Koh Lipe – Koh Lipe…
A paradise island, hidden somewhere very far in the waters of the Andaman Sea.
Small, quiet, isolated…
All in all, I fell in love with this island and I consider it the BEST island in Thailand that I have been to!
It is not so easy to get there, there is no airport, transport networks or shopping centers.
But there is untouched pristine nature, turquoise sea water and beaches with white sand, an authentic local village with its citizens.
Koh Lipe is a part of the Tarutao National Marine Park and it is under the protection of UNESCO as one of the natural monuments of Southeast Asia.
While we were traveling from Langkawi to Koh Lipe by boat, I was fascinated by the color of the sea water and kept taking endless photos and videos to make that one special shot.
Because of the color of the water, many visitors compare it to the paradise Maldive islands, and I have no reason to argue with them about that.
And in the end I’m not sure that I was satisfied with the final photo, so it might be worth visiting this island again to update my content.
If after such an introduction, you didn’t rush to check flights and hotels, then I have questions for you.
So, if the plans for your next vacation are already known, and tickets are booked (or at least in the process of booking, haha), the next questions that you can definitely ask are:
- Okay, pristine nature, preserved area – sounds great, but then what should you be prepared for?
- What about mosquitoes?
- Will I meet any jellyfish in the sea?
- Will monkeys jump on my balcony in the morning?
In this article, I decided to answer all possible questions regarding the wildlife of Koh Lipe.
Travel is wonderful, however safety first!
Spoiler alert: everything is not that scary 🙂
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Click here to check 10 best hotels in Koh Lipe in winter 2024 - Click here to read about best Koh Lipe street food spots
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Are There Spiders In Koh Lipe?
As in any other country in the world, there are spiders in Thailand, and in Koh Lipe in particular.
Most of them are harmless and look just the same as the spiders that we can meet in our hometowns.
Obviously there are other, more exotic samples that also are not dangerous for humans. Basically, they live in places with abundant vegetation and moisture.
In the hotels of Koh Lipe, located in the middle of the jungle, in this case, mosquito nets are provided in the rooms.
Even if you accidentally come across a terribly big or terribly terrible spider in the hotel, which is very unlikely, try not to panic.
The spider is as afraid of you as you are of him.
Ask the hotel assistant to help to isolate the spider from your room or your belongings.
As for poisonous spiders, such as scorpions, tarantulas or black widows, in Thailand, in general, they are found in rural areas remote from tourist places.
According to official data, there has not yet been a single case of seeing a scorpion or tarantula on Koh Lipe, and obviously of seeing a black widow.
Are there Jellyfish In Koh Lipe?
The southern part of Thailand is considered to be an area of jellyfish habitat, including the box jellyfish and the Portuguese man-of-war.
It is also believed that the invasion of jellyfish most often occurs during the rainy season, due to storms and increased winds, which are more likely to bring them closer to the shore during this period.
But due to global warming and an increase in water temperature, there are cases of jellyfish appearing in the dry season.
Speaking of the invasion of jellyfish, I mean areas for snorkeling and diving, that is, away from the coast or in deep waters, closer to the bottom of the ocean.
Obviously you can swim and relax near the shore without problems, plus the water is so clean and clear that you can easily see what is around you in the sea.
In most cases, these will be just tiny fish or small jellyfish, which are practically harmless to humans.
Despite this, if somewhere on the beach you find a dead jellyfish, do not touch it. Even if it is already dead it can still sting you.
For those of you who plan to do snorkeling or diving, I can give some small tips:
- If there is a safety net on the beach, stay within its boundaries and do not sit on its edge.
- It might be a good idea to put on a protective swimsuit and swim shoes.
- Take some vinegar with you to the beach: if some of you is stung by a jellyfish, it can be put on the affected area in order to reduce toxic response.
I should mention that in most hotels, diving centers and beach restaurants you can always ask for a bottle of vinegar in order to get first aid if necessary.
What to do if you are stung by a Portuguese man-of-war?
It is necessary to take an immobilized position to reduce the spread of poison. You should not touch the affected area or apply any cream on it.
Then, slowly, with no touching, pour salt water (but not vinegar) on the affected area to remove small stings.
After that you should immediately see a doctor.
What to do if you are stung by a box jellyfish?
It is necessary to take an immobilized position to reduce the spread of poison. You should not touch the affected area or apply any cream on it.
