8 Things to do in Koh Lipe, Thailand, including places to eat, stay and island-hopping near Langkawi, Malaysia too

Everything you ever dreamed a tropical island to be…

Well darling, this is that paradise, filled with magic and waters so blue, you might just feel like you are dreaming.

Dubbed as the Maldives of Thailand, we just had to pay it a visit. From the minute we arrived, the turquoise waters simply took our breath away.

The isle itself is tiny and walkable from one end to another in just 45 minutes! Of course, there are motorbike-taxis to take you around for when you just don’t want to walk no more.

It truly carries this hidden beach/island feeling, and you will spend the next few days enjoying its exquisite and abundant marine life, digging into delicious food at the cafes, and indulging in some small boutique shopping.

Trust me when I say we already miss this slice of beauty just writing about it, and we hope you enjoy her just as much as we did. Thanks Koh Lipe, you darling jewel of a paradise! ☀️🌴🐠🌊✨❤️

Read more: 4D3N Koh Lipe and Langkawi Itinerary with things to do, places to eat and stay

1. So you’re on an island… Let’s talk beaches! – Sunrise Beach, Sunset Beach, Pattaya Beach

Let’s be real, the first thing that springs to mind when you think of an island…yeah of course, it’s the beaches!

Whether that’s working on your tan or discovering underwater life – the beaches around here are nothing short of breathtaking, and filled with something to do for everyone!

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1-a) Absolutely picturesque and not so busy all.the.time – Sunrise Beach

This was definitely our personal favourite of them all, and the idyllic waters are sprinkled with natural rockery here and there, home to thousands of fish and underwater life.

It’s also an incredible place to watch the sunrise (obviously) over the eastern-facing horizon, and the early wake-up call for it will be more than worth it!

Here, you’ll be able to snorkel directly from the beach, and you can rent gear (including clear kayaks!) from one of the beachfront resorts. (Please remember not to touch or walk on any coral, they are living creatures too! Please be especially aware during low-tide).

And If you’re keen on a snorkel/dive island-hopping tour, we booked an Adang Sea Divers’ tour through Klook! (The tour includes seeing glowing plankton too!)

PS: There’s a string of restaurants and hotels here, and most day-trips and island-hopping adventures leave from Sunrise Beach.

Overall, there’s a really chilled out feeling down here (there’s a yoga centre offering different classes, and a few spas on the beach too).

1-b) The perfect location for a low-key beachy island holiday – Sunset Beach

Aha, you guessed it, it is the place to catch the sunset on the island, quite a clever thing Koh Lipe has done here with the naming and all…but as the sun goes down in gorgeous shades of reds and oranges, it all totally makes sense.

Located on the western part of the island and facing the Butang Islands, it’s actually part of a secluded lagoon (but imagine a lagoon with the waters of Koh Lipe!!) and this is an awesome choice for chilling out on the sand, splashing around in the small bay.

There’s not an awful lot happening down here, so we highly recommend heading over to enjoy the incredible sunset before heading back to Koh Lipe Walking Street for dinner!

1-c) Soft white sands, gorgeous crystal waters, yummy food and beach activities for everyone – Pattaya Beach

And finally, Pattaya Beach, the same beach you’ll arrive at when you take the ferry over from Langkawi or Hat Yai.

It’s a little like Sunrise Beach, only slightly more busy thanks to the arriving travellers and the beach restaurants and beachfront resorts.

Although this beach does tend to get overcrowded during high season, when it’s off-peak (Apr/May to October), this beach becomes very pleasant again as the longtail boats move from Pattaya to Sunrise Beach to dock during this period, leaving the waters completely free.

And if you’re looking for a good evening, the nightlife really picks up down here!

An Avid Snorkeller’s Tip: You can pretty much snorkel from any point on and around the island (but please avoid the areas where the longtail boats come and go) – so it may be worth it to rent snorkel gear from any tour office/hotel for the duration of your stay, and carry it with you during the day! Trust me, it’s worth it 💙🐠

2. You’ll definitely want to splash out on a beachfront stay here – Idyllic Concept Resort, the Cliff Lipe Resort, Castaway Resort

Now you’ve seen those beaches, and I’m sure you’re not going to want to stay anywhere but on the beach. Well we’ve got you covered, with a choice of tropical paradise stays, along with private pools, palm trees and ocean views for daysss.

Check out more options here 

2-a) Your slice of tropicana paradise – Idyllic Concept Resort

Don’t you just love the word idyllic? It rolls so sweetly off the tongue – which just happens to be the case here too. We had the pleasure of staying in this piece of heaven (seriously one of my favourite hotels I’ve ever stayed at – EVER).

