The Adang archipelago on the border of Thailand and Malaysia is often called the “Thai Maldives” for its snow-white sand. Lipe is the only inhabited island in this archipelago. Lovers of serene bliss come here, as well as divers, since representatives of almost a quarter of the species of marine life that exist in nature are found in the coastal waters of Ko Lipe.
Lovers of serene bliss come here, as well as divers, since representatives of almost a quarter of the species of marine life that exist in nature are found in the coastal waters of Ko Lipe.
The island does not have its own pier; boats arriving at Koh Lipe moor at a special floating platform, on which tourists transfer to small boats of local residents, who in turn take them ashore. This pleasure costs only 50 THB per person. The return trip from the island to the platform with boats will also cost 50 THB.
The highlight of this archipelago is the Tarutau National Park, a must-see. Prices on the page are as of September 2018.
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How to get to Lipe Island
Getting to the island is easier in high season: ferry crossing organized by many popular resorts in the Andaman Sea: from Lanta, Phuket, Phi Phi, etc. In the low season, boats operate only from the Pak Bara pier, which is most conveniently accessible from the town of Hat Yai.
From Bangkok
- Most quick way- air travel. Flights to Hat Yai depart from Don Mueang Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi, where planes fly from Russia. Then you can take a taxi to the pier in Pakbara (about 1000 THB) or buy a comprehensive ticket to Koh Lipe at the airport for the same money. Or go to the bus terminal in Hat Yai (150 THB by tuk-tuk or 400 THB by taxi), where you can take a bus to the pier. From Hat Yai to Pakbar it takes about 2 hours.
- In addition, at the capital's Don Muang Airport you can immediately buy a comprehensive ticket to Ko Lipe, which includes a flight, transfer to the pier and a ferry ticket. In terms of cost, such a route is comparable to an independent one, and there are no worries about changing transport: you will be met and escorted everywhere.
- You can also get to Hat Yai from Bangkok by train. An evening train departs from Hua Lamphong Station and arrives in Hat Yai early in the morning.
- Another a budget option- bus. They depart to Hat Yai from the capital's southern terminal and travel all night (10-12 hours). The cost of a bus trip is comparable to a train ticket, but the bus travels slightly faster than the train, and also arrives directly at the bus station.
From the pier in Pakbara you can sail to the island either by speedboat or on the so-called ferries. They take a full hour longer (2.5 hours), but sailing on them is much more comfortable than on a speedboat, which shakes from being hit by waves (and the seats are hard and uncomfortable), and the spray often hits passengers. Ticket prices for speedboats and ferries do not differ in price.
It's also worth considering that boats only operate between the mainland and the island during the day, so it's best to arrive in Pakbara as early as possible.
Search for flights to Phuket (the nearest airport to Koh Lipe)
From the southern resorts of Thailand
In the case of Lipe, islands such as Phuket and Lanta can be called “southern” only conditionally, since they are located north of the country’s southernmost archipelago. During the high season, most of these southern resorts Boats run to Ko Lipe. The ticket costs about 1000-1200 THB, it will be much cheaper (but also longer) to take a bus to the pier in Pakbara and from there swim to the island.
From Malaysia
Since the island is located on the border with Malaysia, Ko Lipe can also be reached from this country. The closest to it - just 30 km - is the Malaysian island of Langkawi, from where boats start towards Thai Lipe. Guests from Malaysia go through border control upon arrival on the island, however, the checkpoint on Koh Lipe is only open in the high season; in the low season, you will have to cross the border on the mainland, in the Thai city of Satun, from there get to Pakbar and cross to Lipe.
Next to the Adang Archipelago is the Tarutao Island Nature Reserve. It's pretty large island, most of which is occupied by tropical jungle. There is no tourism infrastructure and full-fledged hotels - only small guesthouses and private bungalows that are rented to tourists.
You can get to Tarutao in the same way as to Lipe, since boats going to it from the Pakbara pier make a stop off the coast of Tarutao. The cost of a ticket to it is about a hundred baht cheaper than to Ko Lipe.
