Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe | 6 Best-Reviewed Hotels to Book + 5 Excellent Things to Do
Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, Thailand 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 6 best-reviewed hotels and resorts to book on Sunrise Beach
- 5 amazing activities and things to do
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In this guide
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.
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. Whether you travel in high season or low, be sure to check travel requirements for Thailand, before reserving anything. Requirements are constantly changing due to the pandemic.
You’ll find some of the best snorkeling on the island near here. And it’s possible to see plentiful 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.
Top 6 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 of Koh Lipe’s Sunrise Beach.
Every hotel on Koh Lipe Sunrise Beach is beachfront.
We walked up and down the length of the beach many times during our stay, eating at and checking out different hotels. These are the 5 best hotels and resorts that I wanted to stay at on Sunrise Beach in 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.
Ten Moons on Sunrise Beach gets fully booked up months and months in advance. I recommend reserving a bungalow as early as possible if you’ve decided it’s the place for you…particularly if you want one right on the sand.
Serendipity Beach Resort
Serendipity Beach 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’s On The Rocks restaurant has stunning 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.
Cabana Lipe Beach Resort
Cabana Lipe Beach Resort is well-reviewed for super-comfy beds, and balconies where you can enjoy a daily breakfast that is delivered straight to your room! This is a small resort, with a boutique vibe that’s just steps away from gorgeous Sunrise Beach.
Wapi Resort
Wapi Resort is located on the north side 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.
SNORKELING DAY TRIPS | Wanna get a bit further out into the serene waters and deserted islands of Tarutao National Marine Park. Here are some options to look into.
- Full day multi-island snorkeling trip with lunch around the protected Tarutao National Marine Park
- Explore Koh Lipe’s coluorful marine life and coral reef at 8 spots on the island’s inner and outer zones.
- Jungle Trekking and Snorkeling Eco Tour of Koh Lipe by Longtail Boat
- Koh Lipe Sightseeing and Snorkeling Tour by Catamaran
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
There are a few places to salute the sun near Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe. Castaway Resort 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.
*Sigh… I used to be able to do this.
Alternatively, pick up a voucher for yoga classes at Keirita’s Yoga & Diving. Yoga mats are provided and classes take place Monday to Saturday from 8 – 9AM, and 5 – 6:10PM. On Sundays, only the evening class is offered.
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 in Koh Lipe. Hop on a long tail boat and see the stunning islands Koh Usen and Koh Kra, for a perfect day in solitude.
You can easily kayak to Koh Kra and Koh Usen from Sunrise Beach | Photo dvdmnk@Flickr | (CC BY-SA 2.0)
This is definitely one of the best things to do in Koh Lipe. In fact, you might just get an entire beach all to yourself!
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AndysWorldJourneys
Just superb! Wish I was there right now!
shelley
Haha me too Andy … me too :p