If Koh Lipe has not made it to your list of best beach destinations in Thailand, you should reconsider adding it to the top rank. Why is that? The answer is simple, this little gem of the Andaman sea is another paradise on earth; it has white silky sand to dig your toes in, calm turquoise sea to refresh you, and abundant activities to keep you entertained. And no worries about the crowd, even though the popularity of Koh Lipe has been rising over the years, you will not see the same amount of crowd as in Phuket.
Koh Lipe will fulfill you every need
Traveling is not as convenient as other beach destinations and the island itself is quite small that walking from one beach to another will not take more than 20 minutes. So yes, beach hopping in one day is totally doable! Koh Lipe consists of three main beaches: Sunrise, Sunset, and Bundhaya. As the names suggest, Sunrise beach and Sunset beach are perfect for watching the sun… Both beaches are calm and peaceful with the Sunset beach being the most quiet beach on the island. The most crowded beach is Bundhaya, where many hotels, restaurants, and bars are located.
If your beach vacay is not completed without beach party, then head to Bundhaya. Getting lazy from chilling on the beach soaking up the sun and want to spice up your beach vacay? Here are some of the activities you should consider doing during your stay on Koh Lipe. The MUST is snorkeling and diving, as the island offers a wide array of marine life and colorful coral reefs. Another highlight is island hopping (usually includes snorkeling); take either a half or a full day private boat trip to the nearby islands and, if lucky enough, you might find a peaceful empty beach all for yourself. This boat trip usually costs around 1,500 – 3,000 baht. Other activities include stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, yoga, cooking class, Thai massage and strolling down the walking street.
From Bangkok, depending on your choice of transportation, it can take 7 – 16 hours to arrive on the island. Here are the options.
Flight & Ferry
This is the fastest and most convenient way that we recommend. Nok Air and AirAsia, the local low-cost airlines, offer a complete transportation package that takes around 7 hours. It includes
the flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai, the bus from Hat Yai to Pakbara pier, and the ferry to Koh Lipe. Easy peasy.
Bus OR Train & Ferry
Traveling from Bangkok to Hat Yai by bus and train will take upto 12 and 15 hours respectively. And you can book the transfer from Hat Yai to Pakbara pier and the ferry ticket directly with the
ferry company. To check the ferry schedule and book a ticket, visit lipeferry.net and andamanferryservice.com
