldives of Thailand. Together with Ko Adang and many other small islands, it is part of the Tarutao National Park and is a nature reserve. White sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise water, palm trees and a fantastic underwater world that invites you to dive and snorkel. The approximately 3.5 km² island was once an insider tip for backpackers. This has changed somewhat in recent years. Nevertheless, it is an absolutely recommendable island. You will find quiet spots as well as lively activity in the heart of the island, Walking Street.
Getting to Ko Lipe
You can only get to Ko Lipe by boat. There are various ways to get there by speedboat from Phuket, Krabi or Ko Lanta. If you want to go directly to this island, you can either fly to Bangkok and continue on domestic flights to Trang or Hat Yai, or you can travel via Malaysia (Langkawi). However, it makes sense to simply include the island in your island hopping itinerary.
I traveled to Ko Lipe via Ko Phi Phi and Ko Lanta by speedboat, which I can recommend.
There are no cars here, only motorcycle cabs and, of course, cab boats that can take you to neighboring islands or to the other side of the island.
On arrival, you pay a small entrance fee for the Mu Ko Tarutao National Park.
You will also be greeted by the hotel staff at the jetty, who will take your luggage and bring you to the hotel.
The best time to travel
The best time to visit is from December to March during the dry season. Daytime temperatures are around 30 degrees and the water temperature is also a very pleasant 28 degrees. April to November is the rainy season.
What can I experience on Ko Lipe?
Ko Lipe is a really small island. White beaches and a fantastic underwater world await you here. The island has earned its nickname as the Maldives of Thailand. Beautiful coral reefs on the surrounding islands invite you to snorkel and dive. There are many excursions on offer. Kayaks can also be rented here, which are a great way to get to small bays or somewhat hidden beaches. There are also numerous restaurants, bars, stores and massage studios on Walking Street. However, you won't find any sights here.
How long should you stay on Ko Lipe?
That depends, of course, on what you expect from your vacation here. As already described, you won't find any sights here. You can spend your time with excursions and wonderful days of swimming. You can walk from one side of the island to the other in just a few hours. So if you have a great urge to move around, you won't last long here.
I spent about a week here and felt very comfortable. But a few days are definitely enough to enjoy everything here.
Beaches
Pattaya Beach is on the island's main beach, where the ferry landing stage is also located. Of course, it is very busy here during the day, as not only the boats with tourists arrive and depart, but also the excursions. It is a large bay with powdered sugar sand and clear water. There are several hotels, restaurants and bars here. There is a lot going on here in the evening, as this is also the entrance to Walking Street.
Sunrise Beach is located in the east of the island and is definitely quieter. Fantastic sunrises, beautiful crystal-clear water and snow-white sand await you here. On the almost 2-kilometer-long stretch of beach, you will also find several cab boats that will take you to the surrounding islands. There are also nice beach bars, diving schools, restaurants and massage studios. It's worth finding a nice spot in a bar or café here and just letting your gaze wander out to sea. A fantastic view! And enjoy the sunrises, they say they are the most beautiful in Thailand!
If you head north from Sunrise Beach, you'll come to Karma Beach, which is also known as North Point Beach. It is a gorgeous white sandbank that is my absolute favorite beach! In my opinion, it's the most beautiful beach of all.
Sunset Beach is located in the west of the island and is the smallest beach. It is only around 200 m long and is definitely the quietest beach on the island. It only takes around 15 minutes from Walking Street to Sunset Beach or you can take a cab boat for a few baht.
There are also a few small bays here, some of which can only be reached by boat or kayak or the access is somewhat hidden.
Excursion options
As is the case everywhere in Thailand, you can book excursions directly at the hotel or you can go to one of the contact points on Walking Street. There are half-day and full-day excursions for diving or snorkeling. It's a diver's paradise here on Ko Lipe, so there's plenty on offer. But you can also enjoy the beautiful underwater world while snorkeling. The snorkeling tours visit various islands. I went on a full-day excursion and was thrilled
Hotels, restaurants and bars
There are hotels in every price range here, from good and cheap to expensive and luxurious. Depending on how quiet or lively you want it to be, you choose which beach or close to the lively Walking Street the hotel should be located.
My hotel was the Sea to Moon Lipe on Sunrise Beach. It is a beautiful accommodation right on the beach. The bungalows were simple but beautiful. The staff were very nice and helpful. There was nothing missing. Whether it was a laundry service or booking an excursion, they took care of everything. Breakfast was included and there was also a restaurant and café with a fantastic view of the sea
I went to several restaurants and bars and was always served in a very friendly manner. The food was really delicious in all the restaurants! However, I liked the Tiger Restaurant and Serene Restaurant on Walking Street the best, although of course I didn't try all the restaurants ;)
There is a great beach bar on Pattaya Beach just a few meters to the right of Walking Street. Here you can enjoy delicious cocktails to good music on small beanbags. There is also a great fire show here regularly! This was my favorite bar when I was there! The waiters are very friendly, speak good English and also offer something for the eye ;)
There are of course several supermarkets on Ko Lipe. Even though 7Eleven is very hyped in Thailand, I think it's very important to support the local supermarkets. They are run by locals and you can also find a wide range of everything you need there.
My personal impressions and experiences of Ko Lipe
Ko Lipe was absolute paradise for me. Here I found the perfect place to unwind, take a dip and enjoy a relaxing snorkeling trip. I had that on other islands too, but the paradisiacal beaches and the turquoise blue sea made my stay something special. I felt very comfortable here. Of course, Walking Street was a bit crowded at times, but you could always find a great spot in a restaurant or bar.
If you want to know more, please read my Thailand Diary Blog. Here I share my imperssions and experiences in detail.
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