The island of Koh Lipe is located in the south of Thailand, on the border of the territorial waters of Thailand and Malaysia.
There are several options for getting to Koh Lipe
1) Any airport in Thailand-> Hat Yai (air) -> taxi to Pakbara (1800 baht). Pakbara -> Koh Lipe by high-speed ferry or speedboat 3 times a day.
For example, from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Hat Yai Lion Air flight at 7:45.
At 9:15 in Hat Yai. Receipt of baggage.
Exit and select a transfer (group by minibus or individual by taxi) to Pakbara. Travel time 1:30.
Pakbara: buying speedboat tickets 11:30 to Koh Lipe (450 baht) + 20 baht fi pier.
Travel time to Koh Lipe is 1:30.
Disembarkation either directly onto the shore or onto a floating platform (depending on the tide).
If disembarking on the platform, then +50 baht for delivery ashore by boat at 13:00
2) Malaysia. From the island Langkawi(Langkawi), Malaysia on the ferry Langkawi - Koh Lipe ().
3) Koh Lanta. From Koh Lanta island (Krabi province) by speedboat.
4) Trang. From the pier Hat Yao Pier(Trang) on the yellow high-speed ferry http://www.tigerlinetravel.com/
5) Phuket. From the pier Rassada(Phuket) by high speed ferry with two stops Phi Phi and Hat Yao (Trang):
I described in detail how we got to Koh Lipe from Phuket
Transfer connection: morning (7:15) flight Phuket – Hat Yai +
taxi to Pakbara +
a speedboat to Koh Lipe allows you to be on Koh Lipe by lunchtime on the same day.
There are several more exotic options, but due to their exotic nature and time-consuming nature, I will not consider them here.
However, option 3 is also not interesting to describe since the transfer is on a speedboat - therefore it is very seasonal and depends on the weather (cancelled if there is a lot of bumpiness).
The most common option: a trip by speedboat or ferry (from November to May) to Koh Lipe from the pier of the village of Pakbara, Satun Province (the nearest airports are Hat Yai and Trang).
What is the village of Pakbara famous for?
It used to be a terrible hole
When I first came to Pakbara, there was not a single hotel in the fishermen's village, except for 4 rooms on the second floor of a grocery store with one toilet in the corridor for everyone. And the ship that brought tourists from Pakbara to Koh Lipe was made of wood and resembled a Spanish galleon of the 15th century (it broke down twice per voyage)
Now you won’t recognize Pakbara: a 7/11 store, ATMs, seafood restaurants (though Muslim ones with menus in Thai)
The port in Pakbar is a building made of stone and glass
It’s a pity I don’t have any photographs of the port of Pakbara-2002 at hand: on the river bank there are sandbags on which 2 boards are thrown
How to get to Pakbara
Airports closest to Pakbara:
– Trang(Trang)
– Hat Yai(Hat Yai)
Trang Airport is slightly closer to Pak Bara than Hat Yai Airport.
For example: you flew to Trang from Bangkok ()
Exit to the arrivals hall and go to the transfer counter (left side of the hall).
A taxi to Pakbara costs 2,200 baht and takes an hour and a half to travel. The price is fixed and written on the board in front of the counter.
If you have high speed ferry tickets Tigerline, then you need to take a taxi to the pier Hat Yao– it’s 50 minutes from Trang airport)
You can team up with someone and split the cost of a taxi.
You can go out onto the main road and try to find a ride or negotiate with a taxi directly.
But the fact remains: a taxi from Trang airport to Pakbara costs 2,200 baht.
Taxi ride from Trang Airport to Pakbara Pier: 1 hour 30 minutes.
Speedboat schedule from Pakbara to Koh Lipe
The schedule varies depending on the season, the weather and the number of tourists going to Koh Lipe.
In general, it is better to clarify the information on the spot.
As of August 2016, the schedule looked like this:
You can see something on the website http://kohlipethailand.com/koh-lipe/transport/boat-timetable/
Speedboats depart from Pakbara at 9:30, 11:30 and 15:30 during low season.
The best option will take the first speedboat at 9:30 so as to be there (in Koh Lipe) at 11-11:30
To do this, you need to arrive in Pakbara the day before leaving for Koh Lipe.
