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Ko Lipe

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Sunset, Pattaya Beach at Ko Lipe
Sunset, Pattaya Beach at Ko Lipe

Ko Lipe (Thai: เกาะหลีเป๊ะ) is an island in Satun Province, near the Tarutao National Marine Park, on the Andaman (west) coast of the south of Thailand.

[edit] Understand

Ko Lipe is outside of the Tarutao National Park jurisdiction, and as such is exempt from the laws and legislation that protects the rest of the national park. The island is rapidly growing to meet the demands of increase in tourism, and is facing quite a few issues with rubbish and animal conservation.

The island is also home to about 500 Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsies, who were given a grant to half of the island and live in small villages, predominantly around the far east side of the island near Sunrise Beach.

The name Ko Lipe means "Paper Island" in the local Chao Ley language.

[edit] Get in

In high season (November to May) there are 5 locations from which you can take a ferry or speedboat to Ko Lipe: Pak Bara, Langkawi, Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, and Trang.

In low season (May to October) there is one speed boat per day both ways and ferry per week all from Pak Bara, leaving Pak Bara every Thursday and returning from Ko Lipe on Sunday. In low season, there are no ferries from Phi Phi, Ko Lanta, or Trang. there will be a daily speed boat service from Langkawi as well.

From Langkawi, Malaysia there are two speedboats per day: one at 9:30am and 2:30pm, costing from 118 Malaysian Ringgit. These boats dock at the south end of Pattaya Beach. The Langkawi - Koh Lipe Shuttle Ferry departs from Telaga Terminal @ Telaga Harbour Marina At 42km away, it is the shortest route to Koh Lipe. Telaga Harbour Marina is a 15 minute drive from Langkawi International Airport.

Other ferries are met by longtail boats offering transfers to anywhere on Ko Lipe for an additional 50 baht/person (non-negotiable).

[edit] Get around

All of Ko Lipe can be covered on foot, although its size at first can be a little deceiving. There are few motorcycles around the island, none of which are for rent. There are no cars on the island. Longtail boats will take you from any point on the island to any other point on the island for 50 baht. Small concrete roads link the various beaches.

[edit][add listing] See

There is a small temple in the center of the island.

Hotels on the island can arrange for day trips out to other islands inside the national park (Ko Adang, Ko Khai).

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Beaches

Ko Lipe's beaches feature clear, calm, and shallow water. There are four main beaches to relax on, Pattaya Beach in the south the most popular beach; Sunlight Beach on the east, near the Chao Ley village; Karma Beach in the North which faces the Adang/Lipe channel, and Sunset Beach in the west, which as the name implies, faces the sunset.

[edit] Diving & Snorkeling

The reefs around Ko Lipe are largely intact; the 2004 tsunami had little impact here.

There are several dive shops on the island:

  • Ocean Pro, (Pattaya Beach), (), [4]. Canadian owner. This shop has a big boat. 2600 baht for 2 dives, 3200 baht for three dives.  edit

[edit] Snorkeling Trips and Day Excursions

The calm, clear water makes the Ko Lipe area ideal for snorkeling, with 25% of the world's tropical fish species found in the area. There are large varieties of fish around the coral just 20 metres off all of the the beaches. Several agencies or local Chao Ley can arrange snorkeling trips by Longtail or try a unique experience aboard

[edit] Kayaking

Rent a Kayak from various spots on the beach and spend the day or two seeing the island and reef

[edit] Massages

There are plenty of places to get a massage, including an offshoot of the Wat Po massage school, located in the center of the island.

[edit] Batik Course

Lipe Resort offers a Batik painting course

[edit][add listing] Buy

There is no ATM on Ko Lipe. However Varin Resorts will charge your VISA or Mastercard and give you cash back for a 7% fee. Bundaya Resorts offers the best exchange rates for Dollars, Euro, Pounds or Ringits, however, the rate is less than you would receive in a major city. There is one internet cafe that does currency exchange and visa advances for 5% (next one up from the beach past Ko Lipe Travel along the small road).

