KOH LIPE
Thiland Secret Island
BY AIZAT MUSTAFFA
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Koh Lipe is a small island in the Southern part of the Thai Andaman Sea. It is famous for it’s white sandy beaches, crystal clear water and abundant marine life.
huts to plush luxury resorts with a swimming pool. There is a great variety of restaurants on the island ranging from tasty Thai street food to delicious international cuisine. Several coffee shops and bars are there to keep you caffeinated and hydrated.
Koh Lipe is located 60 km from the Thai Mainland, the closest pier is in Pak Bara. It is the most Getting there Southern island in Thailand and on a clear day you can see Langkawi Island in Malaysia, which The main transport hub for Koh Lipe is Pak Bara is just 30 km away. with daily boats running all year. Minibuses and taxi’s are available to the closest airport in Hat The island is part of the Adang Archipelago, a Yai, or to other destinations in the south like Kracluster of about 10 uninhabited islands (Koh bi and Ao Nang. Lipe being the exception). Day trips to the surrounding islands are popular and highly recom- In high season daily boats connect Koh Lipe to mend as they are the best way to explore the Langkawi, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket and marine park. other islands in the Andaman Sea. This cluster of islands is part of the much larger Tarutao National Marine Park, a nature reserve established in 1974 as Thailand’s second National Park. It consists of about 50 islands and covers 1500 km².
Getting around Koh Lipe is a small and relatively flat island, it’s name means “Paper Island” in the local Sea Gypsy (Chao Ley) language.
Everything you need for the perfect holiday!
There are 3 main beaches on Koh Lipe and a handful of smaller, sometimes private beaches. Koh Lipe’s white sandy beaches are perfect for Koh Lipe’s main street is called “Walking Street” relaxing and you can snorkel right of all them. and closes down for motorbikes from 18:00 until Several top dive sites are close by for the more 24:00 in high season. adventurous underwater explorers. There are plenty of other things to do too! Everything is connected by concrete roads, and it usually takes between 10 and 20 minutes to You can sleep in anything from simple bamboo walk between 2 of the main beaches. PAGE 2
In the night time most roads are lit by streetlights but it’s a good idea to take a torch if you go out and explore in the dark.Since 2013 there are official motorbike taxi’s (with sidecar) that can take a couple of people for a fixed price per person. You can spot the taxi drivers by their purple jacket and their colourful motorbikes. When to go? Koh Lipe has seen a large increase in visitors in the last decade and has now become an all year destination. The island can be reached year around from Pak Bara. In high season boats also connect to Langkawi, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket and several small islands in the Andaman Sea.
hotel deals to be had. Peak season is around 15 December until the end of February: most rooms and transport tickets are fully booked months in advance and arriving on Koh Lipe without a reservation can be a very stressful experience. The main transport hub for Koh Lipe is Pak Bara with daily boats running all year. Minibuses and taxi’s are available to the closest airport in Hat Yai, or to other destinations in the south like Krabi and Ao Nang. Sunset Beach is a small bay facing west to the rest of the island group, and, as the name
Weekends tend to be more busy all year on Koh Lipe as Thai and Malaysian tourists flock to the island for a weekend break. Transport and hotel reservations are highly recommended on friday, saturday and sunday, especially when there is a national holiday. High season is from November until early May: reservations for transport and hotels is recommended. Peak season is around 15 December until the end of February: most rooms and transport tickets are fully booked months in advance and arriving on Koh Lipe without a reservation can be a very stressful experience. Low season, or green season as the locals call it, is from May to October. There are a lot less tourists and it isn’t difficult to find a quiet spot on the beach. Although the island is now open all year with 2 boats running to and from Pak Bara every day, some of the hotels and other businesses still close down. It’s a great time to go if you enjoy quiet time on the beach and there a great PAGE 3
Pattaya Beach
weather in low season, and has a pleasant breeze on most days in high season. The school, hospital and a small Chao Ley village are also located here.
