Koh Lipe is a Thai island known for its coral-rich waters and the beautiful beaches. It’s located south of Thailand and can be accessed from different places either by plane, ferry, minivan, or bus. The easiest and cheapest way to reach Koh Lipe from Bangkok is to Fly to the Hat Yai airport which is the nearest airport to the island. Then take a bus to Pak Bara Pier, to take a ferry to Koh Lipe. The train takes 15 hours from Bangkok or you can take a 13 hour trip by bus to Hat Yai to take a minivan/taxi to Pak Bara Pier. You can travel to Koh Lipe through Pak Bara Pier as it’s the only pier that is available any time of the year. The other roads are closed during monsoon season. From Krabi/Ao Nang, you can take a minivan to Trang Province then hop on a 2-hour ferry trip to Koh Lipe. From Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta the ferry is your only option.

Koh Lipe Information

Koh Lipe is an “ L-shaped” island. Located near the Malaysia/Thailand border. It is originally inhabited by sea gypsies. The island is famous for scuba diving, snorkeling, and its coral reefs are very easy to reach. Koh Lipe has a handful of mid-range and budget resorts, accommodation options vary from bamboo bungalows to four stars resorts. There are 3 main beaches in Koh Lipe “Sunrise, Sunset, and Pattaya”. The island has a wide selection of bars, although if you’re looking for a party island, Koh Lipe is not for you as it’s nothing like Koh Phangan or Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Lipe Highlights

Trash Hero Project
It may not seem like a fun thing to do, I mean picking up trash on your holiday is probably not what you look up to during your vacation. But guess what? It’s actually fun, interesting and of course, it’s for a good cause. Koh Lipe is one of the cleanest islands in Thailand and it’s because of the efforts of the passionate travelers, organizations, and projects like Trash Hero. They lead a cleanup every Monday at 10 a.m of one of the islands nearby Koh Lipe. You don’t need to signup in advance and it’s free to join. Show up at the Walking Street entrance on Pattaya Beach and you will see the volunteers wearing yellow “Trash Hero” shirts.

Walking Street
At night this street comes alive when the fresh catch of the day is being grilled in seafood restaurants. The street is full of bars, shops, restaurants, massage, street food, guest houses, tour companies, and much more interesting things to do. It’s the ideal place in Koh Lipe to drink, eat and listen to music playing while the food is cooking and a beer in your hand. The main entrance is on Pattaya Beach and there is also a path from Sunset Beach that will lead you to the middle of the Walking Street.

Koh Lipe Viewpoint
Hiking to the Koh Lipe Viewpoint on the Chado Cliff is one of the most popular things to do on the island. You can find a simple map at the visitor’s center with instructions about what you need and how to hike up to the Chado Cliff. It takes from 35 to 45 minutes “ one way”, don’t try this hike wearing flip-flops as it’s pretty steep climbing up that hill and at some points there are ropes to hold on to, so make sure to wear decent shoes.

Diving and Snorkeling
Koh Lipe is located in the middle of the Tarutao National Marine Park, which makes it a great spot for diving as there are plenty of diving sites to explore. There are many reputable companies to choose from and you can get your Open Water Certificate from local diving shops or just go on fun dives. You can also grab fins and a mask and watch the beautiful marine life just a short way from shore.