A warm, windy island that offers something for most anyone, southern Thailand's Ko Lipe has a range of accommodation options and fantastic marine life that attract a healthy number of tourists each year. Still, it's easy to find tranquil surroundings here, even during peak season, with several coves and walks through the jungle from one beach to another -- be sure to bring along a torch for evening walks though!For those who prefer some variety after several days on the beach, there are plenty of boat trips on offer and the many snorkelling/diving opportunities should not be missed. Keep in mind though that being a part of Ko Tarutao National Park, fishing is illegal around the island, so steer clear of fishing trips and seafood -- it's sometimes been caught illegally.There's a Chao Lay village near Sunrise beach, with several shops and basic medical dispensary. Travellers with medical expertise are invited to register at the dispensary in case there's an emergency on the island. When walking through the village and near the school, please wear appropriate clothing. Few Chao Lay are directly employed by tourism, aside from the longtail drivers who meet the ferries and take tourists to Lipe for 50B per person. This is an important source of income for them, and the price is non-negotiable.There have been increasing complaints about problems of litter and waste disposal on Ko Lipe. It is a small island, ill-equipped to cope with the volume of tourism it is now receiving, so try to tread lightly. If you've got a free day try to rustle up a few people and go do a bit of cleaning. One of the most important things you can do is refill plastic water bottles, and this can be done at Pooh's or Sunrise Restaurant.
Getting there and away
Boat
Ko Lipe is usually reached by ferry or speedboat from the town of Pakbara. The trip takes close to four hours by ferry, and only an hour and a half by speedboat. Ko Lipe has no pier, so upon arrival you'll have to switch to a longtail boat. For 50 baht, the longtail boat will take you to any resort you'd like. When returning from Ko Lipe, you can get ferry tickets from almost any guesthouse, or from the local tourist offices. For return packages with onward connections to Phuket, Bangkok, or elsewhere, try Friends Tours -- they have the best ratesFerry tickets cost 550B one way or, 1,000B return. Though you get a discounted ticket if you buy a return ticket, remember the ticket cannot be refunded nor used on another company's boat, so many choose to buy a one way ticket. During the high season, ferry services run daily, with boats leaving Pakbara pier at 13:30. At peak season, the number of departures jumps to three times a day, with boats leaving at 10:30, 12:30, and 14:30. Boats return to Pakbara from Ko Lipe at 9:00, with additional departures at 10:00 and 14:00 during peak season.Though ferries run to Lipe year round, monsoons lash Lipe with particularly intense storms, so it can be dangerous to attempt the crossing from Pakbara pier between May and October, and boats are often cancelled. If the seas are clear, boats generally run to the island once a week -- make sure to check when the next boat returns, if you don't want to end up stuck on the island. You can potentially charter a longtail boat to or from Ko Lipe, for around 3,000-4,000B.Note though that's a long trip, and four hours on a hard longtail boat bench can get pretty painful. Most resorts and restaurants are closed in the monsoon season, and you may need to make prior arrangements for meals. On the upside, the few bungalow operations open have deeply discounted rates Speedboats leave Pakbara daily at 11:30, cost 650B one way or 1,200B return. During peak season, an additional boat leaves at 13:30. Speedboats return from Ko Lipe at 9:30.Tigerline Travel runs a ferry between Ko Lipe and Langkawi. The ferry departs from Ko Lipe at 15:30 and arrives in Langkawi 1.5 hours later and costs 1,100B. Going the other way, the boat leaves Langkawi at 8:00 and arrives in Lipe at 09:30. The ferry continues on to Trang and Ko Lanta. Tigerline Travel can also arrange joint ferry/bus tickets to Krabi, Phuket, Surat Thani, and Bangkok. Bookings can be made on their website http://www.tigerlinetravel.com/.
Boat
Ko Lipe is usually reached by ferry or speedboat from the town of Pakbara. The trip takes close to four hours by ferry, and only an hour and a half by speedboat. Ko Lipe has no pier, so upon arrival you'll have to switch to a longtail boat. For 50 baht, the longtail boat will take you to any resort you'd like. When returning from Ko Lipe, you can get ferry tickets from almost any guesthouse, or from the local tourist offices. For return packages with onward connections to Phuket, Bangkok, or elsewhere, try Friends Tours -- they have the best ratesFerry tickets cost 550B one way or, 1,000B return. Though you get a discounted ticket if you buy a return ticket, remember the ticket cannot be refunded nor used on another company's boat, so many choose to buy a one way ticket. During the high season, ferry services run daily, with boats leaving Pakbara pier at 13:30. At peak season, the number of departures jumps to three times a day, with boats leaving at 10:30, 12:30, and 14:30. Boats return to Pakbara from Ko Lipe at 9:00, with additional departures at 10:00 and 14:00 during peak season.Though ferries run to Lipe year round, monsoons lash Lipe with particularly intense storms, so it can be dangerous to attempt the crossing from Pakbara pier between May and October, and boats are often cancelled. If the seas are clear, boats generally run to the island once a week -- make sure to check when the next boat returns, if you don't want to end up stuck on the island. You can potentially charter a longtail boat to or from Ko Lipe, for around 3,000-4,000B.Note though that's a long trip, and four hours on a hard longtail boat bench can get pretty painful. Most resorts and restaurants are closed in the monsoon season, and you may need to make prior arrangements for meals. On the upside, the few bungalow operations open have deeply discounted rates Speedboats leave Pakbara daily at 11:30, cost 650B one way or 1,200B return. During peak season, an additional boat leaves at 13:30. Speedboats return from Ko Lipe at 9:30.Tigerline Travel runs a ferry between Ko Lipe and Langkawi. The ferry departs from Ko Lipe at 15:30 and arrives in Langkawi 1.5 hours later and costs 1,100B. Going the other way, the boat leaves Langkawi at 8:00 and arrives in Lipe at 09:30. The ferry continues on to Trang and Ko Lanta. Tigerline Travel can also arrange joint ferry/bus tickets to Krabi, Phuket, Surat Thani, and Bangkok. Bookings can be made on their website http://www.tigerlinetravel.com/.
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