I stayed with my family one month in Phuket and we decided to explore the amazing Thailand. I love snorkelling, and I found that Koh Lipe or Ko Lipe is the most beautiful snorkelling place in Thailand. We wanted to see it in our own eyes. From Phuket by speedboat, it takes approximately 6 h ride to get there, it is quite a headache. If we planned out travelling route to Singapore and Malaysia and I've noticed this is on our way and decided to take a look, or lets better say a dive.

We came from Singapore to Langkawi Island, Malaysia by plain.  From Langkawi to Koh Lipe we took a boat. You must pass trough immigration and border, which isn't the nicest welcome. The boat is closed and you can't go out. Some people got sick, so as you can imagine, getting there is quite tricky. As this is the border, they even take your passports and give them back on the island.

The speedboat journey takes approx. 1 hour and you will finally unload at Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe at the immigration office next to Bundhaya Resort.  Once the immigration procedures are complete, you are free to visit Koh Lipe and Thailand.

There is a one hour time difference between Malaysia and Thailand (Malaysia is one hour ahead).

Landing and leaving is quite an experience. Koh Lipe doesn't have port small boats took about 120 people from speed boat to land, transporting all the luggage as well. I certainly recommend you to travel light to this part of the world. So you jump directly into water and immigration procedures are done directly on the beach. 

Sure Koh Lipe is in Tarutao National Marine Park. The national park entrance fee is 200 THB for foreigners, there you can go to snorkelling, this they say in customs. Established as a marine national park in 1974, Tarutao National Marine Park is covering 1490 km² area at the southernmost Thailand off the coast of Satun Province in the Andaman Sea. The park consists of 51 islands within two groups.

Arriving is an experience for itself

Our hotel was on Pattaya beach. It is Koh Lipe's main beach. It's no surprise, with 1.5 kilometres of absolutely exquisite white sandy beach and awe-inspiring crystal clear blue waters. Pattaya beach is located along the south of Koh Lipe and is the closest beach to the island centre Walking Street and this is the only street in an island. 

Pattaya beach is located along the south of Koh Lipe and is the closest beach to the island center Walking Street

Walking Street is full of small shops, Roti Pancake places this seems to be most popular, bar and restaurants, massage salons and so on.

Paradise on earth

My desire was to go snorkelling, so we rented a private boat for a day this cost us 2650 BTH (71eur). Price included the boat for a day, lunch for too and snorkelling equipment.

You can also go with groups, which is more affordable at costs around 600 BTH per person (16 euro)

They were offering basically 2 different roads. 

Snorkelling trip

Snorkelling was average, comparing to the Red sea and Maldives, but I found that there is more to do in nature, in generally because island around ko life is quite empty from people and nature is natural. Of course, Ko Lipe is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park, but since it is a typically overcrowded tourist destination.

Saying this, Ko Lipe is the only location in the National Park where long-tail and another type of speed boats can be arranged to visit some of the great destinations on surrounding islands for diving, snorkelling and other activities.

White sand beaches and incredible waters

I love to live and feed my body and mind with emotions that are kept forever. So we were happy to stay alone on absolutely exquisite white sandy beach and awe-inspiring crystal clear blue waters and having a picnic, bathing in the sun, relaxing, photo shooting, exploring wild nature. 

White sand beaches and incredible waters

This was a totally relaxing day of running on white sandy beaches and in turquoise waters. Another lost paradise to describe it in other words.

We spend nights on Ko Lipe at Pattaya Beach, there could find all kind of romantic dinners and entertainments.

Amazing romantic nights

Every day a must were the fresh coconut and Oil massages that fulfilled a significant part of our days in paradise.