The Best Beaches In Koh Lipe (2026 Guide, After a Week on the Island)
The Beaches I’d Actually Recommend on Koh Lipe
Are you searching for the best beaches in Koh Lipe?
I walked all three main ones plus most of the smaller spots over six days, and I’ll give you the honest breakdown rather than a top ten that reads the same as every other one.
Here’s the shape of the island first. Koh Lipe has three main beaches, Pattaya, Sunrise and Sunset, plus a scatter of smaller ones tucked around the edges. Karma Beach up on the northern tip gets talked about like it’s its own separate beach, and to be fair, it’s stunning, but it’s technically an extension of Sunrise rather than a fourth main beach in its own right. So no, it isn’t the only beach worth seeing, it’s one very good option among several.
I thought I’d have Tarutao National Park to explore too. I visited in September, low season, and the park was closed for the monsoon. That stung a bit, it’s the main reason I’m already planning a return trip.
As for whether the sunrises and sunsets are worth building your evenings around, yes, without question. I’ve watched a fair few sunsets across Southeast Asia at this stage, and Koh Lipe’s still stuck with me.
If you’re a solo traveller working out which beach to base yourself near, or a couple trying to find the calmest water for swimming together, this is everything I found out over six days so you don’t have to guess.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission. See my Privacy Policy.
Here Are My Favourite Hotels In Koh Lipe
🏖️ Bayview Sunset – Check Prices Here
Koh Lipe Beaches Map
North Point Beach – My Personal Favourite
Everyone who’s been to this beach will tell you something different but here’s what a week there actually taught me.
It is my favourite and best beach in Koh Lipe.
The beautiful curved beach is located at the northernmost point of the island. The sand is honestly perfect in my eyes. The beach always has somebody swimming or relaxing on the sand. There are some great places to have a cocktail around sunset time like Zodiac See Sun Beach Bar Koh Lipe and Bulow Café & Restaurant.
They are located at the top of the island. I only experienced Zodiac and loved it. It was quiet in September so it felt private.
However, when I walked in the water close to Bulow Casa Grand View Resort I did step on some large rocks unexpectedly in the water that hurt.
Water shoes were worn the next time.
You can move between the sea and the beach too to snorkel or swim.
If I return to Koh Lipe one day I would stay on North Point Beach.
But be aware, it’s the most expensive part of the island for hotels. If you are like me and a little pale that means the sun can be dangerous even with protection. I only found a small area of shade close to Symbolic Cafe on the most westerly point of the beach.
Depending on where you are staying it could be a long walk or quick tuk tuk ride. any tuk tuk rides will cost 50 baht ($1.49 USD/€1.31 EUR/£1.12 GBP) no matter what part of the island you want to go to. It is a 25 minute walk from the most southerly hotel on the island Serendipity Resort Koh Lipe.
Sunset is usually around 06.15 PM. Even in the rainiest month there were loads of people packed onto the beach in September.
Sure, it’s far more expensive than anywhere else on the island, and I’d still pick it over a cheaper room on Sunrise Beach every time.
🇹🇭 Find Out When To Visit Koh Lipe 🇹🇭
Bulow Beach
As you move across from North Point Beach you come to what some people call Bulow Beach.
I feel it’s essentially the same beach as North Point Beach and that it just continues.
You can have a beautiful time here as well. There are several restaurants and accommodations to choose from if your budget allows. Mountain View Resort overlooks Bulow Beach and provides stair access to the shore.
In high season you can expect to pay 8,319 THB ($248.74 USD/€218.00 EUR/£185.89 GBP) per night which to me, is crazy to be located right on the beach.
While part of the beach does have some rocky parts you can swim here without any major problems.
If I am honest the water here felt like the clearest when I visited.
I would gladly swim on any beach in Koh Lipe but this one was top. I could see several metres ahead in the water, although it got a little blurry whenever a longtail boat passed and stirred up ripples.
