278 Moo 2, Sunrise Beach, Ko Lipe, Thailand | (586) 210-9239
Along Koh Lipe’s beautiful Sunrise Beach
Five-minute stroll to Walking Street's bars and eateries
Bungalows have private terraces with hammocks
Rooms are decorated with bright local handicrafts and mosquito nets
Beach-view bar with happy hour and popular terrace
Meals served at restaurant are well-reviewed
Beachside yoga and Thai massages are available
Hotel has a dive center
Free Wi-Fi in the restaurant and bar area
No hot water available
Rooms lack AC, TVs, and mini-fridges
Hotel can pick up noise from the bar next door
The 46-room, budget Castaway Resort offers a collection of wooden bungalows set on the beautiful white sands of Koh Lipe’s Sunrise Beach, and a five-minute stroll from the bars and restaurants lining Walking Street. This is an ideal spot for laid-back guests looking to relax on the beach or dive in the warm, shallow ocean, and who don't mind extremely rustic rooms. While bungalows have outdoor spaces with hammocks, fans, and toiletries, they lack AC, hot water, TVs, fridges, and kettles. Beachside yoga sessions and Thai massages are available for guests, as is a dive center. The bar and restaurant provides well-regarded meals, free Wi-Fi, and a lending library. Travelers looking for a beachfront vacation with more creature comforts might want to check out the Mountain Resort Koh Lipe, but it's farther from the action.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Rustic, budget beach property with hammocks and laid-back vibe
Set on the postcard-worthy Sunrise Beach, the Castaway Resort is a smattering of thatched, Thai-inspired wooden huts -- which overlook the turquoise Andaman Sea or lush greenery. Common areas are limited and center around the beautiful ocean view. The bar and restaurant have a joint wooden terrace shaded by trees and bamboo pergolas, and furnished with hammocks, wooden picnic tables, and a few terra-cotta planters. A more-protected area has a lending library, carved-stone decorations, richly patterned throw pillows atop chairs, and hanging basket lanterns. The same is true for the adjacent open-air reception. Given the property lacks hot water, and in-room air-conditioning, TVs, and fridges, this is best-suited to low-key travelers looking for a simple beach getaway.
Location
Beach setting a five-minute stroll to the shops and bars along Walking Street
On Koh Lipe’s lovely Sunrise Beach, and surrounded by lots of greenery, the Castaway Resort has a scenic setting. Most of the nightlife on Koh Lipe, as well as shops, bars, and restaurants, are found along Walking Street, a five-minute stroll away. Down at the far end of Walking Street is Pattaya Beach and the island’s tiny port, where travelers can island-hop around the Andaman Sea. The closest airport is in Hat Yai, with numerous daily flights from Bangkok. From Hat Yai, the Pak Bara Pier can be reached in two hours by car and Koh Lipe is an additional 90 minutes from the pier by speedboat. Speedboats from Langkawi, over the border in Malaysia, to Koh Lipe take around half an hour, but they only run from October to April.
Rooms
No-frills bungalows with outdoor spaces but no hot water or AC
Stand-alone bungalows here are extremely rustic, featuring floor-to-ceiling wood, straw roofs, and vibrant, local fabrics in bedding, wall hanging, and woven shades. Rooms either face the garden or beautiful beach, and all have furnished terraces with dining tables, chairs, and hammocks. Unfortunately, there are no hot water, air-conditioning, TVs, Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, or kettles provided. Fans, mosquito nets, mini chests with locks, and bottled water are all provided though. Comfy Rooms are single-room affairs, while Garden View Houses have two bedrooms -- one with a double bed and the other with two singles. Two-story options have an open bathroom downstairs, and a bed upstairs. Bathrooms have rainfall showers and bulk toiletries. Expect wear and tear and note that many past guests have complained of noise from an adjacent bar and other rooms.
Features
Bar with happy hour and well-reviewed food
The focus at the Castaway Resort is unsurprisingly on the beach and the ocean. Guests can book Thai massages and yoga classes out on the beach, plus there are a dive shop and a range of water sports on-site, allowing for scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding in the warm, shallow waters off Sunrise Beach and farther afield, in the Tarutao National Marine Park. The restaurant serves a mix of well-reviewed Thai and international food throughout the day. The space doubles as a bar, offering popular happy hour specials and a small lending library. A large terrace here leads down to the beach. Bikes are available to rent from the front desk. Wi-Fi is available at the bar and restaurant.
