Around Koh Li pe

The road from Haad Chao Le to Ao Phatthaya 2, Koh Li Pe.

A  beach bar at Ao Phatthaya 2 .

One fresh morning around Haad Chao Le and the scenery of Koh Kra sits still in the front of this beach.

Li Pe Resort is located at Ao Phatthaya 2, the most beautiful beach of Koh Li Pe.

Koh Lipe : The Farthest yet Fantastic Island in the Andaman Sea.

Koh Li pe is an island located in the west of Mu Koh Tarutao National Park. The island is completely flat as its name, meaning paper in sea dwellers language, suggests. On the island is very old sea community named the Urak-Lawoi. Tourist could get to this island by boarding a passenger boat which leaves twice a day from Pak Bara Pier.

One of the charms of Koh Lipe is the existance of the ancient sea tribal community Urak-Lawoi. If you are interested in their traditional dance called Rong-Ngaeng, be there to watch their perfomance at Mountain Resort.

Ao Pramong is located in the north of the island, further from Haad Phatthaya 2. The beach is clean, white and definiely nice for a swim.

Laem Son is the cape in the north of the island and is the location of Mountain Resort. It does not only have a white clean beach good for swimming, but also gives the best sunset scenery as well.

Located at the or in the west of the island, Haad Phattaya 2 is the longest, the most beautiful, and the most convenient beach of Koh Li Pe.

Koh Kra is a small island set opposite to Haad Chao Le in the front of Koh Li Pe. Is has some lovely beachs and fascinating ranges of coral reefs. So many tourists love ride a kayak from Asia Beach Resort at Haad Chao Le to the island.

Koh Lipe - Hidden Gem of Thailand

Koh Lipe is one of the most beautiful islands at the Tarutao Marine Park in Satun and is considered one of Thailand's Hidden Gem. This small island sits at the Southern most part of the marine park and the name Ko Lipe (pronounced Lee Pay) comes from the local sea gypsy name which means Paper Island. Ko Lipe is also known as the Maldives of Thailand as the waters here are amazingly crystal clear while the unspoiled beaches are donned with pure white sand. The paradise is also known by many other spellings such as Koh Lipeh, Ko Lipey, Ko Leepay and Ko Lipe.

Koh Lipe is easily accessible as there are many ways to get here especially from Phuket, Ko Lanta, Pak Barra and also Langkawi Island in Malaysia. There are no airports so the only way here is via the modern speed boat ferries. Journeys are estimated at about 1-2 hours depending on which point you choose. As for my experience, I have visited Koh Lipe during the high season via Langkawi and also during the low season via Pak Barra jetty in Satun which is in Southern Thailand. After you arrive at the immigration office for your passport chop and want to take a longtail boat taxi to your resort at the other beaches, they charge a fee of 40-50 Baht per person.

This paradise island was originally settled by a band of sea gypsies from Malaysia, known as the 'Chao Lei' people and was once a secret little backpacker haven.

At the current moment, the island operates on two seasons, Low Season from May till September and High Season from October till April. You will find that during the rainy season, about 60% of the island comes to a standstill where prices are slashed to about 50-60% off peak rates.

Koh Lipe is also divided into four main beaches - Pattaya Beach, which is the main beach where most of the hotels and resorts are located, Sunrise Beach where more budget accommodations are found and a few upscale lodgings and Sunset Beach where it caters to the backpackers and divers. A fourth stand alone beach called Karma Beach is part of the  Mountain Resort which sits on the North most part of the island facing the beautiful Koh Adang.

The main attraction besides the beautiful views and scenery is the Lipe Walking Street located at Pattaya Beach that stretches inwards the island. It is here that you get all the restaurants, shops, massage centers and so on. The walking street comes alive at night with food, music, shopping and partying. No actual proper bars or clubs but you get the local island style settings. Stretching about one kilometer long, there are countless places for you to spend your evenings.

For divers, there are about 5-6 dive centers where you can take your PADI Diving Certificate at Koh Lipe. There are also about 16 known dive spots around the 4 main islands which are Koh Lipe, Koh Adang, Koh Rawi and Koh Dong. 

Apart from this, you have the option to go snorkeling or island hopping to the many beautiful islands around the Tarutao National Park. For camping enthusiast, you can do so at Koh Rawi and Koh Adang but you need to get permission from the ranger station at each island. There is also a trek and a waterfall at Koh Adang Island.

• There are no ATMS there
• The nearest ATM Machines are in Pak Barra jetty or Langkawi jetty
• Some businesses on Lipe will do Credit Card Advances at 5%-8% commission
• Foreign Currency can be changed at most resorts but at terrible rates
• There is only one Immigration Hut located at the end of Pattaya Beach next to Bundhaya Resort
• A local Police Station is also available behind the Immigration Office
• The only way in and out of Koh Lipe is via Ferry or Speedboat
• There are no taxis or cars on the islands
• Do not participate in Fishing Trips as it is illegal
• There is only one small clinic at the local Chow Lay village called Topoe
• A helicopter landing area is there for major emergencies
• Visa on arrival over land or sea is only 14 days for foreigners
• Alternatively, you can do a visa run to Langkawi, Malaysia and back within a day
• There is a small local church available in the Chow Ley village
• Room/chalet rates start anywhere from US$12 right up till US$250 a night
• Boat timings are crucial to and from Lipe. Check the low and high season timings
• From May until November Koh Lipe can only be reached from Pak Barra jetty

Travel Stories : MalaysiaAsia

Satun Province

Satun is a quiet southern province known primarily by travelers for its spectacular if infrequently visited islands, particularly Koh Lipe and Koh Tarutao.
 

Satun is located in the far south of Thailand, nearly 1000 kilometers from Bangkok. Most of the provincial inland is mountainous and the coastal region features more than 60 islands. As Satun borders Malaysia, a majority of Satun’s population is Muslim, many of whom are of Malaysian descent, adding a colorful character to the town, particularly in regards to food and clothing. Fortunately for the people of Satun and visitors to the area, Satun has been largely unaffected by the domestic unrest in the south and is a quiet and safe place to visit.

Satun town, the province’s capital, is a sleepy town that typically only sees travelers who are en route to either the offshore islands or Malaysia. However, mainland Satun does feature the Thale Ban National Park, which contains a number of waterfalls and a large lagoon surrounded by towering mountains.

From the port town at Pakbara, the top island destinations in Satun are Koh Tarutao and Koh Lipe, idyllic and generally undeveloped islands renowned for their spectacular natural beauty. Other islands include Koh Bulon Lae, Koh Adang and Koh Petra National Marine Park. Satun is a small province in the south of Thailand that is located along the coast of the Andaman Sea. In addition to a border crossing with Malaysia Satun Province possesses picturesque islands, verdant forests, and a mountainous interior.

Satun, once part of an independent Sultanate, has had strong ties with Thailand since the Ayutthaya period and as mixed marriages between Thais and Malay Muslims has been common for centuries, many Satun people are Samsam, meaning a mixed person. While most inhabitants of Satun, including most Samsams, are Muslims, Satun has avoided the regional unrest occurring in other southern provinces.

Most visitors to Satun come to visit the province’s spectacular national parks, including Mu Koh Tarutao National Park and Mu Koh Phetra National Park.

• The winds coming off the Indian Ocean pick up moisture and dump heavy rains on the west coast of peninsular Thailand from May through October. The other six months of the year receive little or no rain. 
• The monsoon winds make boat travel off coastal Satun dangerous from May through October.
• Every year during the rainy season (16 May - 15 November) the island national parks, including Koh Tarutao (Adang - Rawi Islands) and Koh Phetra are closed for visitor safety.

From : tourismthailand