Koh Lipe Beaches: Which One to Choose

Featured image: Koh Lipe Thailand: Koh Lipe Beach Resort, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Koh Lipe Beaches at a Glance

Koh Lipe has 3 main beaches. Pattaya Beach is where boats arrive, Sunrise Beach faces east, and Sunset Beach is the evening gathering spot on the west. Sanom and the Bulow stretch are quieter options. Swimming notes below are visitor-reported, not measured, and they shift with wind and tide.

How to Choose a Beach

Start with how much walking you want. Koh Lipe is small, and one source says a full circuit takes about an hour. Then weigh swimming, noise and sunrise versus sunset. Here is our 30-second pick list.

• First visit and heavy bags: Pattaya Beach.
• Quiet swimming: Sanom Beach.
• Sunset drinks: Sunset Beach.
• Morning light and views toward Koh Adang: Sunrise Beach.
• Scenery walks with few people: the Bulow stretch.

Pattaya Beach: The Arrival Beach

Boats land here, and a floating pier sits just offshore. Longtail boats line much of the sand, though some sections stay clear. We'd start here because the walk to Walking Street is short, which helps when you arrive with bags. Walking Street has an ATM and a 7-Eleven, per one source, so confirm both on arrival. The trade-off is activity. Expect boat traffic and the most people of any beach on the island.

Sunrise Beach: East Side Views

Sunrise Beach lies at the opposite end of Walking Street from Pattaya. Water colour and views toward Koh Adang are the draw. One visitor found it windy in late November and judged it less good for swimming then. Treat that as one seasonal data point. Access can be unclear, and the same visitor walked through a beachfront bungalow property to reach the sand. Ask your accommodation for the best way down before you set out.

Sunset Beach: Plan the Walk

Sunset Beach is the laid-back option on the west. Visitors report about 20 minutes on foot from the Pattaya side. Map roads are often paths or cut-throughs, so allow extra time the first time. Facilities are limited. One source describes a drinks vendor setting up from 5pm to 7pm, with a 100 baht cocktail. Treat that as a single anecdote, not a standing price. Bring cash, a light, and a plan for the walk back after dark. For food afterward, see the island restaurant options. Another option is the night market.

Quieter Beaches: Sanom and the Bulow Stretch

Sanom Beach is small, with rocks at both ends and one resort. It sits a short walk over a wooden bridge from Pattaya, roughly 15 minutes from Walking Street. Past Sunrise Beach, the Bulow stretch carries several names. Google Maps shows both Bulow Beach and North Point Beach, and one source also calls it Karma Beach. Verify names on your own map. One visitor reports a viewpoint restaurant up steps near the end of the beach, plus a beach restaurant called Benny's on the Beach. Both are single reports, so verify before you plan around them. Walking toward Sunset Beach depends on tide: at high tide it is hard to get all the way through, and at low tide the route opens up.

Which Beach to Stay On

Pick Pattaya if you want short walks and easy arrivals. Pick Sanom for quiet, accepting a stroll of about 15 minutes to Walking Street. Pick Sunset Beach if you prefer calm evenings and Don't mind the walk to town. For room types and areas, see our guide to choosing a base on the island. Nights out sit on Walking Street, covered in the nightlife guide. Rooms near it can be noisy, so ask about location before you book.

Getting Between Beaches on Foot

Walking is the main way to move. One source puts a loop of the whole island at about an hour. Paths often replace the roads shown on maps, and tide changes which stretches you can pass. Sidecar motorbikes run along Walking Street if you would rather ride. Our getting around guide covers the options. We'd carry water and wear shoes you can get wet.

Beach Day or Boat-Trip Day

If conditions look rough or windy on your chosen beach, a boat day is the alternative. Visitors describe island hopping in Tarutao National Park and snorkeling tours. Our nearby islands guide compares them. We'd keep one beach day in reserve either way.

Best Season and Sea Conditions for Beaches

High season runs roughly November to April, according to visitor sources. Rough seas are a concern in the summer rainy season, and they can disrupt boat arrivals. Check forecasts with the Thai Meteorological Department before you travel. Sunrise Beach was windy in late November for one visitor, so even high season varies. Our month-by-month timing guide goes deeper.

Costs That Affect Beach Choice

Koh Lipe runs pricier than much of Thailand, according to one source. A national park fee of ฿200 was paid at the pier in one report. Confirm the current amount with the national park authority. One visitor found a private room for ฿500 on Walking Street, most others around ฿1,000 and up, and meals at ฿70. Those are illustrative past figures, not current rates. Beaches farther from Walking Street save little unless you accept longer walks. Use the figures only as a rough guide.

Mistakes to Avoid on Koh Lipe Beaches

We'd avoid four common errors.

• Booking by beach name without checking the walk to Walking Street.
• Assuming every beach swims well all season.
• Trusting map roads that turn out to be paths.
• Reaching Sunset Beach with no plan for the walk back.

Getting Here and Leaving

Koh Lipe is reached by boat. Start with how to reach Koh Lipe. Compare boats in the ferry guide. If you are still deciding on the trip, read whether the island is worth the journey. For more activities, return to our Koh Lipe activities guide.