Reader question: Is traveling to Koh Lipe in the south of Thailand safe?

We just came back yesterday, really nothing wrong, just go, you don't notice Bangkok as a tourist, except with a taxi that some roads are closed, but that's it! Lipe is beautiful, would like to sit on pattaya beach, much nicer beach and calmer water, beautiful snorkeling excursions can be booked

The "four" southern provinces are probably the ones where attacks on law enforcement officers and teachers or journalists have been occurring for years: Narathivat, Pattani, Yala and (the east of) Songkla. However, tourists who stay away from universities and do not ask the police for directions may not be in the slightest political danger there either. Tourists who visited Hat Yai, the largest city in Songkla province (and in southern Thailand), also report nothing alarming. In that sense, in the also predominantly Muslim province of Satun, there have never been any abnormal events to my knowledge. The more northern provinces along the Andaman coast also have a Muslim majority near the sea, which gets along very well with the Buddhists from the region. A 'Tiger Line' express boat departs/arrives daily in this period between Hat Yao Port (Trang Province) to Ko Lipe (Satun) and the only problems I heard from [many] travelers about the island were the overcrowding and the price level. Traveling via the slightly more southern Pak Bara will also not entail a risk of a political nature.

Still, be careful with radical political positions: Also from the sparsely populated island of Ko Libong, just a few kilometers from Hat Yao Port (rubber plantations, small-scale fishing, a few resorts), a Muslim delegation of Suthep followers, mainly women, had traveled to Bangkok via the city of Trang for the first days of 'shutdown'; the group has since returned, but there would be talk of a possible new journey. The anti-government demonstrators certainly do not only come from industrial areas or large cities. However, I also know Thaksin family in the area.

As the above comments indicate, don't expect any problems!

I made the trip BKK-Hat Yai-Pakbara-Koh Lipe 1 month ago and did not experience any problem. I just didn't like the speedboat Koh Lipe-Pak Bara very much, otherwise it went fine. It is a long journey, you are on the road for 10 hours from door to door.

Satun is not unsafe like Songkla, Narathiwat and Pattani can be.

Thanks for all the responses!
To reassure the children, we bought a ticket to Trang just to be sure and take the boat to Koh Lipe!

I am also planning a trip to Koh Lipe and the above tips are very helpful, thanks.

In addition, I wonder if it matters whether I travel that way from Kuala Lumpur or from Bangkok (easier/cheaper/better connection)?

I want to spend about a week or 2 in that area.
Anyone happen to have nice tips for accommodation, activities, nice eateries, yoga school, etc. on Koh Lipe, but also nice places in the area are very welcome.
I'm traveling alone, but I assume that's fine there, right?

Greetings,

Barbara