Do we want to go to Koh Lipe? This question caused us a little mixed feelings again. This is in favor of the unofficial title of the Maldives of Southeast Asia, on the other hand, the mass tourism initiated by the Thai government for several years. Actually, the small island of Koh Lipe (2 km long and 1 km wide) is part of the Tarutao National Park and protected accordingly, but the government decided to open the island for commercial tourism a few years ago. That and some travelogues + pictures have deterred us a bit, but ultimately we decided for lack of alternatives but for it. For the less touristy islands usually only accommodate one (and therefore expensive) resort, or cut rather poorly regarding beaches, which in this case was our main focus.
Accordingly, we took the ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe, which in itself tells a little adventure. First, the sea was really rough this time and therefore complained Kerstin’s stomach (original sound: A 90-minute roller coaster ride). In addition, Langkawi is Malaysian, therefore, all entry formalities for Thailand must be done directly on the beach of Koh Lipe, because there is a pier for a ferry on Koh Lipe and you are brought in “long tail” boats from the ferry to the beach. So that during the subsequent entry procedure no one (whether wanted or not) is “forgotten”, before the departure of the ferry, all passports are collected and then issued again directly before the passport control. Of course, it takes a while for around 70-100 people on the boat, and of course our passes were in the last pile. But we have time 
The island itself is – if you mentally set on crowds – actually beautiful and the beaches are really impressive and invite you to relax! Especially in the evening, the tourist core of the island, the so-called Walking Street, but transformed into a sea of people. Here, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and diving schools line up and after the island is over after dark there is not much to do, all residents and tourists meet on this street. During the day, the crowds go to the island’s two main beaches or countless scuba diving and snorkelling tours, so we find the nights more fun than exhausting and just enjoy the beauty of the island. Also, we book for an afternoon in such a quite worthwhile snorkeling tour (Chabang, Koh Hin Ngam, Koh Adang), but if you are looking for secluded beaches and peace, will definitely disappointed.
But after three days we have enough on the beach and go to the next, this time again larger island Koh Lanta. In addition, we decide on Koh Lipe for a small change in our itinerary before the return flight from Bangkok, as a belated Christmas gift … But more on that later 