Koh Lipe Travel Guides & Itineraries

Ko Lipe (Thai: เกาะหลีเป๊ะ), sometimes spelled Koh Lipe, is an island located in Satun Province along Southern Thailand’s Andaman Coast.

It lies 50km northwest of Langkawi, Malaysia, 67km west of Pak Bara, and 200km southeast of Phuket. The island is part of the Butang / Adang Archipelago.

Ko Lipe is famous for its diving, snorkeling, stunning white sandy beaches, and laid-back vibe. It has often been called “The Maldives of Thailand.”

The name “Ko Lipe” is a distorted form of the Malay name Pulau Nipis, which means “thin island.”

Although Tarutao National Park was created in 1973, Ko Lipe is not included within the area covering the 51 nearby islands under the park’s control, so development is allowed on the island.

About 500 Urak Lawoi people live on the island. Known as “chao leh” in Thai and “orang laut” in Malay, and often called “sea gypsies” in English, they are descendants of the island’s original settlers from 300 years ago.

Many left in the late 1800s when Dutch forces mistakenly identified them as pirates because of their nomadic way of life. Since the island was uninhabited for a time and ownership was disputed, the Urak Lawoi were granted half of the island to prevent Malaysian claims.

They mostly reside in small villages on the far east side near Sunrise Beach. While some work in tourism, many still rely on fishing and growing rice and vegetables. They maintain animist beliefs honoring the spirits of their ancestors, the island, and the sea.

Twice yearly, during the full moon in late May or early June and again in late October or early November, they hold a three-day spiritual festival called pla juk or loy rua to honor their ancestors.