Wondering where to stay on Koh Lipe first time? Before you leave, it is wise to ask yourself exactly what you are looking for on Koh Lipe.
Do you want to stay in a quiet resort with a private beach, or would you prefer the central part of the island with a surprising number of modern conveniences such as supermarkets, pharmacies, ATMs, and plenty of restaurants?
Are you someone who returns to the hotel early in the evening to be lying on Sunrise Beach early the next morning, or would you rather hang out late with a drink on the beach?
Moreover, you have plenty of options to explore the other islands by boat. A snorkeling trip, hiking on the nearby island, or a sunset tour with plenty of food and drinks on board.
Koh Lipe is small, but the atmosphere varies greatly by area. That is why it is important to choose the right part of the island that suits your travel style.
And on Koh Lipe, the beaches are very easy to categorize. Let’s dive right in. Oh, and throughout the article, I will give you some tips here and there, such as what exactly the highlights of the island are and how best to arrange transportation on the island as well as to and from Koh Lipe.
The best areas to stay on Koh Lipe are Sunrise Beach, Sunset Beach, and Pattaya Beach.
Sunrise Beach is a long beach on the east side of the island. Along the entire beach, you will find all kinds of restaurants and bars, while the beach has plenty of trees to comfortably place your towel in the shade. The water is crystal clear, and the beach is completely white. The southern part is a bit busy due to the many longtail boats, but if you head to the northern point, you get the feeling that you are indeed in the Maldives. Additionally, it is very centrally located, with Koh Lipe’s Walking Street within walking distance.
Sunset Beach is a good alternative where the focus is on tranquility. In this area, you have fewer large beaches, and especially when staying further west, you will quickly notice that there are significantly fewer amenities compared to Sunrise Beach. However, here you will find all kinds of resorts with beautiful sea views that are specifically geared towards couples and possibly small families (think private beaches, 4-star hotels, etc.).
Pattaya Beach is the beach where you will find the pier of Koh Lipe. This is where the larger speedboats arrive. It is therefore advisable to stay just a little way from here. Although the beach is not as beautiful as Sunrise Beach, your location is very strategic: you can walk along the beach to the nice little spots on Pattaya Beach, as well as to Walking Street and even Sunset Beach.
You can easily navigate to any area by tapping the link. Or go directly to the summary of the best areas to stay on Koh Lipe.
You often hear that Koh Lipe is comparable to the Maldives.
Personally, I find that a bit exaggerated, but there are certain beaches on Koh Lipe that are among the most beautiful in the entire country. And those are located on Sunrise Beach, and especially on North Point Beach.
In my opinion, therefore, you can get the most out of Koh Lipe by choosing a hotel close to Sunrise Beach and within walking distance of Walking Street.
This way, you combine the most beautiful beaches with the bustling part of the island.
That offers a lot of convenience. For example, when you are hungry, you can easily walk to a nearby restaurant without having to rely on a motorbike taxi.
During our last stay, we actually chose a quieter part of the island. The downside of that was that there was little choice in terms of restaurants and shops.
If you stay near Walking Street, you won’t have that problem at all.
Moreover, Walking Street connects the two liveliest beaches of Koh Lipe: Sunrise Beach and Pattaya Beach. You can easily walk from Sunrise Beach to the northernmost point of the island: North Point Beach.
This is by far the most beautiful beach on Koh Lipe and perhaps the place that most resembles the Maldives.
Here you will also find several luxury resorts with private beaches. If your budget allows, this is highly recommended.
Many longtail boats are moored in the middle of Sunrise Beach, which makes the view a bit less attractive in some places.
Nevertheless, there is a wonderful atmosphere thanks to the cozy beach bars and restaurants.
Moreover, there are plenty of spots with natural shade, so you are not obliged to rent an expensive sunbed.
The Ting Tong Bar is a nice place to have a drink in the evening, watch fire shows, and meet other travelers.
Because Sunrise Beach is extremely popular, hotel prices during the high season are often higher than you might be used to on other Thai islands.
Therefore, it is smart to book early or choose a hotel that is not located directly on the beach.
If you are looking for more peace and quiet, Sunset Beach is an excellent choice.
This part of Koh Lipe is located further away from the busy center and has a much more relaxed atmosphere.
You will find fewer hotels here because a large part of the nature is still unspoiled.
Sunset Beach is slightly harder to reach, but precisely because of that, it feels quiet and romantic.