See what flights arrive to Trang or Hat Yai at
Add 20 minutes to collect your luggage and find a taxi.
Add 1.30 for the road to Pakbara and 10 minutes for buying tickets and figure out which speedboat you have time for.
Where to stay in Pakbar
There was a simple hotel near the pier - Best House.
But in August it looked like this, although it was offered by Agoda.
But there is something nearby - Marina Resort and Restaurant.
If you want more comfort, it is better to stay in the city Langu 7 km from Pakbara.
For example, they praise Farmsuk residence and resort or Bara Resort 3 km from the pier (on the right) - not in the booking, but the houses are good.
Lipe Island (Koh Lipe) in Satun province, Thailand is perhaps the most pleasant place for lovers of leisurely and calm beach holiday. Excellent and clean beaches, excellent diving and snorkeling, and at the same time sufficient distance from the main tourist package flows - these are the main features of the island of Koh Lipe.
A good idea to “stick” to Lipa is to combine business with pleasure - go and then have a long beach relaxation.
When is the best time to go to Koh Lipe?
The most better weather in Lipa from December to March. However, you can come here as early as October 20. The season from October 20 to November 16 and from April 1 to May 16 is considered low. At this time prices are lowest, but there may be rain and the sea is rough.
It should be taken into account that the island is small and there is little accommodation, so hotels for December and January must be booked in advance (6 or more months in advance).
How to get to Koh Lipe on your own
You can get to Lipe Island from Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Lanta, Langkawi, etc. - it depends on where you are coming from. From Bangkok, you first need to get to the nearest pier, and then sail by sea to Lipa.
There are no airports on Lipa; you can only get there by sea, and not in any month. Navigation in this water area begins on October 19 and ends on May 16.
In the photo: ferry to Koh Lipe at Hat Yao pier
If you are flying from Europe, the route will be something like this: flight to Bangkok – flight to Hat Yai – bus to the pier – ferry or boat to Lipa. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems.
The easiest option is to buy single ticket on the website from Bangkok immediately with transfer to Koh Lipe. Then you will simply board the plane in Bangkok, and then you will be accompanied everywhere, all the way to the island.
Important! Please note that in Bangkok, AirAsia flies from Don Mueang Airport (this is NOT the airport you will fly into from Russia, Ukraine or Europe). We still need to get to this airport. Therefore, getting from Europe to Koh Lipe in 1 day will be too tiring. It's better to at least spend the night in Bangkok.
Buying a ticket to Koh Lipe looks like this: in the “where” field, look for “Thailand (Island Transfer)” and select “Lipe”.
You will first fly to Hat Yai, then you will be taken to the port and board the ferry to Koh Lipe. The entire journey will take from 6 to 9 hours. Along the way, you will be accompanied by company employees. Everything is simple, clear and understandable.
How to get to Lipe on your own, without a transfer
Most tourists travel to Koh Lipe either by ferry from the Malay island of Langkawi, or from Thailand, using combined bus and ferry tickets, which are sold at any travel agencies throughout Thailand. To decide which places are best to get to Koh Lipe, see the map:
I'll tell you more:
How to get from Penang (Malaysia) to Koh Lipe
1. First take a ferry to Langkawi, price 70RM, 3 hours ride.
2. Then transfer from Langkawi to the ferry to Koh Lipe, price 118RM, ride 1.5 hours. It is better to leave for Langkawi from the Telaga pier.
Single tickets can be purchased at the ticket office in Penang.
How to get from Bangkok to Koh Lipe
1. Fly to one of the nearest airports – Krabi or Hat Yai.
2. Next, take buses or minivans to the Pak Bara or Hat Yao piers.
3. Then another transfer by ferry or boat.
Prices depend on the route and the chosen transport, for example, the estimated price Krabi Airport - Koh Lipe (ferry + minivan) is 1400 baht/person. Speedboats are more expensive.
How to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe
Many tourists travel to Lipe Island directly from the water, on speedboats or ferries. However, this option is only for those who can tolerate pitching well. Long and tedious.
