Koh Lipe

[h90]

When I looked the internet for something complete different, I found "Koh Lipe".

I think I should go there once.

My search on Koh Lipe and diving brought some results but sure not all whats there.

My search on Koh Lipe and hotel brought absolut nothing.

If anyone has links/informations/pics/webpages or whatever on Koh Lipe please let me know.

[BambinA]

http://www.liperesort.com/index.html

Lipeh resort (at Patthaya beach)

http://andaman-island-hopping.com/hotels/andamanlipe.htm

Andaman Lepeh Resort (At Dan Nah Beach)

Lipeh (Patthaya beach)

Lipeh resort Tel 0 7472 3804, 0 7472 4336 /300 - 1,200 bht

Dayah resort Tel 0 7472 8030 /350 - 500 Bht

Patthaya 2 resort Tel 0 7472 8034 /300 - 800 bht

Lipeh (Pramong Beach)

Porn resort Tel . 0 7472 8088 /300 - 400 Bht

Lipeh (Dan Nah beach)

Asia resort Tel 0 7472 8117, 0 6969 3858 /650 - 800 Bht

Andaman resort Tel. 0 7472 9200 , 0 7471 1313 /300 - 400 Bht

Chao lay resort 42 Tel 0 7472 8111-2 Office 0 7473 2473, 0 9870 8561 /200 - 800 Bht

[h90]

Dear BambinA,

can you write for me Koh Lipe (near Hat Yai) in Thai language, as my wife is thinking I speak about Koh Lipong (near Trang)

thanks

h90

http://www.liperesort.com/index.html

Lipeh resort (at Patthaya beach)

http://andaman-island-hopping.com/hotels/andamanlipe.htm

Andaman Lepeh Resort (At Dan Nah Beach)

Lipeh (Patthaya beach)

Lipeh resort Tel 0 7472 3804, 0 7472 4336 /300 - 1,200 bht

Dayah resort Tel 0 7472 8030 /350 - 500 Bht

Patthaya 2 resort Tel 0 7472 8034 /300 - 800 bht

Lipeh (Pramong Beach)

Porn resort Tel . 0 7472 8088 /300 - 400 Bht

Lipeh (Dan Nah beach)

Asia resort Tel 0 7472 8117, 0 6969 3858 /650 - 800 Bht

Andaman resort Tel. 0 7472 9200 , 0 7471 1313 /300 - 400 Bht

Chao lay resort 42 Tel 0 7472 8111-2 Office 0 7473 2473, 0 9870 8561 /200 - 800 Bht

[BambinA]

เกาะ หลีเป๊ะ

จ. สตูล

[Galong]

Varin Resort is nice, clean and right on the beach. Rooms vary in price, but they're all reasonable.

Wherever you stay, be aware that some of the restaurants serve reef fish for dinner. Parrot fish are often filleted so you don't realize what you're eating.

[h90]

BambinA: thanks a lot, now it is clear

Galong: I just read an long discussion which ended in an usless bashing.

Point was that, that some found it extrem dirty on the beaches, rats in the bungalows and noisy from the speedboats. While others didn't has these experiences.

Are there more dirty areas?

There was also a long discussion about an italien guy who should be very ugly (so some people are telling).

But as then there were a lot of emotions, I am not sure what to belive or if there were just 2 people having their personal war?

Please some more reports about dirt/rats/noise.

Thanks

h90

Varin Resort is nice, clean and right on the beach. Rooms vary in price, but they're all reasonable.

Wherever you stay, be aware that some of the restaurants serve reef fish for dinner. Parrot fish are often filleted so you don't realize what you're eating.

[hUsh]

We've finally decided to go to Koh Lipe for New Year's holiday... Checked out and called most of the resort and most of them are fully booked so you should start calling them up... We've decided on staying at Varin Resort (thanks for the review Galong)..

I also have some concerns as to whether the island would be a real paradise like other people said... so far the reviews I found have mentioned that its worth going to... (i hope so since its a loooong way to go to)...

Edited December 4, 2006 by hUsh

[h90]

We've finally decided to go to Koh Lipe for New Year's holiday... Checked out and called most of the resort and most of them are fully booked so you should start calling them up... We've decided on staying at Varin Resort (thanks for the review Galong)..

I also have some concerns as to whether the island would be a real paradise like other people said... so far the reviews I found have mentioned that its worth going to... (i hope so since its a loooong way to go to)...

we are not yet sure, before christmas is not much time anymore, at christmas everything full. Or maybe after christmas. Please let me know your experiences after it, specialy if you are diving.

