Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/720024
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 AUGUST 2016 42 Travel MARC CASOLANI THE phrase 'hidden gem' means only one thing in the world of travel – a relatively unspoilt desti- nation on the fast-track to becom- ing the next 'it' destination. Meant to be the next 'hidden gem' since Koh Phi Phi made headlines after the film The Beach, this island is truly beautiful with its crystal clear waters. But you must get there fast, it only has a few years left before it becomes overrun by tourists of all sorts from all over the globe. The locals here are still local and they still genuinely help because they want to and not because they'll get paid to. However, as the influx of tourism grows, the more likely the local Chao Leh people are to lose their identity. Koh Lipe is a very small island with a population of about 700, made up of both local Chao Leh and foreign settlers. It is located just within reach of the Malaysian border (one hour away from the closest Malaysian Island by speed- boat), and geographically located in a prime spot such as not to be af- fected by the murky waters of the Malacca Straits and is protected by two other big islands, Koh Rawi and Koh Adeng, which both fall under the protection of the Taru- tao national park. Because of all this, Koh Lipe has been blessed with clear waters with a visibility of around 20 metres on an average day, coral reefs that of- fer some of the best snorkelling in the region and also some of the best diving in Thailand. The dive sites on the island offer great fish spotting, a wreck, an underwater pinnacle, sea horses and the sea- sonal whale shark. There are great snorkelling sites dotted around the island, however one site not to be missed is Sunrise Beach, between the two small islands just off the beach. Check out the variety of fish and fauna that come in a myriad of colours and get a tan whilst doing so. There are few cars on the island, five at most, there are bikes, but they are mostly used by the locals and unless you befriend one, rent- ing one is virtually impossible. To get around the island, which in truth can be walked around with general ease, you can get a ride with one of the island's few taxi bikes at a cost of 50 Bhat (just over €1). Three beaches make up for the island's main hot spots and are named Sunset beach, Sunrise beach and Pattaya beach. I am sure you can figure out what the first two beach- es are well known for, as for Pattaya it hosts the major night life and has a string of bars along the beach, all with mattresses and tables laid out down to the shore line. If you stay long enough you can watch the tidal change under a star filled sky that can be blinding. Apart from these main areas, there are a few other spots that are mainly residen- tial huts or camping areas, the rest is jungle and not easily accessible. All areas are connected with sandy roads and wearing a torch at night is recommended to avoid stepping on snakes. Another way to explore the outer reaches of the pristine snorkelling and dive sites would be by hiring a private long tail boat. One of these will take you around for six hours to your desired destination. Cruise around, spot an empty beach or some good coral or even a path that leads to a good viewpoint, well just let the driver know and that spot is now yours to explore. If you feel like a good workout, why not just hire a kayak for the day and see how far you can ex- plore but just make sure you take sun block, the sun can be deadly even for a Maltese sun worship- per. For the adrenaline junkie, hire a kitesurfer or a windsurfer. But if exerting yourself isn't what gets you going you can easily just grab your favourite read and chill out on the golden sands and soak up some rays while you are being watched by sea eagles or Brahminy Kites. Of course this island offers a decent variety of wildlife, however most can be found on the surrounding islands. Accommodation on this island can be tricky come peak season so it is best to book in advance. In low season however the ball is in your court and you can find any accommodation without hassle. Prices range between 800-4,000 Bhat (€18-€90) in peak season and the beach-front bungalows generally go for 1,000 Bhat (€22) and higher. The best time to come would be between November and mid-December, as the weather is said to be lovely most days and the beach bungalows are available for a price of around 600 Bhat (€13). Please note that I am talking about the beach on high demand which is Sunrise beach. These prices are for bungalows on the prized Sunrise beach, and though accommoda- tion on the other two beaches are relatively lower they still start at around 700 Baht (€15). Thailand has fallen prey to the effects of tourism with many spots offering no more than a Western experience on a pretty beach. Koh Lipe has escaped this reality, how- ever it will not be long before the tourists discover this hidden gem so try and head down there as soon as possible to experience the real Thailand. Hopefully it will learn from Koh Phi Phi and be preserved as well as possible, however if any of the other tourist-popular islands are anything to go by this is an un- likely scenario. Getting there You can get there in one of four ways, all by sea, however Koh Lipe is without a landing strip and should probably stay that way. The faster and more expensive option includes either getting a speed boat from any of the other islands from Phuket or Langkawi which is the last island on the Malaysian border. Emirates offer regular flights to both Phuket and Langkawi. Flights departing from Malta to Phuket on 8 September and returning on 22 September were priced at €872, including tax, at the time of going to print. Flights to Langkawi on the same dates were priced at €982.90. If you do get a speed boat from Langkawi, it is extremely important to make sure that you have a Thai visa sorted out before and if you do not, make sure that the company taking you there sorts out a proper full passport page Visa for you before you go. Make sure you research the reliability of the company you are travelling with. We made the mistake of trusting our transporters, Tropical Charters, who claimed to be able to sort out visas as required, however, as we discovered, this was far from the truth and we were turned back. The more cost effective way to get there is by ferry from both Satun and Pok Bara in Thailand or Kuala Perlis in Malaysia. It just takes an hour or two longer. Koh Lipe – One of Thailand's last remaining hidden gems PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC CASOLANI