Koh lipe island on the map of thailand. Koh Lipe in Thailand: useful information and our review

Updated: 17 Sep, 2018

The Adang archipelago, located in the southern part of the Andaman Sea, not far from the mainland of Thailand and Malaysia, is often called the "Thai Maldives", primarily for its white sand. Koh Lipe (Thailand) is the only inhabited island in this archipelago. Tourists come here to enjoy the serenity and tranquility. In addition, the island attracts divers, because many marine inhabitants live off the coast - almost a quarter of all that exist in nature. The island is the southernmost point of Thailand and many tourists are afraid of the question - how to get to Koh Lipe. However, the number of travelers is increasing every year. We have prepared detailed information for those planning a trip to the island.

general information

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand is located in the southern part of the Andaman Sea and belongs to the province of Satun. This is the most southern point of the country. On a sunny, cloudless day from the island you can see the coast of Malaysia, namely the Langkawi archipelago, located at a distance of 30 km.

The distance to Phuket is 250 km, to Krabi - about 220 km, and to the mainland of Thailand - 70 km.

The length of the island is only 3 km, it is easy to get around on foot, there are about 800 indigenous people on Koh Lipe. The main source of income is fishing and tourism.

Interesting fact! Indigenous people belongs to the sea gypsies - immigrants from Malaysia, who arrived on the island about a century ago.

Koh Lipe is home to the Tarutao Marine Theme Park, which was given the status of a national one, at the end of the 20th century it was called the second largest in Thailand.

Tourist infrastructure and recreation features

Every year the number of tourists on the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand is increasing, despite the fact that you can only get here by water. The infrastructure is accordingly developing rapidly - the resort is flourishing and attracting more and more vacationers. The first and main reason why tourists come here is the beaches where you can enjoy relaxing holiday or make an exciting dive, go snorkeling.

Interesting fact! Not far from Ko Lipe there are several uninhabited islands where they go on a sightseeing tour or stay for a few days in a tent.

Walking Street

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand boasts a walking street - Walking Street, where souvenir shops, a pharmacy, travel agencies, cafes and an exchange office operate. Prices on the main street of the island are quite high, and the exchange rate is unfavorable, so it is better to stock up on the mainland with everything you need. The local attraction starts at Pattaya Beach and stretches to Sunrise Beach. The signs indicate that the street is open from 6-00 to midnight, but Walking Street does not close, many cafes, restaurants and bars open in the afternoon. Of course, most of the establishments are empty and close by midnight, but still, you can find a few bars that invite tourists.

Relatively recently, there were no bank branches and banks on the island, but today it will not be difficult to withdraw money. It should be noted that you will have to pay a commission for withdrawing money, and the exchange rate is unprofitable. Also in some hotels you can pay for the room and services with a plastic card, but a commission is charged for this. In exchange offices, you can exchange dollars and the Malaysian currency - ringgit.

There is Wi-Fi on Koh Lipe in Thailand, Internet access points are presented in hotels and Internet cafes.

Most cafes and bars are located on the coastline, the maximum distance to the sea is 200 meters. Discos and other places of entertainment, however, as well as sights, are not on the island.

Interesting fact! The maximum distance between the beaches on the island is 1 km, so during your vacation you can easily visit all of them. The walk from one to the other will take about a quarter of an hour. If you don't like walking, rent a bike.

Why go to Koh Lipe

Seascapes. Already on the way to the island, on the ferry, you can take beautiful photos.
Bright underwater world. There are a lot of fish and marine life off the coast of the island. Even tourists who cannot swim can take beautiful photos. You do not need to wear special equipment for this, just a mask and snorkel will suffice.
Big choice excursion tours. Most of them are on deserted islands, it is easy to stay here for a few days. There are tours with night swimming, which shimmers with an abundance of plankton, a trip with a barbecue against the backdrop of a sea sunset. The cost of the tour is about $17-19.
White sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters. Despite the fact that getting to the island is not so easy, and there are minor drawbacks on Koh Lipe in Thailand, the beaches attract with beauty and allow you to ignore minor inconveniences. Here you can meet fabulous sunrises and sunsets, numerous bars offer drinks, delicious treats right on the beach.
Large selection of seafood dishes. Every restaurant and bar offers delicious treats from marine life that you have never even heard of. Some dishes are prepared right in front of tourists.

Good to know! In addition to traditional restaurants on Walking Street, there are buffets; for a certain amount, you can try at least the entire range of dishes. The cost is about $15-17.

It would be wrong to talk only about positive aspects islands in Thailand. If you decide to make a trip and get to Koh Lipe, be prepared for the following unpleasant surprises:

garbage, the island authorities simply do not have time to take it out;
boats are the real scourge of the island, they are moored on all the beaches;
cats and dogs, some of them annoying;
food prices are higher than in stores on the mainland of Thailand.

Natural disadvantage - strong ebbs and flows. At high tide, the shore is under water, there is simply no place for sunbathing. At low tide, the sea is so shallow that only children can swim in the sea.

Interesting fact! The only place on the island where there are no tides is the northern edge of Sunrise Beach.

There are no large stores on the island, only small grocery stores operate. Be sure to try the pancakes - they are sold in street stalls.

