Things to do in Koh Lipe

Having been here twice a year, I have come up with a list of what you can do while visiting this stunning island in the Andaman Sea.

Things to do in Koh Lipe

Getting here is no simple task as there are no airports or roads here, only via speedboat ferries from either Pak Bara in Trang, Phuket or Langkawi.

I also wrote an article on how to go to Koh Lipe if you want more information, especially about the ferry timings. 

Poshtels is also the rave where boutique hostels have popped up in recent years. Some resorts offer spas, while the smaller ones are plain and straightforward, leaving the traveller to explore the local massage places along the main Lipe Walking Street. 

Travellers are also seen with whiskey buckets strolling and finding spots on the sand where they can just chill and relax. 

There are pre-designated areas for snorkelling, while proper snorkelling is conducted with the island hopping tours, which take you to other islands to do snorkelling.

The colour of the waters here is gorgeous, with aquamarine and turquoise, while the clarity of the water is beyond your imagination. 

As for dive centres, there are three popular ones located around the island. You can also take your scuba diving license or dive courses here with reasonable fees.

Diving gear is readily available here, while for first-timers, there is Discover Scuba Diving or DSD available. 

If you are interested, inquire with the resort or hotel you stay with about this, but make sure you are experienced in kayaking.

Activities at Koh Lipe

One needs to get a permit to do some trekking here, and you can do this by arranging with the local tour operators on the island or from your hotel or resort.

Among the popular routes are the waterfalls trek and viewpoint, where you can see the entire Tarutao National Park.

Most resorts or hotels offer jungle trekking or hiking packages, and you can enquire with them. 

However, there are various styles available, the hardcore camping at Koh Adang or Koh Rawi or the resort assisted camping, where resorts arrange a spot in their land for you to do camping there. You can check with the operators about this. 

However, they must bring their own food from the mainland as there are no shops or anything on the other islands. 

You will hear boatmen tell you stories of Leonardo di Caprio and his experience here when he was filming the popular backpacker movie ‘The Beach’ at Koh Phi Phi.

Apparently, he made a stopover on Black Rock Island, but I will leave the rest of the story for the boatmen to tell you if and when you visit this unique island. 

Usually, the tours take you to Koh Rawi, Black Rock Island and a few other nearby islands. You can book these from your hotel, resort, or even some small tour counters along the walking street. 

There are countless local and international restaurants on the island, even Halal food for Muslim travellers.

Also, seafood is on top of the menu, and there are also several local Thai hawker stalls selling the famous Thai Pancakes or Rotee and Mu Ping (หมูปิ้ง) Barbecued pork or chicken skewers. 

The objective is to go for a holiday, not go and maximize your vacation to come back tired and exhausted, needing another holiday to recover from the first one.

So, I recommend going to Koh Lipe and simply doing nothing there; just go with the flow, relax and enjoy yourself. 

If you have never been to Koh Lipe before, I just want to stress that the island is really small, which means you can walk from one end to the other in under 30 minutes.

The island is so laid back; there are no cars or roads here. Some motorbikes or bicycles are probably used to move around the island, and these are for the locals.

For a better understanding and to see the resorts and layout of the island, here is a Koh Lipe Map.

Some of the budget chalets along Sunrise Beach.

For food and entertainment, there is one main area called Lipe Walking Street where all the action is found at.

When you arrive, ferries or speed boats stop out at sea, and you board a transit platform before taking a local longtail boat to the island.

Conclusion

The most popular are Sunrise and Pattaya Beach here. There is an ATM and a Pharmacy available, while the rest are simply restaurants, bars, cafes, general stores, and massage centres.

Overall, this article was written for those wanting to know the many things to do in Koh Lipe, Thailand.