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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 a resident population of Chao Ley, or Sea Gypsies which live in small villages, predominantly around the far east side of the island near Sunlight 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 9:45 am costing 128 Malaysian Ringit and one at 2:30 pm, costing 118 Malaysian Ringit; alternatively. These boats dock at the south end of Pattaya Beach.

Ferry to Koh Lipe

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

[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. Longtail boats will take you from any point on the island to any other point on the island for 50 baht. In 2008 small concrete roads started appearing on the island linking the various beaches.

Map of Koh Lipe

Ferry to Koh Lipe

[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

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

Several agencies or local Chao Ley can arrange snorkeling trips by Longtail or try a unique experience aboard

DragonHeart, (), [5]. Day Tours=2500baht, Sunset Tours=1000baht.  edit

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.

[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. In addition, there are several stand-alone restaurants:

  • Castaway Bar & Restaurant, (Sunrise Beach), [6].  edit BBQ, Thai & western food.
  • Forra Bamboo Bar & Restaurant, (Sunrise Beach).  edit Homemade pizzas and cool drinks.
  • Mama's Seafood.  edit Great local fish
  • Hantalay Seafood.  edit
  • Banana Tree.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Jack's Jungle Bar, (), [7]. 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, (), [8]. beer 60-70 baht, cocktails from 150 baht.  edit Three years on Phi Phi and five years on lipe. NEW LOCATION COMING SOON!!! Features chilled music, hammoks, good cocktails and awesome views of the sunset.
  • Castaway Bar & Restaurant, (Sunrise Beach), [9].  edit Great placce to chill day or night some of the best cocktails on the island.
  • Cozy Cove, North end of Sunset Beach.  edit Great views and good tunes.
  • Forra Bamboo Bar & Restaurant, North end of Sunset Beach.  edit Homemade pizzas and cool drinks.
  • Beach Side Bar, Pattaya Beach.  edit
  • Peace & Love, Pattaya Beach.  edit
  • Cafe Lipe, Pattaya Beach. a nice relaxed place with healthy food like home made bread,musli and the best thai food.there are also five cosy bamboo bungalows. www.cafe-lipe.com  edit
  • Ayunan Bar, Pattaya Beach.  edit
  • Blue Tribes, Pattaya Beach. A nice european vibe with chilled music and a spacious veranda type area right on the beach with great shakes (fruit smoothies) beer and cocktails  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

Options range from tents for around 200 baht/night to bungalows for 3000 baht or more.

Pattaya Beach

  • Blue Tribes, (Pattaya Beach). Located at the western end of Pattaya Beach, Blue Tribes has a friendly relaxed atmosphere with a good cafe/bar on the beach.  edit

  • Cafe Lipe, (Pattaya Beach). Located at the centre of Pattaya Beach, Cafe Lipe has a very homely atmosphere friendly people and the best coffee and muesli/yogurt for breakfast with shaded tables right off the beach. You can also eat great home cooked Thai food evening meals with the hosts Bee and Darius for 100 baht.  edit
  • Varin Beach Resort, (Pattaya Beach), [10]. Centrally located on Hat Pattaya, next to the busy footpath to the center and East side of the island. Air con room rates include breakfast of fried rice, eggs, fried noodles, fruit. Villas have hot showers. Fan room 600/700 baht, fan cottage 800/900 baht, air con room 1300/1500 baht, air con cottage 1500/1800 baht, air con villas 2000-3500 baht, family 4-bed room 5000/5500 baht.  edit
  • Lipe Resort, (Pattaya Beach), [11]. Located a few minutes walk West of the footpath to the center and East side of the island. The sign out front says "Lee Pae Resort." Bungalows are fairly basic. Most units shaded by trees, which helps with the heat. Room rates include breakfast for two. According to one site, all air con rooms have hot showers. Fan bungalow 700/900 baht, air con bungalow 1400/1800 baht, air con beachfront 2300/2900 baht, air con beachfront family 2800/3600 baht.  edit
  • Sita Beach Resort and Spa, (North end of Pattaya Beach), [12]. New luxury resort at the West end of Hat Pattaya. Features spacious rooms with two beds. High season 6000 baht and up.  edit
  • Bundhaya Resort, (Southernmost resort on Pattaya Beach), [13]. Nice resort. Decent exchange rates for major currencies available 1500 baht for standard fan room; air con rooms starting at 2200 baht.  edit

Sunrise Beach

  • Castaway Resort, (Sunrise Beach), ☎ +66(0) 831 387 472 or +66(0) 811 707 605 (), [14]. 1800-3500 baht in low season; 3500-4250 baht in high season.  edit
  • Forra Bamboo Resort, (Sunrise Beach), ☎ +66 (0) 89673 1121 or +66 (0) 84407 5691 (), [15]. 800-1600 baht with a 25% discount available on the bungalow on the days that you dive with Forra. Bungalows to sleep 1-4 people available. Advance reservations only accepted from divers.  edit

  • Idyllic Resort, [16]. 3790 to 6040 baht.  edit Luxurious resort.

Karma Beach 

Spectacular views and Karma Bar and Massage on the beach

Inland

  • Pooh's Bungalows, [19]. 650 baht.  edit Features popular bar and restaurant. Only 6 bungalows available.

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!
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