15 Things To Do In Koh Lipe We Love!

Are you wondering about things to do in Koh Lipe? I’ve listed down all activities in my Koh Lipe guide below. 

Tucked away in southern Thailand, Koh Lipe is a traveler’s paradise. This little island is more than just a beach-bummer destination. 

It is surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters, hilly, jungle-covered islets, and beautiful white sandy beaches.

The island is small enough to feel like it is private and very intimate, but at the same time, it is big enough to have everything one ever needs. 

Even the most adventurous traveler will find something to do here. 

While other Koh’s (“Islands” in English) in Thailand are well-known nightlife and party islands, Koh Lipe is definitely not one of them. 

This island is different; it has pretty laid-back vibes. And that is where the beauty lies. You get to enjoy the island entirely since it is less crowded. 

My husband and I usually stays for a week on the island, so here I am sharing with you a list of all the possible activities and things to do in Koh Lipe. 

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First time in Koh Lipe? Here is a list of activities you can go for in Koh Lipe: 

• Snorkelling in Koh Lipe With Lunch – I’ve went on this one!
• Yoga Session In Koh Lipe 

2. Pampering Yourself with Thai Massage 

When you’re in Thailand, then a massage is a must!

And what better way to unwind than with a massage by the sea? 😛 

You can find many massage parlors scattered across the island, from Pattaya beach, to Walking Street and alongside the Sunrise and Sunset beach. 

Prices for an hour-long Thai massage are usually around 300 and 500 THB (USD 8 – 15). 

My favorite ones are the open-air establishments right in front of the beach! I usually go for the ones on the sunrise beach. Better view! Hehe. 

The massage hits you differently. The sound of the waves, the light purring engines of longtail boats crossing the sea, and the light tap of the sea breeze on your skin. 

I love that after feeling when you will feel like the whole world’s burden is off your shoulders and your back. As if you’re floating amongst the clouds. 

That is when you know that you just had one good hell of a massage.

3.Diving In Koh Lipe

For you, dearest divers, Koh Lipe has stunning dive sites that you should not miss! The island is friendly for divers of all certifications. 

My husband and I went for four dives with Satun Dive Resort and had an incredible time with Alex. Ask him if you’re planning to go and have some fun! 

We eventually became friends and made the time to meet up any time we were on the island. 

The longtail boat brought us from Talang Island, Stonehenge, Koh Yang West, and finally to Koh Yang East. Dives come with lunch, water, fruits, and fantastic dive masters!

Since my husband and I only have Open Water Certification, we could not dive at the 8 Mile Rock site. 

8 Mile is one of Koh Lipe’s most famous dive sites with whale shark sightings. But we definitely will be back soon once we have our Advanced Open Water!

4. Hiking in Koh Adang (Chado Cliff & Pirate Waterfall)

For the best Koh Lipe viewpoint, you will need to hike up Chado Cliff in Koh Adang – an island situated just north of Koh Lipe. 

The island from above is one of the most fantastic things to do in Koh Lipe. You can head to Koh Adang, situated just north of Koh Lipe. 

The hiking trail on Koh Adang passes three lookouts, the third having the best view of Koh Lipe across the straight. 

The hike is not challenging and takes less than an hour to complete. Definitely on the sweaty side of the things to do in Koh Lipe, but it’ll be worth it. 

You have two options for getting to Koh Adang; either by long tail boat taxi or by kayak. 

The island looks close, but it can take a while to get there by kayak if you are unfit. 

The ocean may look calm and easy to cruise through, but the waves can get rough, making it challenging to get there.

I suggest you take a long tail boat taxi to send you to the shore from Sunrise Beach. One-way boat taxi will cost about 100 baht per person ( US$3 ). 

Remember to discuss and agree with your boat taxi man for the pick-up time from the island, as they won’t wait for you there. 

The day can get a little hot and sunny, so remember to bring enough water, snacks, and sunscreen. 

Read More: Hiking Chado Cliff in Koh Adang (Guide)

5. Have A Drink At On The Rock

Looking for a place to have good cocktails or iced cold tasty coffee? 

Then, head over to On The Rock (Location), situated on Sunrise beach. 

You get to sit at an elevated altitude and enjoy the panorama view of the sea while enjoying your drinks. The location is considered one of  the best viewpoints of Lipe. 

