Between the popular tourist resort of Phuket and one of the most beautiful islands Thailand, Koh Lipe, stretches the waters of the Andaman Sea. If you draw a straight line on the map, then the distance between the islands is about 180 km. It takes at least 5 hours to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe. What transport to choose, prices for tickets and transfers, the nuances that you need to consider when buying tickets for a ferry or a boat - we will analyze everything in order.

From this article you will learn:

1 | The fastest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe

A speed boat will take you from Phuket to Lipe Island in just 5 hours. At the same time, passengers will even be able to have a bite to eat or take a short walk on solid ground during a stop on Koh Lanta.

What you should consider when buying tickets for a speedboat from Phuket to Koh Lipe or in the opposite direction - the boat does not go in a straight line, it stops on the islands: Ko Phi-Phi (Phi Phi), Ko Lanta (Lanta), Ko Ngai (Ngai ), Ko Mook (Ko Muk), Ko Kradan (Ko Kradan).

Schedule and stops of the speedboat from Phuket to Koh Lipe and back

A trip on such a boat is also an opportunity to visit one or more islands, in addition to Phuket and Koh Lipe. After all, it is not necessary to immediately overcome the entire distance from Phuket to Lipe - you can make a stop for a day or two to relax on any of the islands along the route of the boat. The ticket is divided into several parts. For example, from Phuket to Lanta, from Lanta to Koh Muk, from Koh Muk to Koh Lipe. Get pretty interesting route on tropical islands and there will be no fatigue from many hours of travel by sea.

For example, on Koh Muk there is a saying a beautiful hotel Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort

Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort on Koh Muk

To save you time looking for hotels on the islands, I have collected ready-made links to each island:

• hotels on Ko Phi Phi (Phi Phi): booking.com and agoda.com ,
• Ko Lanta hotels: booking.com and agoda.com ,
• hotels hotels Ko Ngai (Ngai): booking.com and agoda.com ,
• hotels in Ko Mook: booking.com or agoda.com ,
• hotels in Ko Kradan: booking.com or agoda.com ,
• hotels in Ko Lipe: booking.com or agoda.com .

Ticket price for a speedboat from Phuket to Koh Lipe - 2500 baht (~ $ 85):

• Seats are limited, so it's better.
• Speed ​​boats run between Phuket and Koh Lipe from October 20 to May 15.
• Based on my own experience of traveling to Koh Lipe, I can recommend the company - professional staff and new speedboats. Speedboat tickets from Phuket to Koh Lipe (and the islands in between) can be bought online.

Satun Pakbara Speed ​​Boat Club

What to bring on a speedboat:

• pills for motion sickness (take 15-20 minutes before the departure of the boat),
• drinking water or any other drink,
• sun cream (treat problem areas before boarding the boat),
• scarf or shawl (shelter from strong wind or rain),
• earplugs, or cotton wool in the ears, or your favorite music (from the constant whistle of the wind).

2 | The most diverse and at the same time the fastest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe

If you do not want to rush across the sea on a speedboat for 5 hours, feeling the unevenness of the sea surface and the gusts of the sea breeze, then this option is more suitable for you - a convenient and absolutely not tiring combination of transport:

1. airplane from Phuket to Hat Yai - departure from Phuket at 07:25 and at 08:30 already in Hat Yai (1 hour flight),
2. comfortable minibus from the airport to the pier Pak Bara (Pak Bara) - meet at the airport with a sign at 9:00 (from the airport to the pier about 2 hours on the way - 119 km),
3. speedboat from Pak Bara pier to Lipe island with a stop for 10 minutes - take a walk around the protected island of Tarutao (at 13:30 the boat arrives on Koh Lipe island, on Pattaya beach).

Bangkok Airways plane at Hat Yai airport

Ticket prices from Phuket to Koh Lipe:

• a direct flight Phuket - Hat Yai by Bangkok Airways costs about 2,000 baht ~ $ 54, including 20 kg luggage and a light snack during the flight (kiwi.com will help you find and buy a plane ticket),
• (speed boat) from Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe costs 700 baht ~ $ 21 (based on my own positive experience, I recommend the trip).

Buying a transfer on the spot, at the airport, or separately tickets for a bus to the pier and a boat to Lipe Island will cost more (verified).

