This evening we checked in at the beautiful beachside resort called Bundhaya. It is on the island of Koh Lipe in the Tarutao National Marine Park in Satun.
Koh Lipe is one of the few islands that has hotels and resorts. There is an old fishing village here too, so much of the island is privately owned. For some reason they have a beach called Pattaya Beach and even a Walking Street. But it is less crowded and a lot less sleazy.
Bundhaya Resort has 114 bungalows/rooms with 9 different categories. The cheapest is at 1,200 baht with adjoining rooms with fan only. We were each given our own bungalows which we were told cost 1,600 per night with air and hot water. There are of course much cheaper places on the island. And some a lot more expensive.
This is a picture showing the view of the Eastern end of Pattaya beach from our resort restaurant. As you can see there are sun-loungers being used by foreign tourists. Actually, I was surprised to see more Thais here than foreigners.
After we had checked in and showered, we went for a walk to the other side of the island to do a site inspection of Mountain Resort. We went down Walking Street first which had all the usual facilities such as convenience stores, restaurants, Internet cafe and travel agents. I guess you can compare this to Koh Phi Phi but it is a lot less crowded. Someone said it is like Koh Samui 30 years ago. I will post a fuller report when I get home at www.thaitravelblogs.com.
- Posted from my iPhone
better than KFC and McDonalds lol but the name...
Ramin Assemi
27/04/2010 at 5:17 pm
Mountain Resort has a very nice & untypical Mussaman Curry
The island is undergoing quiet rapid changes, at least if it continues the way it did in the past 3 years, what’s now the Walking Street was just a dirt road not too long ago, with Poo’s bar as the main spot. I think now is the time to visit Ko Lipe before it turns into yet another of the “same same” islands with all the same shops, etc.
During December/January there are a lot more foreigners than Thai’s, but I’ve never been there in April.
cagayan de oro resorts
09/07/2010 at 1:57 pm
What a nice place! looks like a paradise. if thai has more number of visitors in that place, it just show that local tourism is booming.
Peter
15/08/2011 at 10:39 pm
I’ve been going to Koh Lipe for the past 6 years, and I’ve probably spent more than two years working there. It is without doubt a unique Thai island, made all the more special by the local people who live there – the Chao Ley (Sea Gypsies). I know the island as well as any westerner and now organise tours there. True, the island has developed in a negative way. If you want to help the island, only do business with the local sea gypsies, not the developers from the mainland.
Lipe
29/10/2011 at 10:14 pm
Thanks for the lovely post, reminds me of my trip to Lipe 3 months ago. There is now an ATM in Lipe
At that time it is not fully operational but guess now it should be.