[edit][add listing] Eat

Most of the hotels serve food and drinks. In addition, there are several stand-alone restaurants:

  • Banana Tree.  edit
  • Hantalay Seafood.  edit
  • Mama's Seafood.  edit Great local fish

[edit][add listing] Drink

Most of the hotels serve food and drinks. In addition, there are several stand-alone bars:

  • Ayunan Bar, Pattaya Beach.  edit
  • Beach Side Bar, Pattaya Beach.  edit
  • Cozy Cove, North end of Sunset Beach.  edit Great views and good tunes.
  • Jack's Jungle Bar, (), [6]. Beer costs 60-70 baht and food costs 70-150 baht.  edit otherwise known as JJ's, is inland and is a must visit due to Jack's friendly personality. Jack also organizes parties every Saturday in the high season, some with live music.
  • Karma Bar, (), [7]. beer 60-70 baht, cocktails from 150 baht.  edit New Location coming November 2009. Three years on Phi Phi and five years on Ko Lipe. Features chilled music, hammoks, good cocktails and awesome views of the sunset.
  • Peace & Love, Pattaya Beach.  edit
  • Zanom restaurant, at the sunrise beach. Palm is the owner. They now probably also have rooms available. This is the best side to stay on the island  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are roughly 600 bungalows on Ko Lipe.

[edit] Pattaya Beach

  • Baan Kasirin 1, (On the path from Pattaya Beach to Sunrise Beach, 100 meters from the beach). Open November to May. Laundry service, Satellite TV, a mini mart. Fan room: 850 to 1,250 baht.  edit
  • Baan Kasirin 2, (Located in the middle of the island near the intersection, about 400 meters from Sunrise Beach and 600 meters from Pattaya Beach). Open November to May. Laundry service, Satellite TV, internet. Air-con room: 1,350 to 1,650 baht.  edit
  • Baan Porn Guesthouse, (Located behind Varin Resort), ☎ (084) 396 3567. Open November to May. Two rows of concrete rooms looking onto an open dirt lot. Rooms are clean, with comfortable beds and wooden cupboards. The showers are cold water only. Fan room: 500 baht. Air-con room: 700 baht.  edit

  • Barracuda Bar and Bungalows, ☎ (089) 654 4720, (074) 712 144. Open all year round. Cheapest bungalows on Pattaya Beach. Chao Ley run. Bare-bones bungalows right on Pattaya Beach. The bungalows are rustic with hard mattresses on the floor and grungy toilets. The management is friendly enough, with broken English spoken. Noisy. Fan bungalow: 300 baht; Tent: 200 baht.  edit

  • Blue Tribes, (Western end of Pattaya Beach), [8]. Open November to May. 13 spacious bungalows set around a garden. Some bungalows are right on the beach. There is a restaurant that serves Mediterranean “family style” cuisine and a nice reception / coffee lounge area that features chill music and serves fruit smoothies. Fan room: 1,000 to 1,500 baht; Fan cottage: 1,200 to 2,500 baht.  edit
  • Bonus Resort, (Located in the middle of the island, about 500 meters from Pattaya Beach and 500 meters from Sunrise Beach.). Open November to May. 20 very basic Fan Bungalows. Fan room: 500 to 800 baht; Fan cottage: 1,200 to 1,500 baht.  edit
  • Bundhaya Resort, (Southernmost resort on Pattaya Beach), ☎ (074) 750 248, [9]. Open all year. 80 bungalows. Fan rooms are in the back of the site and are grotty. Resort services include: snorkel and dive trips, minimart, internet and laundry. There is a large open air restaurant and bar with a fantastic view of the beach. Breakfast is included. Decent exchange rates for major currencies available. Fan room: 600 to 1,300 baht; Fan cottage: 900 to 1,900 baht; Air-con room: 750 to 1,700 baht; Air-con cottage: 1,800 to 9,000 baht.  edit
  • Cafe Lipe, (Center of Pattaya Beach). 5 cute all-Bamboo Bungalos with Fans, Mosquito nets and verandas. Run by Bee and Darius. Homely atmosphere friendly people. Restaurant features shaded tables right off the beach and serves healthy food like home made bread, musli, yogurt as well as thai food. and the best coffee and muesli/yogurt for breakfast with shaded tables right off the beach. Bungalows: 400 baht.  edit
  • Daya Resort, (Located at the Western end of Pattaya Beach), ☎ (080) 508 2087. Open November to May. Several fan bungalows close to the beach. Exteriors are painted in bright, sunny colours but interiors are dark and grimy, with lino floors and bare concrete walls. The mattresses are soft, though very thin. Bathrooms are grimy with cold water only. There is a very popular seafood restaurant. Electricity from 18.00 in the evening until 5.00 in the morning. Fan room: 1,000 to 1,200 baht; Fan cottage: 1,200 to 1,400 baht.  edit
  • Handicraft Bar & Guesthouse, (Pattaya Beach.). Open from November to May. Bungalows are covered with psychedelic shapes in bright neon colours. Roomy beds, and outdoor showers. Rooms are open to the elements, but there is mosquito netting. Fan bungalow: 500 baht.  edit
  • Lipe Resort, (Located a few minutes walk West of the footpath to the center and East side of the island.), ☎ (086) 940 7339, [10]. The sign out front says "Lee Pae Resort.".Attractively designed, with wooden clap-board siding and glass doors. Fan rooms are cramped, basic, and pretty grimy. air-con rooms are more spacious. Most units shaded by trees, which helps with the heat. Room rates include breakfast for two. All air-con rooms have hot showers & cable TV. Fan bungalow: 700 to 900 baht; Air-con bungalow: 1400 to 1800 baht; Air-con beachfront: 2300 to 2900 baht; Air-con beachfront family: 2800 to 3600 baht.  edit

