Hello, it's the high season for traveling to the sea.

Before the semester starts, we have to hurry up and invite our friends to hang out.

After booking a flight with Air Asia for the New Year since March 2015

Seeking refuge from the scorching sun of central Thailand, we headed south to bask in the sunshine of Koh Lipe, Satun province.

January 13-16, 2016 (4 days and 3 nights) Total members 4 people

A memorable trip, and I got a scar as a souvenir.

Part1 Information about Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is a small island located in Satun Province, southern Thailand. Lipe means a flat island, similar to paper, which comes from the local language of the Chao Nam or Chao Lay (Urak Lawoi tribe) who live on the island, most of whom are fishermen. Thank you for the information from http://thai.tourismthailand.org/

Lipe Island has 3 beaches, namely:

1. Hat Pattaya (Hat Banda Ya) is the liveliest beach because it is the pick-up and drop-off point for passenger boats. This beach has been nicknamed 'Pattaya' because it is as lively as Pattaya. There are many restaurants, it is close to the walking street, and the beach is beautiful with clear water.

2. Sunrise Beach (Chao Lay Beach): This is my favorite beach. It's beautiful, with soft white sand and not many people. It's not far from the walking street, and there are scattered houses of the Chao Lay people living there. There are many beachfront accommodations to choose from, but it's not as lively as Pattaya Beach.

3. Sunset Beach (Prameng Beach) This beach has few accommodations, is quiet, not many people are far from the walking street.

Part 2: The best time to visit Koh Lipe

The most suitable period is during the summer, between the end of November and the end of April. In May, there may be some rain on some days.

The low season, which runs from May to November, coincides with the rainy season on Koh Lipe. During this time, accommodation prices are lower. The rainy season offers a different atmosphere and you can still go snorkeling. However, it is advisable to check the weather forecast before planning your trip.

The Tarutao National Marine Park, which includes Ko Adang and Rawi, is closed to visitors from May 16 to November 15 each year. This is due to the monsoon season, which brings heavy rain and strong winds. The closure allows for the natural environment to recover. During this time, diving and shore access are not permitted in the outer and inner zones. However, diving is still allowed in the eastern zone, and visitors can still visit Koh Lipe as usual.

Part 3: Planning and preparing for your trip

Book a flight ticket

AirAsia Don Mueang-Hat Yai Flight FD3102 at 06.30 am.

Website http://www.airasia.com/th/th/home.page

Book a van

From Hat Yai Airport to Pak Bara Pier

Return trip: Pak Bara Pier - Kim Yong Market (or choose to get off at the airport)

Book with Easy Lipe www.easylipe.com

VIP 9-seater, 300 baht/person per trip

Type 13, 13 seats, price per trip 250 baht/person

Before the day of the trip, the driver will call to confirm the date and time. The driver will be waiting for us in front of the airport exit door. We booked this type of car because we wanted to be comfortable and get a good night's sleep. That's because before we got on the plane, we only slept for 1 hour. Our bodies are exhausted. 5555

If you're looking to save some money and you've already slept a lot and your body is still up for it, there's another way to save a lot of money, for only 130 baht per trip. When you exit the Hat Yai airport, walk out to the exit and you'll find a blue shared taxi that will take you to the Passenger Transport Station No. 2 (Kaset Market) for around 20-30 baht. Once you arrive at Kaset Market, find a minivan going from Hat Yai to Pak Bara and buy a ticket from the minivan driver. The price is 100 baht.

Our van back to Hat Yai was booked together with the van to Koh Lipe. The van will pick us up at the Easy Lipe ticket office at Pak Bara Pier. We can choose to be dropped off at Kim Yong Market or the airport. However, since we booked the latest flight at 22.20 pm, we still had time to spare, so we chose to be dropped off at Kim Yong Market. We went for a walk, bought some souvenirs, and stopped for dinner in Hat Yai city before heading back.

Book a boat

From Pak Bara Pier, Satun Province - Lipe Island

Speed boat: Travel time to Koh Lipe is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

The ferry (with air conditioning) takes approximately 2-2.30 hours to travel.