As the name suggests, Sunset Beach is known for its beautiful sunsets.
However, you can also get an excellent view of them from North Point Beach.
If you are truly looking for peace and relaxation, you can stay a little further west. During our last trip, we stayed at Aya Beach Resort.
The spacious rooms with balconies offer beautiful views of the sunset.
Moreover, many resorts in this area feature a private beach and offer free use of snorkeling equipment and canoes.
Additionally, staying here is convenient for discovering small, quiet beaches such as Daya Beach and Pantai Galah Beach. The biggest disadvantage of this part of Koh Lipe is that you are often dependent on a motorbike taxi for restaurants, bars, and shops.
That doesn’t have to be a problem, but you can’t just walk back to your hotel if you’ve forgotten something.
In general, this area is perfect for couples looking for peace and quiet.
Families with children and young travelers who prefer to stay in a lively and social environment would be better off choosing Sunrise Beach.
Keep in mind that the roads get steeper the further west you stay.
An interesting hotel is Bella Vista Resort. Although it is officially located on Pattaya Beach, the entrance borders almost directly on Sunset Beach.
This makes it easy to visit both beaches without needing a taxi. Walking Street is also within walking distance.
We stayed at Aya Beach Resort ourselves. The rooms and facilities were excellent, including a pool and a private beach.
The only downside we found was the limited number of restaurants and shops in the immediate vicinity. If you don’t mind taking a motorcycle taxi occasionally, this is definitely highly recommended.
We departed from Koh Phi Phi and took the speedboat from Bundhaya. However, this boat actually departs from Phuket. You can bring your suitcases, and the crossing is quite comfortable. We booked directly at the office on Koh Phi Phi for about 1,800 THB per person.
Upon arrival on Koh Lipe, you pay an entrance fee of 200 THB per person. On the island, you notice that people work hard to keep Koh Lipe clean. For example, you no longer receive plastic bags at 7-Eleven. Although you still see some trash here and there, the beaches are remarkably clean.
Pattaya Beach is the beach where most boats arrive to and from other islands.
As a result, it can be quite busy and chaotic, especially around the piers.
However, the further you walk from the pier, the quieter it gets.
Because you can walk the entire length of the beach in about ten minutes, you will quickly find a more pleasant section.
There are many beach huts, beach bars, and restaurants, giving Pattaya Beach a lively atmosphere.
You have plenty of room to lay down your towel, but there are also plenty of sunbeds available.
Pattaya Beach feels less exclusive than North Point Beach or parts of Sunrise Beach.
Nevertheless, you will find a number of stylish restaurants around the pier where you can enjoy cocktails and beautifully presented dishes.
One of the biggest advantages of Pattaya Beach is direct access to Walking Street. This street officially opens around 6:00 PM and closes around midnight, although many restaurants and shops open earlier.
Pattaya Beach is also an excellent place for massages.
The beach massages are especially recommended: while hearing the sea and feeling the wind, you will completely unwind.
Although Pattaya Beach is less beautiful than Sunrise Beach, it is hard to beat in terms of convenience.
Incoming boats can obstruct the view in some places, but on the other hand, you are close to everything.
As mentioned earlier, Bella Vista Resort is an excellent choice here.
Many surrounding hotels are also highly recommended for travelers who want to stay centrally on Koh Lipe.
Koh Lipe is a small island, and in theory, you can walk everywhere. That is partly true, but when you want to go from the west side to the east side, you have to take quite a few hills into account. Moreover, there are many stray dogs roaming around in the evenings.
Therefore, it is often more pleasant to take a motorbike taxi. These usually cost around 50 THB per person and take you quickly from one beach to the other.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Sunrise Beach | The most beautiful beaches on the island are located here. It is about a ten-minute walk to Walking Street. And the boats for the tours are located at the beginning of the beach. Combine this, and you essentially have everything Koh Lipe has to offer. |
| Sunset Beach | Koh Lipe is a quiet island in itself, but it can be even quieter. Sunset Beach is perfect for those looking for a resort with sufficient facilities to enjoy a comfortable trip. Do keep in mind, however, that it is located quite a bit further from Walking Street, so you will often be dependent on a motorbike taxi. |
| Pattaya Beach | Not the most beautiful beach, but not a bad one either. In terms of location, it is one of the most strategic because you can walk to Walking Street and Sunset Beach. Do not underestimate the value of Walking Street being within walking distance: here you will find the majority of the shops, restaurants, massage parlors, and ATMs. |