Why Honeymoon on Koh Lipe
The water is the reason. On calm days in the dry season it is so clear that longtail boats look like they are floating in air. You can snorkel straight off several beaches. The reefs around Koh Adang, Koh Rawi and the smaller islets are a short boat ride away.
The island also has no roads to speak of beyond a few lanes and a pedestrian main street, so evenings are quiet and easy. You walk to dinner, eat seafood with your toes in the sand and walk home under the stars.
Lipe is home to a long-established Urak Lawoi sea nomad community, mostly near Sunrise Beach. Their fishing boats and village are part of daily island life, which keeps the place from feeling purely like a resort.
When to Go
Lipe has a short, sharp high season. From about November to April the seas are calm, the sun is reliable and the full ferry schedule runs. December through March is peak, with the busiest weeks at Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year. Book early for those dates because the island has limited rooms.
From about mid-May to October the southwest monsoon makes the crossing rough and the water cloudier. Boat schedules shrink to a single daily departure from Pak Bara and many resorts and restaurants close.
The best honeymoon window is January to April. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Thailand, since dengue occurs in the south.
Where to Stay
The island has three main beaches and each suits a different mood.
Pattaya Beach on the south side is the longest, with soft sand, calm water and the most restaurants and resorts. It is lively in high season but still nothing like its namesake on the mainland.
Sunrise Beach on the east side faces Koh Adang and has some of the best views on the island. It is a strong choice for couples who want swimming and snorkeling close to their room.
Sunset Beach on the west side is the quietest, with a small cove, a few bars and sunset views. It is better for evenings than for long swims.
Most accommodation is mid-range, from bungalows to boutique resorts with pools. True luxury is limited, so manage expectations and read recent reviews.
Romantic Things to Do
Hire a private longtail for a full day of snorkeling. Ask the driver to take you to the reefs off Koh Rawi, where the park has set ropes along part of the reef, plus Koh Hin Ngam with its beach of smooth black stones and the coral gardens near Koh Adang. Bring lunch or stop at a park beach.
On another morning, take a boat to Koh Adang and walk up the trail to the viewpoint above the ranger station. The climb is steep but short. The view back over Lipe is the island's best photograph.
In the evening, watch the sky change from Sunset Beach, then wander Walking Street for grilled fish, fruit shakes and a massage. Dive schools on the island run courses and fun dives for both beginners and certified divers.
Getting There and Around
There are no nonstop flights from the US to Thailand, so start with a flight to Bangkok and a domestic hop. The usual route is to fly to Hat Yai International Airport (HDY), take a minivan or private car to Pak Bara Pier and catch a speedboat of about 90 minutes. Trang Airport (TST) is another option, with boats from Hat Yao Pier in high season.
In high season, boats also connect Lipe with Koh Lanta and Phi Phi, which makes island hopping down the Andaman coast possible. Boats from Langkawi in Malaysia run too.
On arrival, expect a national park fee. Boats land on Pattaya Beach in high season and Sunrise Beach in low season, often onto a floating platform. Getting around the island is on foot or by motorbike taxi.
Food and Drink
Walking Street is the center of eating on Lipe. Seafood restaurants display the day's catch on ice and grill it to order, while small cafes serve Thai curries, noodle soups, pancakes and good coffee. Prices are a bit higher than on the mainland because supplies come by boat.
On the beaches, restaurants set tables and cushions on the sand in the evening. Pattaya Beach has the most choice for a dinner date, with candles and the sound of the water.
Satun province has a large Muslim population, so you will see halal food and fewer pork dishes than in Bangkok, though alcohol is easy to find in tourist areas. Try southern Thai dishes such as massaman curry, which has roots in the region's Muslim cooking.
Honeymoon Tips
Bring enough cash. There are a few ATMs on Walking Street, but they can run dry or charge high fees. Some smaller places only take baht.
Wear reef shoes. Stonefish have been reported in the shallows and coral cuts heal slowly in the tropics.
Allow a travel buffer. Boats depend on the weather and the transfers are long, so do not plan a tight international connection on the day you leave. Many couples spend a night in Bangkok or Hat Yai on the way out.
Satun is not one of the three southernmost provinces where the State Department advises increased caution. Even so, read the latest advisory for Thailand before you book and register your trip through STEP.