  • Paradise Cottage Resort, (Located on Pattaya Beach). Open November to May. 15 spacious Bamboo Bungalows with private bathroom, some directly on the beach. Fan room: 500 to 1,800 baht.  edit
  • Pattaya Song, (Set on the side of a cliff at the far western end of Pattaya Beach), ☎ (086) 960 0418. Open November to May. Incredible views. The concrete bungalows are particularly unattractive -- musty and damp, with splotches of mold on the walls. The bamboo huts are quite a bit brighter and tidier. To get to your room, you'll have to clamber over a maze of steps, stairs, and muddy paths. Open during the high season only. Fan bungalow: 300 baht.  edit
  • Sanom Beach Resort, (Located on it's own private beach on the Western end of Pattaya Beach.), [11]. Open November to May. 5 bungalows straight on the beach. Fan room: 1,000 to 1,200 baht; Fan cottage: 1,500 to 1,700 baht.  edit
  • Sita Beach Resort, (Located on Pattaya Beach.), [12]. Open all year. 5 spacious bungalows straight on the beach. Air-con cottage: 3,800 to 20,900 baht.  edit
  • Thai Hut Resort, (300 meters from Pattaya Beach.), ☎ (081) 608 1134. Open from November to May. 10 nicely kept bungalows with well sized rooms and small decks out front. No view. Hard mattresses. Restaurant on site. Fan room: 800 to 1,290 baht.  edit
  • Varin Beach Resort, (Located in the middle of Pattaya Beach, next to the path to Sunrise Beach and the village), ☎ (074) 728 080, [13]. Open from November to May. 100 bungalows in many different sizes. All rooms have 24 hour electricity, big windows, en-suite bathrooms, towels, and a private terrace with chairs. The beds are reasonably comfortable and the pillows are divine. Longhouse rooms are the cheapest, but there's no soundproofing whatsoever. The VIP villa has a TV with satellite channels. Resort services include internet, massage, bar and restaurant. Air con room rates include breakfast of fried rice, eggs, fried noodles, fruit. Villas have hot showers. Fan room: 600 to 700 baht; Fan cottage: 800 to 900 baht, Air-con room: 1300 to 1500 baht; air con cottage: 1500 to 1800 baht; air con villas: 2000 to 3500 baht, family 4-bed room: 5000 to 5500 baht.  edit