Sailing schedule

We chose a round-trip speedboat with Easy Lipe, the same company we used before. After researching several places, we found that the price was between 1200-1600 baht, but here it was only 1000 baht (round-trip). It was from Lipe Ferry & Speedboat. Another place where we saw the same price was when booking through Mountain Resort.

** If you want to take a speedboat to visit Koh Khai and Koh Tarutao, the speedboat will stop at 10.30 am and 11.30 am only. The ferry does not stop.

Book accommodation

We chose to stay at Harmony Bed & Bakery, which is not on the beach but close to the walking street. We booked through agoda http://www.agoda.com/th-th/harmony-bed-and-bakery/hotel/koh-lipe-th.html 2 rooms for 3 nights. The price for 2 rooms was 9108 baht (an average of 2277 baht per person). We chose this hotel because it is close to the walking street, the rooms are clean, the staff is very friendly, and it is close to restaurants. It is also not scary to walk back to the hotel at night. There is also a coffee shop downstairs.

Disadvantages

The bathroom sometimes smells like a drain, and the shower is weak. I had to use the foot washing faucet (clean water, same water, haha) to wash my hair because the shower water was flowing very slowly. The air conditioner was broken when I went, and I had to wait for a technician to fix it. But we are tough, we can endure it. I would give it a 7/10.

Part4 Expenses/per person

Round-trip flight ticket (booked during promotion) 818 baht

The round-trip van fare from the airport to the port is 600 baht.

Round trip ferry to Koh Lipe costs 1,000 baht.

Boat fare from the pier to the island, round trip 100 baht.

The boat fare to Koh Adang is 200 baht round trip.

The cost of a private diving trip is 650 baht.

Rent fin 50 baht

Accommodation fee for 3 nights 2,277 baht

The taxi fare from Hat Yai to the airport is 75 baht.

Port of Pak Bara fee 20 baht

Entrance fee to the park is 40 baht.

Total 5830 baht, excluding meals 12 meals (about 80-150 per meal) + water + snacks + souvenirs

The total cost is approximately 8,xxx baht.

All images from the camera

iPhone6

Fujifilm X-E2 with 18-55mm kit lens

Underwater Sjcam4000

Everything is ready, let's go on a trip.

This morning we left the condo at 4:00 AM. We only slept for an hour all night because my friend forgot to pay the electricity bill. When we arrived at the room, the power was cut off. We had to open the windows. My friend said that mosquitoes wouldn't fly up to the 9th floor... At 2:30 AM, I woke up to swat mosquitoes. 5555 So I had to get up and take a shower to go to the airport. We arrived at the airport at 4:30 AM. This time we got to use Terminal 2, which has been renovated and is very nice. For those who are going to check in their luggage, don't forget to allow extra time. Even though it was early, there were still a lot of people. But we had already checked in and printed our boarding passes in advance, so we could just walk straight to the gate.

Today, the basketball team went to board the plane. They flew with the HS-ABC volleyball team.

The sky is clear.

A beautiful curved shot, almost reaching the airport of Hat Yai.

The plane landed right on time at 8:00 AM. The van driver called me just then, and we took the van to Pak Bara Pier. From Hat Yai Airport to Pak Bara Pier, the distance is about 118 kilometers. We slept all the way. It took about 1.30 hours. There is a 20 baht fee before entering the pier.

We arrived at the pier around 10:15 AM. There was time to stock up on water and snacks, and to use the restroom. We chose the 10:30 AM ferry because we wanted to visit Ko Khai and Ko Tarutao. The earlier the ferry, the fewer people there are. The boat wasn't full, so we could sit comfortably. This is why we chose the morning flight.

Prepare before boarding the boat

The cost of living on Koh Lipe is high because it is located in the middle of the sea, making it difficult to transport goods. A plate of rice with a side dish costs 80-150 baht, while other dishes cost 200 baht or more. A small bottle of water costs 20 baht. It is recommended to stock up on supplies at the shops near the pier or at 7-Eleven before you go. Things you should stock up on include water and snacks, as the prices at 7-Eleven on the island are very high. Some items are even double the price.