A direct ticket can be bought in Phuket at any travel agency right on the street.
In the photo: tourists disembarking from the boat. Lipe Island By the way, Lipa does not have its own pier, so at the very last stage you will have to transfer from the ferry to small boats - longtails, with subsequent disembarkation into the water. So prepare 50 baht and take care of good shoes and cameras :)
The quietest months on Lipe Island are October and April. In other months there are many tourists.
Beaches of Koh Lipe
As elsewhere in Thailand, Koh Lipe does not have a single circular beach along which one could go around the entire island. Lipa has only three major beaches - Sunrise, Sunset and Pattaya. And several small ones that can only be reached by boat. The beaches are somewhat similar - the sand is clean and white everywhere, the entrance to the water is gentle. However, there are differences, which experienced tourists take advantage of. So, let's look at the map of Ko Lipe.
On the map Lipe looks like a horseshoe Pattaya Beach is primarily a transshipment base. Teams of tourists arrive and leave here, there is also a Thai immigration office and several large hotels. The beach is long and clean, and quite suitable for swimming, but this is not Bounty, if you know what I mean :)
In the photo: the most crowded beach on Lipe Island - Pattaya Beach
Sunset is the most picturesque and “wild” beach in Koh Lipe. There are steep slopes, there are more stones along the shore and, accordingly, fewer boats.
Pictured: the end of Sunset Beach on Ko Lipe Sunrise Beach is perhaps the most balanced. There is enough space for everyone, both beachgoers and boats.
In the photo: at Sunrise Beach on Lipe Island 
In the photo: complete relaxation on Sunrise Beach in Koh Lipe, Thailand The best beach bars are located on Sunrise, where it is so pleasant to spend evenings chatting with friends, listening to music and drinking Chang.
In the photo: “Sea La Vie” – one of the best beach bars in Ko Lipe Diving and snorkeling in Lipa
In the photo: newcomers to Lipa quickly master diving Lipe Island is located in national park Ko Tarutao, so the surrounding waters are simply ideal for good diving. The surrounding coral reefs are rich in many species of tropical fish, and you can also admire turtles, barracudas and dolphins. Beginner divers should take training tours to neighboring islands Sawang and Chabang. The most advanced diving companies are: “Adang Sea Divers” and “Ko Lipe Castaway Divers”.
If you are looking for budget accommodation, you will most likely stay in the center of the island, in one of the guesthouses around the local Walking Street. A little noisy, but close to the whole tourist scene: cafes, bars, shopping. One of the newest and inexpensive hotels is “A Plus Deluxe Hotel”. You can view prices and book
In the photo: inexpensive and modern hotel “A Plus Deluxe Hotel”, Koh Lipe Hotels on the west coast of Lipe Island (especially on the hills) are quieter and have gorgeous views from the rooms, but they have their own problem - nightly transport - either constantly calling a local "taxi" or walking, which is inconvenient in the dark.
In the photo: view from the window at the Mountain Resort hotel on Lipe Island If the main purpose of your vacation is diving, it is best to stay in one of the authentic resorts of Sunrise Beach, like “Adang Sea Divers & Eco Lodge”- simple, but very cheap. Here you can spend more time among fellow submariners, practice with equipment, and loading onto boats will be more optimal for you.
In the photo: a party of divers at the Castaway resort Comfortable hotels in Ko Lipe
The most luxurious hotels on the island are definitely the Serendipity Resort, Mali Resort and the modern Idyllic Concept Resort. If your budget allows, be sure to live in one of them!
In the photo: view from the veranda of the Serendipity Resort Hotel, Lipe Island Budget accommodation in Ko Lipe
In the photo: cheap bungalows of the “Izgoy” resort – exoticism in its purest form Oddly enough, cheap and hippy bungalows hotel “Castaway Resort”
Koh Lipe, Thailand reviews independent travel, how to get there, weather, accommodation, beaches
Date of trip: January 2015
Ko Lipe - how to get there?