Transport

Getting to the island is not so easy, but on Koh Lipe we solve the issue of movement. There are no cars here, few bikes, public transport does not go. Travelers are offered several ways to move around the island:

on foot;
motorbike taxi;
bike rental;
Boats run regularly between the beaches.

Accommodation on the island

Every year, new hotels open on Koh Lipe in Thailand, but at a high tourist season finding free accommodation is not so easy, so it is better to book a room a few months before the trip. Most of the hotels are built right on the beach, many look like bungalows, but you can also find a traditional hotel.

During the tourist season, prices for accommodation in a three-star hotel are about 3,000 baht, and a bungalow can be rented for 1,000 baht. In the low season, prices are halved.

Features of hotels in Koh Lipe (Thailand):

Good to know! In addition to hotels on the island, there is also a budget accommodation option - tents in campsites. Most of them are located on Sunset Beach.

Find out the RATES or book any accommodation using this form

Island beaches

The first and main advantage of Koh Lipe is the beaches, which are considered the best in Thailand. The coastline is only better on the Similans. A few decades ago, the beaches of the island were deserted, but today the situation has changed - infrastructure has appeared, but exotic nature has been preserved. It is for the sake of the beaches that many tourists decide to get to Koh Lipe. We have compiled a selection for you. the best places for holidays on the island.

Pattaya Beach is located in the south of Koh Lipe and is a long coastline with a length of almost 1.5 km. The coast is covered with white and very fine sand. In sunny weather, the water takes on a turquoise hue, but in the low season, strong waves form due to the wind, which bring debris to the shore. The descent into the water is gentle and smooth. Pattaya Beach has strong ebbs and flows, and given the smooth entrance to the sea, it is difficult to find a place to swim.

There is a reef near the shore, so be sure to take a mask and snorkel with you. Unfortunately, there are many boats near the shore, but they moor in an orderly manner, leaving areas for swimming. In the evening, a fire show is held on the shore. There are a lot of hotels, cafes and restaurants on the first line.

Good to know! Pattaya Beach has a tourist office for visitors from Malaysia and mainland Thailand. In addition, there are representative offices of all shipping companies.

The eastern coast of the island is Sunrise Beach, there is large and rather loose sand, and the descent into the sea is sharp. On the right side there are corals and many different fish.

The coastline stretches for 1.5 km, and the width varies depending on the tides. The widest part is in the northern part, and the narrowest part is in the central part.

Good to know! There are no entertainment establishments and discos here, by 22-00 the coast is empty. To get to Walking Street, you need to pass by the local slums.

There are hotels, cafes and restaurants on the coast, you can buy an excursion to the mainland of Thailand, to the uninhabited islands of the archipelago and rent a kayak. There are also diving schools.

The only thing that overshadows the rest on Sairaz Beach is randomly moored boats.

Interesting fact! It is believed that the beach has the most beautiful sunrises, which is why the place is called Sunrise Beach.

Western part of Koh Lipe. This is a small, cozy beach, where the most beautiful sunsets are, that's why they called the beach - Sunset Beach. The coast is covered with stones, in some places there are large stones in the water. The sand is coarse, heterogeneous in color - white with patches of gray and dark color. The sea is quite shallow, there are fish in the water, but there are not so many of them. This place is calm, not crowded, there are many boats in the central part of the beach.

Good to know! The sand is unpleasant to the touch due to fragments of shells, so bring shoes with you.

On the left side of the beach there are cafes and sun loungers. Hotels are on the first line. The distance to Walking Street can be covered on foot in a quarter of an hour.

Sheltered, quiet beach, it is often called secret. To get here, you need to go to the right along Pattaya Beach, get to the wooden bridge and cross it. Not all tourists come to this part of the island, so not everyone knows about the beach.

Good to know! A single bungalow was built on the shore.

Cross the bridge with caution, it seems fragile, creaking boards do not give confidence. Huge boulders lie under the bridge, and turquoise water quietly splashes.

A peaceful, relaxing atmosphere reigns on the shore - someone swims in a calm sea, someone drinks a cocktail on the shore, and someone photographs beautiful views.

The beach is perfect for swimming - the water is clean, the sea is calm, the descent is gentle. Sea bottom soft, covered with sand, without stones.

Weather and climate, when is the best time to visit

Koh Lipe is an island of two seasons:

dry - begins in late autumn and lasts until mid-spring;
rainy - begins in mid-spring and lasts until the second half of autumn.

Today, the connection of the island with the mainland of Thailand remains open throughout the year. Earlier in the summer, in the low season, when the sea was stormy, Ko Lipe was closed, hotel employees went on vacation. IN last years the climate on the island is so changeable that even in the low season there is good, sunny and clear weather.

Concerning pricing policy in hotels, there are three seasons:

low - three summer months;
high season - two autumn months - October and November, two spring months - March and April;
the peak is from December to February.

To get to the island, you must:

come to Trang or Hat Yai;
get to Pakbara Pier;
purchase a boat ticket to Koh Lipe.

There are several ways to get to Trang or Hat Yai.

by plane;
by bus - flights depart from southern bus station, the schedule is from 6-00 to 20-00, the journey takes 13-14 hours, the ticket price is about 1000 baht;
by train - flights from Bangkok depart to Hat Yai, the route is designed for 13-17 hours, to get to the island on the day of departure from Bangkok, you need to leave no later than 15-30, the fare is from 400 to 900 baht;
complex ticket - provides travel by plane, minibus (to the pier) and boat (to Koh Lipe), flights are provided only in the morning.

