The last paradise: Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is literally the last Shangri-La! Located near the Thai-Malay border, it is a tropical paradise island with soft white sand, clear blue waters, colourful corals and friendly locals. It is also being quickly overrun by hotels and construction is rampant everywhere, taking away large parts of the beaches and island interiors. So, the best time to visit Koh Lipe is now, before it turns into another Phi Phi!

The stunning waters around Koh Lipe

View from Mountain Resort, at the northern end of Sunrise Beach, undoubtedly the best place to stay on the island!

Sunrise Beach, a quaint, beautiful and quiet place

A popular snorkelling spot near Sunrise Beach, less than a kilometre away from the island

The sea near Koh Lipe is shallow and clear, making it ideal for snorkelling. You can see right up to the sea bed, with its white sand, lots of live corals and colourful fish.

Bohemian, utopic beach bars!

A beach hut for everyone!

Relax, relax, relax all you want!

Cute little cafes are all over the island

Lots of dogs around as well

Thai version of Waterhenge (oops, Stonehenge)!

Koh Hin Ngam, the black pebble beach

From white sand to black pebbles, Koh Lipe has it all!

A snorkelling day tour on a fishing boat will usually take you to this spot, Jabang (also my favourite snorkelling place). I am too scared to dive, so I only snorkel, and Koh Lipe was a heaven for me :-). The water is brilliantly green - the dark green is due to the corals on the sea bed, and the the lighter green parts is the sandy sea bed.

A picture perfect tropical island, Koh Rawi. Rawi is much larger and higher than Lipe, but uninhabitable because of the rocks coming almost upto the sea. Camping is allowed for the night, and the local conservation authorities monitor the islands carefully to encourage coral regrowth.

We had a picnic lunch at Koh Rawi, not far from the jungle :-)