Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe

Sunrise Beach is one of the three main beaches of Koh Lipe, along with Pattaya Beach and Sunset Beach. It’s the longest beach on the island, located on the eastern coast.

Sunrise Beach is the second most popular beach on Koh Lipe. It has a lively atmosphere but it is quieter than Pattaya Beach and busier than Sunset Beach. The beach has crystal clear water, white sand, and is close to several other small islands such as Ko Adang, Koh Usen, and Koh Kra.

In this travel guide about Sunrise Beach on Koh Lipe, I will help you to look at the location of Sunrise Beach on the map, things to do along Sunrise Beach, and hotels on Sunrise Beach.

Where is Sunrise Beach, Ko Lipe?

Sunrise Beach is a 1.5km long beach located on the eastern coast of Koh Lipe, in front of Koh Usen, Koh Kra, and Ko Adang. The beach occupied most of the island’s west coast, stretching all the way from Serendipity resort to the North Point Beach.

Sunrise Beach is around 300m from Lipe Walking Street and 700m from Pattaya Beach. Sunrise Beach has a laid back atmosphere, crystal clear water, white fine sand, and stunning views of the nearby islands. The beach has some long tail boats but it’s less crowded compared to Pattaya Beach.

What’s on Sunrise Beach, Ko Lipe?

Along the beachfront, you can find restaurants, bars, massage shops, resorts, dive centers, kayak rentals, and boat taxi stations. There is a school and hospital located near Sunrise Beach.

The beach has calm water in the high season from November to February. Throughout the monsoon season (May–October), strong waves may wash debris and litter onto the shoreline.

Boat taxi station

There is a taxi boat station located around the middle part of Sunrise Beach, in front of Koh Lipe school. You can book boat tickets from here to get to nearby islands such as Koh Adang, Ko Hin Ngam, or Ko Hin Son, or Koh Rawai for a day trip.

Resorts, restaurants, bars

Sunrise Beach is lined with mid-range and high-end resorts, that offers onsite beach restaurants, bars, massage shops, sunloungers for guests and visitors.

At the southern end of Sunrise Beach, you will see the popular Serendipity, Ten Moons, Castaway resort. At the middle of the beach is the Wapi,and Lipe Beach Resort. The northern section of Zodiac Sun, Irene Pool Villa Resort, and Andaman Beach Resort.

Things to do in Sunrise Beach, Ko Lipe

Swimming, Sunbathing, Strolling along the beach

Sunrise Beach is around 1.5 km long. You can take a leisurely stroll along the beach, which takes about 20-30 minutes from one end to the other.

The southern end of Sunrise Beach has fewer boats docking, making it a great spot for swimming for those who want away from the noise. This section of Sunrise beach is near Serendipity Resort,Kathalee Resort, Ten Moons Resort, and Idyllic Concept Resort.

There are more boats dockering from Castaway Resort to North Point Beach, but you are still able to find a spot for swimming. There are plenty of sunbeds along the beach where you can relax and sunbathe.

The beach has colorful boats, crystal clear water, and scenic views, which are also a great place to take nice photographs.

Kayaking, snorkeling at Koh Kra and Koh Usen

Koh Kra and Koh Usen are two small islands in front of Sunrise Beach. They’re around 300m away from the beach shore.

Koh Kra is located opposite Lipe Beach Resort and Ban Ko Lipe school, in the northern part of Sunrise Beach. Koh Usen is located opposite Kathalee Beach Resort on the southern part of the beach.

You can rent a kayak or SUP board to get these two islands. At low tide, you can get to these islands by wading and little swimming. These islands have crystal clear water and vibrant coral and exotic fish, making it a great place to snorkeling.

Long tail boat trips to Koh Adang

The boat taxi station is located in the middle section of Sunrise Beach, in front of Koh Lipe School. You can buy a ticket from here to get to Koh Adang for a day trip. The one way ticket is 100 baht, the two way ticket is 200 baht.

Ko Adang is located around a 10 minutes boat ride from Sunrise Beach. On this island, you can hike to Chado Cliff Viewpoint for the sweeping views of Koh Lipe and its surroundings crystal clear turquoise water.

Additionally, you can hike inside the thick jungle to Pirate Waterfall. Otherwise, you can relax at the peaceful beaches of Koh Adang, swimming, and snorkeling.

Watching the magnificent sunset at North Point Beach

North Point Beach is the northern end of Sunrise Beach, right opposite Koh Adang. This beach is a great place to watch both sunrise and sunset.

It’s a popular spot to watch the sunset. The area is often packed with people during sunset time. You can have a drink and meal at nearby restaurants and bars to watch the sun do down, or just simply bring the beach towel with you and sit directly on the sand.

Bulow Café & Restaurant, Zodiac See Sun Beach Bar, or Symbolic cafe near Mountain Resort are popular spots for comfortable seats to chill and watch the sunset. After sunset, you can go to parties or watch the fireshow at Zodiac Bar.

Watching the sunrise

As its name suggests, Sunrise Beach is the best place on Koh Lipe to watch the sunrise. If you stay at one of the beachfront bungalows on Sunrise Beach, you can easily enjoy the sunrise on the beach without leaving the room.

Check out Walking Street

Walking Street is located within 5-10 minutes walking distance from Sunrise Beach. This street is the tourist hub of the island, packed with shops, 7-Eleven, restaurants, and bars. It’s a must check out place for dinner and nightlife.

