Koh Adang is the much larger, nieghbouring island to Koh Lipe. You can take a short boat ride to the island and hike up to Viewpoints 1, 2, and 3 (as shown above). Breathtaking views of Koh Lipe and the surrounding turquoise waters, a fantastic day trip, especially when combined with snorkeling the beach.
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Koh Adang Hike Snaps
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Koh Adang is a large uninhabited island that neighbours the popular tourist Thai island of Koh Lipe in the South of Thailand. The island is a popular spot for tourists to hike the island’s natural beauty, snorkel the coral reefs off the beach, and even spend a night camping in the woodlands. The national park has a marked out uphill hike to three viewpoints which look out to the ocean, and Koh Lipe. With each viewpoint, the view gets better and better! Although the hike can be challenging with parts where you have to climb up obstacles in the beaten path.
I was staying at Koh Lipe for two weeks, and after meeting two German friends in my hostel (Sang Chan Hostel), we decided the next day we would visit Koh Adang and do the hike we’d heard other backpackers mention. I also wanted to take a dip into the waters of Adang and see what the snorkel was like. We set off to Sunrise Beach at 10:00 am, and paid $6 each to a local Longtail captain to take us across to the neighbouring island.
Where is Koh Adang?
The island located in the South West of Thailand, in the South East Asia. The island is in the Andaman Sea, and a popular spot for hiking and snorkeling day trips from the neighbouring Thai island of Koh Lipe. You can stay on the island with a campsite in the south of the island, a short walk from the floating pier.
Map
It was a short 15-minute journey and we arrived. You might have to pay a national park fee at the entrance. Once you arrive you’ll walk straight along a path where you’ll see a sign to the start of the trek, it isn’t that well sign-posted. We other tourists to point us in the right direction. We started the trek along the uphill, winding track through the trees and forestry. It was harder than I imagined, but my German friends were much faster than I was! After 30 minutes we reached viewpoint one. This was a pretty good view for the first stop.
Viewpoint 1
The viewpoints aren’t that clearly signposted, but there is a small sign. The first stretch of the hike is mainly through the forests, so it is a nice surprise to arrive to an opening and a glorious view out over the Andaman Sea. I needed a pitstop for a good 10 minutes as it was very hot and I clearly wasn’t in the physical condition I thought! There is the option to go to the first viewpoint and then return to the beach. You get a pretty good view of Koh Lipe, however, if you continue the view just gets better and better.
Top Tip:
Make sure you wear footwear suitable for hiking, don’t wear flip-flops / Thongs. Also make sure you have sun lotion, plenty of water, and a cap as the sun is strong.
It took another 15-20 minutes to get to the second viewpoint, which involved more of an open trail with more of an opening in the trees. The second viewpoint was worth the hike and notably better than the first. During the hike, we only saw another 5-6 people, so it wasn’t the most popular.
Viewpoint 2
It was another 20-minute uphill walk to Viewpoint 3, at this point, we were getting pretty tired, or at least I was, the year of little hiking was taking its toll! However, Niel’s and I powered through and walked along the trail and climbed up a few rocks, after an hour’s trek we made it to Viewpoint 3… and well was it worth it! One of the most incredible views I’ve seen, the turquoise waters of Koh Lipe were like something you’d see on a postcard or a pretty awesome instagram reel.
Viewpoint 3
I think the hike and viewpoints was one of my favourite days whilst staying at Koh Lipe. It was active, adventurous, and combined with snorkeling, everything you can want to see. Incredible landscapes, underwater wildlife, and time spent exploring with friends.
Safety Tip:
The hike is challenging, if you are finding it hard, stop and take a rest and decide whether you’re ok to continue, if not start the descent when you are ready.
Snorkeling Koh Adang
A short 5-minute walk from the start of the hike, there is a great sandy stretch of beach which you can get to walking through the tall trees. When you arrive at the beach on the left-hand side you will see
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Frequently Asked Questions
The easiest way to get to the Koh Adang, or the Tarutao National Park is by longtail boat from Koh Lipe, If you go to the Northern end of Sunrise Beach you will see taxi boats offering the service to the floating pier a short 15-minute journey across the tropical waters. You can arrange a time to have a pick-up return journey. The longtail boats run every hour to and from the island, although we got the captain’s number as we didn’t want to get stranded on the island and didn’t know when we’d be ready to head back. The journey costs $5.00 USD each way.
There isn’t a cost to hike Koh Adang, you might have to pay a National Park fee upon entrance. The main cost is the water taxi from Sunrise Beach to Koh Lipe, which costs $5.00 USD each way.
The best time to go to Koh Adang is in Thailand’s dry season which runs from October to May. I’d also recommend either going in the morning or afternoon and missing the midday sun.
I didn’t go on a tour, I paid for a water-taxi journey from Koh Lipe’s Sunrise Beach, across to the south of the island. I then hiked up to Viewpoints 1, 2, and 3.
It is a 15-minute longtail boat ride from Sunset Beach, on Koh Lipe to the Southern pier on Koh Adang.
Luke
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Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.
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