[LadyinRed]

There is probably a very good reason why you don't find much info on ko lipe. Why not go and see for yourself?

It will be busy around Christmas and New Year as the island is small and accommodations are limited. You may get put off by Pattaya beach or Varin resort if you are looking for something more rustic. However, Pattaya beach is where the main action is - staying/ passing tourists, seafood restaurants, couple of beach bars, and 'resorts' that lined the stretch of the beach. It is a good place to base yourself until you are more familiar with the island. Or you can send me a PM if you are desperate

There's plenty to see even if you are just snorkelling or shallow (< 20m) diving. An experienced diver may want to go during full/ black moon to make use of the availability of a number of drift dive sites they have there.

You may find the locals (chao lay) an extremely friendly bunch of folks. They speak Thai, Bahasa, and pretty accurate English when they can.

Almost everything on Lipe has to be brought in via ferry from the mainland, so prices are slightly higher. E.g. A can of cold beer costs 40 baht in the shops, a plate of fried rice 60 baht, and chicken cashew nuts on rice around 120 baht.

Expect to stay at least 4 days mininum.

[h90]

There is probably a very good reason why you don't find much info on ko lipe. Why not go and see for yourself?

will do that in Jan or Feb, just it might be the only week holiday in one year or maybe a second later, so I don't want to know as much as possible before.

It will be busy around Christmas and New Year as the island is small and accommodations are limited. You may get put off by Pattaya beach or Varin resort if you are looking for something more rustic. However, Pattaya beach is where the main action is - staying/ passing tourists, seafood restaurants, couple of beach bars, and 'resorts' that lined the stretch of the beach. It is a good place to base yourself until you are more familiar with the island. Or you can send me a PM if you are desperate

no I am not desperate

There's plenty to see even if you are just snorkelling or shallow (< 20m) diving. An experienced diver may want to go during full/ black moon to make use of the availability of a number of drift dive sites they have there.

If you are a diver let me know more, don't know which shop I should go with, who is charging a fair price

You may find the locals (chao lay) an extremely friendly bunch of folks. They speak Thai, Bahasa, and pretty accurate English when they can.

no problem my wife is from the south of thailand and likes the chao lay, that area are they muslim or a other religion?

Almost everything on Lipe has to be brought in via ferry from the mainland, so prices are slightly higher. E.g. A can of cold beer costs 40 baht in the shops, a plate of fried rice 60 baht, and chicken cashew nuts on rice around 120 baht.

Expect to stay at least 4 days mininum.

1 week maybe I can do 10 days

[Soph]

Koh Lipe is georgeous, I was there for a week just b4 the tsunami, it is really pretty and super chilled, the bars are all my kind of bars and its really chilled. Spent lots of nights smoking drinking beers and playing cards. If I could teleport somewhere right now for christmas it would be over there. Porn resort is nice but some scary walks through the jungle to get to the 'busy' side (aided by the moon and a lighter!) Have a lovely time!

[h90]

Koh Lipe is georgeous, I was there for a week just b4 the tsunami, it is really pretty and super chilled, the bars are all my kind of bars and its really chilled. Spent lots of nights smoking drinking beers and playing cards. If I could teleport somewhere right now for christmas it would be over there. Porn resort is nice but some scary walks through the jungle to get to the 'busy' side (aided by the moon and a lighter!) Have a lovely time!

can't await to get there!

[Galong]

BambinA: thanks a lot, now it is clear

Galong: I just read an long discussion which ended in an usless bashing.

Point was that, that some found it extrem dirty on the beaches, rats in the bungalows and noisy from the speedboats. While others didn't has these experiences.

Are there more dirty areas?

There was also a long discussion about an italien guy who should be very ugly (so some people are telling).

But as then there were a lot of emotions, I am not sure what to belive or if there were just 2 people having their personal war?

Please some more reports about dirt/rats/noise.

Thanks

h90

Varin Resort is nice, clean and right on the beach. Rooms vary in price, but they're all reasonable.

Wherever you stay, be aware that some of the restaurants serve reef fish for dinner. Parrot fish are often filleted so you don't realize what you're eating.

Rats - A teacher on a school trip was once bitten by a rat at the Andaman Resort (corner with the nice beach). The owner laughed when told. I was there.

Noise - Thailand, 'nuff said. There can be someone at any of the bungalows who doesn't give a rat's arse about other people, so noise is always a 'potential' problem. None of the bungalows have any insulation, so noise travels easily and far.

Italian guy - yes, a real prick (and fat a ugly). He used to have a monkey chained to a tree on a short leash. He and his obnoxious friends go out fishing and sells fish to places like the Varin Resort. These fish should be caught and sold by the sea gypsies whose livelihood depends on such things... in my opinion.

