Koh Lipe
Day 1: Getting there
We grabbed a 6:40am flight from Don Mueang in Bangkok to Hat Yai in Southern Thailand taking around an hour and ten minutes. From there we travelled by van around one hour thirty minutes to Pakbara Pier in Satun Province. From Pakbara Pier it takes a little over two hours by boat stopping at both Koh Tarutao and Koh Kai along the way for a look-see and photo ops. (note: the return trip takes only around 1 hour and 10 minutes with no stops.)
Koh Tarutao
Brief stop at Koh Tarutao National Park 20km from Pakbara Pier in Satun Province, Southern Thailand.
Koh Tarutao
Stopped Koh Tarutao for 10 minutes on the way to Koh Lipe. Would make a nice day-trip in itself. Lots of shade.
Arrival at Koh Lipe
Arrival at Koh Lipe around 70km from Pakbara Pier in Satun Province, Southern Thailand.
Cabana Lipe Beach Resort
View from our room at Cabana Lipe Beach Resort over Sunrise Beach at Koh Lipe with views to Koh Usen in the foreground and Koh Talang in the background..
Cabana Lipe Beach Resort
Nothing better after a hard day's snorkelling than a shower, a cool drink from the fridge and air-conditioning.
Cabana Lipe Beach Resort
TV, sea views and room service delivered to your own balcony.
Sunrise Beach Walk
Afternoon walk along Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe.
Long-tail at Sunrise Beach
Long-tail boat at Sunrise Beach Koh Lipe.
Day 2: Snorkelling
We departed Sunrise Beach around 9:30am for a day of island-hopping and snorkelling. Before heading off we made sure we had water-proof bags for our belongings, sunscreen, hats and water. The boats take between 4-6 passengers each and we introduced ourselves to our co-travellers, a mother and daughter from Chiang Mai. All of us had good shade from the sun and the occasional spray from the bow was welcome on a warm day. The fact that my wife cannot swim was no problem as they provide life vests for snorkelling and in her case a life-ring with a rope attached for our guide to tow her around with. Lunch was at Monkey Island with khaw man gai (chicken and rice) provided, along with a large bottle of water and freshly cut pineapple for desert--aloi. My wife who gets sea sick was fine when the boat was moving and only felt the mal de mer when when stopped. The fact she gets seasick and can't swim was not going to stop her from seeing Nemo.
Long-tail Boat
Long-tail boat off Koh Rugoi, the only way to travel.
Long-tail Boat
The business end of a long-tail boat off Koh Rugoi.
Arrival at Koh Rugoi
Snorkeling at Kho Rogoi for more interesting corals and fish.
Koh Dong
Monkey Island lunch break and snorkel. Nice and shady.
Traffic
Long-tail boats pick their way through the coral outcrops off Koh Lipe with Koh Gla in the background.
Return to Koh Lipe
Returning to Koh Lipe around 2:30pm
Day 2: Dinner
We'd had nothing bu great food at the Cabana Lipe Resort for our second night we decide to try the Serendipity Bar and Restaurant "On the Rocks" just a short walk down Sunrise beach from where we were staying. Using a tap at the bottom of the stairs we washed our feet and sandals so as not to traipse sand through the restaurant. The menu features both western and Thai cuisine. My Phad Thai chicken was spectacular and so was my wife's Phad Thai Bu (crab) And by crab, I mean an entire crab. The portions were more than ample and the tastes, textures and aromas were the best I've ever had. The maî·tre d'hô·tel who I believe was French introduced himself and made sure everything was to our satisfaction which it was. Apparently the Serendipity Bar and Restaurant is the place all the celebs come and after sampling the food and service I can easily see why as both were flawless.
Dinner at Serendipity
Best Phad Thai I've ever had in 10 yrs--period.
Day 3: Travel to Songkhla
Day 3 saw us check out of the Cabana Lipe Beach Resort after breakfast (omelette, toast, bacon and sausages) around 10:30am where we taxied back to the ferry terminal for our 1:30 departure back to the mainland and an overnight in Songkhla at the Antique Hotel.