Koh Lipe

The "Maldives of Thailand" at the southern tip of the Andaman Sea, with the crystal-clear waters of Tarutao National Marine Park and a walking street linking three beaches.

Koh Lipe lies at the southern tip of the Andaman Sea off Satun Province, only about 30 km from Langkawi in Malaysia, within Tarutao National Marine Park (an ASEAN Heritage Park). The island is less than 3 km² in area, and most residents are Urak Lawoi sea gypsies. Tourism is concentrated between Pattaya Beach on the south coast, Sunrise Beach in the northeast and Sunset Beach in the northwest, which are connected by a walking street and forest paths; the whole island can be explored on foot, and there are no cars. The surrounding islands — Koh Adang, Koh Rawi, Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Yang, Koh Jabang and others — form an archipelago of clear waters, and island-hopping and snorkeling by longtail boat is the main activity; dive shops also offer certification courses and deeper dives. Seasons: high season runs from about mid-November to mid-May, when seas are calm and speedboats operate; during the southwest monsoon from May to October, most routes are suspended, seas are rough and only a few boats run. Getting there: from Hat Yai Airport, transfer to Pak Bara pier (about 2 hours), then take a speedboat (about 1.5 hours); you can also take a speedboat from Langkawi (clearing immigration on the island), or high-season speedboats from Phuket, Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi. Stay 3–4 nights. Tips: a national park fee is charged on arrival; ATMs are scarce, and electricity and fresh water are relatively expensive; the pier is a floating platform, so mind your luggage when transferring to longtail boats; respect the sea gypsy villages and ask permission before taking photos.

Top sights

• Pattaya Beach, Koh Lipe – The longest crescent-shaped white-sand beach on the south shore of Koh Lipe, home to the speedboat floating pier and lined with restaurants…
• Sunrise Beach – A long sandy beach on the northeast corner of Koh Lipe, facing the green mountains of Adang Island. Watch the sunrise in the morning, or sn…
• Sunset Beach – A secluded small bay on the northwest side of Koh Lipe, surrounded by reefs and coconut palms. It is the top spot on the island to watch th…
• Walking Street, Koh Lipe – A pedestrian street linking Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach, lined with seafood restaurants, massage parlors, dive shops, and small bars.
• Ko Adang – A large island opposite Koh Lipe, covered in rainforest. From Chado Cliff you can see all of Koh Lipe, and there is also a 'Pirate Waterfal…
• Chado Cliff Viewpoint – A cliff viewpoint at the southern end of Ko Adang. A 30-minute climb up the mountain trail gives a view over Koh Lipe and the blue strait.
• Ko Rawi – An uninhabited island in the west of Tarutao National Marine Park, with white sand beaches and a clear lagoon. It is a must-stop on island-…
• Ko Hin Ngam – A small island whose entire beach is made of smooth black pebbles. Legend says whoever takes a stone will be cursed, and it is a signature…
• Ko Kra – A small island directly opposite Sunrise Beach. It can be reached by swimming or paddling, and the shallow reefs around it are free snorkel…
• Ko Yang – A small island on the west side of Ko Adang, with rich shallow-bay coral. It is often combined with Ko Rawi and Ko Hin Ngam in a snorkeling…
• Ko Jabang – A reef known for colorful soft corals, suitable for both diving and snorkeling. It is called the 'Soft Coral Garden.'
• Ko Hin Son – Stacked granite pillars in the sea southwest of Ko Rawi, resembling Stonehenge. It is a popular spot for photos and diving from boats.
• Ko Tarutao – The main island of Tarutao National Marine Park, with primordial rainforest, mangrove creeks, and the ruins of an old political prison. It…

Where to eat

• Nee Papaya Thai BBQ – A popular budget Thai restaurant at the end of Walking Street, where seafood is grilled by weight and the Thai salads a…
• On the Rocks Serendipity – A seaside restaurant built on rocks at the end of Sunrise Beach, about six meters above the sea, specializing in grille…
• Elephant Cafe Bar – A long-running café and bar on Walking Street, serving brunch and coffee by day and offering live music at night, open…

Itineraries

• Andaman Sea Island Hopping: Phuket to Langkawi – Island-hopping south from Phuket through Phi Phi, Railay, Lanta, Koh Mook and Koh Lipe, then crossing the sea to Langka…