Southern Thailand is a beautiful place to visit, but while many tourists stop at Phuket and Koh Phangan, there are less crowded paradise islands further down. The beautiful island of Koh Lipe is close to the border with Malaysia, but well worth the trip. It has even earned the adage that it is the “Maldives of Thailand” because of the white sand and coral reefs that surround it.
Located in the Andaman Sea, Koh Lipe has jungle, sand, and sea, as well as protected areas for marine life. This island is only two hours away from Malaysia’s Langkawi Island, which is another breathtaking beach vacation. There are various ways to get to Koh Lipe, with boats running from Phuket and Koh Lanta. You can also get a bus to Pakbara Pier in Satun and hop on a speedboat from there. Once you’re here, you can enjoy the activities that Koh Lipe and its picture-perfect surroundings have to offer.
What to do on Koh Lipe
Due to its coral reefs, snorkeling and diving to see tropical fish and turtles are both top activities in Koh Lipe. It is within Tarutao National Marine Park so plenty of wildlife can be found in this sanctuary. Look out for the Harlequin shrimp, white-spotted eagle rays, frogfish, guitarfish and tiger tail seahorse when you’re in the ocean. If you love to be in the water, you can kayak from Sunrise Beach to the very small island of Ko Kra.
After a day in the ocean, relax on one of its beaches, apart from Sunrise Beach, there is Sunset Beach, Sanam Beach, Karma Beach, and Pattaya Beach. The nearby Koh Adang Island is much quieter than Koh Lipe, and it has a viewpoint you can walk to for pretty views. It also has a small waterfall, a restaurant and a beach. Other nearby islands that you can visit on a boat trip include Koh Dong (Monkey Island), Koh Rawi, and Koh Hin Ngam. Out of this archipelago, Koh Lipe has the best places to stay.
Where to stay on Koh Lipe
It’s easy to find wonderful accommodations on this paradise island. A top-rated hotel on the island is the Ten Moons Lipe Resort. These bungalows on a private beach are a great place to watch the sunrise each morning. It is especially good for families as it offers children’s TV channels and high chairs.
The second highest-rated hotel in Koh Lipe is the Serendipity Beach Resort which is on Sunrise Beach. It is great for romance as it has a bridal suite, ocean views, a pool, and offers couples’ massages. Travelers also love its tasty breakfasts that set you up for a day of exploring. Another place with similar positive ratings is the Idyllic Concept Resort, also on Sunrise Beach. This resort has tropical gardens as well as panoramic views of the island and ocean. Whatever you do on your Thai trip, it will certainly show you why you don’t need a large budget to have the vacation of your dreams.