Koh Lipe (Thailand) - how to get yourself from Phuket.

By sea.

In the high season, it is most convenient to get to the island by water. Yellow boats run regularly between Phuket and Koh Lipe. Departure from Rassada Pier. Travelers spend 4 hours on the road. The fare is about 2100 baht.

The first route is by bus. The algorithm is as follows - to get from Phuket to Hat Yai by bus. It is most comfortable to travel by night flight VIP 24. Departure at 21-45, the transport arrives at the destination at 06-00. Then you need to get to the pier and from there by boat to the island - departure at 9-30, and arrival at 11-30.

Another route is by plane. From Phuket there are direct flights to Hat Yai - departure at 7-25, arrival at 8-30. Ticket price is about 1700 baht. You can purchase a transfer online - from the airport to the pier, then to the island. The sale of transfer tickets ends three days before the trip. Also, a complex ticket is sold by travel agencies.

Compare accommodation prices using this form

How to get to Koh Lipe in Thailand from Krabi

The only way to get from Krabi (Ao Nang) to the island is via Hat Yai. There is no direct air connection, so you can choose the following method:

by bus;
minibus;
Taxi.

The cost of a complex ticket is about 1200 baht

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

The lack of attractions in Koh Lipe (Thailand) is more than compensated by the beautiful beaches. To fully enjoy nature and spend your vacation in a bungalow by the sea, prepare for your trip in advance - choose a hotel, book tickets.

I would like to start my review of Koh Lipe with brief information characterizing this island. Lies in the Andaman Sea, on the southern border of Thailand. The island is very small and cozy - you can get around it in a couple of hours. It is simply created for a calm, unhurried beach holiday and romantic adventures. There is no road transport, but only a couple - a trio of motorcycles that play the role of a taxi, which almost no one uses. You should know, in addition to cars, there are no ATMs on Koh Lipe (in 2012 there were none for sure)! You need to come here only with cash and preferably with Thai baht, because. the local exchange rate is simply pirated.
But the rest of the benefits of tourist civilization - comfortable hotels, spas, cafes and restaurants are present in abundance. For such a tiny island, there are even plenty of them here.
There are many vacationers, but they are somehow dispersed so that they do not interfere with each other much. There are no crowds on the beaches.
Getting to Koh Lipe is not easy. To do this, you need to change several modes of transport. If anyone needs, then how to get to this piece of paradise, read .

Pattaya Beach

There are only three beaches on the island. The central one is called Pattaya Beach - this is the most densely populated area. Most of the hotels, including the most comfortable ones, are concentrated here. Note that the entrance to the water is clean and smooth, the beach is the best suited for families with children.

Popular hotels in Pattaya Beach:

Hotel AKIRA Lipe - for those who appreciate increased comfort on vacation
Hotel Mali Koh Lipe - wonderful bungalows, perhaps the best hotel in Koh Lipe in terms of price / quality combination
Seaside Resort and Family Restaurant - one of the most budget options on the island, bamboo bungalows with a fan from about 800 rubles.

The pier where boats arrive from the mainland and other islands is also located here.

The main and by and large the only shopping street of Ko Lipe - Walking Street, ran from Pattaya Beach to the calmer Sunrise Beach.

Sunrise Beach

This beach is the second most popular on the island. Housing is different. From expensive resorts and duplex bungalows to bamboo houses for 300 baht per night. True, such houses cannot be booked via the Internet, only on the spot, but they are almost always sold out, because. this is the only such resort on Lipa.
Sunrise Beach is a calm and quiet place, perfect for a leisurely vacation.

Popular hotels in Sunrise Beach:

Idyllic Concept - for those who appreciate comfort
Anda Resort Lipe - excellent bungalows with glass walls and sea views, hammocks on the balconies and plush beds

Sunset Beach

The third beach on Lipa is the most remote, smallest and least crowded Sunset Beach. The beach is not large and little built up, there is little housing and it is relatively inexpensive. There are almost no tourists in this part of the island.

Popular hotels in Sunset Beach:

Smile Sunset - nice bungalows in quiet place with great sunset views
Phuritra Resort - pleasant bungalows on the rocks with a pleasant panorama of the uninhabited islands of the reserve
Mountain Resort Koh Lipe - an excellent combination of price / quality, great views of excellent bungalows and simply gorgeous territory, one of the best hotels Koh Lipe

The beach bears the name Sunset for a reason; you can watch beautiful sunsets from it.

All Koh Lipe hotels on the map

To go to the hotel view, simply click on the marker, to change the display of the number of hotels, change the scale (+/-), to sort by cost, use the price range scale.

In the depths of Ko Lipe, closer to Sunset Beach, there is a simple Buddhist temple but with a wonderful atmosphere and energy.

What to do on Koh Lipe besides a beach holiday

Of course trips to nearby uninhabited islands
and snorkeling.
The underwater world here is one of the best in Thailand. In order to make such a trip, you can contact one of the many agencies and buy a mini-tour, or you can negotiate directly with local boaters. By the way, newlyweds, and just lovers, can organize an unforgettable romantic adventure in this way ...
Those who dream of feeling like a Robinson can go on a trip to the islands on their own. See an example of such a trip.

