Sunrise Beach & Sunset Beach
Two legendary beaches to start and end the day facing an endless horizon.
Nicknamed "the Maldives of Thailand", this small pedestrian island near the Malaysian border charms with its dazzling white sand and coral reefs just a few strokes from shore.
Koh Lipe (Andaman Sea) — The Maldives of Thailand: powdery sand and coral reefs. Best time to go: November to May; average temperatures 30°C. Budget: about €40 - 85 / day. Weather: 30°C • Absolute sea clarity and powdery sand
Must-sees
The Maldives of Thailand: powdery sand and coral reefs
Two legendary beaches to start and end the day facing an endless horizon.
Swim among anemones and clownfish straight from the beach.
A traditional boat trip to completely uninhabited wild islands.
The island's only real street, lined with restaurants, bars and massage places. The evening centre of Koh Lipe.
The main arrival beach, with seafood restaurants on the sand in the evening. Calm water, good for swimming.
The large island opposite Lipe has a jungle trail up to the Chado Cliff viewpoint and waterfalls. Take a longtail across.
Full-day tours visit four or five islands of the Tarutao marine park, with corals and colourful fish.
Dive sites around Lipe offer soft corals and, with luck, manta rays at Eight Mile Rock.
A small beach on the west side, reached through the jungle, perfect for watching the sun go down.
An island covered with smooth black pebbles. Local legend says taking one brings bad luck, so leave them.
Weather
30°C • Absolute sea clarity and powdery sand. Month-by-month outlook:
Budget
Plan on roughly €40 - 85 / day per person, excluding international flights.
Mid-range
40–85 € / day
Indicative split of a typical day (estimate)
Transport
Transport tip
Speedboat from Pak Bara pier (Satun), or a seasonal connection from Langkawi (Malaysia).
From Bangkok → Koh Lipe
Long haul: a domestic flight or night bus/train is usually easier
Flight
~819 km
Nearest destinations
Koh Lipe → Trang Islands
Road
~108 km · ~2 h by road
Koh Lipe → Koh Lanta
Boat
2h30–3h
Koh Lipe → Koh Phi Phi
Road
~151 km · ~2.5 h by road
Where is Koh Lipe?
Accommodation
The best-known areas to base yourself:
The main beach, where boats arrive, with restaurants.
Long eastern beach facing Koh Adang.
Small, quiet cove for sunsets.
Food
Mild yellow prawn curry with pineapple
Mild yellow prawn curry with pineapple
Morning catch barbecued on the Walking Street
Fresh mango sliced to order
Can’t decide?
Budget, weather, vibe and activities side by side.
Combine with
FAQ
The must-sees are Sunrise Beach & Sunset Beach, Free snorkelling at Koh Kra & Koh Usen, The wild Tarutao archipelago. Also worth your time: Walking Street, Pattaya Beach, Koh Adang and Chado Cliff, A longtail snorkelling tour.
Allow at least 2 to 3 days to see the highlights of Koh Lipe, more if you combine it with nearby destinations.
Build an itinerary with Koh LipeThe best season is November to May. 30°C • Absolute sea clarity and powdery sand. Where possible, avoid the monsoon months shown in the calendar above.
Thailand weather month by monthPlan on roughly €40 - 85 / day per person (Mid-range), excluding international flights. Use the budget calculator to fine-tune it to your travel style.
Estimate my budget for Koh LipeSpeedboat from Pak Bara pier (Satun), or a seasonal connection from Langkawi (Malaysia). From Bangkok, Koh Lipe is about 819 km away as the crow flies.
Border crossingsThe most popular areas are Pattaya Beach, Sunrise Beach, Sunset Beach. The choice mostly depends on the vibe you want: lively, family-friendly or quiet.
Full guide: where to stay in Koh LipePlan your trip