Ko Lipe

The village is located on the north coast of Koh Lipe where you can find the school, a small infirmary as well as a few stalls and grocery stores.

The situation of the village and of Forra Resort is due to the fact that the air is cooler there and that there are no mosquitoes during the summer season. It is easier to sleep there without air conditioning or a fan.

Pattaya Beach is a ten minute walk from the village and is located on the south coast of the island. This beautiful beach, known for its restaurants and bars, is the place to go out at night but it is no longer very advisable to sleep there.

Geography

Koh Lipe is part of the Butang archipelago, a group of twenty islands, which is located west of Koh Tarutao in the Tarutao Marine Park in Thailand.

The Butang archipelago experiences the highest tides and the currents can be very strong, which explains the richness and diversity of the seabed. Thus, scuba diving and snorkeling are excellent around Koh Lipe.

Some of the islands in the archipelago are large and mountainous. They are covered with primary forests and are surrounded by a fringing reef. Others are nothing more than a few rocks of diorite (a kind of granite with less quartz) barely sticking out of the water. Koh Lipe is relatively flat, as its name suggests in Chao Ley: Pulau Nipi, which means flat island. Koh Adang is the large island north of Koh Lipe. It is similar in size and appearance to Koh Rawi, its neighbor to the east.

Climate

The year is divided into two main seasons. The dry season begins in early November and ends in May. The rainy season begins in June and ends at the end of October.

From November to February, the northeast wind (Chinese monsoon affecting the east coast of Thailand) provides a cool breeze all night. This wind stops at the beginning of March, so that the following months are the hottest of the year. The months of March to May offer the best visibility conditions and the best chance of seeing pelagic.

From June to the end of October, the southwest monsoon, coming from the Indian Ocean, brings a lot of rain. Ferries cease to operate and Koh Lipe is now closed to tourists. The island then benefits from a welcome break at the ecological level.

Story

The people of Koh Lipe are known as Chao Leh, which means "sea people" or "sea gypsies" in Thai. Those living in Adang, Lipe, Bulon and Lanta are known as Urak Lawoy, and are from Malaysia and Sumatra. To Kiri was the first village chief of Koh Lipe, known to history, and visited these islands at the beginning of the last century, at the invitation of the governor of the province of Satun. Koh Lipe was given to him by royal decree to ensure Thai predominance in this region coveted by the English. There are currently 700 Chao Leh in Lipe-Adang and 200 in Bulon Don and Leh.

The language of the Urak Lawoy reflects these Malay-Polynesian origins. Their animist religion is distinct and sea gypsies revere the spirit of their ancestors, the sea and the islands. Evil spirits cause calamities and bad luck, good spirits protect the fisherman and his family. Twice a year, on the full moon in May as well as in October and November, the Loy Rua festival bears witness to the strength of these centuries-old beliefs. The Chao Leh venerate the memory of their ancestors and especially that of their founding chief, To Kiri. They build a 2 meter boat in which they place spices, rice, fish, cakes, strands of hair and nail clippings. The festival lasts three days and the drinking is constant. The third day, the Chao Leh launch the boat into the sea and if it drifts out to sea, the year presents itself under the best auspices. If the boat runs aground on the beach, the year looks bad.

The creation of the Tarutao Marine Park and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1973 marked the end of the complete freedom enjoyed by sea gypsies. The villages of Rawi and Adang were moved to Lipe to ensure the protection of nature in these islands.

Tourism and the appearance of currency began in the mid-1980s and the first groups of bungalows were built in the early 1990s.

Recreational diving

The dive sites are located between fifteen minutes and just over an hour from Koh Lipe. During this time you can study on the boat if you are taking a course or you can just relax and enjoy the scenery. Before the dive you will receive a dive briefing with information on safety procedures, the dive site and what you might expect to see during the dive.

We dive in small groups with a maximum of 4 divers per Divemaster or Instructor. Lunch and water are provided on the boat. Let us know if you are vegetarian so we can prepare a special meal for you. Don't forget to bring sunscreen with you for the trip; the sun can get very hot on the boat. You will have fun!