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All you need to know to visit Koh Lipe
Southern Thailand
820 km from Bangkok
Province of Satun
Thai prononciation : Go lipé
Travel guide to go and visit Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe, pronounced go lipé is a small island located in Satun province, in the South of Thailand. Famous for its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters with incredible shades of blue and turquoise, it has probably the most beautiful beaches in Thailand and is sometimes nicknamed the Thai Maldives. There are also some very nice dive sites off Ko Lipe. All this assets make the island very very touristy during high season (from mid-November to the end of April). Too busy for some people.The most famous beaches in Koh Lipe are Pattaya Beach, the one where the speedboats that bring tourists dock and the least pleasant for swimming in high season due to the abundance of boats, Sunrise Beach, more pleasant with part of it being a boat-free zone, the smaller and more secluded Sunset Beach and a few other beaches that are more confidential or less easily accessible. There are snorkeling spots accessible off some beaches (like off the superb beach at the foot of the Serendiptiy Resort). Renting a kayak and going to the nearby small islets like Koh Usen or the larger Koh Adang is also nice. The Walking Street, a street that leads from Ko Lipe village to Pattaya Beach and which becomes pedestrian every evening with a wide choice of restaurants and bars, souvenir shops, massage parlors, diving centers, and even an international clinic, without forget the 7 Eleven, is the heart of Koh Lipe's nightlife with the bars and restaurants setting up their tables and cushions on Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach (in low season, except for the Zodiac Bar at the end of Sunrise Beach , you'll find this more on Pattaya Beach).
The first inhabitants of Koh Lipe were the Urak Lawoi who are part of the Chaolay sea gypsies and even if the rapid development of tourism on the island has completely transformed its appearance and atmospere, there are still many Chaolay who live here and some still go fishing, make softwood fish traps... But clearly, the island is now dominated by tourism. Although Koh Lipe is only accessible by speedboat via a agited boat trip lasting at least 1h30 even in favorable weather (it can totally ruin the stay of those who are sick or afraid by boat), its ever-increasing popularity has made it a very busy touristy place in high season. So if you are looking for a wild and peaceful island, this is probably not the right choice. At least from mid-November to early May and more particularly from December to the end of March.
To see all optiosn to get around in Koh Lipe, read our dedicated paragrpah about getting around in Koh Lipe.
Accommodations in Koh Lipe
The accommodations offer in Koh Lipe does not stop developing. Resorts on the beach have of course higher prices even if you can find bungalows at reasonable prices, especially at Forra Dive Resort. Personally, in high season, I recommend choosing a resort on Sunrise Beach, it's more pleasant than Pattaya Beach. Otherwise, in Koh Lipe village, you will also find cheaper rooms because in establishments without access to the sea. Obviously, the prices of hotels in Koh Lipe are more expensive in high season and in the same hotel, the beachfront bungalows have the highest rate. Note that some resorts close a few months per year in low season.Find accommodation in Koh Lipe
My recommandations
Practical information about Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe island is open to tourists all year round (but there are speedboats only from the Pakbara Pier in low season). In low season (from May to mid-November), the tourist population drops drastically, making the island more peaceful, but the weather is more capricious, many restaurants and shops, even some accommodations, close. All the dive sites in the western part of the maritime park also close for several weeks, but there is still enough diving spots open for great diving trips.The budget for a stay on Koh Lipe can quickly be substantial because as on all the islands that are a little far away, the prices are more expensive. For instance, in the 7 Eleven everything is double the normal price. But there are a few inexpensive local restaurants in the village.
How to go to Koh Lipe ?
To come to Koh Lipe, you will necessarily have to embark on a speedboat, at least for the end of your journey. There is no ferry to Ko Lipe island. And clearly, if you are boat sick or don't like rough sea trips, you won't like it! Even with favorable weather, it shakes!In low season (mid-May to October), there are only speedboats from Pakbara Pier in Satun province to go to Ko Lipe. The rest of the year there are speedboats from Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan and Koh Mook islands in Trang province as well as from Langkawi island in Malaysia. The most poûlaor route to Koh Lipe from Bangkok is via Hat Yai (plane or train). There are very regular buses between Hat Yai and Pakbara Pier. Going through Trang (plane or night train) is also an option with daily van + speedboat formulas to Lipe island from there.
How to get around in Koh Lipe ?
Koh Lipe island is not very big, we can easily get around by walking. A tuk-tuk ride in Ko Lipe, regardless of distance, costs THB 50 per person. Here, tuk-tuks are scooters with sidecars with a roof. On Koh Lipe island, there are only 2 wheels and 2 wheels with sidecars circulating. And a few small trucks from some hotels but no cars. There are no motorbike rental for tourists in Koh Lipe but some places rent bicycles.
Weather & climate in Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe enjoys a warm tropical climate throughout the year, with two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.The dry season extends from November to mid-April with sunny days with little rainfall especially in January, February and March tat are te month with the less rain. Temperatures are warm, fluctuating between 25°C and 35°C, which makes it the ideal time to enjoy the island's magnificent beaches, dive to explore the coral reefs or snorkel.
The rainy season on Koh Lipe, on the other hand, is from May to October. During this period, the island can experience frequent and sometimes intense downpours, but generally short-lived (the wettest months are September and October). However, temperatures remain warm, varying between 24°C and 31°C. This corresponds to the low season with tourist life on the island slowing down (but Koh Lipe is not closed to tourists). It is important to note that the rainy season on Koh Lipe is also influenced by the monsoon, which brings strong winds and high waves. This leads to weather warnings by the authorities and sometime temporary suspensions of the boat traffic.
To sum up, Koh Lipe enjoys a warm tropical climate. The dry season, from November to April, offers more favorable weather for a pleasant stay on the island, making it the high tourist season, while the rainy season, from May to October, brings showers and wind but still have warm temperatures, it is the low tourist season. It is also the period when the the sea can be more often rough to get to Koh Lipe by speedboat.
How to ask in Thai to go to Koh Lipe ?
I want to go to Koh Lipe / Yak paï ti Go lipé.Where is Koh Lipe ? / Go lipé you ti naï ?
All COVID-19 restrictions for coming to Thailand lifted from October 1 !
We have been waiting for it for months, hoping it will happen on July 1, but it will finally be October 1, 2022, when Thailand will lift the last COVID restrictions to enter the country. From this date, it will no longer be necessary to show...