After that apply vinegar for at least 1 minute on the affected area to reduce the toxic reaction.
Sprinkle sand on the affected area to dry out any remaining stings.
If a person’s heart has stopped beating and there is no pulse, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be done.
After that you should immediately take the victim to the hospital.
Are There Mosquitoes In Koh Lipe?
When it comes to the topic about mosquitoes, there are two factors to consider. If, in general, mosquitoes rarely bite you, then most likely you will not notice them on Koh Lipe.
If you are traveling with children, or if you are specifically bitten by mosquitoes quite often and everywhere, or even in winter, then it makes sense to bring repellent lotion or repellent plug for a room with you. Plus as I’ve already said, many hotels provide mosquito nets in the rooms.
Alternatively, you can just buy repellent in local supermarkets, also I consider local repellents to be more adapted for local mosquitoes.
Are there Crocodiles In Koh Lipe?
Many years ago there were a massive amount of crocodiles inhabiting Thailand, but now the situation has changed, and basically, they can only be found in the north of the mainland or in Khao Yai National Park.
By the way, currently Thailand is officially considered to be the leading country of producing crocodile farms.
Each individual is strictly controlled and accounted for, so the probability of meeting a croc in tourist places totally tends to zero.
Not to mention the tiny island of Koh Lipe.
Are There Snakes In Koh Lipe?
There are snakes in Thailand, and in Koh Lipe in particular, and most of them are absolutely harmless to humans.
You should be aware of several factors:
- Snakes are afraid of people and try to live in places located as far as possible from human settlements.
- Mostly they inhabitat in areas of abundant vegetation and high humidity, for example, in river backwaters, fields and jungles. There are some jungles on Koh Lipe, but it is all away from hotels and beaches.
- The snake decides to attack only if it feels danger from a person.
Of course, all these factors will not insure you from meeting these cute creatures, but in 95% of cases, something is unlikely to happen to you.
At a minimum, it will be a couple of cool photos in the phone camera for Instagram.
As a maximum, it will be a huge dose of adrenaline thrown into the blood and rich experience and a great story for friends about your trip to the country of Siam.
Be that as it may, if you meet a snake in a hotel or restaurant, you can always ask the staff for help. These guys know exactly how to deal with them.
If you are walking down a dark deserted lane at night, turn on your flashlight and try to step on the ground as loudly as possible. A loud sound will help scare away the snake.
In case of being bitten by a snake, there are pharmacies on the island where you can buy an antidote, or a hospital where you can ask for medical help.
Are There Sharks In Koh Lipe?
Obviously, you will not be able to see a shark on the coast of Koh Lipe, and that’s totally good news!
However, in some parts of the Tarutao National Park, several species of sharks (harmless for humans, of course) can be seen while diving.
For example, at one of the most popular diving spots – 8 Mile Rock, you can meet a whale shark, and on the island of Koh Taru – a coral cat shark.
You can contact any of the Koh Lipe diving centers for further information and organization of your dive tour.
Koh Lipe Monkeys
In conclusion, let’s talk about the most terrible and dangerous animals of tropical countries.
About monkeys.
It is more likely to get more harm from them than from any small jellyfish or spider.
For example, they may steal your glasses or cap, or any item carelessly left behind. But this might happen if you do not know how to deal with them.
Of course, I am kidding 😀
Of course, monkeys are one of the funniest and cutest creatures, and you will be really lucky if you see them frolicking and playing with each other on the roof of the hotel.
On Koh Lipe island, monkeys live in the jungle.
In the daytime tourists often walk there in search of them, as well as trying to find beautiful panoramic viewpoints.
Also near Koh Lipe there is Monkey island, you can get there with a boat tour.
This island is hugely populated with monkeys that come ashore hoping to get some food from tourists.
But it is forbidden to feed them, because living in the wild they should get food by themselves, and the huge flow of tourists does not make this easier at all.
Conclusion
The nature and wildlife of Thailand is endlessly rich and beautiful.
Even if there are some “buts”.
And this nature is worth seeing and exploring. This is sooooo much more exciting than reading a student book about geography and watching any, even best of the best videos on YouTube.
The main thing, while exploring, do not forget to protect it (nature), we have only this one and there is no other like it anymore 🙂
If you like this article you might be interested in my post about the new modern Benjakitti Park in Bangkok.