Minibus from Hat Yai Airport to Pak Bara Pier

3 | The cheapest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe

To save on tickets and one night in a hotel, you can come to Hat Yai by night bus. During the day, but there are two most convenient options:

1. a regular air-conditioned bus leaves Phuket at 21:30 and arrives in Hat Yai at 05:50 (bus ticket costs 400 baht ~ $13).
2. The VIP bus with wide seats and plenty of legroom, blankets and meals departs at 21:45 from Phuket and arrives at the Hat Yai bus station at 05:35 in the morning (the ticket for the VIP bus costs 600 baht ~ 20$).

Photo from speedboat to Lipe island

4 | Additional expenses

• entrance to Lipe island and all other islands national park Tarutao - 200 baht ~ $ 6 (paid once, valid for 7 days - take a ticket with you to all excursions and islands so as not to pay extra),
• transfer on a wooden boat from a speedboat to Lipe Island - 50 baht ~ $ 1.5 (paid if the boat cannot come ashore due to a strong low tide),
• entrance to the Pak Bara pier, from where speed boats leave for Lipe Island - 20 baht ~ $ 0.6,
• entrance to the pier on Koh Lanta (if you want to take a walk during the boat stop Phuket - Koh Lipe) - 10 baht ~ $ 0.3.

On a small island in southern Thailand, Koh Lipe, more difficult to get than Koh Samui or Phuket, but it is worth the time and effort spent on the road. From this article you will find out what transport is most convenient to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Lanta and other regions of Thailand, as well as from the Malaysian island of Langkawi, how much tickets cost, how and where you can buy them and how long it will take road to Koh Lipe.

Koh Lipe on the map - nearest airports and piers (seaports)

No matter how you plan to get to Koh Lipe, at least the last leg of your journey to the small island of Lipe will take place by sea.

Nearest port on the territory of Thailand, from which they depart speedboats and ferries in Koh Lipe, is called Pak Bar Pier(Pak Bara Pier) and the distance from it to Lipe Island is 63 km in a straight line. Approximately the same distance port on the island Langkawi(Malaysia).

Closest to Koh Lipe airports are:

• on the island Langkawi (Malaysia)- about 60 km by sea,
• in the city Hat Yai (Thailand)- about 123 km by land to Pak Bara pier and then another 63 km by sea.

Koh Lipe Island, neighboring islands, ferry and speedboat routes

How to get to Koh Lipe from Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta

During the calm sea season (October 20 to May 15) there is a sea connection between Ko Lipe and other islands of the Andaman Sea - speed boats who can take you to Koh Lipe from Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Muk and Kradan. Using such a speedboat, you can move from one island to another, taking turns resting on any island you like along the route.

My advice: when buying tickets, choose a transport company that is famous for new boats, trained staff and punctuality.

Schedule and route of speed boats from Ko Lipe to the islands of the Andaman Sea

The duration of the trip, the cost of a speedboat ticket to Koh Lipe from other islands with links to the site where you can buy tickets:

• - the road by speedboat will take about 5 hours and will cost 3400 baht.
• - 4.5 hours, cost - 2600 baht.
• - 3 hours, cost - 1900 baht,
• - 2.5 hours on the way, cost - 1600 baht,
• - 1 hour and 45 minutes on the way, ticket price - 1400 baht,
• - 2 hours on the way, price - 1400 baht.

Speedboat from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta

If you decide to relax on one of the islands along the speedboat route, here are ready-made links to hotels on each of the islands that will save you time searching for hotels:

• hotels on Ko Phi Phi (Phi Phi): booking.com and agoda.com ,
• Ko Lanta hotels: booking.com and agoda.com ,
• hotels hotels Ko Ngai (Ngai): booking.com and agoda.com ,
• hotels in Ko Mook: booking.com or agoda.com ,
• hotels in Ko Kradan: booking.com or agoda.com ,
• hotels in Ko Lipe: booking.com or agoda.com .

Pattaya Beach and Bunbhaya Villas 4* Hotel on Koh Lipe

How to get to Lipe Island from Bangkok

To get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, you need to overcome three sections of the road:

1. Bangkok - Hat Yai (airplane, bus,),
2. Hat Yai - Port Pak Bara Pier ( , ),
3. port Pak Bara Pier - Lipe Island ().

More about each stage of the journey from Bangkok to Koh Lipe:

1. First, let's figure out how to get there from Bangkok to Hat Yai And how much are the tickets:

• tickets cost from 855 baht and depend on the class of the carriage and the corresponding amenities. The train is a convenient transportation option if you want to get to know Thai trains and don't rush anywhere (the journey will take about 15 hours).
• Bus from Bangkok to Hat Yai, in which you have to travel about 20 hours, I would not recommend (why suffer in the bus seat for 20 hours if there are other more comfortable and faster transport options),
• cheap air tickets from Bangkok to Hat Yai from 750 baht can be found on the Aviasales and Skyscanner website.