My advice is to find a place that has a where you can rent the last bungalow. Sorry, I can't say where as I haven't been there yet this season. I'm sure they'll have another zillion new bungalows built on and island that isn't big enough for half of what's built already. See it while it's still worth visiting.

[h90]

Rats - A teacher on a school trip was once bitten by a rat at the Andaman Resort (corner with the nice beach). The owner laughed when told. I was there.

Noise - Thailand, 'nuff said. There can be someone at any of the bungalows who doesn't give a rat's arse about other people, so noise is always a 'potential' problem. None of the bungalows have any insulation, so noise travels easily and far.

Italian guy - yes, a real prick (and fat a ugly). He used to have a monkey chained to a tree on a short leash. He and his obnoxious friends go out fishing and sells fish to places like the Varin Resort. These fish should be caught and sold by the sea gypsies whose livelihood depends on such things... in my opinion.

My advice is to find a place that has a where you can rent the last bungalow. Sorry, I can't say where as I haven't been there yet this season. I'm sure they'll have another zillion new bungalows built on and island that isn't big enough for half of what's built already. See it while it's still worth visiting.

That italien guy seems to get very famouse, when searching the internet for Koh Lipe I found a couple of discussions and he got mentioned often and not once in a nice way.

Is there any resort which you can recommend or where you made good experiences?

thanks

h90

[hUsh]

BambinA: thanks a lot, now it is clear

Galong: I just read an long discussion which ended in an usless bashing.

Point was that, that some found it extrem dirty on the beaches, rats in the bungalows and noisy from the speedboats. While others didn't has these experiences.

Are there more dirty areas?

There was also a long discussion about an italien guy who should be very ugly (so some people are telling).

But as then there were a lot of emotions, I am not sure what to belive or if there were just 2 people having their personal war?

Please some more reports about dirt/rats/noise.

Thanks

h90

Varin Resort is nice, clean and right on the beach. Rooms vary in price, but they're all reasonable.

Wherever you stay, be aware that some of the restaurants serve reef fish for dinner. Parrot fish are often filleted so you don't realize what you're eating.

Rats - A teacher on a school trip was once bitten by a rat at the Andaman Resort (corner with the nice beach). The owner laughed when told. I was there.

Noise - Thailand, 'nuff said. There can be someone at any of the bungalows who doesn't give a rat's arse about other people, so noise is always a 'potential' problem. None of the bungalows have any insulation, so noise travels easily and far.

Italian guy - yes, a real prick (and fat a ugly). He used to have a monkey chained to a tree on a short leash. He and his obnoxious friends go out fishing and sells fish to places like the Varin Resort. These fish should be caught and sold by the sea gypsies whose livelihood depends on such things... in my opinion.

My advice is to find a place that has a where you can rent the last bungalow. Sorry, I can't say where as I haven't been there yet this season. I'm sure they'll have another zillion new bungalows built on and island that isn't big enough for half of what's built already. See it while it's still worth visiting.

Will definitely be going there in January for more than week.. I have been checking pictures of Koh Lipe and almost day dreaming at work... Just a bit worried about having to go to Hat Yai and spending a night there before heading to Pakbara.. any insights on this???

[Soph]

Will definitely be going there in January for more than week.. I have been checking pictures of Koh Lipe and almost day dreaming at work... Just a bit worried about having to go to Hat Yai and spending a night there before heading to Pakbara.. any insights on this???

Dont worry perhaps?

[h90]

Will definitely be going there in January for more than week.. I have been checking pictures of Koh Lipe and almost day dreaming at work... Just a bit worried about having to go to Hat Yai and spending a night there before heading to Pakbara.. any insights on this???

Don't know from where you go, but NOK air has a flight early in the morning from Bangkok which should give you enough time to catch the boat to Koh Lipe.

I plan like that to avoid staying there over night.

[LadyinRed]

Avoid spending a night in Pak Bara at all costs. Hatyai isn't too bad.

Called on diving with Lotus Dive. They aren't the cheapest, but they have 15 litres steel tanks

[h90]

Avoid spending a night in Pak Bara at all costs. Hatyai isn't too bad.

Called on diving with Lotus Dive. They aren't the cheapest, but they have 15 litres steel tanks

And Lotus does answer emails, thats also nice :-)

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Varin Resort is nice, clean and right on the beach. Rooms vary in price, but they're all reasonable.

Wherever you stay, be aware that some of the restaurants serve reef fish for dinner. Parrot fish are often filleted so you don't realize what you're eating.