And of course, kayak rentals are at your service, on which it is very interesting to walk around Koh Lipe or to the ranger station on the island of Koh Adang. The ranger station is a place for those who are looking for solitude, silence and a little rest from the problems of civilization. You can stay in one of several bungalows or in a tent, including your own.
But be careful, do not leave things unattended! Monkeys live here - thieves hiding in the branches of trees.
Almost all restaurants, cafes, shops are concentrated on Walking Street, which is also the center nightlife islands. Travel agencies, exchange offices and diving centers are also to be found here.

Well, in the evening, after hard travel work, a well-deserved rest awaits you - a cocktail
and dinner by the sea.
However, it should be noted that the prices on Koh Lipe, compared to other resorts in Thailand, are very high. So, if you are going to this piece of paradise with white sandy beaches, crystal clear water and reserved beauty uninhabited islands in the neighborhood - be prepared to spend a lot. And do not forget about the lack of ATMs.

Have a nice holiday!

This one can be called one of the most beautiful. This article will talk about one amazing corner of the Earth. This place is the island of Koh Lipe (Thailand). Attractions, holiday features and reviews will be presented below in this article.

The presented island is developing quite rapidly, in connection with the desire to meet the requirements of growing tourism in these amazingly beautiful and warm places. Therefore, certain global problems arise: an increase in the volume of garbage, the likelihood of a decrease in the diversity of animal populations. Today, serious projects are being developed, the main goal of which is to preserve the island of Koh Lipe in its pure original form.

Koh Lipe (Thailand): general information

This small island ok of the Adang-Ravi archipelago, located in the Adaman Sea. Located in Koh Lipe in the province of Setun, located in the southwestern part of Thailand. This fabulous piece of paradise borders on Malaysia.

The name of the island sounds in completely different versions, the most common of which are the following: Koh Lipe, Koh Lipeh, Koh Laip and Koh Lipei. The location of the island is the border with Tajutao (sea national park), next to the larger islands: Koh Ravi and Koh Adan. This place has long been inhabited by Malaysian sea gypsies, who are known as "Chao Lei" and "Urak Lavoy".

Thailand is great for tourists. Lipe is one of the most beautiful places. It is located about 50 kilometers from Ko Tarutao (island).

Koh Lipe is 2.5 kilometers long and 1.5 kilometers wide. The widest territory of the island in the shape of the letter "L" was inhabited by the same sea gypsies(there are about 500 of them). They live in small villages, mostly in the east, close to Sunrise Beach. Therefore, their main occupation is the tourism business.

Tourism

Koh Lipe (Thailand) has three main beach areas: Pattaya, Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach. Compared to neighboring islands, this is the most popular place recreation for tourists. A small island, shaped like a triangle, is located 2 kilometers from about. Ko Adang. Most of the locals were resettled here between the wars from the island of Koh Lanta. The reason for the action was the preservation of Thai territory from the invasion of the British, who colonized Malaysia.

In Koh Lipe, as well as in neighboring islands, there are also great places for diving and snorkeling.

On the territory of the island there are many diving centers and shops that rent the necessary equipment for snorkeling (swimming with a mask and fins). Also organized here interesting excursions on a ship by sea.

The water on Koh Lipe is amazingly clear and calm, making it ideal for snorkeling. A total of 25% of tropical fish species around the world live in sea waters at this place. In coral reefs at great depths, you can find fish of the largest species. Beautiful and convenient for recreation in all respects Koh Lipe.

Reviews, advantages

For tourists on the island, there are a huge number of guest houses and hotels, and almost all of them are located on the coast, especially in the eastern part of the island. These are four-star hotels, and hotels of the 3-star class. There are also more modest establishments. Below are the best, according to tourists, hotels in Koh Lipe (Thailand). Reviews and impressions about the rest in them are the most wonderful.

1. Sawan Resort 2* is considered one of the most comfortable and pleasant options for recreation. It offers accommodation in one of the 5 villas, comfortably arranged on the northern coast of the island. It is located away from the more noisy Koh Lipe. Sunset Beach is just a 3-minute walk and Pattaya Beach is a 10-minute walk. Accommodation prices here depend on the house, but almost all of them are quite cozy and comfortable.

2. Ten Moons Lipe Resort 2* represents the most romantic vacation option. It represents 15 bungalows built of wood, in the jungle, near the beach with white clean sand. This place is also relatively calm and not heavily built up. The only small minus is the small beach that gets crowded when in large numbers vacationers.

Attractions

Such notable places almost none on Koh Lipe. Only in the center of the island is the Hantalai Buddhist temple, which can be reached from the pedestrian street along the road leading to Sunset Beach (i.e. between Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach). This temple is located in the jungle on a hill. It does not look like the usual other temples in Thailand - with luxurious roofs and impressive staircases with fabulous dragons. It represents a shack with a pair of statues and multi-colored ribbons. In the center of the institution stands a large statue of the Golden Buddha. Local residents of Koh Lipe (Thailand) come to pray to her every day.

Several monks live in Khantalai, who take care of the large number of dogs and cats that live here with them. Although this temple does not look aesthetically pleasing, like many other more luxurious temples in Thailand, it is still a worthy attraction of this place. He also has an incredibly strong energy. Being here, people get peace and tranquility. In addition, the age-old tradition here is that the monks from the temple go in the morning to alms. This fascinating event can be seen every morning on the island's main walking street at 7 o'clock.