2 and 3. From the city Hat Yai to Pak Bara Pier can be reached by minibus or private taxi. From Pak Bara Pier to Koli Lipe, the only option is a speedboat.

• for 600 - 900 baht per person includes transportation to minibus from Hat Yai to the pier plus place in speedboat to Koh Lipe(the journey will take 5.5 hours).
• families with children, companies of more than 4 people, tourists with large suitcases or those who like an individual approach, the option is more suitable:
  • from Hat Yai to Pak Bara Pier, which costs 2000 baht per car (2 hours on the road),
  • , a ticket for which costs 600 baht per person (2 hours on the way).

How to get to Koh Lipe from Krabi and other regions of Thailand

From Krabi or Ao Nang to Koh Lipe can be accessed:

• by sea: which promises to get from the pier in the city of Krabi or the Railay Peninsula to Lipe Island in 4.5 hours for 1800 - 2400 baht.
• by land and sea: on (600 baht per person) or

Koh Lipe is located in the Andaman Sea in the province of Satun in southern Thailand, very close to the Malaysian island of Langkawi. In this article, I talk in detail about how to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, Phuket, other resorts in Thailand and Malaysia, as well as from Russia.

How to get to Koh Lipe

There is no airport on the island of Koh Lipe, there is no bridge leading to it (as, for example, in Malaysia 🙂), so you can only get to Koh Lipe by water:

1. By speedboat or ferry from Pakbara Pier
2. By boat (ferry) from Hat Yao Pier (Trang)
3. By speedboat from Koh Lanta, with stops at Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, Koh Kradarn, Koh Bulone
4. By speedboat from Phuket (via Lanta)
5. By fast ferry/boat from the Malaysian island of Langkawi

Boats that bring tourists to Koh Lipe
Route map to Lipe Island Scheme water transport to Lipe island

Previously, water communication with the island was only in the high season (from mid-October to April - May), for the summer Ko Lipe was “closed” from tourists 🙂 now, of all the above methods, speedboats / boats from Pakbar run in the low season (summer), therefore, Koh Lipe can be reached all year round.

How to get to Koh Lipe from Pakbara Pier

There are speed boats/fast boats from Pakbara pier from different companies several times a day.

Approximate boat schedule Pakbara - Koh Lipe:

• 11:30
• 13:30
• 14:30
• 15:00
• 15:30.

Schedule can change! Even if you have purchased a ticket for certain time, this does not mean that the boat will leave exactly on schedule. We had tickets for 11:30, and we sailed later than 12:00. IN low season(June - October) boats run 1-2 times a day, usually at 9:30 and 11:30.

Travel time from Pakbara to Lipe is an hour and a half, with rough seas it can increase up to 2 hours or more. Along the way, all boats stop for 15 minutes at Tarutao Island. Those who wish can stay for a few days on this island, there are bungalows and tents of the national park. Or just go to the island and take a walk along the coast while waiting for the boat to leave.

Entrance to the Tarutao island is paid - 200 baht, more precisely, this is a fee for visiting the Tarutao National Park, the ticket is valid for 5 days, including visiting the island of Koh Lipe and other islands of the national. park, which can be visited during one of the.

On the way to Lipe, all boats and boats make a stop on the island of Tarutao
Those who wish can go ashore (entrance to national park 200 baht) and even stay on the island for a few days
Close to Tarutao Island
Centralized boat queue at Tarutao Pier

Price

• Ticket price for speedboat / speedboat Pakbara - Koh Lipe: 650 baht
• Ticket price Pakbara - Koh Lipe - Pakbara - 1200 baht (return ticket with open date)
• Pakbara - Koh Tarutao - 400 baht
• Pakbara - Koh Tarutao - Koh Lipe - 650 baht, i.e. you can go to Koh Tarutao, stay there for a couple of days and sail further on the same ticket 🙂

Prices are usually identical for all carriers, although sometimes there are specials. suggestions 🙂 But the boats may differ!