There are various types of stays to choose from at Serendipity Resort, but I’d vouch for my favourite room, the i-Breeze Room that was quite literally 5 steps from the beach.

I felt like an utterly modern mermaid living in my little villa literally on the beach – with the stylish decor combined with beachy details that were very chic.

Seriously, imagine opening up the curtains of the french doors looking out to the ocean mere steps away from your balcony – that was the life we were living at this resort and we absolutely adored it.

It’s literally thee perfect island getaway in my opinion. Oh yeah, and room service please!

2-b) Location, location, location! – The Cliff Lipe Resort

This is another stay with the advantage of a cliffside view, and that means the most breathtaking views.

Escape from the world in this stay, set among the trees and hibiscus flowers, staring out into crystal clear hues of blue.

They’ve absolutely nailed the ‘tropical island’ design – think Hawaii – and the resort is made up of villas and beach bungalows, all made in gorgeous raw woods from the exterior to interiors.

I particularly love that these units don’t only consist of a bed, but also a sofa seating area inside – as well as a spacious and comfortable outdoor seating area (this is always a plus for me, I love to just lounge around, with my holiday reading book in hand).

PS: I have to mention the minimalist tubs they’ve used in the bath area, and some units have their own private pool or spa tub. Oooohlala honey…

2-c) For a more laid-back, jungle kinda feeling – Castaway Resort

If you’re not one for the frills and fancy things, personally I’m a very laid-back relaxed kinda person, so a place like this pulls on my heartstrings.

It’s got this jungle-island fever thing going on, and with the name and vibe they’ve adopted, it reminds me of the movie, The Beach (with Leonardo Decaprio) for some reason.

I love the naturalness and openness of the entire resort, as well as bungalows/villas.

I’m so into the double story beachfront villas (Breezy Bungalow Beach Front), with your room upstairs. It’s decorated colourfully using traditional Thai fabrics, and a gorgeous large patio with two hammocks – just perfect for chilling, lazing about and drinking in that ocean.

It’s located on Sunrise Beach too!

3. Scuba Diving, snorkeling, deserted beaches & untouched landscapes – Island Hopping

The island of Koh Lipe is actually part of the Koh Tarutao Marine National Park, and is one of the 51 islands and islets that make up its archipelago. With that said, can you only imagine what surrounds Koh Lipe and how much there is to be discovered?!

There are different trips that can be organised from the island at any tour office, hotel or speedboat service office. Full day or half day, scuba diving or snorkelling, or maybe just a hop and swim around some of the favoured islands – it all depends on your package.

We booked 2 tours via Klook with Adang Sea Divers for our trip and both days were amazing! (Also, our guide, Aleaf, was professional and helpful with us first-time snorkellers – and he also happened to be an artist with his works sold at the Walking Street too! ) 

PS: Anyhoo, here are some of the islands we visited that we absolutely loved… (Check here for a full guide!)

3-a) Trek the mountain and discover not 1, not 2, but 3 amazing viewpoints! – Koh Adang

Being the second biggest island within the Tarutao National Park, this island surely delivers in gigantic heaps of beauty and awe!

Spend the day in these crystal waters, that basically look like a swimming pool, and enjoy hours in the sun, swimming and snorkelling around the area.

This makes it perfect for a day-trip, and there’s even a jungle trek that you can do on the island to three different viewpoints.

The first two viewpoints are very near one another, so if you don’t have the energy to make it all the way to the third – push yourself to the second viewpoint at the very least. From there, you’ll be able to take in breathtaking views of beautiful Koh Lipe and admire your horizons. (We only made it to the second one…. x.X)

PS: If you’re up for an adventure, you can try and make your way through its voluptuous, dense green jungle and try to find its hidden waterfall!

3-b) Dare to find out if the legend is true (although we advise you don’t if you don’t want bad luck for the rest of eternity!) – Koh Hin-Ngam

Ever imagined a field of gleaming crystals, stretching out endlessly???

Well this might just be the next best thing to that fantasy, and being crystal obsessed we were in heaven. This isle is covered in black and grey pebbled rocks and stones, giving us all the Fluorite (in its layers) / Tiger’s Eye feels.

Adding to the mystery is a legend; It is believed that the island is guarded by a spirit named Chao Pho Tarutao, and whomever takes any rocks from the island will be cursed by this guardian. But, if you can make a tower out of 12 rocks, your wishes will come true.

