Things to do on Koh Lipe Thailand is always the question we get asked when people are looking to go to Koh Lipe. This blog will outline what there is to do in this island paradise! Koh Lipe is a gorgeous island and one of our favourite places. Here you will find a laid back island with the prettiest water in Thailand.
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Is Ko Lipe worth it?
Yes! We love Ko Lipe and I think it has the prettiest water in Thailand. This is a big claim I know but truly the water is the lovliest shade of blue, crystal clear and the perfect temperature. We could swim and lounge on its beaches all day everyday. It is definitely worth it!
Which month is best for Koh Lipe?
We visited Koh Lipe in March and it was perfect! The days were sunny with blue skies and the water was perfect everyday. We highly recommend March, the peak season runs from December to February with higher pricing and crowds. March was great. I would avoid May to October which is low season-less crowds but worse weather and rougher seas.
Is there a fee to visit Ko Lipe?
Yes, there is a compulsory Tarutao Marine National Park (of which Ko Lipe is part) environmental tourism fee that you have to pay. You are required to pay this at the counter when checking into to your ferry. It is 200THB per person and you will get a ticket in return. Make sure you keep it in case you are asked for it again during your stay. We weren’t asked but have heard of others that were. The ticket is dated for the date you will take the ferry.
How to reach Ko Lipe
The best way to reach Ko Lipe is by pre-arranged transfer. We booked this transfer and it was excellent. We were picked up from the Hat Yai Airport which is the closest to Ko Lipe. They transferred us to Pak Barra Pier and took us to our speedboat over to Ko Lipe. It was very simple and well organised. There are a lot of companies, all doing the same thing. This one has over 1K bookings and good reviews so we went with it and didn’t have a problem. To check out other options to get to Ko Lipe we used 12GO, you can book through them as well.
Accommodation on Ko Lipe
Where you stay on Ko Lipe is actually pretty important, a great stay will make your time here much better. It is a chilled out island so you will be around your accommodation more than in a busy city. There is a lot of accommodation in Koh Lipe, ranging from budget to high end. There are also a couple of main areas to stay in. Below are my top picks.
Bundhaya Resort Ko Lipe
This is where we stayed and we loved it, it is located on Pattaya Beach right near where you will arrive on the ferry (this doesn’t affect your stay at all-you just get to your hotel more easily). Book as early as possible to get the best pricing. This Ko Lipe hotel is actually split in two, the hotel on the left is called Bundhaya Resort with budget cabins, a midrange hotel near the pool. We stayed at Bundhaya Resort in the mid-range pool area.
We checked out the Bundhaya Resort budget cabins as well which were pretty cute!
The beachfront has sun-beds all along for the use of guests only and there are restaurants and bars at the beach front for breakfast and drinks. Breakfast was great here and we really recommend it! It was really nice and felt a little away from the busy area which was nice. There were two roped off swimming areas here as well which was great as you don’t have to swim in between the boats. This is the beachfront at Bundhaya Resort.
On the right side is Bundhaya Villas which is a more expensive villa area with their own pool and restaurant. Bundhaya villas looked really gorgeous, especially the beachfront villas! They have their own pool and restaurant at the beach also.
Akira Lipe Resort is located on Pattaya Beach as well, just down the other end. We actually wandered up here for cocktails at sunset most nights and thought it looked great. It would be my other choice to stay at on Pattaya Beach.
Best hotels in Sunrise Beach Ko Lipe
The Hideaway Koh Lipe is located on Sunrise Beach (see below section on the beach areas) The Hideaway Ko Lipe is really popular. It is a really nice stay but feels a little rustic.
The Irene Pool Villa Resort is a really elegant hotel, it is upmarket and private. The individual villas look stunning from the beach, and reviews are raving about the interior. Located on Sunrise Beach with great sand out front and direct beach access, it really would be an amazing place to stay.
The Ten Moons Lipe Resort is almost always booked out. It is a little secluded and guests love the cabins. Located on Sunrise Beach but a little away from the busy area.