After having a cocktail at Zodiac I walked to Bulow Beach in low tide and sat on the large rocks here for the sunset.
I paid a fraction of that for a room a short walk from here but I still understand why people pay it.
✈️ Find The Best Way To Visit Koh Lipe 🛳️
Sunset Beach
I based myself right next to Sunset Beach, and if I’m honest, it ruined me for every sunset since.
The beach is long and though narrow it is magnificent to experience a sunset out over the Andaman Sea.
Based on my experience, this beach tends to attract more couples. I saw some families spend time here too but anybody can obviously visit. There is plenty of shade and I found myself at times hiding under the trees because it was hot.
There’s the charming Sunset Bar I passed daily. It would have been the perfect romantic sunset spot as the sun sets. Though it was closed during the low season, renovations were underway to prepare for high season.
Stop by for a cocktail and soak in the tropical beach atmosphere.
I also found an interesting place that was abandoned.
On Google it is called a Royal Residence. Later I discovered it is owned by Princess Sirindhorn. But I walked inside the premises and nobody was there.
From North to South the beach is 350 metres in length.
The sand did have a little plastic washed up and that included in the water. I forgave it for that. You can snorkel here as the water is clear but usually most people liked to sit and watch the sunset or to walk the beach.
The beach was long, narrow, and completely worth basing myself next to for a week.
🇹🇭 Read My Guide About Where To Stay On Koh Lipe 🇹🇭
Pattaya Beach
I did not realise that Pattaya Beach is where everyone arrives but it’s not where everyone stays.
It gave me an extraordinary first impression because the sun was high in the sky and the sand and water were perfectly clean and clear.
It was simply brilliant. Walking along the beach is a nice way to settle in and you can see all the ferries come into the port packed with eager beachgoers. There are designated swimming areas in the high season but when I was there in September it was a free for all. Be careful when the boats are coming in is my advice.
About one kilometre in size you can swim and snorkel here in crystal clear waters.
In the evening I sat out on the beach at Akira Lipe Resort, had a cocktail and watched a fire show.
It was calm and family orientated. If you want a more adult feel then check out Monkey Bar Lipe, although I only walked past it. Cocktails range between 240–280 THB ($7.10–$8.29 USD/€6.29–€7.34 EUR/£5.37–£6.26 GBP) here and the setting is fantastic. Right on the beach, blue neon lights and beanbag seats on the sand.
I came for the ferry but I stayed for the fire show and a cocktail I didn’t expect to enjoy this much.
🇹🇭 Discover The Best Things To Do In Koh Lipe 🇹🇭
Sunrise Beach
This is the one beach on Koh Lipe I’d actually get out of bed early for.
Stretching across most of the east side of the island you can rent kayaks along the beach, eat lunch with amazing views or do some Yoga as the sun starts to rise.
I rented a kayak here for 100 THB ($2.98 USD/€2.64 EUR/£2.25 GBP) per hour or you can rent it for the full day for 300 THB ($8.94 USD/€7.92 EUR/£6.74 GBP). I recommend taking it for the full day because if you visit the small islands time goes by so fast.
Be aware that the beach tends to be packed with longtail boats that operate as taxis or bring people on day tours to the National Park.
Appreciate the small islands in the sea close by.
Koh Kla (aka Koh Kra) is a great place to explore for a few hours and Koh Usen sits pretty only a few hundred metres off the coast. You can swim, walk when the tide is low or kayak but I recommend the kayak for safety reasons.
When I got to Koh Kla, and pulled the kayak up onto the beach it honestly felt like I owned the island as nobody else was there for a while.
It’s not the prettiest beach on Koh Lipe but for me, it might be the most useful one.
Sanom Beach
When I flew my drone over Koh Lipe, I wanted to run straight to Sanom Beach and hide away.
During my visit, I saw only two people on the beach. Don’t expect crowds here, but keep in mind that the beach is 100 meters long.