Hi,

I don't understand the part about reef fish and parrot fish ?!

And could somebody compare Ko Lipe with other Thai islands? Is it big as Ko PHIPHI or KO PHANGAN?

Is the water there the clearest you have seen in Thailand? (as nice as Maldives?)

Thanks.

[h90]

Varin Resort is nice, clean and right on the beach. Rooms vary in price, but they're all reasonable.

Wherever you stay, be aware that some of the restaurants serve reef fish for dinner. Parrot fish are often filleted so you don't realize what you're eating.

Hi,

I don't understand the part about reef fish and parrot fish ?!

And could somebody compare Ko Lipe with other Thai islands? Is it big as Ko PHIPHI or KO PHANGAN?

Is the water there the clearest you have seen in Thailand? (as nice as Maldives?)

Thanks.

I have not been there yet, but I guess they mean protected fish, or already rare fish, damaging the enviroment.

The map is telling me that it is much smaller, but the two islands near should be bigger than ko lipe.

Water I can't tell you, yet. they told me it is super clear, but it was a promotion, so can be true or not...

[meadish_sweetball]

Reef fish = fish that is part of the ecosystem around a coral reef. Parrot fish are the largish fish who shimmer in bright turqoise and pink, and whom you can hear munching at the corals when you are snorkling.

The sea gypsies on Lipe made Thai national TV two years ago. They were not happy about the situation, realising too late that there was a lot of money to be made off tourism, and now feeling cheated by the Thai and foreign investors who had bought their properties.

Some people I know who have been there say the island is beautiful, but complain about the slow service level and unfriendly nature of the bungalow staff.

But things can change in a few years I guess, no better way to find out than to look yourself.

[Don Quixote]

I was on Lipe in Feb and i am going back next monday for 4 days, i guess the italian with the monkey people are talking about is at the 'jumping monkey' bar right next to Lipe resort where i stayed.

The staff at Lipe resort are unfriendly and they are slow, the food takes for ever to arrive if you can get the staffs attention to order in the first place. Lipe resort is very convienient though and the bungalows are clean.

The water is superb for snorkling and you only need to go a few metres from shore to get to the reef. If you hire a boat you can find some great uninhabited islands and more great swimming, diving and snorkling.

I found the beaches very clean and the water crystal clear.

Make sure you take enough cash as there are no ATM machines either.

I'm on an air asia flight from Bangkok on monday morning to Hat Yai then jump in to a car at Hat Yai to go to Pakbara pier in Satun and will be snorkling around Lipe by 2pm.

Cheers and enjoy but dont tell everyone.

[h90]

I was on Lipe in Feb and i am going back next monday for 4 days, i guess the italian with the monkey people are talking about is at the 'jumping monkey' bar right next to Lipe resort where i stayed.

The staff at Lipe resort are unfriendly and they are slow, the food takes for ever to arrive if you can get the staffs attention to order in the first place. Lipe resort is very convienient though and the bungalows are clean.

The water is superb for snorkling and you only need to go a few metres from shore to get to the reef. If you hire a boat you can find some great uninhabited islands and more great swimming, diving and snorkling.

I found the beaches very clean and the water crystal clear.

Make sure you take enough cash as there are no ATM machines either.

I'm on an air asia flight from Bangkok on monday morning to Hat Yai then jump in to a car at Hat Yai to go to Pakbara pier in Satun and will be snorkling around Lipe by 2pm.

Cheers and enjoy but dont tell everyone.

I envy you for that!!

How to come from Hat Yai to Pakbara?

Any experience with diving there?

I am begging for a few pictures, if you have

thanks

h90

[hUsh]

I was on Lipe in Feb and i am going back next monday for 4 days, i guess the italian with the monkey people are talking about is at the 'jumping monkey' bar right next to Lipe resort where i stayed.

The staff at Lipe resort are unfriendly and they are slow, the food takes for ever to arrive if you can get the staffs attention to order in the first place. Lipe resort is very convienient though and the bungalows are clean.

The water is superb for snorkling and you only need to go a few metres from shore to get to the reef. If you hire a boat you can find some great uninhabited islands and more great swimming, diving and snorkling.

I found the beaches very clean and the water crystal clear.

Make sure you take enough cash as there are no ATM machines either.

I'm on an air asia flight from Bangkok on monday morning to Hat Yai then jump in to a car at Hat Yai to go to Pakbara pier in Satun and will be snorkling around Lipe by 2pm.

Cheers and enjoy but dont tell everyone.

That sounds great. Please post pictures and reviews for scuba diving schools.