How to get there?

There are always many who want to go on vacation to Koh Lipe (Thailand). How to get there?

The closest airports are in the Trang and Hat Yai areas. Both are located about 100 kilometers from Pakbara Pier. Hat Yai receives daily flights from Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The plane arrives in Trang only from Bangkok. It turns out that the Russians have to get to rest with transfers, possibly with two. Some flights include a transfer and a ferry to Koh Lipe (but this is only from Hat Yai). Otherwise, you can book and and minibus to the island in tourist offices at any railway station.

The nearest railway stations are also located in Hat Yai and Trang. Every day two trains arrive from Bangkok. A train from Malaysia also arrives in Hat Yai.

On your own

Many travelers themselves get to Koh Lipe (Thailand). How to get there on your own? After arriving in Thailand, the easiest and easiest way to get to the island is via Pakbar Pier (twice a day). There is an hourly songtheo service from Satun to Pak Bara ( public bus), which travels to the final stop for about 50 minutes. There is also an opportunity to get on the Ferryboat, the ticket for which costs 100 baht less, but the journey takes 1.5 hours longer.

Many travelers use the purchase of combined tickets: a minibus plus a ferry from Trang, Krabi or Hat Yai to Koh Lipe. And these places can be reached from Bangkok and other cities in Thailand by bus.

A bit about the western part of the island

Many of the trees growing on eastern Koh Lipe have been uprooted in recent years. Their place was taken by modern concrete structures. But there is also a western part on this island, which remains almost untouched by people. On it you can use wild beaches and the jungle for those who like to retire from the hustle and bustle and merge with the magnificent nature.

Here you can wander among the trees and crowds of dark gray boulders scattered along the slope. Climbing on them, you can admire the amazing pure natural nature.

Conclusion

Koh Lipe (Thailand) is a unique combination of beauty with a special atmosphere of almost untouched nature. This is one of the beautiful paradise places in Thailand.

It is noteworthy that you can still find wild deserted beaches and places with amazing views and great atmosphere.

However, is it for long? A few more years and the last pristine parts of the heavenly place will be built up with piers, hotels, bars and other facilities ... So, now we need to seize the moment. After all, there are not so many such places in the world.

Koh Lipe is located in the south of Thailand, on the border of the territorial waters of Thailand and Malaysia.
There are several options for getting to Koh Lipe.

1) Any airport in Thailand-> Hat Yai (air) -> taxi to Pakbara (1800 baht). Pakbara -> Koh Lipe by high-speed ferry or speedboat 3 times a day.

For example from Bangkok (Don Muang) to Hat Yai flight Lion Air at 7:45.
At 9:15 in Hat Yai. Receipt of baggage.
Exit and choice of transfer (group by minibus or individually by taxi) to Pakbara. Travel time 1:30.
Pakbara: 11:30 a.m. speedboat ticket purchase to Koh Lipe (450 baht) + 20 baht pier fee.
Travel time to Koh Lipe 1:30.
Disembarkation either directly on the shore or on a floating platform (depending on the tide / low tide).
If landing on the platform, then +50 baht for delivery to the shore by boat at 13:00

2) Malaysia. From the island Langkawi(Langkawi), Malaysia on the ferry Langkawi - Koh Lipe ().
3) Koh Lanta. From the island of Koh Lanta (Krabi province) on a speedboat.
4) Trang. From the pier Hat Yao Pier(Trang) on the yellow high-speed ferry http://www.tigerlinetravel.com/
5) Phuket. From the pier Rassada(Phuket) by high-speed ferry with two stops Phi Phi and Hat Yao (Trang):

I described in detail how we got to Koh Lipe from Phuket
Transfer: morning (7:15) flight Phuket - Hat Yai + taxi to pakbara + speedboat to Koh Lipe allows you to be on Koh Lipe by lunchtime of the same day.

There are several more exotic options, but due to their exoticism and time-consuming nature, I will not consider them here.
However, option 3 is also not interesting to describe, since the transfer is by speedboat - therefore, it is very seasonal and depends on the weather (it is canceled if there is a big bumpiness).
The most common option is to travel by speedboat or ferry (from November to May) to Koh Lipe from the pier of Pakbara village (Pakbara), Satun province (the nearest airports are Hat Yai and Trang).

What is the famous village of Pakbara (Pakbara)

It used to be a creepy hole
When I first came to Pakbaru, there was not a single hotel in the fishermen's village, except for 4 rooms on the second floor of a grocery store with one toilet in the corridor for everyone. And the ship that delivered tourists from Pakbara to Koh Lipe was made of wood and resembled a Spanish galleon of the 15th century (it broke twice per flight)

Now you don’t recognize Pakbaru: 7/11 store, ATMs, seafood restaurants (albeit Muslim with a menu in Thai)
The port at Pakbar is a stone and glass building.
It’s a pity I don’t have photos of the Pakbara-2002 port at hand: sandbags on the river bank, on which 2 boards are thrown

How to get to Pakbara

The closest airports to Pakbara are:
– Trang(Trang)
– Hat Yai(Hat Yai)
Trang airport is a little closer to Pakbare than Hat Yai airport.