Timetables and prices for boats on the route Pakbara - Tarutao - Koh Lipe and back
Speedboat to Koh Lipe from Pakbara Pier at 11:30am, from Koh Lipe at 9:30am
The schedule of another company that carries to Koh Lipe and Koh Bulon from Pakbara
Boat timetable and cost Pakbara - Koh Lipe

Pakbara Pier

Pakbara Pier is well equipped with an air conditioned area with waiting area, toilet, overpriced sundries shop. Entrance to the pier is paid (!) 20 baht 🙂

In front of the entrance to Pakbara Pier
Entrance to the pier 20 baht 🙂
There are a lot of people inside in the waiting room. Here you need to get tickets for the boat (if you have a complex ticket or you bought tickets in advance online) or buy tickets
At Pakbara Pier
Tourists waiting to board the boats
Boarding boats at Pakbara Pier

But there is no pier on Koh Lipe, in the low season or with strong waves in the sea, boats arrive at the shore on, and in the high season - on. Some speedboats (including ours) are parked near the shore, and some boats are further from the shore, and transported to the beach on longtails for 50 baht per person.

Landing on the island of Koh Lipe

Loading and unloading luggage is still a circus: things are thrown right over the water and it seems that the suitcase is about to fall into the sea, so do not let valuables be loaded into the boat, but keep them with you! Luggage is packed at the stern, and in some places even on the roof of the boat, so that the suitcase may arrive wet and dirty ...

How to get to Pakbara Pier

Immediate big cities to Pakbara village:

• Trang (not to be confused with the city of Trat, which is near)
• Hat Yai

And here and there there is an airport, bus stations, and in Hat Yai even railroad station! You can get to Pakbara Pier by:

• Taxi. A car from these two cities to the Pakbara pier will cost 1800 - 2200 baht, the approximate travel time is an hour and a half
• Minibase. WITH bus station Hat Yai goes mini bass, cost 150 baht, travel time one and a half - two hours
• By purchasing a combined ticket. For example, upon arrival at Hat Yai airport, we bought a complex ticket for minibus + boat: airport - Pakbara pier - Koh Lipe for 900 baht per person. It is better to buy such a ticket in advance on this site, firstly, it will be cheaper (~ 750 baht), and secondly, you will not have to wait long at the airport until tourists from other flights are collected.

The same complex ticket (mini bass + boat) can be bought at the Hat Yai railway station, at the bus station, at any travel agency and hotel.

Taxi stand at Hat Yai airport
Travel agency at the airport where you can buy a complex ticket to Koh Lipe and other islands
Boat timetable

Important: to get to Koh Lipe on the same day, you need to get to Hai Yat until 13:00, but earlier is better! I would not count on 100% for the boat, which is scheduled at 15:30 ... You can spend the night in the city of Hat Yai, there are many inexpensive hotels.

How to get to Koh Lipe from Trang

If you flew to Trang, then the nearest pier to the city is Trang Hat Yao Pier, from which Tiger Line Ferry boats depart daily during the high season at 13:00. Travel time 2 hours. You can buy tickets on the carrier's website.

how to get to koh lipe from bangkok

To get to Koh Lipe, you must first get to one of the above cities: Trang or Hat Yai, then drive to Pakbara Pier and buy a boat ticket to Koh Lipe. How to do this is described above in the article. And you can get to Trang or Hat Yai from Bangkok like this:

1. By plane from Bangkok: choose the best and most suitable flight option for you in time and cost to Hat Yai or Trang.

2. By bus. Buses from Bangkok to Hat Yai depart from southern bus station in Bangkok (Sai ​​Tai Mai or Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal). Buses run quite often from 6 am to 8 pm, travel time is 13-14 hours.

The cost depends on the carrier and bus class: from 700 to 1000 baht.

3. By train Bangkok - Hat Yai. Trains depart from Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. Travel time 13-17 hours (+ trains in Thailand tend to be late!). In order to get to Ko Lipe on the same day, you need to take trains that depart from Bangkok at 15:10 or 15:30.

The cost is from 300 baht (in third class carriages), we usually take air-conditioned second class tickets, the cost is from 850 baht.

You can view the train schedule in Thailand on the Thailand Railways website, and buy tickets or at the railway station.

Bangkok to Hat Yai train timetable

4. Having bought a complex ticket airplane + minibus + boat

One of the most convenient ways how to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok is to buy a complex ticket from Air Asia or Nok Air. The ticket includes a flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai, a minibus ride to Pakbara Pier and a boat/ferry to Koh Lipe. Flights are only in the morning.