We are flying to Hat Yai at night and probably stay overnight at Langu (as we are afraid of the current situation in Hat Yai). If you take the earliest flight from Air Asia -- about what time can you reach Koh Lipe? I'm afraid that we're going to spend the whole day travelling especially spending hours & hours on the boat (seasick)...

[Don Quixote]

I don't have any pictures on my computer of my last trip but promise to post some here of this trip as soon as i get back.

First Air Asia flight from Bangkok is at 06.55 and arrives at Hat Yai 08.20, i'm on the second flight of the day which is at 08.40 and arrives at 10.05. Air Aisa has six flights per day to Hat Yai from Bangkok.

Once you are at Hat Yai airport you have basicly two choices on how to get to Pakbara pier.

First choice, you can buy (inside arrival hall) a ticket for a mini bus to take you to Hat Yai city/town and this will drop you off neer the train station, opposite the train station is a mini buss office and from there they will take you to Pakbara.

Second choice, Take a taxi from right outside the arival hall and go straight to the pier, the cars are not marked as taxis but are all nearly brand new, you have to haggle for the price of the 1.5 - 2 hour drive.

When you get to Pakbara dont just jump on the first boat that is going there, ask at all the ticket boothes for the fast ferry, this takes almost half the time of the normal ferry.

BTW. Even though the staff at the Lipe resort are not the best i'm still staying there again this time as it is so convenient, besides you can eat at other places and the food is not bad when you do get it. Phoos is a great spot for a bite to eat and is a 5 min walk inland from the beach.

A couple of good websites to look at are here.

Cheers.

http://www.lostinthailand.com/thailand-gui...lipe-facts.html

http://www.kohlipethailand.com/

Edited December 13, 2006 by Don Quixote

[h90]

Don+hush: if there are any larger pics/other value informations (later when you two come back) I can also offer webspace on my companies server (i am owner, admin, webmaster....., aeh yes I work alone) and upload it there in case it gets to large for thaivisa.

[hUsh]

Don+hush: if there are any larger pics/other value informations (later when you two come back) I can also offer webspace on my companies server (i am owner, admin, webmaster....., aeh yes I work alone) and upload it there in case it gets to large for thaivisa.

Sure h90.. 2more weeks to go and off to Koh Lipe--can hardly wait! When are you going h90?

Oh I also found this link for more pictures.. Koh Lipe

I wonder if Don's back from his trip yet ?!?!

[h90]

Don+hush: if there are any larger pics/other value informations (later when you two come back) I can also offer webspace on my companies server (i am owner, admin, webmaster....., aeh yes I work alone) and upload it there in case it gets to large for thaivisa.

Sure h90.. 2more weeks to go and off to Koh Lipe--can hardly wait! When are you going h90?

Oh I also found this link for more pictures.. Koh Lipe

I wonder if Don's back from his trip yet ?!?!

Well I spoke about it yesterday night with my wife. I planned second week of Jan.

My wife told me, and there she is 100 % right, that we may have a lot order/work on that week so we postphoned it to 3rd or 4th week of 2007.

But she got the genious idea to check or Baths and time on Wednessday and maybe maybe we have time+money to go there just for a few days to investigate everything.

Or short version: I don't know, hope soon.

Always difficult with planing.....

Thanks for the link with the pics!!!

Edited December 18, 2006 by h90

[RoninTech]

Once you are at Hat Yai airport you have basicly two choices on how to get to Pakbara pier.

First choice, you can buy (inside arrival hall) a ticket for a mini bus to take you to Hat Yai city/town and this will drop you off neer the train station, opposite the train station is a mini buss office and from there they will take you to Pakbara.

Second choice, Take a taxi from right outside the arival hall and go straight to the pier, the cars are not marked as taxis but are all nearly brand new, you have to haggle for the price of the 1.5 - 2 hour drive.

When you get to Pakbara dont just jump on the first boat that is going there, ask at all the ticket boothes for the fast ferry, this takes almost half the time of the normal ferry.

Great info Don! The wife and I are flying into Hat Yai at 08:25 on January 2nd. We thought we had to go into town and hook up with the min-bus outfit opposite the station to get to Pak Bara. A taxi direct from the airport sounds like a much better way to go even if it is more expensive. Last year we were waiting at the minibus office until after 10:30 so we ended up on the slow ferry by the time we got to Pak Bara. Any guidelines on what we should expect to pay for a taxi ride to the pier right from the airport?

You can check out some of our pics from last year on Lipe here. We had an absolute blast. Originally we had intended on splitting a month between Lipe and Bulon Leh but we liked Lipe so much we stayed there the whole time. We plan on staying the whole of January there again .