For example: you flew to Trang from Bangkok ()
Exit to the arrivals hall and approach the transfer desk (left side of the hall).
A taxi to Pakbara costs 2,200 baht and an hour and a half on the way. The price is fixed and written on a billboard in front of the counter.
If you have tickets for a fast ferry tiger line, then you need to take a taxi to the pier Hat Yao- it's 50 minutes from Trang airport)

You can cooperate with someone and share the cost of a taxi.
You can go out onto the main road and try to find a ride or negotiate with a taxi directly.
But the fact remains: from Trang airport to Pakbara taxi 2200 baht.
Taxi ride from Trang Airport to Pakbara Pier: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Speedboat timetable from Pakbara to Koh Lipe

The schedule changes depending on the season, the weather and the number of tourists gathering on Koh Lipe.
In general, it is better to clarify the information on the spot.
As of August 2016, the schedule looked like this:

Something can be viewed on the website http://kohlipethailand.com/koh-lipe/transport/boat-timetable/
Speedboats depart from Pakbara at 9:30, 11:30 and 15:30 during low season.
The best option would be to ride the first speedboat at 9:30 so be there (in Koh Lipe) at 11-11:30
To do this, you need to come to Pakbara the day before leaving for Koh Lipe.

See what flights arrive in Trang or Hat Yai on
Add 20 minutes to collect luggage and find a taxi.
Add 1.30 to get to Pakbara and 10 minutes to buy tickets and figure out which speedboat you have time for.

Where to sleep in Pakbar

There was a simple hotel near the pier - Best House.
But in August it looked like this, although it was offered by Agoda.

But there is something nearby - Marina Resort and Restaurant.
If you want more comfort, then it is better to stay in the city Langu 7 km from Pakbara.
For example, praise Farmsuk residence and resort or Bara Resort, 3 km from the pier (on the right) - not in booking, but the houses are good.

The article contains all the useful information about the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand: how to get to the island, what to do, the beaches of Koh Lipe, hotels and other infrastructure. And, of course, our review with photos and tips.

On the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand

Koh Lipe: general information

Koh Lipe island- a small island in southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea in the province of Satun, located near Malaysia (the nearest Malaysian island of Langkawi is only 30 km away). Koh Lipe on the map

Koh Lipe is part of the maritime national park Tarutao, for visiting which you have to pay 200 baht per person (do not throw away tickets, they will come in handy if you go on a tour of the neighboring islands, and even before leaving the island we were required to show tickets!).

The island of Koh Lipe became known among tourists relatively recently: some 40 years ago it was inhabited by sea gypsies from Malaysia, and the first European tourists appeared in the 90s of the last century.

Koh Lipe: Sunrise Beach

I was lucky enough to visit Koh Lipe in Thailand in 2006 and find a small piece of paradise 🙂 At that time the island was already equipped for tourists, but, of course, not on such a scale as it is now: Koh Lipe had only cheap wooden bungalows, almost deserted beaches, one store in the center of the island and Pooh Bar - the only place on Koh Lipe where there was Internet 🙂 And in general, all Europeans gathered every evening in this bar for dinner and beer 🙂 There were no concrete roads on the island of Koh Lipe, there was sand everywhere, and before entering any room, you had to take off your shoes, and in general, shoes were not needed on the island - everyone went barefoot.

Koh Lipe in 2006

A couple of years later, the total development of the island began, the first large hotels appeared (some of them even with a swimming pool), old wooden bungalows were also reconstructed, and a little later Ko Lipe was connected by sea to Langkawi, an immigration office appeared on the beach for passport control upon arrival from Malaysia and departure from Thailand. A little later, the central street was concreted - this is how the walking street appeared.

Immigration office on Koh Lipe in the center of Pattaya Beach

Entrance to the promenade from Sunset Beach

Volkin Street: the main street was concreted and a walking street appeared with shops, cafes, bars

Roads almost all over the island were put in order

Although there are still clay and sandy roads on the island, and on the way to Sunrise Beach there are deposits of garbage

Pointers in the center of the island

Houses of local residents

But there are also such huts of local residents that have not changed at all in 10 years ... The funny thing is that huge plasma TVs hang on the walls in such houses 🙂

locals islands

There are many well-groomed cats and dogs on the island.

Of course, the development of the tourist infrastructure of the island could not but lead to an increase in the flow of tourists and crowds, huge crowds of vacationers, poured into Koh Lipe. For some reason, the Chinese especially fell in love with Lipe Island (every self-respecting Chinese wants to have a selfie with Koh Lipe and with 🙂). Yes, and there are enough other Asians now, especially Thais and Malaysians like to come to Lipe Island for holidays and weekends. There were times when there were so many tourists on the island that they did not fit in hotels, and people spent the night in tents on the beach!

According to rumors, travel agencies even tried to send our compatriots “packaged bags” to the island of Koh Lipe and people were very unhappy with what hole they were sent into (and where are the entertainment and shopping centers, as in? 🙂)

But now, fortunately, the unhealthy hype for the island has subsided, there are no our packages on Koh Lipe, but Chinese tourists come in large numbers, especially in winter for the Chinese New Year.