6. Fly Your Drone Over Koh Lipe Island

If you have a drone, then you are lucky, my man. No airport is nearby, so you can fly your drone in Koh Lipe. 

You get magnificent views from up top, making you wonder whether you are in the Maldives or Thailand. 

Have fun flying your drone in Koh Lipe, but do respect other people’s privacy when flying your drone. 

If you are unsure about flying your drone at certain places, especially when visiting different national parks around Koh Lipe, do ask the local community or ranger on site. 

Pro Tips: A few places visited during the snorkeling trip will have rangers that will say no to drone! So, wait until you’re out at the open sea snorkelling area and fly your drone 😉

7. Beach With A Book

A book and a beach go a long way together. Grab a fresh coconut drink and spend a lazy afternoon on a sun lounge or beach while reading your favorite book. 

Flip some pages and dive into the tranquility of the surroundings. If you need a book, you can always ask your hotel if they have any. 

8. Go Fishing With Locals On Long Tail Boats

Have a passion for fishin, or would you like to try out a new hobby? What do you feel about going fishing with local Chao Ley (sea gypsies)? 

On Pattaya Beach, these Chao Ley local guides arrange your boat pick-up. They observe the tides and only venture into the depths when the weather is favorable. 

The cost of renting a fishing boat often includes everything. 

The guides give the tourists the required poles, lures, and tackle so they can fish independently. 

Aim for some fish, hunt for some squids, and learn how to throw your spear the right way. 

Don’t worry if this is your first fishing; the guides will share their local knowledge and help you with your fishing rods. 

Along with a great meal and a cooler filled with cold beer, mineral water, and other delightful needs, these fishing trips also include a fantastic lunch. 

9. Local Food Hunting on Walking Street

Have a wanderlust tummy and would like to taste local Thai food? 

It would be best if you headed over to some of the local favorites on this island to catch a taste of Thai cuisine. 

The best is to try out their seafood because it’s fresh, cheap, and they taste so much better than the ones on the mainland. 

Some resorts offer seafood fiesta. Look for some freshly caught squids and tiger prawns! 

Have it your own way; grilled over the barbecue pit, cooked in a soup, sauteed in a wok pan style, or even deep fried with tempura! Your tummy will thank you.

Stroll along The Walking Street when you are done eating. There are shops, massage parlors, pharmacies, tattoo parlors, and tons of 7E’s.

10. Snorkeling In Koh Lipe

This Koh Lipe itinerary of things to do will only be completed with the snorkeling tour in Koh Lipe. You will find a lot of companies proposing similar routes and snorkeling programs. 

There are usually two programs that you can choose from: 

• Snorkeling Trip 1 (5 islands + 6 points)
  • Jabang Island, Koh Adang, Koh Yang, Koh Rawi, Koh Hin Ngam 
• Snorkeling Trip 1 (7 islands + 8 points)
  • Koh Hin Sorn, Koh Pai, Ao Kum Nun, Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Rogroy, Koh Dong Monkey, Koh Peung, Jabang Island

Program 1 is closer and requires shorter travel distances than Program 2, which is considered the outer zone. 

I tried both and was really happy that I went to the outer zone. Initially, the long boat ride made me feel super lazy, but eventually, the snorkeling session was so refreshing! 

Corals were slightly different compared to Program 1, and you can see a lot more variety of fishes in the outer zones. 

If you want to skip the hassle of finding one on the island, this is the snorkeling trip on a longtail boat I went for. Go Pro photos and lunch included! 10/10! 

Otherwise, you can check with your hotel if they have snorkeling packages. 

The first time we came to Koh Lipe, we took the snorkeling tour with our hotel, which was super fun and slightly cheaper than most of the tours in Walking Street. 

I met some locals who stayed at our hotel and ended up being friends with them. Our boatman also spoke Malay, which was awesome!

11. Rent A Kayak

As the water is so calm, kayaking is one of the must-do activities while visiting Koh Lipe. 

On the sunrise beach, you can kayak to two smaller remote islands – Koh Usen (south end) and Koh Kla (north end). 

Both are not too far away and reachable with minimum effort. 

