Koh Lipe

The Maldives of Thailand

📌 By Jakub Mikula | December 30, 2018

In the southern part of Thailand, near the border with Malaysia, lies a small island called Koh Lipe, also known as The Maldives of Thailand. The island is so small (covering only about four square kilometres) that it takes just a few minutes to walk from one end to the other. Although it is largely centred around tourism, it still offers a taste of Thai culture. As such, it is a great place for those who want to spend a couple of days away from crowded cities and escape to an island where crystal-clear waters meet white sandy beaches.

I decided to visit the island during my December trip along the west coast of Malaysia. At this time of year, the west coast is dry while the east coast is hit by constant rainfall. From Malaysia, the island can be reached from the Malaysian island of Langkawi. Although flight prices from Singapore or JB to Langkawi have dropped significantly, I decided to travel by bus. This way, I also visited Melaka, Penang, and Langkawi along the way. I booked a ferry to Koh Lipe at the ferry terminal (Kuah Jetty) one day before the trip. Because Koh Lipe is so small, the island does not even have a jetty, so our passports were collected before leaving Malaysia and returned to us upon arrival in Koh Lipe to ensure we went through immigration.

There are many activities you can do in Koh Lipe, such as booking a tour, visiting neighbouring islands, kayaking, snorkelling, swimming in the sea, or simply relaxing on the beach or getting a massage. In the evening, the streets turn into lively markets lined with bars and restaurants serving food from all corners of the world. Below are a couple of pictures from Sunrise Beach.

You will often encounter dogs roaming around, hoping for a piece of food, or simply sleeping on the beach covered in sand.

In the evening, people gather at Sunset Beach to watch the colourful patterns in the sky as the sun sets behind the horizon.

If you find this post useful, you can use the map below to book your next accommodation (anywhere) through the affiliate link, and I will receive a small commission ;) Thank you!