Bright colors of Koh Lipe

Schematic map of Koh Lipe

Map-outline of the island

Seasons and weather on Koh Lipe: when is the best time to go to the island

There are two main seasons on Koh Lipe:

Rainy and stormy season: from April-May to October
Dry season: November to April

Previously, the island was “closed” for the summer, due to severe storms in the sea, sea communication with the mainland almost completely stopped, hotel workers went on vacation 🙂 In recent years, communication with the island and the mainland of Thailand has not stopped all year round only reduced the number of flights. And the weather and climate are now so changeable that even in summer you can catch good sunny weather, and at the peak of the season get caught in the rain.

But hotel prices usually differ in three seasons:

Low season: summer
High season: October - November and March - April
Peak season: December - February

When is the best time to go to the island?

The most good weather on Koh Lipe in winter, in December - February, but during this period there are a lot of tourists on the island and prices for everything, especially for accommodation, rise significantly. In summer, the rainy season, but deserted beaches and low prices to hotels. In my opinion, the best time to visit Koh Lipe in Thailand is November and March-April.

The weather on the island depends on the seasons. best season in winter, but at this time there are a lot of tourists

How to get to Koh Lipe

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand is located in the Andaman Sea, the island is small, there is no airport here 🙂 The nearest airports to Koh Lipe are:

Hat Yai (Thailand)
Trang (Thailand)
Langkawi (Malaysia)

You can get to Lipa only by water - on fast boats or boats by sea that go from the piers:

Pakbara Pier, Thailand. It can be said that this is the main pier, the connection between Pakbara and Lipe is year-round
Trang (Hat Yao Pier), Thailand
Kuah (Kuah Jetty), Malaysia, Langkawi
Telaga Harbour, Malaysia, Langkawi

Direct water communication between Langkawi - Koh Lipe stops in the low season.

Also in the high season, sea communication between the islands opens - - Lanta - Lipe.

Many boats and boats bring tourists to the island

In short, the algorithm for how to get to Lipe Island is as follows:

Flight to or Kula Lumpur. We are looking for flights
Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, from Bangkok to Hat Yai or Trang, or you can get to Hat Yai by land - by bus or train
Taxi / minibus / transfer to the pier
Boat/Boat to Koh Lipe

A very detailed article with prices and tips on how to get to Koh Lipe from various places in Thailand, Malaysia and Russia:

Transport on the island: how to move

There are no big roads on the island of Lipe, there are no cars and few bikes (some locals ride bikes, but they don’t rent them to tourists 🙂)

Koh Lipe is a small island and you can move around it:

on foot
if necessary, take a motorbike taxi (this is a bike with a cart) for 50 baht per person one way or ride around the island for 400 baht / hour
bicycles for rent - 200 baht per day.
you can also move between the beaches by boat. But taxi boats on the island are not as common as, for example, on or in, because. almost all the beaches of the island of Koh Lipe can be easily walked

Moto taxi rates around the island

Hotels Koh Lipe: where to stay on the island

Every year more and more new hotels open on the island, but despite this, finding accommodation on the spot during the peak season can be a problem. Therefore, I advise you to book Koh Lipe hotels in advance.

Most hotels in Ko Lipe are located right on the coastline, many bungalow-type hotels, although there are hotels with rooms in buildings.

Air-conditioned bungalow right on the beach: Andaman Resort

A very popular hotel among Europeans

New villas on the green lawn of the Z-Touch Lipe Island Resort

One of the hotels in the center of the island

Prices for hotels in Koh Lipe are quite high:

a double room in an average hotel on the beach will cost +/- 3000 baht
cheap beach bungalows - from 1000 baht

Prices are for the high season, in summer housing is half the price. Perhaps you can find huts for 500 baht, for example, the houses in the photo below are right on the beach and belong to the Andaman Resort hotel. The cost was not known.

Very budget houses right on the beach

Sample prices for Koh Lipe hotels

A detailed article about Koh Lipe hotels with their features, prices, recommendations:

Our review of the hotel where we stayed for a few days:

All hotels in Koh Lipe can be booked on the following booking sites:

The beaches of Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe island in Thailand is famous for its gorgeous beaches. There are the following main beaches:

Pattaya Beach
Sunrise Beach
Sunset Beach
Karma Beach or north beach
Beaches in the bays

Pattaya Beach

The most popular beach in Koh Lipe is Pattaya Beach. It is located in a bay in the south of the island. snow white White sand, clear sea, not far from the coast of a living coral reef with fish. Good infrastructure, but sometimes noisy and crowded, especially when boats arrive with tourists from the mainland and Langkawi and in the evening before sunset. Details about Pattaya Beach:

Pattaya beach in the south of Koh Lipe

View of a piece of Pattaya Beach from the sea

Long and rather wide Pattaya beach

Before the boats leave, the beach can be crowded

Before sunset, a crowd of vacationers also gather here 🙂

Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach is the second most popular beach on Koh Lipe. I loved it for its peace and quiet. The beach has white coarse sand, a good sharp entry into the sea. More about this beach here:

Sunrise Beach: South

Sunrise Beach: North

Central part of Sunrise Beach

Sunset Beach

Beach in the west of Koh Lipe. The sand is grayish, the entry into the sea is very smooth, there are many picturesque stones on the shore. To be honest, this beach did not impress me at all, maybe we were on it at the wrong time ...

