🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Koh Lipe is a tiny island in the Tarutao National Marine Park, in Satun province, small enough that you can walk from one side to the other in a few minutes. There are three main beaches: Pattaya Beach (south side, lively, where most of the boats come in), Sunrise Beach (east side) and Sunset Beach (west side). If you want the quiet end of things — wandering along the water early in the morning and waiting for the first light of the day — Sunrise Beach is the answer. Locals also call this stretch Haad Chao Ley, after the Urak Lawoi sea-gypsy village nearby.
Why come to Sunrise Beach
The name says it all. This side faces east, out to sea, so you get a clear, full view of the sun rising over the horizon straight from the beach — the one spot on the island where you can sit and wait for the first light without having to walk anywhere. The beach runs about 2 kilometres of fine white sand that's easy on the feet, and the water shades from pale blue to emerald green. Because it's on the opposite side from the main pier, the tour boats rarely stop around here, so it feels noticeably quieter and more open than Pattaya Beach.
Another thing a lot of people love is the backdrop. Looking across the channel from the beach, you'll see Adang Island rising as a green mountain not far off. In the morning the light hits behind the island, so its silhouette cuts against an orange-pink sky and it looks gorgeous. Just off the beach there's also Koh Kra, a small rocky islet that you can swim or kayak out to and snorkel around on a clear day.
- Sunrise — the best light is around 06:00–06:40 depending on the season. Try getting up about 20 minutes before sunrise so you catch the sky changing colour while it's still dark.
- Beach walks — the long beach is easy to walk in the morning before the sun gets harsh, and the northern end has even fewer people.
- Adang Island views — the green island across the water makes a great photo backdrop both in the morning and during the day.
Can you get up in time? Give yourself a buffer
The sky starts looking good about 20–30 minutes before the sun actually rises. If you're staying on another beach and want to come over, it's about a 10–15 minute walk across the island from Pattaya Beach — leave extra time for walking in the dark, and bring a torch or use your phone light to find your way.
Want more out of Koh Lipe? Book tours & activities
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Snorkelling and swimming off the beach
Off Sunrise Beach the reef sits a fair way out from shore, so you have to swim out a bit to reach it — it's not right up against the sand like at some spots. On a clear, calm day you'll get a good look at the coral and the little schools of fish. Koh Kra, not far off the beach, is the popular snorkelling spot on this side; you can kayak or swim out to it on a calm day. Visibility depends a lot on the weather, though — some days it's murky.
Snorkel safely and don't damage the coral
Check the weather and currents before every swim, and don't head far out on your own. Most importantly, don't step on, touch or take the coral and rocks — coral grows very slowly and this is national park territory. Wear water shoes if you have to walk over the rocks, and carry every piece of your rubbish back to shore.
Where to stay on Sunrise Beach
Most places on this side are quiet bungalow resorts, ranging from mid-range up to high-end, and plenty of them open their room doors straight onto the sand. The upside is waking up to the sunrise right from your room. The trade-off is that you're a little further from the Walking Street and the restaurants over on the Pattaya Beach side, so you'll have to walk across the island for those.
Castaway Resort
Natural-style wooden bungalows right on Sunrise Beach with a calm vibe — one of the most talked-about places on this side, good for anyone who wants that island feel without the bustle.
Idyllic Concept Resort
A modern, design-led, upper-end resort on Sunrise Beach with smart rooms and sea views — good for couples or anyone who wants full comfort.
Zanom Sunrise / Wapi Resort
Mid-range options on the beach with both fan and air-con rooms at friendlier prices — good if your budget isn't high but you still want to sleep right by the sand.
Things on the island cost more than on the mainland
Everything on Koh Lipe has to be brought over by boat from the mainland, so water, food and accommodation all run noticeably pricier than in town — especially in high season, when the good places fill up fast. If you're coming over New Year or Songkran, book several months ahead.
Walking over to Pattaya Beach and the Walking Street
Part of the charm of Koh Lipe is that you can walk right across it. Sunrise Beach and Pattaya Beach are on opposite sides but very close together, connected by the Walking Street — the lane through the middle of the island packed with restaurants, bars, massage shops and stalls. It's only about a 10–15 minute walk from Sunrise Beach to Pattaya Beach. By day it's an easy stroll to find something to eat; at night the Walking Street comes alive with lights and music.
- Pattaya Beach — south side, the liveliest, with the main pier, restaurants, bars and seafood along the sand; about a 10–15 minute walk from Sunrise.
- Walking Street — the lane through the middle of the island linking the two beaches, with everything to eat and buy, open till late.
- Sunset Beach — west side, small and quiet, for watching the sunset in the evening — a nice pairing with Sunrise in the morning.
When in the year to come
Koh Lipe runs on a season. The main travel window is roughly November to April, when the sea is calm, the water's clear and the sky is open — boats come and go easily and the resorts and restaurants are all running. The monsoon, roughly May to October, brings rough seas on the Andaman side, big waves, and many boat services from Pak Bara get cancelled; some places to stay and eat close for the long stretch. If you're coming during the monsoon, check the weather and boat schedules well ahead and take it seriously — at times you simply can't get to the island.
Rainy-season litter — being straight with you
From the late monsoon into the early high season, the waves often wash rubbish and driftwood up into piles on Sunrise Beach, sometimes with bits of glass mixed into the sand — wear shoes when you walk the beach. Come early in the season and you may find the beach not fully cleared yet. We'd also ask everyone to carry their own rubbish back out and not leave it on the sand.
Who Sunrise Beach suits
A good fit if…
you want a quiet beach, waking up to the sunrise from your room, a relaxed stay, long beach walks with few people around — and you don't mind walking over to the Pattaya Beach side to find food.
Maybe not, if…
you want everything right on the beach, loads of restaurants and bars within a step or two, or you're coming in the monsoon when the beach can have litter and the sea is rough. This side is too quiet for the party crowd.
Plan your Koh Lipe trip — the beaches, where to stay and snorkelling, all in one place
See the Koh Lipe travel guide →