For those who don't carry a lot of cash, there is a Kasikornbank ATM on Koh Lipe. The ATM is located on Walking Street, in front of 7-Eleven and Harmony Bed & Bakery. You can withdraw more money there, so you don't have to carry a lot of cash.

10:40 AM. The uncle called us to board the boat according to the queue. Speed Boat, you can choose any seat, no reservation. If you are afraid of the sun on the way there, you can choose to sit on the right side, but we are not afraid, so we choose the left side.

After a 30-minute boat ride, there will be a stop for tourists to visit various points. The first stop is Tarutao Island, where passengers can get on and off, and tourists can go up to take pictures on Tarutao Island. You will be given about 15 minutes before entering the island. You must pay a park fee of 40 baht, which is valid for the entire trip.

Point 2: Egg Island. The boat will let you go down to take pictures for 15 minutes. The highlight of Egg Island is the stone archway, also known as the Arch of Eternal Love.

Curved stone door...Tarutao, Satun

A place to add to the legend of young love

The first step to strengthen love and make it last long.

Together we step through the door...of eternal love.

The beautiful verses inscribed on the stone archway are believed to bring good luck to couples who pass through it. It is said that these couples will find true love and live happily ever after.

After that, we had to take a boat for another 40 minutes to reach Koh Lipe. To get to the island, the speedboat will stop at a pontoon in the middle of the sea first. We then had to take a long-tail boat (local boat) to continue to the various beaches. One boat can carry about 10 passengers. The fare is 50 baht per person. The reason why speedboats cannot dock directly at the beach is probably because there are corals in some areas. If large boats enter, they could damage the corals. It's great! We are willing to pay 50 baht in exchange for the preservation of nature.

After that, we took a boat to Bhandara Resort. There will be a tuk-tuk (taxi on Lipe) to take us to the Harmony Bed & Bakery hotel. I apologize that there are no pictures. I didn't take any pictures of the hotel, so I would like to use pictures from the hotel.

After checking in, the army had to march on their stomachs. Opposite the hotel, there were many restaurants. I asked the roti-selling auntie and she told me to go to the uncle's shop. It's delicious and not expensive. The dishes start at 70 baht. Tom yum starts at 100 baht (I checked other shops and they were all over 200 baht).

A local cat came to cuddle.

At night, we went to Walking Street to find a diving trip. We found the first shop and went in. It's located at the entrance of the walking street from Pattaya Beach. We chose this shop because it had the most people. The staff were friendly, helpful, and lovely.

The program has 3 modes:

Package A 550 baht black spot in the zone

Package B Price 650 baht Black zone outside

Package C Sunset Afternoon-Night Price 450 Baht Diving in some areas and watching the sunset

Includes diving mask, lunch box, water, and fruits (but does not include fins. If you need to use them, you can rent them separately for 50 baht.)

Our group of 4 people usually joins a group tour with others. But the kind captain asked us if we wanted a private boat, just for us, but without any fruits. We were okay with that. We didn't want fruits anyway, and having a private boat was a great deal.

Here is the translation:

Business card and map of the store.

The first place we visited was Hin Son Island, where the highlight is two large rocks stacked on top of each other, a natural wonder. Around Hin Son Island, there are beautiful coral reefs, but we couldn't go snorkeling that day because the current was too strong.

Next is Bulu Island (not sure about the Thai name, saw it written like this in the brochure) and Dong Island. This area has a lot of Nemo and anemones, the water is the clearest, clearer than any other spot. The coral is similar to that of Koh Tachai.

And the one that surprised me the most, to the point that my friend screamed, was this one. It's very long, with a cute pattern, but its venom is deadly. I once saw one at Koh Tachai, but it was a bit smaller. It's probably a sea krait. They mostly swim underwater and rarely come to the surface.

Bee Island

The current on this island is strong, but there are rope buoys to hold on to along the way in a square shape. The ropes will have shells attached to them. When you grab them, make sure to let go and grab again. If you slide your hand, you might get cut by the shells. I got cut myself, but it was because the current was so strong that I flew off and my hand slid against the rope, causing a wound.

