Is Thailand’s Rainy Season THAT BAD?! (Koh Lipe Travel Vlog)

Is Thailand’s Rainy Season THAT BAD?! (Koh Lipe Travel Vlog)

So, believe it or not, we are in rainy season here 
in Koh Lipe. Hasn’t been like this the whole time. We had some rain. We’ve had bits of heavy showers 
in the mornings, but today just amazing. On the way here, we had nobody on our boat really. It 
was us and a few other people. And as you can see, it’s super quiet on the island really. So, the 
main reason we’ve come here now is one that we knew it was going to be much quieter at this time 
of year. And we’ve also come here to do some diving. And we had the usual sort of concerns like 
thinking maybe we’d have some trips cancelled for diving or that maybe it would just be raining 
the whole time, but it’s really been not bad at all. So this is actually our first time in Koh 
Lipe. So we’ve not experienced it in high season, but we’ve heard that it can get extremely busy 
because it’s a very small island and places get full. You can’t book accommodation and the 
island is just super busy. So with accommodation, it’s been really easy to sort it out on short 
notice. Seems like loads of places are are available. Where we’re staying at the moment 
doesn’t seem to have anybody else there. We’re just heading out now to the sunrise 
beach side and we’ll show you what that’s like. So, one thing we’ve noticed whilst trying to walk 
around the outskirts of the island is that often the tide is super high and there is no beach. 
So, you have to go into the island and get back out onto the beach. So, if that’s a deal breaker 
for you, maybe that’s one thing to consider. In and out. One of the best free things you 
could do here, get a kayak, head to this little desert island all to yourself.
It’s not free though. It’s 200 Baht an hour. Look at this water. So beautiful. And you can see the 
coral reef just here. This is magic. So pretty. We’ve almost made it, guys. Aaron’s done all the work. We’re about to run 
aground on a beautiful desert island. Nailed it. Whoop! What’s going on? I’ve tied everything 
too safely. I can’t get out! It’s been such a bright blue sky day. We 
thought we’d go for a lovely sunset dinner. But about two minutes ago, the blue 
skies disappeared and this started happening. We cannot believe this is the same day. So there we were all smug thinking we’d beat rainy season – then it’s just come in 
like that. All part of the fun! The sun is shining today and we are taking 
you to one of the top dive sites in Koh Lipe. So, what’s the difference between diving in 
low season and high season in Koh Lipe? Well, during the low season, that’s April to October 
every year, half of the park is closed. That’s under the marine conservation to allow 
it to regenerate and rest from all the divers that come here. But during low season, 
you still have access to a lot of dive sites, including the one we’re going to be taking you 
to today, which is what Koh Lipe is famous for. The other thing you could expect in low season 
is temperate weather. We can never be too sure if it’s going to be a beautiful blue sky day or 
absolutely chucking it down. But if you’re coming in May to June, typically the weather is a bit 
more stable during these times and there’s not so much rain. July to August is where the real 
rain happens and probably a little bit more of a challenging time where we’re hearing about trips 
being cancelled and really really rough rough weather. We’ve been here for a week now and really 
we’ve not experienced too much bad weather only in the mornings and yesterday it went from blue skies 
all day to complete downpour just before sunset. So you might want to be flexible with your 
schedule and just have that in mind if you’re coming here during low season. The other thing 
you might want to do is pack some anti-nausea tablets if you are planning on going on boat 
trips because it can be a little bit choppier. Here we are on Sunrise Beach this morning. 
The sun is coming up behind those clouds, but that’s low season for you. It’s still a 
really, really peaceful place to start your day. The sun is trying to make its way up. I’m 
really impressed with this because it did forecast absolute thunderstorm, showers, 
lightning, everything for this morning. But as with these islands, you can’t really 
predict what the weather’s going to be like. You can’t look at an app. You just have to get 
outside and find out. We found a salty sea dog. This is so beautiful. Look at the clouds 
just rising over the top of the island there. So, while we sit here and enjoy this beautiful 
sunrise together, I thought I’d go through a few other things you might want to know about Koh 
Lipe. So, many people want to know what are the water conditions like between May and October in 
rainy season. Well, as you can see, it’s flat out there today. And whilst the wind has died down, 
it’s not necessarily the same situation for the rain or the storms. So it can really really vary 
and it is purely down to luck. When the winds do get high, that will mean that you’re going to 
have choppy seas which can lead to a bumpy ride over from Hat yai or Langkawi. Trips from Langkawi 
to Koh Lipe don’t tend to run in the low season, only in the high season. So when the weather 
does get quite windy and the waves get rough or if there is a big storm, they do cancel 
trips. So that can be snorkeling or diving, but that can also mean your trip to and from Hat 
Yai, which might mean missing a flight or missing a day of your reservation. So you need to be a 
little bit flexible with your bookings. Maybe book a airplane ticket that allows you to change date 
and time just in case. During low season though, the accommodation is abundant, so I wouldn’t 
worry about extending for an extra night. One of the things Aaron and I would do differently 
if we came back is get somewhere on the beach because it makes popping out for a snorkel 
and coming back for a nap so much easier. So, one of the things with monsoon season is that 
the tidal changes can be a bit more extreme. And with that, they can wash in some serious ocean 
plastic. The plastic isn’t necessarily coming from the island. It’s washing in from oh, all 
over the place. Some of it’s really, really old. Some of it’s pretty new. It just reminds you why 
you want to be a little bit more eco-conscious, especially when you’re coming to these islands. 
They find it incredibly difficult to get rid of plastic waste. And it isn’t just us noticing it. 
Locals who have been here for over 10 years have told us that it has become an ever-increasing 
problem on the island. To put it into context, this is a tiny island and in high season it can 
see up to 4,000 people arriving per day by boat. This island is undeniably one of the most 
beautiful places we’ve ever seen. And it is heartbreaking to see all of this trash both 
on the beach and inside the island and on the dive sites. So, there’s some simple things you 
can do when you visit small islands like this just to make it a little bit easier for them to 
manage their waste and recycling. On the island, they love to give you plastic bags for 
everything. So, bring your own reusable bag and be sure to tell them you don’t need a 
bag before they give it to you. You can bring reusable straws as they are put in every single 
drink. You can bring a reusable coffee cup or a reusable flask for cold drinks as fruit shakes 
are usually made in takeaway plastic containers, even if you’re drinking them in. And when 
you’re getting in the water, to protect the beautiful coral life that’s around here, you can 
always wear a rash guard or reef safe sun cream, which will help protect the coral from bleaching. 
Also, if you are heading out snorkelling, make sure you’re not treading on the coral on your way 
out there. That being said, there are businesses on the island that are doing their best to make a 
difference here. Castaway Resort and Dive Center are really eco-conscious and one of the best 
restaurants we’ve been to on the island is Elephant, which have recyclable coffee cups, paper 
straws, and are really, really eco-conscious. On our way to sunset, fingers 
crossed, better than yesterday. I’ve done a a wonderful job of anticipating there being no sun and I didn’t bring any 
sunglasses, but there it is. We made it. Low season, beautiful beaches and hardly 
anyone else on them. Just amazing.