You can get there from the small trail in the middle of the island, going 50 metres south of Forever Restaurant. There is plenty of shaded areas here and the beach is best suited to sunrises rather than sunset.
If you’re lucky like the couple I saw, you’ll have the entire beach to yourself. I think it stays so quiet here because it’s small and far from walking street and the other busier beaches. Guests who book Sanom Beach Lipe Resort likely choose it for this very reason: private beaches are rare, and having one entirely to yourself is even rarer.
If you want a small, quiet beach, that is fifty metres off the beaten path then that’s the one for you.
Lipe Secret Beach
This is the one beach on Koh Lipe I can’t vouch for myself, and I’ll tell you why I didn’t bother.
It is so hard to get there. While I didn’t visit this beach I know some people have visited and some were impressed and others were not so impressed.
Going from the pictures it looks small (around 10 metres long), remote and potentially a cool place to spend a morning sunbathing.
I was a little peeved that we didn’t get to visit but after reading more about it it doesn’t seem like I missed much.
The path ends 350 metres from the beach so that you means a trek through the jungle is needed.
If you want to visit all the beaches on the island then go ahead but if you’re short on time and want the most exquisite beaches then you can give it a miss.
Unless trekking through an overgrown trail and hoping for the best sounds like a good morning to you, I’d leave this one off the list.
Maricilla Beach
A cute little cove which seems hidden from the world, Maricilla Beach is around 20 metres long with white sand and clear water.
When we walked to the most southern point of Sunrise Beach our path ended when we came to a big chunk of rock.
Continue south along the road until it ends, then walk through Serendipity Resort Koh Lipe to find this beautiful spot. Expect to see more big rocks on the beach. Essentially this is a continuation of Sunrise Beach so if you plan accordingly you can visit both of these beaches on the same day.
This spot offers great food according to reviews and has scenic views. It’s also one of the best places for snorkelling, along with Koh Kla in my opinion.
Have a nice meal overlooking the water at On The Rocks.
You can expect to pay between 400–1,400 THB ($11.91–$41.71 USD/€10.55–€36.93 EUR/£8.99–£31.46 GBP) for a meal. I wish I took the time to eat here.
Tuck this onto the end of a Sunrise Beach morning. You won’t need long here, but you’ll be glad you came.
Pantai Galah Beach
Probably a less popular beach but still ranks among the best in Koh Lipe.
Less than 50 metres long you can experience a peaceful and remote time at this beach.
You can kayak to the beach or you can walk through the island west until the road ends and you can walk through the forest by foot.
Hikers enjoy the route and others, not so much, as it’s not too challenging but there is a nice reward at the end. You can reach the beach in about 40 minutes walking from Walking Street.
If Sanom Beach is the shortcut to solitude, this is the long way round, and it’s worth the walk.
Pitiusas Beach
Not every beach on this list has my own footprints on it and this is one of them.
If it’s high season expect there to not be so much room as the beach is pretty small with large rocks placed on either side.
It is located right beside Pitiusas Beach Resort & Restaurant so you can even eat before or after you swim or snorkel in the tropical waters. There is a road leading right down to the beach so getting there is easy.
I can tell you exactly what I saw on Google maps.
The beach is 32 metres long, has some sun beds, lots of shade and an outdoor bar which is open in high season. On both sides there are large rocks and some longtail boats dock here. There are much nicer beaches on Koh Lipe but if you want to explore the island then why not make a stop at Pitiusas Beach.
This is the closest thing to a recommendation I can give without having earned it myself, take it as a lead, not a verdict.
🧳 Read My Southeast Asia Packing List 🧳
Bonus Beach – Koh Kla (Aka Koh Kra)
I nearly skipped the one beach that ended up being the best story I’ve got from this whole week.
But if you kayak or take a longtail boat across, you’ll discover a hidden beach that feels like an unknown twin beach.