Whether you wish to believe it or not… I mean, I ain’t gonna take any chances and don’t wanna upset no spirit world!

Other than that, it’s also in Tarutao Park so you can ask to make a short stop around if you’re on a guided tour already. You won’t need more than 45mins max here for photos, marvelling at the rocks, and world under. (Unless you want to snorkel around here too!)

3-c) This is proof that we really have no idea just how much life and crazy creatures live under the sea – Koh Yang

If you’re maybe not such a strong swimmer, but still want the thrill of snorkelling on a tropical island surrounded by gorgeous waters…then this might be the Yin to your Yang.

The bay here is protected, which means no heavy swell and winds passing through, and the waters are shallow here too.

If you’ve come to dive, but you’re not yet comfortable in deep waters – here the coral reef is just 3-4m below,  and you can easily see the bottom of the ocean from above for reassurance.

Diving-wise, sites are split into two sides: East and West, where you can expect gentle waters making it a super pleasant and easy dive.

It’s actually part of the Far Islands, a cluster of isles and dive sites that boast absolutely incredible and lively marine life so you’re in for a real treat! There’s schools of Snapper, Peacock Mantis Shrimp scurrying about, as well as Ornate Ghost Pipefish (which could be mistaken for a spikey, sharp sort of coral). Amazingggg. 

PS: The Far Islands are known to boast some bigger marine life, including rays and sharks, but don’t panic, you won’t find any them close to shore! 

4. Truly something magical to witness, and it never gets old – Bioluminescent Plankton Tour near North Point Beach

So here is one of Koh Lipe’s treasures, and it’s always the closest thing to fairies I feel I’ll ever get to anyway… And late at night as the moon says hello, schools of bright light plankton come to play!

It’s recommended to book a tour, so you’ll have a guide to bring you to the plankton areas. And here, after you swish around in the waters with your hands or stomp your feet about – the twinkling little stars start to swoosh around in the water, almost looking like the Milky Way in water form.

Some have said they’ve taken a midnight dip (well, swim) and managed to spot some of them, but most take a guided tour – rather safe than sorry, right?

Many make it a sunset and plankton tour too, so you can really expect to see some natural beautiful gorgeous sunsets and maybe some water fairies too.

5. Truly the heart and soul of this little island – Koh Lipe Walking Street

Although it only opens officially at 6pm – market wise – it operates during day time hours as the island’s ‘city hub’.

It’s the heart of Koh Lipe, and the streets, and alleys that make up the walking street run throughout the island – so you can use these roads for accessing and getting to other parts of the island.

And as the sun sets and owners begin to open up shop, the walking street comes alive, filled with a delight of restaurants, seafood joints, bars and eclectic boutique shops!

Walls are lined with products, and these shops sells all sorts of unique handicrafts and artful assortments, beautifully and proudly on display.

There’s art for sale, and crystal shops selling beautiful hand-wrapped macrame jewellery, beautiful bohemian dresses and locally manufactured clothing – and a plethora of handmade leather goods, herbal sprays and oils and traditional souvenirs.

Munay Designs was one shop that caught our attention and sells an eclectic mix of all the above goods, in one little shop (they have some gorgeous crystals and jewellery here for sale just FYI).

6. All you would ever want to eat while here – Instagrammable Cafes and delicious Eateries 

You’ll never go hungry here, that’s for sure. We had a blast ducking into different little cafes and eateries every day, and the food was amazing wherever we ate!

6-a)  Just the type of cafe you’re looking for when on an island – Cafe Tropical

If you’re in the mood for something a little on the fresh side, their menu is filled with a variety of different healthy food options, and they’ve got a kiddies menu here too just FYI.

Their smoothie bowls seem to be a huge winner, as well as their Pancakes (Banana granola pancakes anyone?).

Savoury wise, we’d defs recommend one of their (gluten-free) ‘Big Bowls’, and there’s loads of different ones to choose from; Hummus Bowl, Medetterian Bowl, Andaman Sea Bowl (Grilled prawns, red jasmine rice, mango salsa with olives, feta, cucumber, tomatoes, a spring onion vinegarette, served with Pita bread), and they all seem to pop with colour and look absolutely mouth-watering.

It also caters for all budgets, from low to more high-end, so make sure you bring an empty stomach – we wanted to try everything!

6-b) An awesome choice if you’re looking for an affordable brunch-spot – Elephant Cafe

I don’t know about you, but whenever I’m travelling I appreciate at least one great breakfast spot; I’m talking amazing coffee, Eggs Benedict, the works (there’s only so much noodle soup one can eat for breakfast).