Koh Lipe’s main beach is a large sheltered bay with soft powdery sand, crystal-clear blue water and good snorkeling right from the beach. There is a wide range of accommodation on Pattaya Accommodation is more spread out than on Beach, but over the last few years there has Pattaya Beach, and there are still a few cheap been a trend for larger, more upmarket resorts. places around. Several upmarket resorts have opened over the last few years. There are a few In high season all boats arrive on Pattaya Beach, small restaurants and shops nearby at the beginwith Immigration and Police located at the South- ning of Walking Street. ern end, to the left if you are looking at the ocean. Sunset Beach (Hat Pramong) There are a dozens of bars and restaurants on the beach or around the corner in Walking Street. Sunset Beach is a small bay facing west to the In high season it can get quite busy, but the other beaches are only a short 15-minute walk away, so it is still relatively easy to escape the crowds. Sunrise Beach (Hat Chao Ley) Sunrise Beach stretches out along the entire Eastern side of Koh Lipe. On clear days it’s possible to see Koh Tarutao and Langkawi Island (Malaysia). It features great snorkeling around the 2 tiny islands Koh Kra and Koh Usen, located right of the beach. The Northern tip of the beach, facing Koh Adang features a seasonal sand spit. It faces Koh Tarutao in low season, and in high season the change of wind and current make it face the opposite way. It’s a beautiful spot all year around. Sunrise Beach is protected from the monsoon PAGE 4
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ipe island was first discovered by the Chao Ley (or Sea Gypsies) who would travel from island to island in search of the best fishing in the areas to feed themselves and their tribes. The Chao Ley eventually found a permanent home on Koh Lipe and were given a grant to settle on the island’s eastern beach (Koh Lipe Sunrise Beach) and have since remained there.
Ferry And Speedboat Schedule for Koh Lipe. If you want any help with your travels be sure to Contact Us and we can arrange any travel from flights, boats, buses, trains, mini-buses, etc. to and from anywhere in Thailand and Malaysia. Be sure to visit our Travel Information Page to secure the information you need to make sure you get where you’re trying to go, and cheaply too!
Pattaya BeachThere are many new Koh Lipe Hotels to choose from for your holiday. It really depends on what you want and need from your accommodation choice. Use the handy form on the left side of all of our pages to check availability.
Koh LipeTranslated into the local Chao Ley language, Koh Lipe literally means “Island Paper, or Paper Island.” It is still considered by many an undiscovered secret in Thailand, one of the few remaining as Thailand tourism booms at record levels.
Pattaya Beach is by far the most populated area on the island so it’s more of a busy vibe. The east coast or Sunrise Beach, which stretches from the south to the north of the island, and as the name suggests, faces the sunrise and the northern end of Sunrise Beach, Karma Beach, faces Koh Adang, offers a mix of both so if you want to experience everything be sure to find some accommodation on Sunrise Beach. The west or Sunset Beach offers a relaxed, laid-back vibe to get away from the stresses of daily life. There is also a Koh Lipe Walking Street that is in the middle of the island and connects Pattaya and Sunrise Beach. Walking Street is filled with great accommodation and shops!
The beaches are pearly white and unscathed, the views will leave you breathless (don’t worry, there is a local hospital nearby!) The waters are crystal clear and the marine life is absolutely amazing, the locals will treat you like family, the food will leave your taste buds begging for more,
Koh LipeThe island itself is not so difficult to reach, but it’s still quite a secret. From the middle of November until late May (high season) you can get to Lipe from several places. Koh Lipe is an excellent choice for your first or last stop in Thailand as its located in close proximity to Pak Bara, Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Krabi, Hat Yai, and Langkawi, Malaysia. It’s also only a hop away to Samui and Koh Tao. These are all of course in the very south of Thailand.
and your body won’t need anymore relaxation after a short holiday here. You might be wondering what exactly there is to do on this island, well... there’s something for everybody. In fact, there’s so much to do you might seriously consider extending your trip a week or two just to get everything done. Check out our Activities Page for some great things to do. These waters are many visitors number 1 choice for diving, snorkeling, and fishing. It’s no wonder why many world class divers visit every year.
