Koh Lipe is a very small island in Satun Province of southwest Thailand near the Malaysian border. The island is just on the border of the Tarutao National Marine Park which is a protected national park and is directly south of the larger island Ko Adang With Ko Lipe just outside of the national park, there are no laws prohibiting development on Ko Lipe. What are the things to do in Koh Lipe Thailand?
At Koh Lipe, you can enjoy relaxing by the amazing beaches and even watching the sunset. Scuba diving is a big draw to Ko Lipe with the tropical colorful fish and coral, and there is more to see. You can go island hopping to the nearby island of Koh Adang Island which offers amazing viewpoints.
In this post, we will go through things to do in Koh Lipe Thailand. Let’s get started!
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Is Koh Lipe Expensive?
Yes, Koh Lipe is expensive, especially if compared to other islands in Thailand. Accommodation can be up to 2 times more expensive compared to other places. An example of this is that a 500 ml bottle of Coke can cost around 27 baht on Koh Lipe while elsewhere in Thailand it costs closer to 15 baht.
This price difference applies to restaurants and buying beer. And buying drinks on the beach is even more expensive.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Koh Lipe?
The high season in Ko Lipe is between November to March when you can expect it to be warm and sunny. Where the low season is between April to October it may rain but still be generally sunny.
In the tourist low season which is between March to September a lot of the hotels and bars are closed. And it is not much cheaper.
Can You Fly To Koh Lipe?
No, Koh Lipe does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Hat Yai.
Things To Do In Koh Lipe Thailand
Koh Lipe is close to the Malaysian border in Thailand. It is a very small island and there is a limited amount of things to do there other than scuba diving and relaxing by the beach. There are fun things to do at Koh Lipe that will keep you busy for a couple of days.
Here is our list of things to do in Koh Lipe Thailand.
Go Scuba Diving
Let’s start with scuba diving. Koh Lipe is growing in popularity for adventure water sports, particularly diving and snorkeling. There is a good range of diving centers on Koh Lipe to choose from.
Divers can see a good range of tropical colorful fish, corals, fish, and other sea life including luminescent plankton.
Go Snorkeling
Anyone visiting Koh Lipe should at least spend one day of snorkeling. There is an abundance of corals and marine life around Sunrise Beach and Pattaya Beach, in particular, which makes it a popular spot for snorkeling. And there are plenty of shops in the area where you can rent out snorkel masks, suits, and fins.
If you can not swim you can snorkel in a life jacket which is safe even for people who can’t swim. And it can be twice the fun with an underwater camera. There are lots of different snorkeling day trips available in the high season. They often involve stopping at many of the small islands near Koh Lipe.
Explore All The Beaches
Koh Lipe is home to white sandy beaches with crystal clear blue water for visitors to enjoy the sea breeze and waves. Among the choices of visitors are three beaches on this island.
They are Pattaya Beach, Sunset Beach, and Sunrise Beach. None of them should be missed
Starting with Sunrise Beach. As the name suggests, Sunrise Beach has an awesome sunrise and is located in the eastern area of Koh Lipe. And has an abundance of small bars, eateries, and of course a wide range of water sports to try.
Sunset Beach is a small bay on the west side of the island. It has a camping area and as a result, it has a bot a hippy vibe.
Pattaya Beach is the most beautiful white sand beach in Koh Lipe. Most of the ferry services arrive here and it provides easy access to the bars and restaurants on Walking Street.
Watch A Fire Show On Pattaya Beach
Like on most islands in Thailand, there are often a few fire shows going on around Koh Lipe where a couple of guys are on the beach, spinning fire. A few local bars will all have some sort of fire show going on. Not so many in the low season.
But in the fire show at Pattaya Beach, the locals go a bit further by trying acrobats with fire, which is worth watching.
Watch The Sunset At Sunset Beach
Getting up early is not always nice, especially while on holiday but you might be interested in watching the sunset. Again as the name suggests, Sunset Beach is where to go.
Sunset Beach is quieter than the others, any spot on the sand is a perfect place to enjoy the sunset. You can go into Boom Boom Bar and have a drink while the sunsets.
Exploring Walking Street On Koh Lipe
Never doubt it, there seems to be a walking street in every town and city in Thailand. Walking street in Koh Lipe is the main street where you can find almost everything from bars, restaurants, and shops.
The street is quiet during the day with most people busy diving and exploring but as the day becomes evening time. It starts to get a little busy with people looking for food and drinks.
Walking Street Nightlife
It is easy to notice when you are on the walking street with plenty of restaurants, street vendors, bars, and more.
At night, Koh Lipe Walking Street is the main place to go on the island for nightlife. Its bars offer good music, drinks, and a good crowd. The downside is things close at around 12.
Visit Koh Adang Island
Koh Adang is the second biggest island within Tarutao National Marine Park. The island is 6 km long and 5 km wide.
The highest point on the island is 690 m. And is very close to Koh Lipe. For 100 baht per person, a longtail boat can take you to the island in 15 minutes. There are some mountain trails suitable for hiking through the jungle forest.
Viewpoints along the way offer views over the nearby island of Koh Lipe and the sea panorama behind. Should the hiking be not technically difficult but it’s hot and steep? You should wear suitable walking shoes, not flip-flops.
USEFUL TRAVEL RESOURCES
Book Accommodation
Booking.com has a large range of properties from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts where you will find the best deals. Airbnb and Hostelworld also have a good range of places to stay at good prices.
Booking Flight
Skyscanner is a flight search comparison website that searches millions of flights all at once. Ultimately it is the best flight comparison website online at the moment.
Booking Transportation & Things To Do
Rome2rio and 12Go are useful to plan how to get anywhere by searching train, bus, car, and ferry routes. Especially useful in countries like Vietnam or Thailand. While Klook is great for exploring things to do in each place.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is cheap and more than likely you will never need to use it but you will have peace of mind if something does happen, you are covered in case of an emergency. World Nomads have great customer service and competitive prices.
Check out our resource page for the best companies to use when you travel.
Wrapping Up
Finally, Ko Lipe is a good place to visit especially if you enjoy relaxing by the beach or are interested in snorkeling and going scuba diving. You can go island hopping to the nearby island of Koh Adang Island which offers amazing viewpoints. Or enjoy the busy walking street. The big drawback about Ko Lipe is that it is expensive and can be hard to get to.
And that’s it for now! I’d love to know if this guide on things to do in Koh Lipe Thailand has helped you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.
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