Don’t Visit 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 a number of hours a day, fundamental bungalows proper on the seashore price 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 seashore, learn a guide, went snorkeling, went again to the seashore, drank beers on the one seashore 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 bought caught. Days simply was weeks right here.

For those who requested me what the spotlight of all my travels was, I would be the time I spent on Ko Lipe. I made unbelievable pals, lounged round, bought to know the locals, discovered a little bit of Thai, and, total, lived that idyllic backpacker life all of us dream about.

Through the years, I’ve prevented going again to Ko Lipe as a result of the reminiscence of my time there’s so robust that I didn’t wish to destroy it. Any re-visit would merely be attempting to recreated a magic that couldn’t be recreated as a result of the people who it particular wouldn’t be there. I’d be chasing travel ghosts. And, since I do know my sleepy paradise has been developed drastically 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 current journey by means of Southeast Asia, returning to Ko Lipe made sense. I used to be heading down the Indian Ocean aspect of Thailand on my means into Malaysia and I’d move by it.

And, since I used to be in search of a energetic place for New 12 months’s Eve, it appeared preferred your best option. I knew there could 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 previous dust footpaths having change into concrete for the automobiles and development vehicles. Swaths of palm bushes 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 may see as you swim. And the eating places cater to vacationers in search of unhealthy Western meals, not nice Thai delicacies.

The island’s growth has displaced many locals, who had been compelled 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 numerous folks there who beloved the island. If it’s your first time, I can see why you’d find it irresistible. In any case, the realm is postcard excellent, the water is completely an azure blue, the sand is a phenomenal 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 replicate on the island and its overdevelopment, I’ve come to the identical conclusion I’ve about Ko Phi Phi: folks 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 may an idealized imaginative and prescient of the world.”

However this isn’t the best way.

And, with so many different islands to go to which can be properly managed (Ko Lanta, Ko Jum, and Ko Mook, to call three close by), I believe you need 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 phenomenal place, and my unique go to had a big impact on my life. But when we’re going to be good stewards and vacationers, generally you simply should say sufficient is sufficient.

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

Go some other place that’s higher managed.

As a result of your decisions do have an effect.

Using elephants in Thailand went away when customers turned extra aware of it. Eco lodges bought massive due to customers. Overtourism is talked about by customers as a lot as it’s by locals.

Perhaps if sufficient folks 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’re a minimum of no contributing to the issue.

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