Wondering if Thailand’s rainy season will ruin your travel plans? We took a risk and visited Koh Lipe in low season — and it might be one of our favourite island trips yet.

From deserted beaches to unexpectedly perfect weather, from kayaking to epic dive sites, this vlog reveals what it’s really like in Thailand’s monsoon season — including the truth about diving in rainy season, eco travel, and why we’d absolutely come back. 🌧️🏝️

💬 Drop your thoughts or questions in the comments! Would you visit during rainy season?

🎬 Watch more from our Thailand Island Hopping Series:
➡️ Koh Lanta Hidden Beaches + Scuba Diving Adventure: https://youtu.be/5iTGalzPsnk?si=1sMtpMHiPRqJ4KQu
➡️ Koh Mook: Secret Caves & Chill Vibes: https://youtu.be/_2e97hKWdgY?si=hDkHq89ihjd1L_gs

📍Locations Featured:

Koh Lipe during rainy season (during the month of June):
– Sunrise Beach
– Desert Island Kayak Spot

Dive Sites around Koh Lipe (low season access explained)

Thai-Malay Sea weather, tides & plastic impact

Sunset dining and quiet beaches

✅ Eco Tips for Travelers
→ Bring a reusable bag, cup & straw
→ Use reef-safe sunscreen
→ Avoid stepping on coral when snorkeling

🧭 Want to travel Thailand differently?

👋 We’re Aaron & Cassie — filmmakers and scuba pros sharing raw, cinematic slow travel from Southeast Asia’s hidden islands.

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:15 What Koh Lipe Looks Like in Thailand’s Rainy Season
01:42 Hidden Beaches & High Tides During Monsoon Season
02:01 Kayaking to Deserted Koh Kla Island in Low Season
03:56 Sudden Rain Storm in Koh Lipe 🌧️ (Real Monsoon Footage)
04:44 Diving in Koh Lipe with Castaway Divers (Low Season Edition)
05:44 Koh Lipe Diving: High Season vs Low Season Comparison
07:44 Exploring Sunset Beach in Koh Lipe’s Off-Peak Months
08:08 Sunrise Beach Vibes During Thailand’s Monsoon Season
09:26 Zodiac/North Beach in Koh Lipe During Rainy Season
11:13 Plastic Waste on Pattaya Beach + Eco Travel Tips
13:27 Stunning Sunset at North Beach (Rainy Season Magic)

#ThailandRainySeason #KohLipe #SlowTravelThailand #ScubaTravelCouple #UnderwaterCinematography #HiddenGemsThailand #ThailandIslandHopping #EcoTravelThailand #LowSeasonThailand #TropicalAdventureVlog #OceanStorytelling #KohLipeTravel