[edit] Sunrise Beach

  • Andaman Resort, (Located at the Northern tip of Sunrise Beach..), [14]. Open from November to May. 80 bungalows divided in several room types. Some bungalows are right on the beach. All bungalows have queen sized beds, fans, and en-suite western bathrooms with cold water showers. Credit cards accepted for a 5% fee. Fan room: 800 to 1,500 baht.  edit
  • Castaway Resort & Restaurant, (Southern part of Sunrise Beach), ☎ +66(0) 831 387 472 or (081) 1707 605 (), [15]. Open all year. some of the most stylish and comfortable accommodation on Ko Lipe. 20 wooden stilt bungalows, with large decks with hammocks, some directly on the beach. Hmong blankets drape over the roomy beds, and fabric lanterns hang in the corner of the rooms. Cold water showers only. Bar & restaurant serves BBQ, Thai & western food. Great place to chill day or night some of the best cocktails on the island. Bungalows 1,750 to 5,000 baht; House: 2,000 to 6,000 baht.  edit
  • Forra Bamboo Resort & Restaurant, (Sunrise Beach), ☎ +66 (089) 673 1121 or +66 (0) 84407 5691 (), [16]. Open all year. 18 well-designed, spacious bungalows, built from natural materials. Every bungalow has one four-poster bamboo double bed or two platform-raised bunk beds with mosquito net and a large terrace and sea view. Some bungalows have a mezzanine floor with an upper window (for a good view!) and the option of a second bed. Each bungalow has a fan (electricity 8.00-10.30 and 17.30-24.00). Bungalows to sleep 1-4 people available. Advance reservations only accepted from divers. Restaurant serves homemade pizzas and cool drinks. Bungalows: 800 to 1600 baht with a 25% discount available on the bungalow on the days that you dive with Forra..  edit
  • Gypsy Bungalows, ☎ (080) 597 6618. Open November to May. Two rows of thatched huts running off of the beach. Rooms are compact but attractive, with bamboo walls, big beds draped in mosquito netting, sunny open-air bathrooms. It can be a little difficult to track down management. Fan bungalow: 400 baht.  edit
  • Idyllic Resort, (Southern part of Sunrise Beach), [17]. Open all year. Contemporary concept resort located at the Southern part of Sunrise Beach. All rooms are nicely decorated and have a luxury finish. Resort services include a health spa, wireless internet, restaurant and bar. Bungalows: 3790 to 6040 baht.  edit
  • Tarutao Cabana, ☎ (074) 732 510. Open all year round. Managed by by Tigerline Travel -- the operators of the ferry service between Lipe and Langkawi, Malaysia. The bungalows are well-constructed and there is 24 hour electricity and all bungalows have a private porch, all with daily towel service and Western breakfast at the restaurant. The air-con bungalows have hot water and satellite TV. The on-site Chao Lay Coffee Shop serves only halal food to accommodate Malaysian Muslim visitors. Fan bungalow: 300 to 750 baht; Air-con bungalow: 600 to 1,750 baht; Family room: 800 to 2,400 baht; Tent: 500 baht.  edit
  • Viewpoint Resort, (Sunrise Beach), ☎ (083) 193 3362. Open all year. one of the few Chao Lay-run resorts on Ko Lipe. Bungalows are built on a hill overlooking the bay, and some are a steep climb uphill and up stairs. The bungalows are pretty rustic and many have wide cracks between floorboards that can let in crawling creatures. Bungalows are outfitted with big beds with decent mattresses, fans, mosquito nets, and have western bathrooms. Fan bungalow: 500 to 700 baht.  edit

[edit] Karma Beach

  • Mountain Resort, (On the hill at the eastern end of Sunset Beach - Northern tip of Lipe Island, facing the Koh Lipe/Adang channel), ☎ (074) 728 131 (), [18]. Open from November to May. Bungalows are large and have been built of high-quality materials. Features hot water, satellite TV, a bath tub, a private deck, and spectacular views of the bay. 24 hour electricity. Breakfast Included. Mountain Beach Bar offers food, drinks & massages. Credit cards accepted for a 5% fee. Fan room: 1100 baht; Fan room with hot shower: 1,400 baht; Twin fan room with hot shower: 2,000 baht; Air-con rooms: 1,600 to 2,600 baht.  edit

[edit] Sunset Beach

  • Fisheries Department Bungalows, (On the rocky end of Sunset beach), ☎ (087) 478-7958, [19]. Open all year. Snorkelling masks and fins can be hired for 100B. Six bungalows right on the beach overlooking Ko Adang with attached bathrooms. Bungalow #1 has the most panoramic view. The bungalows are run by a talkative government employee who speaks good English. The restaurant operates only during the low season. Fan bungalow: 250 to 500 baht.  edit
  • Porn Resort, (Sunset beach), ☎ (089) 464 5765, [20]. Open from November to May. The only resort on Sunset Beach. One of the more quiet sleeping options on Koh Lipe. 29 fan bungalows in different sizes. Electricity from 18.00-10.00. All bungalows have thin mattresses on wooden platforms and a fan. Tent renters get use of bathrooms. Popular restaurant. Visa & Mastercard accepted for a 5% fee. Porn means "blessing" in Thai. Fan bungalow: 400 to 700 baht; Tent: 150 baht.  edit

[edit] Inland

  • Jack's Jungle Bar & Resort, (), [21]. Open November thru April. Hidden in the forest, a tranquil alternative to some of the overdeveloped resorts on Koh Lipe. Bar, restaurants and just 10 bungalows blend in well with their natural surroundings. Bungalows are set in private jungle, just 120 meters from Sunset Beach. Laundry service available. Bar & Restaurant. fan bungalows: 1,200 to 1,500 baht.  edit
  • Pooh's Bungalows, ☎ (074) 750 345, [22]. bungalows: 800 baht in low season; 1,400 baht in high season.  edit Open all year. Features popular bar and restaurant. Only 6 bungalows available. Accepts Mastercard, Visa & AmEx for 3% fee. Wifi, internet (3 baht/minute), pool table, dive shop, massages available. 15% discount for divers on the day they dive.

[edit] Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Lipe"