Koh Kla is an ideal spot to spend a few hours reading, snorkeling, or simply unwinding on the beach alone. 

Koh Usen doesn’t have a beach, but you can kayak around the island without any problem. 

Some hotels even provide free kayaks and snorkeling equipment for their visitors. Rates begin at 100 THB (USD 3) per hour and 300 THB (USD 9) per day.

We had a lot of fun having a picnic and snorkeling with beautiful corals and fish around Koh Kla. 

The water was transparent! However, be careful as it can be pretty shallow during low tide, so avoid going near the corals to avoid getting hurt.

12. Retreat With Yoga

Meditation is not really my cup of tea. But I’ve seen some yogis in the early morning kicking off the day with some stretches and meditation. 

There are a few places that offer yoga sessions, such as Keirita’s Yoga and Castaway Yoga. All you need to do is bring yourself there and stretch your worries away!

13. Enjoy Lively Koh Lipe Nightlife On Pattaya Beach

Pattaya beach is the best beach in Koh Lipe for nightlife. You can find Koh Lipe bars and restaurants lit up starting from 4 pm onwards. 

Most of them have Happy Hour between certain times. You buy 1, and you get 1 free of the same cocktail. 

If you want to enjoy drinking, have fun with live music and seize the opportunity to try all the bars, then you can go bar hopping.

14. Evening At Sunset Beach

What do you think about dipping the ocean water while spectating the sun sets over the horizon? 

Well, save a spot at the Sunset Beach because it is one of the best beaches in Koh Lipe for a clear sunset viewing. 

While sunrise has beauty, sunset scenery takes you to another level of calmness and satisfaction. See it for yourself through the lens of my eyes. 

15. Explore Pirate Waterfall at Koh Adang

This activity is one of the things I’ve not yet done on Koh Lipe. I’ve already planned to do this on my next annual trip.

This waterfall is a hidden gem. It is secluded, untouched and tucked away in the forest with little to no guidance on how to get there. 

I’ve done my research on it, and found one traveller who actually wrote about this and you can read her article here.

FAQ on Things To Do in Koh Lipe

1. What is The Best Time to Travel Koh Lipe?

The best time to travel Koh Lipe is during the dry season, between November to April. 

It’s mostly sunny, and the temperature is lovely for a sweet escape. It’s a lovely time to spend the time around the island and go for outdoor activities. 

2. How Many Days Do You Need in Koh Lipe?

You should stay in Koh Lipe for at least 3 days to have a worthwhile trip. If you have no constraints on staying longer, stay for a week. 

We stayed there for about a week and enjoyed our stay on the island daily. 

3. Can You Hike in Koh Lipe?

Yes, of course. There are some small waterfalls and treks you can do from the beach facing Koh Lipe, which is Koh Adang. 

Koh Adang is the perfect place to go. With three viewpoints, it will probably take about 1 hour to go up and another hour to come down, depending on your pace.

4. What is Koh Lipe known for?

Koh Lipe is known for its crystal clear water which makes it super ideal for snorkelling activities. 

From sea anemones to corals, you‘ll be surprised that more than 25 percent of the world’s tropical fish species can be found in the area.

5. How to Get to Koh Lipe?

The easiest way to get to Koh Lipe is by flying into Langkawi and catching a boat to Koh Lipe.

Coming from Thailand, the easiest route would be to fly from Bangkok to Hat Yai. 

From there, take a taxi or book a van from the airport to Pak Bara pier to catch a boat to Koh Lipe. 

Explore More: How To Travel To Koh Lipe (Guide)

Well, What Else Are You Waiting For?

Is Koh Lipe worth it? Yes. Definitely a yes!

Koh Lipe is the perfect getaway for you to disconnect from your Outlook or the city life. 

Imagine you come to this island with a stressed face, stiff neck, and shoulders. You’ll feel invincible after a thousand rounds of Thai massage. Haha.

I personally fell in love with this island. Koh Lipe offers the best in leisure. 

The island feels like my little resort because I can walk around wherever, with or without shoes, which screams vacation. 

I also love the island because it is less of a party island than many of its neighbors. It’s perfect for those finding calm, peaceful, quiet time away from hectic lives. 

I hope this article will help you plan your days on the island. Even without an itinerary, this little island will surprise you in many ways. 

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