Lipe also has an immigration office and is only about 1 hour away from Langkawi in Malaysia, so it’s a great place to do a visa run, or exit Thailand from an island. If you’re visiting anytime not in between November and May then the only place that can transport you to Lipe is from Pak Bara. You can be sure that with this site you will find the best informa We’ve also provided you with an up-to-date PAGE 6
ACCOMMODATION ON KOH LIPE
Koh Lipe review – Sunrise Beach & Gipsy Resort January 5, 2013 • 4 Comments The cool kids on the Internet rate Koh Lipe’s Western beach Pattaya higher than Sunrise, but not me – head East people. Where Sunrise really scores over Pattaya is the lack of Longtail noisepollution – it’s just a nicer strip of sand to lounge about on than the bustle of the busier bay. For my visit in mid-November Sunrise was flotsam-free, though dotted with the odd piece of glass – by all means stare lovingly into her/ his eyes as you wander along this romantic idyll, but do remember to look down occasionally.
Sunrise, Sunrise Beach Koh Lipe For an established resort island, Snorkelling is also surprisingly good on Sunrise. I’d expected the combination of longtail diesel leaks, pollution and anchor damage to have turned the bay into a marine desert, so it was great to see that almost every boulder had something of interest in residence – those with kids will be happy to learn that locating camera-tart “Nemo” anemonefish is super easy – just look for anything soft and wavy on a rock and they won’t be far away. Look just a little deeper and the snorkelling gets even better – just a hundred metres or so off the Southern end of Sunrise sits the islet of Koh Usen, with a bunch of cool stuff to see – lobster and small boxfish, plus a bunch of pretty bannerfish swimming over healthy mountain coral, anenomes and spiky urchins. My swim across to Koh Usen was current-free, but keep a lookout for the longtail taxis continually crossing the
channel, even though their awareness of swimmers in the water was excellent – I put my head up each time one approached and the boatmen
all indicated they’d seen me. Gipsy Resort, Sunrise Beach Accommodation on Koh Lipe – my choice Arriving in mid-November as Koh Lipe resort owners start to catch the first scent of high season, 750 baht a night gets you a smart concrete bungalow at Travelfish standout Gipsy Resort, one of 10 or so in two facing rows set back from Sunrise Beach. Bucket flush only, but spotlessly clean with airy bathrooms and bright LED lighting available 24hrs (remember that not everywhere on Lipe does round-the-clock power). Gipsy also has a phalanx of classic bamboo budget beds if you don’t mind a slightly murkier maison. In my home-for-120-hours several classy details
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sealed the satisfaction deal – foot-level tap at the front of your porch to wash the sand off; brush to keep the tiles clean; comfy hammock; solid mosquito net sans bug invasion routes; entirely redundant toilet tissue (what with there being a perfectly serviceable bum gun) and surprisingly non-threadbare towels. There’s Higgs-Boson WiFi in the beachfront restaurant – the signal has been proven to exist on a theoretical level, even if practical applications are limited – you’ll be able to taunt your friends back home with the odd status update, but forget 1080p HD Skype fun.
tion of longtail diesel leaks, pollution and anchor damage to have turned the bay into a marine desert, so it was great to see that almost every boulder had something of interest in residence – those with kids will be happy to learn that locating camera-tart “Nemo” anemonefish is super easy – just look for anything soft and wavy on a rock and they won’t be far away.
Look just a little deeper and the snorkelling gets even better – just a hundred metres or so off the Southern end of Sunrise sits the islet of Koh Usen, with a bunch of cool stuff to see – lobster and small boxfish, plus a bunch of pretty bannerfish swimming over healthy mountain coral, Gipsy is Spanish-owned, with Nespresso on tap anenomes and spiky urchins. My swim across for the caffeine cognoscenti, plus excellent 30 to Koh Usen was current-free, but keep a lookbaht filter coffee served in funky mid-90s chic out for the longtail taxis continually crossing the Friends-style shallow earthenware. The restau- channel, even though their awareness of swimrant is beachside at the front of the resort and mers in the water was excellent – I put my head all the basics are on the menu – from pad thai up each time one approached and the boatmen through tuna on wholewheat to the ubiquitous all indicated they’d seen me. traveller favourite – banana pancake, Euro- Gipsy Resort, Sunrise Beach blinged here with the classy touch of both vanilla Accommodation on Koh Lipe – my choice creme and honey on the side. Roberto, the owner, is friendly and helpful, as are his staff. Just Arriving in mid-November as Koh Lipe resort normal chairs and tables in front of the restau- owners start to catch the first scent of high searant sadly – a couple of lounging platforms with son, 750 baht a night gets you a smart concrete cushions on the beach and the place would be bungalow at Travelfish standout Gipsy Resort, pushing perfect. one of 10 or so in two facing rows set back from Sunrise Beach. Bucket flush only, but spotlessly Koh Lipe review – Sunrise Beach & Gipsy Resort clean with airy bathrooms and bright LED lighting January 5, 2013 • 4 Comments available 24hrs (remember that not everywhere on Lipe does round-the-clock power). Gipsy also The cool kids on the Internet rate Koh Lipe’s has a phalanx of classic bamboo budget beds if Western beach Pattaya higher than Sunrise, you don’t mind a slightly murkier maison. but not me – head East people. Where Sunrise really scores over Pattaya is the lack of Longtail noise-pollution – it’s just a nicer strip of sand to lounge about on than the bustle of the busier bay. For my visit in mid-November Sunrise was flotsam-free, though dotted with the odd piece of glass – by all means stare lovingly into her/his eyes as you wander along this romantic idyll, but do remember to look down occasionally. Sunrise, Sunrise Beach Koh Lipe For an established resort island, Snorkelling is also surprisingly good on Sunrise. I’d expected the combinaPAGE 8
FACILITIES
Immigration
point you to the nearest Tourist Police Volunteer.
The Immigration Office is located on the Eastern side of Pattaya Beach, next to Bundhaya Resort. Currently the office is only open from the end of October until the end of May, when the boats to Langkawi are running.
Hospitals
The local hospital is located next to the school on Sunrise Beach. There is a doctor that speaks English and a nurse. The hospital has a basic stock off medical supplies, and can provide first You can only enter Thailand here if you country aid. In case of an emergency transport to the is allowed for a Tourist Visa Exemption. Please mainland can be organised. (085 - 454 3814) check the visa regulations for your country. Note that if you enter Thailand of land or sea you will There is a small clinic next to Pooh Restaurant only receive a 15 day Visa, unlike when you fly that has a doctor that speaks great english and into Thailand, when you receive 30 days. (Appli- accept all major travel insurance. cable for some countries). A large private hospital is currently being built in walking street, about 200 meters from Pattaya Police & Tourist Police Beach, it is estimated to open at the end of 2014. The Police Office is located behind Immigration on Pattaya Beach. There are several Tourist Po- Pharmacy lice Volunteers on Koh Lipe, they are your first help in case of any emergency. They are friendly A well-stocked pharmacy is located at the beginand generally speak English, you can recognize ning (opposite Phi Phi bakery) and in the middle them by their black Tourist Police T-shirt. Koh (next to 7/11) of Walking Street, both owners Lipe is a small island and most people know each speak very good English and are knowledgeother, so in case you need help, everybody can able. They can be a good source for help if your PAGE 9
problem is not too serious. Another pharmacy is located near the intersection (near Sunrise Beach), next to Harmony Bed and Bakery. Money There are currently 2 ATM or cash machines on Koh Lipe: one is located at 7-Eleven, in de middle of walking street. Another one is located near the intersection near Sunset Beach. More are on the way. The other way to get money is a cash advance on your credit card at most big resorts and at the Koh Lipe Thailand Travel Shop in Walking Street. Most places charge 5% for this service. It’s also possible to exchange foreign currency at the same places. Internet Wifi is available at some resorts, bars and restaurants, there are internet cafes and shops too. The service can be slow due to the fact that everything has to go via sate lite, Lipe Island is to far from the island to be connected to cable internet. If you want quick internet it is best to buy a local sim card and use their 3G service. Mobile Phones Mobile phone and data is available trough DTAC and AIS (True Move is not yet available on Koh Lipe). 3G service is available. Local prepaid sim cards are available at at some of the minimarts and several shops around the island, and offer a cheap alternative for local and international calls, but also for accessing the internet. Electricity Electricity is 24/7 on Koh Lipe, as most places are now served by a central power station.
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