The deep sea outside the rope line is invisible due to the strong current that makes the water murky. The boat driver told us that there were sharks in the middle of the sea outside. My friends were scared when they heard that, hahaha. But we told them that it was nothing. If you are not a strong swimmer, I would advise you to wear a life jacket at all times. Even if you are a good swimmer, you can still drown because the water is very strong under the water. It's not like in a pool. At some points, we swam by ourselves and it was tiring. Our bodies were constantly fighting against the water.

When we went, there was a guy from another group who had to shout for the guide to bring a lifebuoy to help him because he wasn't wearing a life jacket. Don't be careless, please wear a life jacket. Except for those who are good at free diving, feel free to do so.

There are a lot of sea urchins, all of them are big.

Tiger conch

Staghorn coral

After the rice we had for breakfast started to digest, our energy started to run out, so the boat driver took us to Koh Rok Loi to have lunch. The water on this island is very clear, just a little less clear than Koh Kai. The boat will take tourists to stop by this island to eat the lunch boxes that are provided. I was hungry so I didn't take any pictures lol. Here, they wrap the rice in plastic boxes like your mom used to pack for you for school when you were a kid, reducing the use of foam and not harming the environment. You can wash it, which is great.

Monkey Bay

This island is home to a colony of adorable monkeys that live here naturally. They are not aggressive and won't snatch your belongings. By the way, เจ้าจ๋อ doesn't drink seawater. The boat driver told me that there are small freshwater pools inside the island that have water all year round.

Naughty 18+

Beautiful Stone Island

The island lives up to its name. It's an island with no sandy beaches at all, only smooth, black, round stones. The stones have intricate patterns on their surfaces. When the seawater washes over them, the stones gleam due to the light reflecting off them.

In addition to the rocks, we can also see white coral stones that have been washed ashore by the waves, scattered among the rocks. (Sorry for the picture of the feet)

Jabang Canal

It is a channel that flows between Jabang Island and Adang Island. Underwater, there are 5 stone pillars in total. There are ropes to hold on to, just like at Ko Phing. But here, the water current is very strong. How strong? Let's say Ko Phing x10. If your hand slips from the rope, you'll definitely fly away. You'll fight the current until you're almost dead. If you dive during calm water, it would be more comfortable. But we dived during strong currents. If anyone floats away, the boat driver will pick them up.

Soft corals cover the reef from the top of the rocky outcrop down to depths that are impossible to see. Black and red feather stars, orange cup corals, anemones, and large barrel sponges are all present. Numerous fish swim close to us.

Day three - January 15, 2016

Today we are going to play in the water at Koh Adang. We walked to the boat at Pattaya Beach. They charged 200 baht per person/per trip, round trip 400 baht. An additional 50 baht will get you package C to watch the sunset and play in the water. T_T But we did some research beforehand and found that some people had only paid 100 baht. A kind uncle who was driving the boat told us to go to the beach instead. Sunset So we decided to walk around to the other side of the island. You can contact the boat to take you to Koh Adang near the school. There will be houses of villagers there. If you can't find it, ask the locals in the area. We contacted the boat for 100 baht and made an appointment for them to pick us up at 6 pm.

Picture of a beach at sunset on a clear day

The original text is in English, so no translation is needed.

The sun at 11 am is really good.

A model by chance, secretly took a picture, please allow me.

Adang Island is located opposite Sunset Beach, about 800 meters away. It takes only 10 minutes by boat. In the past, Adang Island was a hideout for pirates who robbed ships. It has fine white sand beaches, beautiful scenery, and coral reefs around the island, making it suitable for snorkeling. It is the location of the National Park Protection Unit at Khlong Hin 5 (Laem Son). There is no private accommodation on the island, only national park bungalows and camping grounds. If you love convenience, comfort, and a variety of food, we recommend staying on Koh Lipe. If you love peace and quiet (very quiet), come and stay at Koh Adang. The accommodation is very cheap, the trees are shady, the beach is beautiful, the water is clear, and there is a welfare shop that serves food, but it will be open in rounds.

