A Guide To The Beaches Of Koh Lipe

If you are going to visit Koh Lipe, you have a lot of beaches to choose from! I was considering rating them, but then everyone’s different in what they’re looking for, so I’ll just go through the options so you can pick and choose as you wish (though they are ranked from least to most favourite)

Pattaya Beach

This is likely to be the first of Lipe’s beaches you’ll see, as it’s where all the speedboats and ferries terminate. It’s roughly a mile long, south facing, lined with resorts and restaurants, and it’s where the main street (Walking Street) starts from

Plus points

• Conveniently close to the action
• Good sunset view
• Plenty of options for food and drink

Drawbacks

• Busy with people (though it’s calmer at the pictured western end
• Busy with boats
• Water not the best quality for swimming (due to the point above)
• Not a whole lot of shade (if, as and when you want to escape the sun)

Secret Beach, Svedo Beach & Patai Galah Beach

I’ve grouped these three small beaches together as they are a stone’s throw from one another, and are a bit of a trek to reach, so if you’re going to go, may as well see all three at once!

Top tip:

Do not follow Google maps directions to reach the secret beach! The path indicated starts off pleasant enough, them there’s a tunnel through vegetation that had me thinking I was chasing Totoros. But after that the path dwindles and even disappears at points, so you’re almost forging your way through jungle!

I finally found a path once a minute or two from the beach itself, and on the return followed it back, only to find it came out onto Svedo Beach just a minute or two later...

…which connects to Patai Galah Beach...

…which has a much shorter and clearer path back to and from the main road! (Google maps will take to to the trailhead)

Plus points

• Great view
• Very likely to be deserted, or just a handful of people
• Good water for swimming (though rocky at low tide)
• Shaded spots

Drawbacks

• A hike to get to - roughly 30-40 mins from the centre (though the walk is mostly pleasant ... and you could get a scooter taxi to take you most of the way)
• No amenities

N.B

There were some stray dogs at Svedo and Patai Galah Beaches, so if you’re not keen on dogs maybe pass ... though I was happy to share my snacks with this friendly little fellow

And to be honest they’re all over the island, and Thailand in general, so may just have to grin and bear it!

Then I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a clothing-optional beach but there was a guy in his birthday suit on Svedo Beach... scrupulously not pictured 😂

Sunset Beach

As the name suggests, a westerly-facing beach that has great sunset views. About half a mile long, good swimming

Plus points

• Fairly easy to reach
• Some refreshment options
• Shaded in the morning, sunset view come evening
• Sunset view

Drawbacks

• Somewhat busy with boats
• Very busy at sunset, especially if it coincides with low tide...

(a little too packed for my taste!)

Benny's Beach

A fairly sparsely-populated midsize beach, north-westerly facing, nice water for swimming — an early front-runner until I scampered around a little more

Plus points

• Not too busy
• Not many boats
• Fairly good sunset view
• Food and drink options
• Some shady spots

Drawbacks

• A bit of a hike to get to

Sunrise Beach

Like Sunset Beach, does what it says on the tin! Maybe the longest beach on the island, lined with bars, restaurants and resorts

Plus points

• Very easily accessible
• Lots of refreshment options
• Great water for swimming

• Good views in the daytime
• Sunny in the morning, shady in the afternoon
• Great view at sunrise

Drawbacks

• Fairly busy
• A lot of boats for the southern two-thirds

Bulow Beach

More of an extension of of Sunrise Beach, just need to keep walking north and around the headland. Has the widest expanse of sand on the island

Plus points

• Good views
• Great water for swimming

• Some food and drink options
• Not too busy
• Not too many boats

Drawbacks

• A fairly long, though easy and scenic walk to get to
• Not much in the way of shade until late afternoon

'Goldilocks Beach'

This seems to be the true secret beach of the island, has no name marked on the maps (so I gave it my own, befitting my pickiness!) with no trail markers and not mappable on Google

I discovered this by scampering around (as is my habit :) and giving an unpromising looking trail a shot

You can find the trail just around the corner from the Asara Resort:

And from there it’s just a few minutes down to this lovely little beach which was my standout favourite and received a fair few visits!

Plus points

• Fair size beach
• Fairly easy to access
• Hardly any people
• Great water for swimming

• Great view in the day
• Shaded in the morning, shady spots through the afternoon
• Good view come sunset (without the huddled masses!)

Drawbacks

No food/drink options or amenities... so go prepared!

Not featured

As they appear to be private access resorts beaches — Pitiusas Beach & Sanom Beach

Top tip

There are some fantastic views to be had from the clifftops, though in many places hard to access, or visible from guest-only private resorts

The exception being the Clifftop Resort, which allows you in to visit their Bayview restaurant ... which really is a stunning place

It is a ways out there, but you could take a taxi, or follow in my footsteps: catch the sunrise and sunset Beach before heading out to see the secret beach trip in the early morning, then a late breakfast at the Clifftop Resort on the return journey

Not a bad breakfast view, and would imagine similarly spectacular throughout the day and at sunset

So there you have it — a comprehensive guide to the island’s beaches, with something to suit every taste!