Combination ticket Bangkok - Koh Lipe from AirAsia

Important: do not forget that the planes of these low-cost companies fly from Don Muang Airport, and all flights from Russia, Ukraine, etc. arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport. For information on how to get between airports and how much time to lay down for a transfer, read

Phuket Koh Lipe how to get there

Option 1: by sea

IN high season You can get to Koh Lipe by sea. Transportation is carried out:

1. Tiger Line Ferry on rather large yellow boats (boats). Departure from Rassada Pier in Phuket (from the same ferry departs) at 9:00, scheduled arrival at Koh Lipe at 13:00, i.e. 4 hours of travel (actually boats go much longer!). On the way change of boat on Koh Lanta. The cost of Phuket - Koh Lipe ~ 2300 baht. Tickets can be purchased in advance on their website: tigerlinetravel.com

Yellow big boats of Tiger Line Ferry
Timetable and cost of Tiger Line Ferry tickets from Koh Lipe to other islands and to the mainland

2. Satun Pakbara Speed ​​Boat whose boats run along the route Phuket - Phi Phi - Lanta - Ngai - Muk - Kradan - Boulogne - Lipe. Transportation on speedboats. Departure from Phuket at 8:30, arrival to Koh Lipe at 13:30. Cost ~ 2400 baht (when buying through the site is cheaper!). You can check the schedule and buy tickets on their website: spcthailand.com

Boat schedule Phuket - Lipe and Lipe - Phuket (via Koh Lanta)

3. Bundhaya Speed ​​Boat Company. From Phuket (Rassada Pier) via Koh Lipe. Carries on small speedboats. Departure from Phuket at 8:30, arrival to Lanta at 10:30, departure from Lanta at 10:30, arrival to Koh Lipe at 13:30. Cost ~ 3000 baht. You can buy tickets on their website: bundhayaspeedboat.com

Routes and schedules of speedboats from the carrier Bundhaya Speed ​​Boat

You can also search for all the above listed tickets (it can be cheaper!).

We got to Koh Lipe just from I thought for a very long time how to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket. I decided to choose a sea route 🙂 I immediately dismissed speed boats (still, I couldn’t stand 4-5 hours in such a speed boat, even an hour and a half was enough for me on time 🙂), I wanted to sail on the Tiger Line Ferry, for some reason I imagined such a big ferry , the same as or like us 🙂

But after reading the reviews, I realized that it’s better to choose another option on how to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket 🙂 In the reviews, people complained about the old boat and frequent long delays, they wrote that the boat didn’t take 4 hours, as stated, but almost twice longer! After reading the reviews, I decided to choose another way to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket, namely the more standard way through Hat Yai and Pakbaru.

Option 2: via Hat Yai and Pakbara

By bus

From Phuket to Hat Yat can be reached by bus. Buses run from 6 am to 9:45 pm, travel time is about 8 hours, the cost is from 300 to 600 baht, depending on the class of the bus. Tickets can be bought at the bus station in Phuket Town or on the website.

It is best to travel by night bus VIP 24, which leaves at 21:45 and arrives in Hat Yai around 6 am. Then transfer to the pier and on the first boat at 9:30 to Koh Lipe. Then you will be on the island around 11:00 - 11:30 and still have a whole day ahead!

By plane

Bangkok Air direct flight from Phuket to Hat Yai. Departure at 7:25, arrival at 8:30. More recently, there was an evening flight at 19:25, but on this moment I don't see it on the schedule. The cost is about 1700 baht, including luggage and even breakfast on board 🙂 Check the cost and buy tickets Phuket - Hat Yai >>

We chose this option how to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket. Everything went smoothly: at 5:30 in the morning we ordered a taxi to our condo, at 6:15 we were already at Phuket airport, checked in our luggage, drank coffee in a coffee shop, loaded into a small plane, had breakfast 🙂 We arrived in Hat Yai even earlier than the time indicated in schedule.

Small Bangkok Air propeller plane on Phuket - Hat Yai route
Breakfast on the plane

I wanted to buy tickets for the transfer airport - pier - Koh Lipe in advance online on the site (it turned out cheaper), but while I was thinking if we would have time for the minibus, which leaves at 9 am (we would have had time and even with a large margin), ticket sales stopped (Tickets can be purchased online no later than three days in advance). Therefore, we found a tour agency at the airport, where we bought a mini-bass + speedboat complex ticket. But we had to wait more than an hour for passengers from other flights.