Having a beach massage

There are several massage shops along the beachfront of Koh Lipe. Most of them belong to the beachfront resorts, but you are welcome to use their services.

Big resorts like Castaway Resort have a massage parlor with many beds where you can enjoy a relaxing Thai oil massage with stunning sea views and a cool sea breeze.

Enjoy a meal or drink at a beachfront bar/ restaurant

There are many cool restaurants and bars along Sunrise Beach, with a lovely setting. There are wooden decks, bamboo chairs, tables, bean bags, and sun loungers set under the shade of large trees and along the sandy beach.

You can grab a cold beer, eat a traditional Thai meal, or fresh seafood from one of these restaurants along the beach while enjoying the views of the ocean.

Yoga on Sunrise Beach

There are yoga classes on Sunrise Beach, where you can relax your body with the views of the sea. Some places like Castaway resort and Keirita’s Yoga have scheduled yoga sessions on the beach.

Stay at a hotel on the beach

Sunrise Beach is one of the best areas to stay in Koh Lipe. It has a quieter atmosphere than Pattaya beach but is still within walking distance to the nightlife hub of the island, Koh Lipe Wakking street.

The Beach has a wide range of accommodations for all budgets and preferences, mostly mid-range and luxury resorts. Accommodations are often in high demand in the high season from November to April, so make sure to book well in advance to secure your stay.

Best Hotels in Sunrise Beach, Ko Lipe

Castaway Resort Koh Lipe

Castaway is a popular place to stay in Sunrise Beach of Koh Lipe. The resort has beautiful bungalows, an onsite restaurant, bar, massage parlor with a beautiful sea view. Other facilities include a diving/ snorkelling center, and yoga and meditation classes.

The resort is in a quite central location in Sunrise Beach, within a short walk to a range of restaurants, cafés, and shops on the Walking Street. For the best experience, you can choose the bungalows with ocean views.

Mali Resort Sunrise Beach

This 4-star resort is a good place to stay in Sunrise Beach. The resort offers Balinese style accommodations with an outdoor pool, beachfront restaurants, and direct access to the beach. There are also numerous sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach for the guests.

The resort has SUP boards, kayaks, and snorkelling equipment to rent. You can relax at the beach, snorkeling, walk to the walking street, or have a nice massage on the beach.

Idyllic Concept Resort

This 4-star resort is located at the southern part of Sunrise Beach, a bit quieter than the central area of the beach with less long tail boat docking here. You can snorkeling directly at the front of the beach.

The resort has an outdoor pool overlooking the sea, a gym, good breakfast, and spacious rooms. You can book boat trips and tours from the resort. It has a good location, steps away from the beach and a short walk to the main street of the island.

Ten Moons Lipe Resort

This is a beautiful beachfront resort at the southern end of Sunrise Beach. The beaches near Ten Moons are quieter than the main area of Sunrise Beach with just a few longtail boats, which are great for relaxing swimming and snorkeling.

Ten Moons offer spacious rooms with good ocean views. Take a note that the resort is located on the hillside, offering great views but requiring some steps, which may be challenging for guests who prefer to avoid stairs.

Serendipity Beach Resort

This 4-star beachfront resort with a private beach area at the southern end of Sunrise Beach. The resort is ideal for those who want a relaxing tranquil spot, fantastic views, and stunning quiet beaches. You can rent a kayak at the resort for free to get to the nearby Koh Usen island for more snorkeling.

There are stairs around Serendipity, from rooms to the beach, so you can consider this factor when booking a stay with kids or elderly people.

Wapi Resort

This is a great beachfront resort in the central location of Sunrise Beach. You can easily rent private long tail boats for nearby islands such as Koh Adang. Smaller islands such as Koh Kra are located within a short kayaking distance from the resort, where you can go snorkeling and diving.

The rooms at Wapi are spacious with all basic amenities such as air conditioning, fridge, and great breakfast. You can easily walk to the Walking Street within 5 minutes. You can rent bicycles and snorkeling gears at the hotel for free.

Lipe Beach Resort

This resort is located in the northern part of Sunrise Beach. The resort offers bungalows with and without AC. If you are on a budget, you can choose rooms with fans. The beach area at Lipe Beach Resort is beautiful with long tail boats dock in front. There are shades and sunbeds along the shore for guests.

Andaman Beach Resort by Zodiac

This resort is located in the North part of Sunrise Beach, a short walk away from North Point Beach, which is a popular spot to watch both sunrise and sunset. Rooms at Andaman are spacious and clean. They have a beach bar and offer good breakfast.

Irene Pool Villa Resort

This is a great resort in Sunrise Beach, offering villas with private swimming pools and a beautiful tropical setting. It has a pretty good location with direct access to the beach, a short walk to North Point and the Walking Street. It’s a good base for a few nights to relax and unwind.

Bulow Casa Grand View Resort

This is a beautiful hotel located at the northern end of Sunrise Beach, at the intersection of Sunrise and North Point Beach. Great place to watch both sunset and sunrise. The resort has well maintained villas and a beautiful beachfront restaurant.

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So, there you have it, my travel guide about Sunrise Beach, Koh Lipe. By now, you should know where Sunrise Beach is located on Koh Lipe, what’s on the beach, and some of the best resorts along Sunrise Beach. Happy travels!