Koh Lipe - small thai island, located on the border with Malaysia. That is why a trip to the island of Langkawi is often combined with a holiday in Koh Lipe. There is no airport on the island, you can only get there by water transport. There is a ferry from Langkawi and back, the journey time is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. Tickets can be purchased in advance on this website www.bundhayaspeedboat.com.
Departure to Langkawi comes from the capital of the island - the city of Kuah, the port is called Jetty and is located in the city center behind the main attraction - the eagle statue. At the port you go through passport control and your passport is stamped with a stamp indicating you are leaving the country. Upon arrival in Koh Lipe, you will also go through passport control, so be careful, if you are a citizen of a country that requires a visa to Thailand (including a visa on arrival), you will need to apply for it in advance; visas are not issued on Koh Lipe. You will have to sail to Satun, apply for a visa there, after which you can enter the territory of Thailand. The only problem is that there is no connection between Satun and Koh Lipe. Therefore, you will have to think through the route, but in any case there is no convenient route.
Accommodation on Koh Lipe
We went to new year holidays, peak dates, so accommodation was booked in advance. But it turned out that there were quite a lot of available housing options, apparently this was due to the economic situation and a large number of cancellations. Therefore, I can’t say for sure whether it’s worth the risk and going to Koh Lipe without a hotel reservation.
In general, there are quite a lot of accommodation options, despite the small size of the island. Price category - from cheap housing to luxurious expensive hotels.
If you want quiet and have a relaxing holiday, choose a hotel further from main street— Walking Street, where all the cafes and bars with music and crowds of vacationers are concentrated. The quietest place on the island is near Sunset Beach.
We lived in exotic bungalows - with a thatched roof, a jungle on the hotel grounds and crazy birdsong every sunrise.
Weather in Koh Lipe in January
January is one of best months for a holiday on the island. The air temperature is very comfortable, +30 during the day, +22 at night. Rains are rare and mostly short-lived. And the bad weather on Koh Lipe looks very fascinating!
Beaches on Koh Lipe
There are a total of 3 beaches on the island. Beach Pattaya Beach is a port. Tourists arrive here and this is also the departure point. Therefore, on this beach there is always a large number of boats. If you like swimming among boats, this beach might be for you. Although you can find more secluded corners if you step aside.
Sunrise Beach- the largest in length. The beach is beautiful, the water is clear, but before lunch the water goes away, it’s too shallow for swimming, the tide is high in the afternoon. There is not enough shade on the beach, from scorching sun There's nowhere to hide.
Sunrise Beach
Sunrise Beach
Sunrise Beach
There is a hotel on the right side of the beach; if you walk through its territory, you can get into a small beautiful bay.
Cove at Sunrise Beach
Cove at Sunrise Beach
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is the most secluded beach; it is also good because here you can hide from the sun in the shade of trees and go snorkeling.
You can rent snorkel masks right on the beach (on the left side). The corals are mostly dead, but not much fish can be seen. A little further from the coast sea urchins, you need to be careful.
Sunset Beach
Island hopping around Koh Lipe
Here, where they provide snorkeling masks, they offer a one-day trip around Koh Lipe, which includes snorkeling and fishing. Duration from 9 am to 16 pm. Snorkeling is really worth it. For lovers of the underwater world, it's worth a trip. But you don’t need to count on fishing, the only equipment you have is fishing line, and of course, it all depends on luck. We caught 8 small fish and they grilled them for us in the evening. You will also visit Monkey Island with a beautiful beach.
The island of Koh Lipe is amazing; it combines the opportunity for secluded relaxation and noisy parties in colorful bars. Everything about it is cute, if not for one BUT. The only negative impression of the island is beautiful beaches bordered by dirty construction sites, garbage dumps and destroyed buildings that have not been restored for 10 years after the tsunami in 2004. Local residents are not particularly clean and are in no hurry to remove garbage from the island, which, unfortunately, entails many negative consequences. Perhaps now there is still a little time to see all the beauty of the nature surrounding the island, but in 5-10 years this place will no longer be possible for a tourist holiday.