Hotels in Sunset Beach Ko Lipe
The Cliff Lipe Resort – Yep there is also a Sunset Beach, and this is the best choice here. The gorgeous cliff side location speaks for itself. The Cliff Lipe Resort is stunning!
Hotels in Central Ko Lipe
If you want to stay right in the centre of town then A Plus Lipe Hotel is very central and well rated for this location. It has dorms and really cheap private rooms. It is located right above the best grocery store in town which is also a bonus.
Facilities in Koh Kood
There are a couple of ATMs around Koh Lipe but we didn’t need to use them, we have heard reports of them running out of money so be aware of that.
The best grocery store to get what you need is Patt Market which is in walking street. We looked at all the others then kept going back here-best prices and range.
There are a couple of tourist medical centres and a hospital here, they actually looked quite good, we went into a couple of pharmacies for paracetamol and they were reasonably priced and well stocked as well. Bring sunscreen with you and also aloe in case you get burnt as it can get expensive in store.
Things to do on Koh Lipe
The beauty of Koh Lipe is that you can do as much or as little as you want! If you want to come and just completely relax then choose a gorgeous hotel and enjoy the beach. If you want to fill your days with activities you can do that too! This is the best of the things to do on Koh Lipe:
#1 Pattaya Beach Ko Lipe
This is the main beach and the first one you will see when you arrive at Koh Lipe. It is a long slightly curved beach and although it seems busy being the main thoroughfare for people arriving and leaving it doesn’t feel like it. We stayed on this beach at Bundhaya Resort and it was really good. Very quiet in the evenings and nice to walk along. There are some great cocktail options where you sit right on the beach with your feet on the sand during sunset.
#2 Sunrise Beach Ko Lipe
This is the other main beach on Koh Lipe. Sunrise Beach is obviously the best place to watch the sunrise but also gets popular during the day. There is a street you can walk directly across to here from Pattaya Beach and it is really accessible. You will find lots of cafes and restaurants dotted along the beach and loads of the traditional long tail boats in the water. It is a photogenic place and if you aren’t staying here then it is worth spending a day at the beach here or taking a wander. It is a much busier beach than Pattaya Beach. We sat and watched some local kids fish, the boats come and go and went for a swim.
#3 North Point Beach
If you head north along Sunrise Beach you will get to North Point Beach. This is a really nice sandy headland with lots of lovely deep water to swim in. Spending some time here is a great way to enjoy the beach, there isn’t a lot of shade so if you have an umbrella or can borrow one you might want it.
#4 Sunset Beach
You can also walk to Sunset Beach, obviously it is the best place to watch the sunset. We didn’t make it over there this trip but we plan to on our next visit!
#5 Secret Beach
From the west end of Pattaya Beach near Sanom Beach Lipe Resort you can walk through to Pantai Galah Beach and Lipe Secret Beach.
#6 Walking Street
Walking Street is the main street in Ko Lipe and where you will find the buzz in the island. There are countless stores selling clothes, souvenirs and everything thing in between. There are loads of dive stores, cafes and restaurants. You will most definitely come through this street at some stage as it is a major thoroughfare across the island.
#7 Island hopping and snorkelling trips
This is a must do activity! Jumping on a long tail boat and going to check out the other islands and beaches is a perfect way to spend the day. Pre-booking is always a good idea (read the reviews and the plan without having to waste your holiday comparing the vendors on the street) these are the ones we recommend:
Longtail Boat Snorkeling Trip Program A – a really popular snorkelling trip in a longtail, you will visit Jabung island, Hin Ngam island park and check point, Snorkel site behind Hin Ngam Island, Koh Yang island, Rawi Island, Adang Island.
Koh Lipe Island Hopping Tour by Longtail Boat – This option has a couple of choices for destinations you can choose what you want to do when booking. They take you around to the islands, you can snorkel and it includes a box lunch.
Koh Lipe 7 Islands by Private Longtailboat Free Go Pro Camera – This one is a private trip if you want the longtail all to yourselves! You can choose how many people will be in your group when booking.