Website for booking accommodation in national parks

http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/reservation.asp?lg=1

Public utilities

Due to the geographical conditions of Tarutao National Park being an island, there are limitations in terms of public utilities, namely:

The power system uses generators to provide electricity from approximately 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM on both Tarutao Island and Adang Island.

The water supply system uses a mountain water supply system. It is available all the time, except during the dry season when there is little water. It will be turned on and off at a time.

We originally booked a house here, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the National Park Department called to cancel the reservation very suddenly, just a few days before we were due to go. This meant we had to find accommodation urgently. 5555

Pha Chado Viewpoint

Don't miss this! The entrance to Pha Chado is very close to the accommodation. In the past, this area was used as an observation point for pirates to attack merchant ships. Currently, it is a beautiful viewpoint of the sea. You will see the pine trees and white sand beaches of Koh Adang, the beautiful scenery of Koh Lipe and nearby islands. There are a total of 3 viewpoints, it takes about 30 minutes to walk if you go up to the first point. It takes about 1 hour to reach the third point. But I have to say that just the first point almost killed me because the path is very steep. When I went up, I had just finished playing in the water and my body was wet. On the way down, my shoes slipped on the steep path and my pants were torn by the rocks. I even got a long wound on my leg as a souvenir. No matter how much blood was flowing, I had to walk back down the mountain like a strong woman. Even though it hurts, I have to endure it. 55 Be careful, everyone.

Got a wound in exchange for this view, worth it.

The sun sets over the beach of Koh Adang.

As the boat sailed back to Koh Lipe, the sun had already set below the horizon.

Walking Street

Walking Street on Koh Lipe is a popular nighttime shopping destination, offering a variety of restaurants, cake shops, bars, 7-Eleven stores, clothing shops, diving tour operators, boat tickets to various islands, clinics, small hospitals, and Thai massage parlors. Shops are typically open from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM, but the street is accessible for shopping throughout the day. However, it is not as lively during the day as it is at night.

A photo of a famous wood-fired pizza restaurant on the island.

The cafe at the hotel we stayed at, Harmony Bed & Bakery, had delicious food. The cakes were priced between 80-120 baht.

January 16, 2016

Today we have to go back. I planned to wake up to take pictures of the sunrise on the last day, but it started raining at 3 am. The sun disappeared, there was no umbrella, the sky was covered, so I went back to sleep.

The hotel has a check-out time of 11:00 AM. We can leave our luggage at the hotel beforehand. At noon, the staff will call us to board a car that will take us to Pattaya Beach. From there, we will take a boat to the pier and then board a speedboat. The hotel will drop us off at Bhandaya Pier, where we will wait for a long-tail boat.

The water is murky today, and the sky isn't very clear because it just stopped raining at 10:30.

Bandaya Resort Receptionist

The boat has arrived. Goodbye, Lipe. See you again.

The return trip took only 1 hour to reach Pak Bara Pier, as we no longer had to stop at the various islands.

The cute turtle-patterned van window

The car dropped us off at Kim Yong Market around 6 pm. It was still raining heavily. Many shops in the market were starting to close, so we decided to look for something to eat. We saw the first branch of the Sao Heng Porridge Shop near the intersection near Kim Yong Market. It is a large porridge shop with delicious food. When we arrived at the shop, we could choose food from the cabinet. If it wasn't in the cabinet, we could order it separately.

At eight o'clock in the evening, we walked around looking for a red taxi that runs all over Hat Yai city. The price to the airport was 300 baht, which was very expensive. I almost cried because I remembered that the blue songthaew to the airport only cost 20-30 baht. Normal taxis are not this expensive, but I had to pay it. It was raining and it was difficult to find a car.

At the airport, there was a handsome police dog named Riddadd to play with to relieve boredom.

10:20 PM. Goodbye Hat Yai, we are leaving with the rain that still hasn't stopped. Thank you for coming on our last day.

23.50 hrs. arrived safely at Don Mueang Airport.

The trip is over. I really enjoyed this trip. If I have the chance, I will definitely go again. I haven't dived at all points yet. I'm not very good at telling stories. If there is any mistake, I apologize. Let's say goodbye with a picture of the gang.

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Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about the information provided.

See you on the next trip.

Thank you for watching.