2 starsHotel in Ko Lipe
A Plus Deluxe Hotel is located in Koh Lipe, 600 meters from Lipe Floating Pontoon. It offers a ticket service and air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. The hotel is conveniently located. The room is very comfortable, there is laminate flooring, it’s pleasant to walk around. The staff is responsive. I was pleasantly surprised by the refrigerator with free goodies. The only thing missing in the room was a kettle.
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San Pita Resort 3 stars
Hotel in Ko Lipe
Offering an outdoor pool, San Pita Resort is located in Ko Lipe. Free Wi-Fi is provided. Each room has air conditioning. Very good hotel. Totally worth the money. Good breakfast, clean pool, good room cleaning. Great location, next to walk street. Shops, cafes, beaches are within walking distance.
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The Reef 3 stars This property participates in the Privileged Site Program: it has decent service and a good price/quality ratio. Participation in the program may be paid additionally by the facility.
Hotel in Ko Lipe
The Reef Hotel is located a 3-minute walk from Sunrise Beach. It offers air-conditioned rooms with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. Very nice hotel with friendly and helpful staff. Spacious room (we had a Family Room). Convenient location a little away from the noisy walking road, but at the same time very close to it. The boat-free part of Sunrise Beach is about 10 minutes on foot (through the village and Andaman resort). We'll be happy to return!
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Forra Pattaya Beach Front Bungalow
Offering a garden, bar and restaurant, Forra Pattaya Beach Front Bungalow is located in Koh Lipe. Featuring a terrace, this hotel is beautifully located in the Koh Lipe Beach area of Pattaya. Squeaky clean! Beachfront! We could leave the kids sleeping while we are in the sea having a night dip!
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Seventh Boutique Hotel 3 stars
Hotel in Ko Lipe
Seventh Boutique Hotel is located in Koh Lipe. It offers air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. The hotel was built in 2018. What a gem! Stayed here for 5 nights and definitely the best hotel of my trip. The rooms were spacious, very clean and well kept daily. Great hotel, awesome location and the most helpful and friendly staff. Definitely value for money, and with its great location and awesome staff this is a must stay if you visit Koh Lipe.
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Lipe Banyan Apartments
Hotel in Ko Lipe Pattaya Beach, Ko Lipe
Lipe Banyan Apartments is located in Koh Lipe, 1.7 km from Lipe Floating Pontoon and 2.2 km from Military Camp. Barbecue facilities are available. I liked absolutely everything! Upon check-in, we were given a higher class room with a sea view at no extra charge. The view is very inspiring over the entire bay. It was a very comfortable room, much larger than the standard one in Thai hotels, spacious and bright. As I found out, the hotel is new, opened in 2018. What I remember is a huge king size bed, you sleep like on a cloud, you get a perfect night's sleep, this is a rarity in hotels. The room had its own kitchen, I have never seen anything like this on the island, you can cook for yourself and your child if you are tired of Thai cuisine. There is everything you need for cooking (stove, microwave, dishes, large refrigerator), shops are a 15-minute walk along the beach. It's a minute's walk to the sea, the beach is clean with fine white sand, secluded, there are always sunbeds. It’s definitely worth going, I’ll definitely be back.
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The Sunflower Lipe
Hotel in Ko Lipe
Offering a garden, terrace and bar, Sunflower Lipe Hotel is located in the southeast of Koh Lipe, a 5-minute walk from Sunrise Beach and a 10-minute walk from Walking Street. Cozy and very clean room. Warm and hospitable hostess. Attentive service. There are two beaches within walking distance. Everything is wonderful. We'll be back again!
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Adang Sea Eco-Village SUNSET
Hotel in Ko Lipe Sunset Beach, Ko Lipe
Located 1.1 km from Lipe Floating Pontoon, Adang Sea Eco-Village SUNSET features a garden and terrace. Free Wi-Fi is available in common areas near reception. Surprisingly quiet, almost private beach right under the balcony, an amazingly delicious vegetarian cafe on the beach. A huge balcony from which you can hear the sound of the surf, bamboo furniture, a huge bamboo canopy bed. Ideal place for those who are looking for silence and unity with nature. The best hotel in Lipa! The staff is amazingly caring and attentive.
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