#8 Fishing trip or sailing trip
We saw so many people heading out on fishing trips and sailing trips so we are definitely doing it on our next visit as Mike is a mad keen fisherman. These are the ones we are planning to book: Fishing fish BBQ snorkelling private boat+lunch, Sailfish fishing half day program 2 and Koh Lipe Sightseeing and Snorkelling by Sailing Catamaran.
#9 Yoga in Ko Lipe
If you want to slow it down and unwind join in on a yoga class, you can check them out here, this one is popular Yoga Class in Koh Lipe – a 60-minute yoga class that mainly draws from Ashtanga yoga either morning (8:00am) or evening (5:00pm) classes in an tropical outdoor environment.
Sunrise yoga class overlooking the beach – for the perfect start to your day overlooking the beach, is there a more perfect way to greet the new day of your holiday?
#10 Diving
There is some nice diving off Ko Lipe and loads of people selling you trips along walking street. These are the ones we would check out to save you the hassle of doing it during your holiday! This 2 Fun Divers for Certified Divers is well regarded and located on Sunrise Beach.
Alternatively if you aren’t certified but want to try it out these two options are really good – this Koh Lipe Full Day Scuba Diving takes you for two dives and this Discover SCUBA Diving is a private tour.
#11 Sunset sailing boat trip
Take a romantic sunset sail around the island, this is always a winning activity. We love a sunset cruise! This one includes soft drink, sparkling wine or fruit punch and a snack and seasonal fruit.
#12 Eat
There are loads of good places to eat in Ko Lipe for all budgets. We usually stick to Thai food as we like to eat local to the destination we are visiting. These were our favourite spots:
Thai Lady Pancake Shop – Mike got a banana pancake here everyday and they were excellent. (Sadly not gluten free so I couldn’t have one!)
Nรจe papaya Thaifood & BBQ – Our favourite restaurant in Ko Lipe! Once we stumbled on it we ended up eating here everyday…sometimes twice a day. The staff are excellent, food is good and the prices can’t be beat! It gets really busy after sunset so go before or after main lunch and dinner hours and you will be fine! We ate pretty much as much as we could and everything was excellent!
For a budget or snack option there is a little stall that opens up opposite the Patti Market and they have a great spring roll. They’re really cheap and Mike loved them!
Pooh’s restaurant – we didn’t actually eat here but I grabbed a mango sticky rice from the lady out front making them and it was the best I had! It is made fresh when you order and the rice is perfectly flavoured. It was a daily snack!
Banana Tree – we liked this one but not as much as Nรจe papaya Thaifood & BBQ, the location is pretty central in walking street so that was handy. Mike had a Tom Yum and I had fried rice, both were nice.
Other popular spots are Paolo’s Pizza, Rainforest bar, Butsara – Burger & Smoothie.
Bonus…Best cocktail hour!
Let me start by saying there are a lot of cocktail places and happy hour places to try. We went to a few but ended up returning to Akira Lipe Resort for 2-4-1 cocktails. On a couple of nights we also grabbed a bottle of Sangsum Rum from them and brought our own coke cans to mix with them. They gave us a a glass with ice and some lime to go with it, that was a lovely evening too! On some nights we got snacks to nibble with our drinks, feet in the sand and the sun setting over the water in front of us, it was idyllic.
How to get from Ko Lipe to Langkawi
We booked a transfer from Ko Lipe to Langkawi and it was really simple. We boarded the ferry boat on time, lining up with our numbers. There is an immigration at the terminal to stamp out of Thailand and then another in Langkawi to come into Malaysia. The whole process is simple and organised.
Alternatively you can check out all the routes (and book them) on 12 Go, we use this all the time and it has always shown us the best route options for where we want to go.
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1. Book Your Flights
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We always check Booking.com, Expedia, Klook and Trip.com. They all have great deals and sometimes are better in different continents, for example we almost used Trip and Klook exclusively in Asia and Booking.com always in Europe!
3. Buy your E-sim!
E-sims have changed the game in communication while travelling. They are cheap and easy to use, we never go without them. Our current favourite is Yesim!
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I usually use and recommend Get Your Guide, Klook and Viator to book tours and activities. They also have shuttle options to and from airports which is great. I love the real reviews you can check and we have never had a problem with them!
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