Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe is simply spectacular. With luminescent turquoise waters, plentiful coral, and a totally blissed out vibe, Sunrise Beach is the Thai tropical paradise I’d always imagined visiting. You definitely don’t want to miss it!
Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe is the Thai island paradise you’ve always dreamt about
In this article, you’ll get the full scoop on:
- what to expect on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe
- the best hotels and resorts to book
- 5 amazing things to do
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What to Expect on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe
Sunrise Beach is an 800-metre long stretch of pure heaven, spanning the entire length of Koh Lipe’s East Coast. It’s a picture perfect beach with white sand and swaying palm trees set on a wide, shallow bay of truly magnificent sea. The sea here is gentle, with calm waves and a smooth, gradual slope into the water.
Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, Thailand is picture perfect | Photo by Avery Ng@Flickr | (CC BY-SA 2.0)
In low season, Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe is somewhat protected from seasonal monsoon winds. In high season, there’s ample shade and a cooling breeze to refresh you.
You’ll find some of the best snorkeling on the island near here. It’s possible to see marine life just by wading into the water and swimming a short distance off of Sunrise Beach.
You can see marine life just by swimming a short distance out from Sunrise Beach
The south end is considered the quietest and cleanest part of the beach. This is where you’ll find luxury bungalows like Ten Moons and Serendipity Resort to stay at. The very north end of the beach connects to Bulow Beach, which has an incredible finger of sand jutting into the sea that has to be seen to be believed.
5 Top Koh Lipe Sunrise Beach Hotels and Resorts
Hotels and resorts line the entire length of Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, and every single one is beachfront. There isn’t really anywhere I’d consider too noisy or crowded there. However, if you value more privacy, a super clean beach, and unobstructed views of the sea, it’s better to stay on the south end.
Every hotel on Koh Lipe Sunrise Beach is beachfront.
We walked up and down the length of Sunrise Beach many times during our stay. These are the 5 best hotels and resorts that we noticed during our visit to Koh Lipe.
Ten Moons Lipe Resort
I spent a magical week exploring the island, and stayed at Ten Moons Resort on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe for most of it. This place is fully reserved pretty much all the time for good reason. I definitely recommend it for couples, families, or anyone after a relaxed vibe, gorgeous bungalows and a perfect location.
You can read my full review of Ten Moons Lipe Resort here, to decide if it’s the right place for you.
Every bungalow at Ten Moons Lipe Resort on Sunrise Beach has a private balcony and sea view.
Serendipity Resort
Serendipity Resort on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe is located right next to Ten Moons, so it has all the same advantages of privacy, gorgeous sand, and total serenity. It’s built on a cliffside, so can be a little challenging for young children, but it’s ideal for a honeymoon or romantic vacation. This is THE place to book for pool villas and OTT spectacular views.
Serendipity Resort has pool villas and incredible views
Castaway Resort Koh Lipe
In my younger years, I definitely would’ve booked a room at Castaway Resort Koh Lipe. It has that perfect, relaxed style you expect in Thailand, along with well designed bungalows located just steps from the sea. On top of that, it’s incredibly affordable and has some of the best promos and drink specials on the island. Literally, the only thing that stopped me from staying there, was my old age and the lack of air conditioning! 😉
Idyllic Concept Resort
If you value a swimming pool next to the sea, Idyllic Concept Resort is a good bet. This is a modern accommodation on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, with every amenity you’d expect for a hotel. Rooms are spacious with baths, sea and garden views, and there’s a restaurant on site.
Wapi Resort
Wapi Resort is located on the north half of Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe. Book these bungalows if you value staying in places with amenities like ac, wifi, and a safety deposit box, but don’t want to pay a lot for extra bells and whistles.
5 Awesome Things to do on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe
Sunrise Beach has a distinctly mellow, peaceful vibe, so it’s no surprise that the best things to do are pretty low-key. You’ll probably spend a good chunk of your time simply enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. Justifiably.
When you do manage to drag yourself away from all that lovely laziness, here are 5 (other) things to do on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe.
Watch the sunrise (duh) AND sunset
Embracing the dawn on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, Thailand is a morning tradition you’ll absolutely fall in love with!
Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe is famous for its early mornings | Photo WIL@Flickr | (CC BY-SA 2.0)
I bet you’d be surprised to learn though that the sky also lights up with gorgeous colour at sunset. Sure, it’s not as breathtaking as on Sunset Beach, but Koh Lipe is small enough that you can still catch some glorious night time views – without ever leaving Sunrise Beach.
Go snorkeling
You don’t have to go too far off of Sunrise Beach to see tropical fish and marine life. We definitely saw our fair share just by wading a short distance into the water. Many resorts have free snorkeling gear available for their guests, so be sure to check.
You can easily take a snorkeling tour to Koh Kra and Koh Usen from Sunrise Beach
If you’d like something more dramatic, there’s a beautiful reef between the 2 islets of Koh Kra and Koh Usen. Koh Kra is on the north end of Sunrise Beach, and Koh Usen is on the south. Both are within view and easily accessible on a day trip.
TIP | Experience 2 of the best activities on Koh Lipe with a full day snorkelling tour, followed by an evening watching the sunset. Snag an awesome day of snorkeling and swimming at 5 different spots near Koh Lipe here.
Scuba dive in the Adang Archipelago
Koh Lipe has an enviable position near the border of the Tarutao National Marine Park, and the many islands of the Adang Archipelago. It’s possible to see a huge diversity of tropical fish, turtles, dolphins, and even sperm whales on your dives.
There are less divers around Koh Lipe, so you can enjoy your experience fully
With 20 different dive sites situated within 25km of Koh Lipe, you’re sure to find something to suit both your level and preference. Wherever you do go, you’ll be blessed with crystal clear water, rocky formations, colourful coral, and less crowded dive sites.
TIP | Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities in Koh Lipe, due to the pristine coral reefs and crystal clear water around Tarutao National Marine Park. Book a full day of scuba diving with professional instructors in Koh Lipe here. No experience required!
Take a yoga class
You can salute the sun at Castaway Resort, which offers private and group classes daily. One hour Hatha yoga classes are at 6:20, 7, 9AM, and 4:30PM. You must pre-pay and reserve a spot for all the morning classes, but can drop-in for the afternoon classes.
You can check out all the details on their Facebook page.
Spend the day on a Deserted Island
If you’ve always dreamt about visiting a deserted island, you can easily do it from Sunrise Beach. Hire a long tail boat or kayak over to the nearby islands of Koh Usen and Koh Kra, for a perfect day in solitude. This is definitely one of the best things to do in Koh Lipe. After all, you might just get an entire beach all to yourself.
You can easily kayak to Koh Kra and Koh Usen from Sunrise Beach | Photo dvdmnk@Flickr | (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe is total perfection. Who wants to go?
AndysWorldJourneys
Just superb! Wish I was there right now!
shelley
Haha me too Andy … me too :p