Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 816

ACTIVITIES
The prime diving and snorkelling sites around Ko Lipe
are around Ko Adang, Ko Rawi and Ko Dong, just to
the north and west in Ko Tarutao National Marine
Park, where encounters with reef and even whale
sharks, dolphins and stingrays are not uncommon.
Koh Lipe Thailand ( T 089 464 5854, W kohlipethailand
.com) run snorkelling day-trips for B550-650 per
person, including lunch. The Canadian-run dive shop
Sabye Sports (o

trees. Each has a partly outdoor, cold-water bathroom, fan
and mosquito net. Three-night minimum stay. Good
Western and Thai daytime restaurant. Double B700
Daya West end T 081 542 9866, W aneelipe.com. More
than thirty colourful, en-suite rooms and bungalows in a
large, shady, flower-strewn garden behind a popular
restaurant on the beach, ranging from simple concrete
rooms to clapboard bungalows in a great po sition on the
beach. Kayaks and snorkels available. Double B600
Koh Lipe Backpackers Just east of Daya W kohlipe
backpackers.com. Part of Davy Jones' Locker diving centre,
this place offers two eight-bed dorms in plain concrete
rooms with thick mattresses, f ree w i-fi, hot showers and
lockers; a/c 6pm-10am. Dorm B500
Pattaya Song Far west end T 086 960 0418, W pattaya
songresort.com. Rough-and-ready Italian-run resort, the
oldest on the beach (the name means “Pattaya no. 2”),
where plain, en-suite clapboard or concrete bungalows are
strung out away from the beach or in a lovely location
up on a steep promontory; kayaks for rent. Good Italian
(includi ng h ome-made pizzas) and Thai restaurant.
Double B500

10

the east side of Porn Resort , behind
Flour Power Bakery , on Sunset beach; T 089 464 5884,
W sabyesports.com), Lipe's oldest, offers daily trips
(from B1950 for two dives) and PADI courses (from
B11,900 for the Openwater). Also has kayaks, paddle-
boards and windsurfers.

n

ACCOMMODATION
PATTAYA BEACH
Café Lipe West of Walking Street, central Pattaya T 086
969 9472, W cafe-lipe.com. Eco-conscious place in a great
location, offering large, old-style bamboo bungalows that
are nicely spaced out under a thick canopy of teak and fruit

INTO MALAYSIA FROM SOUTHERN THAILAND
Because of ongoing violence in parts of the deep south, all major Western governments are
currently advising against all but essential travel through the Thai provinces of Songkhla,
Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat . With violent attacks happening almost on a daily basis, it's
important to check your country's foreign o ce advice (see box, p.44) for up-to-date
information. The city and transport hub of Hat Yai and several of the main border crossings to
Malaysia are included in the no-go zones, though trains do still run from Hat Yai (and Bangkok)
to Butterworth via Padang Besar. Unaffected by the troubles, the safest routes into Malaysia are
the border crossings from Satun and Ko Lipe.
FROM SATUN
Remote Satun, in the last wedge of Thailand's west coast, has boat and overland passages to
Malaysia. Satun's bus terminal is at the town's southeastern periphery, but many buses also
make a detour through the town centre. Should you need to stay here, try Ang Yees Guesthouse
( T 080 534 0057; B350), 21-23 Th Tirasathit, opposite Kasikorn Bank on the main street.
Songthaews (B40) to Thammalang pier, 10km south of Satun, leave from near the 7-Eleven on
Th Sulakanukul. From Thammalang pier, longtail boats leave, when full, to Kuala Perlis (45min;
B150) on the northwest tip of Malaysia, from where there are plentiful transport connections
down the west coast; 9am is usually a good time to turn up at Thammalang for these boats,
but they need a minimum of ten passengers (or B1500), which means that on some days they
don't run. Ferries to the Malaysian island of Langkawi also depart from Thammalang (2-4 daily;
1hr 15min; B300).
FROM KO LIPE
In high season, there are two speedboats a day between Langkawi and Lipe (1hr; B1200),
serviced by an immigration o ce box on Lipe's Pattaya Beach.
FROM HAT YAI
It is not recommended to travel to Hat Yai, but being a major transport hub and stop-off point
to or from Malaysia, you might find yourself stuck here. If so, make your way to Cathay Guest
House (93/1 Th Niphat Uthit 2; T 074 243815; B240), a short walk east of the train station, which
has a small café, basic en-suite rooms and a useful travel agency downstairs.