Sunset beach in the west of the island

Karma beach

Karma Beach or the beach next to the Mountain Resort Hotel is the northernmost beach of the island with a beautiful sandy spit (the spit is washed closer to winter, it may not be there in summer). The sand is very coarse, white, the sea is bright turquoise, beautiful view to the neighboring island of Adang. There are often strong winds on this beach in winter. Read more here:

Picturesque sand bar in the north of the island - the symbol of the island of Koh Lipe 🙂

Karma beach in the north of the island

Beach in the north of the island

What is the best beach in Koh Lipe? – it’s hard for me to answer this question, I like both Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach 🙂 A detailed description of all the beaches of Koh Lipe:

Almost all beaches of Koh Lipe are good 🙂

Infrastructure

The tourist infrastructure on the island is well developed. Of course, there are no large stores like Tesco and Big C on Lipe Island, but there are:

two 7 elevens (in which for some reason there are eternal queues)
small food shops
shops with souvenirs and beachwear
a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, which offer not only Thai cuisine and seafood, but also Indian and European food
bars and coffee shops
tents with pancakes, fruit shakes, ice cream
massage parlors
and even a beach club on Pattaya Beach 🙂
several ATMs, currency exchange (the exchange rate is not favorable, it is better to come to Koh Lipe with baht in cash)
tour agencies where you can buy a tour, tickets, exchange money, etc. and so on.
pharmacies
hospital

There are two 7-elevens on the island

Several pharmacies

Shops with souvenirs and beachwear

Cozy bars

Cafe with delicious ice cream

Pancakes, baguettes, croissants, fruit shakes, smoothies

Walking along Volkin Street

Evening relaxation on the beach

Basically, all the infrastructure is located in the center of the island on walking street. Read more here:

Prices for Koh Lipe

We can say the following about the prices on Koh Lipe: there are expensive hotels, prices are 7 levs higher than on the mainland, expensive fruits, but the prices in the cafe are quite adequate, I would say even low for such a quality of food.

This is not the first time I have noticed a strange feature for myself: on small islands in Thailand, everything is usually more expensive, except for food in a cafe. So it was, for example, on Phi Phi - the island is not cheap, and the food in the cafe is not only tasty, but also inexpensive!

For example, our average bill for a dinner with beer on Koh Lipe never exceeded 500 baht (except for one evening when we went to dinner at an unlimited buffet at the Progress restaurant).

Some prices on Koh Lipe:

Water 1.5 l at 7 lev - 26 baht
Yogurt - 21 baht
Coffee in seven - 60 - 65 baht
Ready meals in boxes at 7 leven (e.g. rice + meat) – 70 – 80 baht
Beer Chang 0.6 in seven - 90 baht, in a small shop - 65 baht
Packing of water 6 bottles of 1.5 liters in a shop - 100 baht
Pancakes with different fillings ~ 40 - 70 baht
Fish in a cafe ~ 240 baht
Squid, shrimp in a cafe ~ 150 baht
Tom yum ~ 120 - 150 baht
Rice with meat or seafood ~ 80 baht
Beef steak at the Steakhouse - 450 baht
Coffee in a cafe ~ 70 - 90 baht
Breakfast in a cafe - 200 - 300 baht

One of our dinners

Seafood buffet at Progress restaurant on Walking Street 490 baht per person

From 6 p.m. restaurants and cafes begin to put fish on display. Photo prices

Cocktails in bars average 200 baht, beer 100 baht

Things to do in Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe is an island for a relaxing beach holiday, there are no noisy parties, nightclubs or sights here 🙂 The main attraction of Ko Lipe is its beaches, neighboring islands of the national park and the underwater world. Therefore, the list of things to do on Koh Lipe is not so big:

Visit and swim on all the beaches of the island
Go snorkeling. Koh Lipe is the only place in Thailand where we have been where good snorkeling is near the shore
go to
Swim to the neighboring island of Adang
Take a course at a diving school - excellent diving spots near Koh Lipe
Eat - drink - sleep - go for a massage - relax 🙂

Cost of diving in Koh Lipe

Cost and description of sightseeing tours with Koh Lipe

Visiting neighboring islands during one of the excursions

View of Adang Island, which you can swim to by renting a boat

Adang: Taken at close zoom

Koh Lipe reviews

You know, there are places on earth that sink into the soul at first sight. I had a similar situation with Ko Lipe 🙂 I fell in love with the island not even at first sight, but even earlier, when I read about it on the forum (if I'm not mistaken, it was in 2003). Soon my dream came true: I flew to Thailand. But for the first time, the route was simpler and did not include the island of Koh Lipe, but included - -.

A little later, I nevertheless got to Lipe and was completely delighted with this tropical paradise. Years passed, countries alternated and beautiful islands(what beauty is worth in the Philippines or the islands of Saraya and Kanawa in Indonesia), but the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand always remained in my memory and I knew that someday I would definitely return there 🙂 And I returned after more than 10 years!

Yes, the island has changed (but I read about it and this fact did not come as a shock to me), but I still like it the same way as before. Most likely for those who are looking for parties, shopping, etc. and so on. it will be boring on Lipa (in this case it is better to go to Phuket), but it’s just right for us 🙂

Ko Lipe - my love for many years :)))

How many days to spend in Koh Lipe?

Many advise not to spend more than 3-4 days on the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand, but we spent almost a week on Lipe and did not want to leave at all. If you are traveling in Asia, then you can combine Ko Lipe with some more major island and city, for example routes can be the following: