Once hailed as “Thailand’s Secret Island”, tourism development has gotten the better of Koh Lipe and the island’s coastline is now lined with lavish resorts and international hotel chains. That doesn’t mean Koh Lipe has lost its charm, however. Its pristine beaches are hard to beat and its clear waters are home to 25% of the world’s tropical fish species. So sit back, relax and enjoy all that this tropical getaway has to offer.
Beaches
As a dreamy tropical island, of course the main thing you can do in Koh Lipe is to enjoy its white sand beaches. You have three main ones to choose from: Sunrise Beach (on the east side), Sunset Beach (on the west side), and Pattaya Beach (on the southern coast). All three feature pristine waters ready to welcome you on those hot summer days.
Island Hopping
If the packed beaches of Koh Lipe get a little too crowded for you, you have plenty of beautiful places to escape to near the island. A longtail boat day trip can take you to as many or as few islands as you like including Phuket, Koh Rawi, Koh Adang, Langkawi, Koh Phi Phi and Hin Ngam.
Snorkeling
You can snorkel right off any of the beaches in Koh Lipe but the best spots are near the surrounding islands. Koh Kra and Koh Usen (two islands just off Sunrise Beach) offer a great opportunity to see a variety of marine life. And at both ends of Pattaya Beach, the terrain becomes a little rockier meaning coral reefs thrive here.
Scuba Diving
Koh Lipe is located in the Tarutao National Marine Park so its diving sites are some of the best in Thailand. Its waters are bursting with flourishing corals and wild marine life including seahorses, crabs, manta rays, hawksbill turtles and a variety of sharks. With plenty of diving sites, Koh Lipe has something to offer to all types of divers from first-timers to certified divers.
Thai Massage
Thailand is the place to go for beauty and spa treatments and Koh Lipe is one of the best islands to splurge on them. There are plenty of places to get a traditional Thai massage around the island but one of the best is the Castaway Resort which features a relaxing spa with sea views.
Walking Street
Photo by qaustic
Koh Lipe is a fairly small island so you won’t find many shops or restaurants here outside of the luxurious resorts. Fortunately, however, you have Walking Street where you’ll find plenty of food stalls serving up the freshest seafood and small shops selling all kinds of unique souvenirs. If you visit the island during the high season, Walking Street is also the place to go to mingle with people from all over the world.
Related: Best places to see in Thailand