And a little birdy told us this cafe does an amazingggg Eggs Florentine and its another spot where the food seems to pop off the plate colour and freshness-wise.

The interiors suit the menu, with raw finishes and natural woods, it has that chilled Californian beach cafe vibe, or something you might find in Hawaii.

Their thick-crusted pizzas are burgers look delicious too, if you’re heading there later on in the day.

PS: This is a wifi-free zone, but as the sign states, there’s plenty of books, games and delicious coffee to keep you occupied anyway.

6-c) Escape the salty air and enjoy the lovely hillside views – Mojo Cafe & Bistro

Classic, clean and absolutely gorgeous views to go with it, this minimalist beach-y cafe is cool and classy, and so is the food!

As bistros do, there is a focus of food presentation, which I so appreciate as a foodie, and you can expect a really decent portion size.

It’s an amazing brunch option (try one of their Chia pots, Smashed Avocado Toasts or Full English brekkies) ,and you can see there is love, care and attention to detail (and flavour) that goes into the food.

Can we also just talk about the outside seating for a second…with natural sunlight dancing off light wooden tables and views of rolling hills – the lighting both inside and outside is ideal for crisp photos!

6-d) Talk about an absolutely breath-taking backdrop!  – On the Rocks @ Serendipity

Getting its name from its gorgeous location, enjoy lunch or dinner 6 metres above a rockery, whilst the waves crash below you – and the skies seem to stretch on for miles in brilliant shades of blue, yellow and pink.

It is actually part of Serendipity Resort, but because of its excellent location and views, it’s a super popular restaurant choice. I mean look at the views people, it doesn’t get more beautiful than that!

Food-wise, there’s fresh seafood to choose from everyday,  which makes the main portion of their menu, but their curries are an apparent winner too!

Do check out their ‘Specials’ board which changes every day, and diners can find a mix of Thai and Western fusion style dishes here.

7. Travel with Heart: Sustainable Tourism – Trash Hero

The locals truly treasure their island and they really go the distance to make sure that they’re able to preserve their beloved island in order to continue to share its wonders with travellers.

Every Monday starting at 10am at Pattaya Beach, Trash Hero is held, a non-profit run organisation, where people gather to pick trash off the beaches and in the ocean – and you visit various beaches to pick up trash and help to clean the ocean!

All you have to bring is yourself! It’s totally hassle free, you don’t even have to sign up, and they provide everything (gloves, bags and refreshments).

PS: When travelling here, let’s do our part to protect this gem of an island along with the locals, and be mindful of our impact on the environment. Thank you!

8. Spend some down time with cocktails on the beach, a fireshow up front and the stars up above  – Maya Bar, Boom Boom Bar, Benny’s on the Beach

Lest we forget, what’s a better way to end the day on this paradisiacal island, than with a couple of drinks – as the sun sets over gorgeous blue waters, and the stars start to twinkle?

The beachfronts, particularly Pattaya, are dotted with beach bars (as well as Walking Street) but there were a few that stole our summery hearts.

If you’re looking for that perfect bohemian beach bar feel, Sea La Vie with its floral cushions, giant dream catchers, and overall zen feeling is an epic choice. It’s located on Sunrise Beach and is known for its groovy house-tunes and yummy cocktails.

Maya Bar is probably one of the more well-known bars, and if you’re looking for an epic fireshow – make this your one stop pit show. The setup of this bar is also out of this world magical, and it has this beach fairy-like feeling to it.

(We took like a gazillion photos here. 😉)

Boom Boom Bar is known for its amazing sunsets, it is after all located on Sunset Beach – and is one of the island’s long-standing bars, also known to throw a good shake-down later on at night.

Lastly, Benny’s on the beach is well-known for it’s completely vegetarian/vegan menu and is too located near North Point Beach. This is an awesome choice if you want something a little more private and not so bar-y, and enjoy a light snack as the sun sets overhead.

Oh Koh Lipe, you truly are a dream and I couldn’t recommend this island enough. Although it is small, its natural beauty is astounding.

And after simply spending 2 hours here, you can’t help but feel your body relaxing with the true island’s vibrations. You won’t want to leave, we personally promise (well that was the case for us anyway!).

We’d be delighted to see your adventures and photos of Koh Lipe – so do share with us your experiences! Comment below or tag #TripCanvas in your gorgeous Koh Lipe island paradise photos/videos!

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