It is 360 meters away from the coastline of Koh Lipe. If you work hard you will be there in around 10 minutes but I suggest taking it slower and enjoy floating on the transparent water below.
Ask whoever rents you the kayak what the tide’s doing that day, it isn’t the same every visit, and it’s the one thing that turned our afternoon into a near miss.
When we got there, a few people were arriving and leaving when we visited in September. But for about an hour it was just us. I couldn’t believe how lucky I felt.
To have this tiny tropical island all to ourselves was pretty enjoyable.
You just pop your kayak up on the shore. But be careful, when we went out 20 meters or so the tide came in and it was about to take our kayak into the sea. Make sure you leave the kayak far up on the shore. The same kayak rental applies here, 100 THB ($2.98 USD/€2.64 EUR/£2.25 GBP) per hour or 300 THB ($8.94 USD/€7.92 EUR/£6.74 GBP) for the full day.
You can walk between the two beaches and snorkel in the most impressive waters. You can kayak around the island.
You can climb the small but wonderful viewpoint, which almost any fitness level could do and see Koh Lipe from a great vantage point.
It can be a little slippy and steep but you can use your hands to keep you on the right track.
Two local kids swam around the island and up onto the beach when it was just me sitting there. They caught an eel with a spear and walked through to the other beach. It was a great moment.
An hour with the island to ourselves, two kids and a spear-caught eel, and a view worth the slippery climb, that’s the whole pitch.
🛳️ Discover The Ferry Routes To Koh Lipe 🛳️
Eleven Beaches In, Here’s What Stuck
Still looking for the best beach in Koh Lipe? As you can see from the images and post, Koh Lipe has plenty of beaches to make your jaw hit the floor.
My personal favourite was North Point Beach, with its clean sand and beautiful curved shoreline. I also loved Koh Kla for the fun kayaking adventure required to reach it.
All of the other beaches mentioned are worth seeing at least once and you could probably settle to spend your stay on Pattaya Beach, Sunset Beach or Sanom Beach and not feel like you’ve missed out.
The beauty of Koh Lipe is its size. You can quickly get from the north to south in a few minutes via a tuk-tuk or zip around the island on a private boat. If Koh Lipe doesn’t end up being the island for you, Koh Lanta’s beaches are worth a look too
Any questions, just ask.
Thanks for reading,
James
FAQs
Which Part Of Koh Lipe Is Best?
North Point Beach is my favourite part of Koh Lipe. The sunsets, atmosphere and cocktail spots make it a winner for me. If you want a more peaceful beach, visit Pantai Galah Beach or Sanom Beach. Sunrise Beach is best for solo travellers and couples who want to kayak out to the nearby islands. Pattaya Beach is beautiful too, as is Sunset Beach, where I stayed nearby.
Where Can I Swim In Koh Lipe?
I swam at every beach I visited on Koh Lipe. At Sunrise Beach, I felt I had to stay alert for boats approaching the pier. They are loud, but they move faster than you might expect. Bulow Beach was best for swimming because of its clear water. North Point Beach had some large rocks that hurt my foot, but it is still a great place to swim. You can also swim at smaller, quieter beaches such as Sanom Beach and Pantai Galah Beach.
Which Beach Is Best For Sunset In Koh Lipe?
North Point Beach and Sunset Beach are my favourite places to watch the sunset. I visited both at around 6.15 pm, when everything became quiet. The beaches face west, making it easy to enjoy a beautiful sky. You can walk along the rocky cliffs, but it can be dangerous at high tide. I recommend spending one evening at each beach and deciding which one you prefer.
- My Two Weeks In Cambodia Itinerary (From Someone Who Spent Nearly A Month There)
- How To Visit Angkor Wat In 2026
- Best Restaurants In Siem Reap: Where To Eat And What To Order
- Where To Stay In Siem Reap In 2026 (Neighbourhoods And Hotels)
- 3 Days In Siem Reap, Cambodia (And What I’d Skip)
