Thailand has been a tourist attraction for decades but with the passage of time the country’s exotic beaches have become crowded with tourists almost all through the year. Luckily, Thailand has in store a rare jewel of the South Andaman Sea as in Koh Lipe which is a remote and extraordinarily beautiful island.
Home to the Chao Leh community, Koh Lipe offers the perfect alternative to the crowded beaches of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta and is only reachable by boat. Tourists looking to make the most of their holidays by relishing tropical beauty of Koh Lipe should know that from November till April daily ferries embark from nearby islands such as Ko Phi Phi and Koh Lanta to transport tourists to this sparsely populated island, while from May to November a daily boat sails from Pak Barra to Koh Lipe.
Beaches & Species
The stunning and somewhat isolated island of Koh Lipe offers a tremendous opportunity for tourists to relax on sun drenched beaches in mesmerizing seclusion to relish the wonders of Mother Nature. Koh Lipe has three beaches at mere walking distance as in Pattaya Beach, Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach. The crystal clear waters shoring the island of Koh Lipe not only offer plenty of opportunity for visitors to indulge in diving and snorkeling but these waters are also home to nearly 25 percent of tropical fish species in the world.
Although, Koh Lipe is still considered as a developing tourist destination still you can easily find restaurants and cafes to eat hearty meals and shops to rent diving and snorkeling gear. The local authorities are also taking steps to ensure wild life conservation and cleanliness of the three precious beaches on this island. Visitors can also sail to nearby uninhabited islands by taking ferries. Two of the most popular of such surrounding islands are Koh Adang and Koh Rawi where accommodation and eating facilities have been put into place by the authorities.
Local Community & Facilities
The island of Koh Lipe is sparsely populated and is inhabited by a small community of sea gypsies known as Chao Leh. The locals mostly make their living by fishing and are gradually adapting to the ways of modern lifestyle especially after the establishment of Tarutao National Marine Park. Tourism is also playing a major role in uplifting the standard of living of this community and Chao Leh people welcome tourists with open arms.
Those planning to pay a visit to the beautiful island of Koh Lipe should note that no ATMs or cash machines are currently available there so carrying some cash is absolutely necessary. There are many internet shops to be found there but only Wi-Fi internet connection is available which is not as strong as that on mainland Thailand. DTAC and AIS are the only two mobile service carriers available on Koh Lipe and their prepaid sim cards can be used to make calls at international roaming rates.
Restaurants & Nightlife
In recent times major development plans have been implemented on the island of Koh Lipe. Castaway beach resort, Greenview beach resort and Serendipity beach resort are clearly the places to be on this beautiful island to be able to fully relish its natural beauty. Serendipity even has its largest room named after famous cult movie, ‘The Big Lebowski’, so all dudes are certainly in for a lot of fun and excitement there. Pooh’s offers excellent location for hiking and a friendly and eco-friendly environment for families to enjoy healthy food with free Wi-Fi.
There are plenty of good quality restaurants in Koh Lipe where you can try out some of the most revered traditional Thai cuisines. Mellow Mango, Monkey BBQ, Hantalay Seafood and Mama Seafood are excellent places to eat healthy and delicious seafood. Nee’s and Raklay Restaurant are famous for offering Thai food, while Spidermonkey and Bundhaya Restaurant are popular for delivering western cuisine and fast food. There are many exciting restaurants out on this amazing island that dish out delicious Italian and bakeries as well as long as you know where to look for these.
Nightlife in Koh Lipe is getting better and better as more and more beach bars are being built to help tourists chill out and mingle with locals and other foreign tourists. The Pattaya Beach has a great stretch of beach bars with Time to Chill, Barracuda and Kameleon being the best and most popular where a great party atmosphere helps tourists relax every night. Oh My God! Is a popular choice among many tourists residing around the Walking Street Area where they can enjoy different drinks and snacks while watching their favorite sports events or playing a friendly game of pool. Boom Boom Bar adorns the Sunset Beach and offers welcome relief to folks tired of snorkeling, diving, hiking and other such fun activities.
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