Don’t Go to Ko Lipe

After 19 years, I lastly went again to Ko Lipe, the Thai island I spent near a month on in 2006. Again then, it was a kind of tremendous off-the-beaten-path locations that few however probably the most intrepid vacationers visited, the place electrical energy solely ran just a few hours a day, primary bungalows proper on the seaside value one thing like $2 USD, and there actually was a final boat for the season.

There was a lot to do right here however that was the purpose. You frolicked on the seaside, learn a ebook, went snorkeling, went again to the seaside, drank beers on the one seaside bar on the island, rotated meals between the 5 eating places there, and went to mattress early.

It was paradise – and a spot lots of people obtained caught. Days simply changed into weeks right here.

Should you requested me what the spotlight of all my travels was, I might be the time I spent on Ko Lipe. I made unbelievable buddies, lounged round, obtained to know the locals, realized a little bit of Thai, and, general, lived that idyllic backpacker life all of us dream about.

Through the years, I’ve averted going again to Ko Lipe as a result of the reminiscence of my time there’s so robust that I didn’t wish to smash it. Any re-visit would merely be attempting to recreated a magic that couldn’t be recreated as a result of the those that it particular wouldn’t be there. I’d be chasing journey ghosts. And, since I do know my sleepy paradise has been developed tremendously through the years, I used to be additionally too afraid seeing that will make me unhappy.

Tourism in Thailand tends towards the unsustainable. No island actually develops in a great way. It’s all construct, construct, construct.

And I didn’t wish to see my Ko Lipe like that.

However as I used to be planning my latest journey by means of Southeast Asia, returning to Ko Lipe made sense. I used to be heading down the Indian Ocean facet of Thailand on my approach into Malaysia and I’d move by it.

And, since I used to be on the lookout for a vigorous place for New 12 months’s Eve, it appeared preferred your best option. I knew there can be vacationers there and there have been no different close by islands that will work, particularly since Ko Lipe has a ship to Langkawi, which was my subsequent cease.

So, I sucked it up and went.

And I’m unhappy to report that Ko Lipe took the Ko Phi Phi mannequin of tourism and is now extraordinarily overdeveloped.

Unsustainably so.

A lot of the island is now paved over, the outdated grime footpaths having change into concrete for the automobiles and building vans. Swaths of palm timber are actually the websites of high-end resorts with swimming pools (on an island with no pure water provide). Building of extra resorts continues at a quick tempo. The coral across the island is dying, a sufferer of all of the boats, anchors, air pollution, and overfishing. Seashores are actually lined with boats, their exhaust spilling into the ocean, leaving a shiny movie you possibly can see as you swim. And the eating places cater to vacationers on the lookout for dangerous Western meals, not nice Thai delicacies.

The island’s growth has displaced many locals, who have been pressured to promote to mainland builders, and far of the island’s workforce is now from the mainland. They see little of the advantages this tourism growth.

So lies Ko Lipe, one other sufferer of Thailand’s all too widespread overdevelopment and exploitation of restricted assets.

I met plenty of individuals there who beloved the island. If it’s your first time, I can see why you’ll find it irresistible. In any case, the world is postcard good, the water is completely an azure blue, the sand is a gorgeous white, and because you’re surrounded by a nationwide park, lots of excursions take you to some secluded islands.

And, compared to Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, or Phuket, it’s much less developed so I can’t fault somebody stepping right here for the primary time going “wow!”

However, as I mirror on the island and its overdevelopment, I’ve come to the identical conclusion I’ve about Ko Phi Phi: individuals shouldn’t go to.

I’m not towards progress, however I’m towards this type of progress. It’s not sustainably managed and going there’ll solely tax the island’s restricted assets even additional. You’ll be able to’t put the genie again within the bottle and no native goes to say “positive, I’ll keep broke so you possibly can an idealized imaginative and prescient of the world.”

However this isn’t the way in which.

And, with so many different islands to go to which are properly managed (Ko Lanta, Ko Jum, and Ko Mook, to call three close by), I feel it is best to skip Ko Lipe.

A go to there’ll solely make issues worse.

It pains me to say that, as a result of it was such a gorgeous place, and my unique go to had a huge effect on my life. But when we’re going to be good stewards and vacationers, typically you simply need to say sufficient is sufficient.

And Ko Lipe is a spot the place sufficient is sufficient.

Go some place else that’s higher managed.

As a result of your decisions do have an effect.

Driving elephants in Thailand went away when customers grew to become extra aware of it. Eco lodges obtained large due to customers. Overtourism is talked about by customers as a lot as it’s by locals.

Possibly if sufficient individuals begin to do one thing, Ko Lipe will change.

I doubt it however one can hope.

However, on the very least, by not going you might be a minimum of no contributing to the issue.

Get the In-Depth Price range Information to Thailand!

My detailed 350+ web page guidebook is made for price range vacationers such as you! It cuts out the fluff present in different guidebooks and will get straight to the sensible info it is advisable to journey round Thailand. You’ll discover prompt itineraries, budgets, methods to economize, on and off-the-beaten-path issues to see and do, non-touristy eating places, markets, bars, security suggestions, and rather more! Click on right here to be taught extra and get your copy right this moment.

Planning a Journey to Southeast asia

Get all my greatest Southeast Asia journey suggestions & free planning guides despatched straight to your inbox