We were at the Pakbara pier at 11:15, where the purchased tickets must be exchanged for numbers for boarding the boat (the numbers are very convenient - there is no queue). We sailed instead of the promised 11:30 at 12:00, and arrived at Ko Lipe at 14:00 - due to the storm and rain that started along the way, the boat sailed more slowly and arrived at Sunrise Beach, and not at the opposite beach. It was even more convenient for us: our hotel was literally a few steps from the place where the boat arrived 🙂

Hurray, it's our turn to load into the boat 🙂
In the boat we are waiting for the departure to Koh Lipe

How to get to Lipe Island from Krabi

From Krabi, you can get to Koh Lipe via Hat Yai. There are no direct flights from Krabi to Hat Yai, and in my opinion, it is not advisable to fly through Bangkok, so you can get there by bus, minibus or taxi. The distance to the pier is only about 300 km.

Minibus tickets to Hat Yai from will cost 350 - 400 baht, a complex ticket Ao Nang (Krabi) - Koh Lipe - 1000 - 1200 baht. You can buy at any travel agency or hotel.

Lipe Island how to get from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan

To get to Koh Lipe from / / you need to follow the path described above: first you need to get to Hat Yai, then to Pakbaru, and then by boat on Lipe 🙂 The path is not close ... Read about how to get to Hat Yai from Koh Samui in

You can also buy a complex ticket Koh Samui / Koh Phangan / Tao - Koh Lipe:

Schedule and cost of transfer from the islands Gulf of Thailand to Koh Lipe
Transfer schedule from Koh Lipe to the islands of the Gulf of Thailand

Langkawi Koh Lipe how to get there

Despite the fact that Lipe is a Thai island, only 30 km separates it from the Malaysian one, and in clear weather it is clearly visible from observation deck sky bridge in Langkawi 🙂

Direct route Langkawi - Lipe

In the high season, boats run on the route Langkawi - Lipe and Lipe - Langkawi. On the island of Koh Lipe, there are even immigration offices where passport control is carried out.

Immigration office on Koh Lipe in the center of the beach Pattaya beach

Boats / boats from Langkawi arrive at Pattaya Beach on Lipe (read about all the beaches of Koh Lipe). They depart from two piers to Langkawi:

• from the Kuah Jetty pier (in the capital of the island of Kuah, near the symbol of the city of the eagle)
• from the Telaga Harbor pier, which is located next to the Oriental Village park

We sailed in the opposite direction (i.e. from Lipe to Langkawi) and I specifically chose the carrier whose boats arrive at the Telaga pier, because. first of all, in Langkawi, she planned to check into the Geopark Hotel, visit and, which are a short drive from this pier.

Carrier companies on the route Langkawi – Lipe – Langkawi

Additional Information

Schedule and cost of land transfer from Pakbara Pier and from Hat Yai Boat timetable from Lipe Island
Boat and transfer schedule from Koh Lipe
Boat timetable from Lipe Island

Ko Lipe is a remote island located in the south of Thailand, 20 km from the border with Malaysia. Washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea as part of the Adang Ravi archipelago, it is no longer a wild island, but an actively developing world resort.

Today, the island is one of the largest in the whole South-East Asia Tarutao Marine National Park. Distance from the mainland 70 km. The number of local residents hardly exceeds the figure of 800 people, these are sea gypsies, Chao Lei (Chao Lei) or Urak Lawoi (Urak Lavoy), who came to Thailand on Lipe Island, from Malaysia, about 100 years ago.

Koh Lipe on the map of Thailand

Very often the name of the island is interpreted in different ways: Koh Lipe, Koh Lipe, Koh Laip and Koh Lipei. At the beginning of the new century, since the 2000s, with the development of budget air travel and maritime communication, the island of Koh Lipe has become a truly popular tourist centre, is also one of the protected islands, where tourists visiting Thailand can freely relax.

As for the island as a whole, activity usually dies down there around midnight. The main entertainments on Koh Lipe: trips to the islands of the Tarutao National Park, diving, snorkeling, sea activities, fishing and of course a beach holiday.

It is worth considering that earlier there were no ATMs on the island, but now you can find ATMs on the street, next to the 7/11 supermarket, as for exchangers, they are located almost at every step, but the exchange rate is extremely disadvantageous.

Take care of this in advance by exchanging currency, for example in Bangkok.

Prices for food and drinks in shops, bars, restaurants are absolutely democratic. Finding a restaurant where the cost of dishes will be very affordable, below 100 baht, is not difficult, most are located directly on the beaches. In the stalls and shops of the island, prices do not differ from the mainland, within the prices of the 7/11 chain of stores.

How to get to the island

There is no airport on the island, the nearest one is in Hat Yai. Several airlines fly from Suvarnabhumi: Nok Air, Tiger Air and Air Asia. Ticket price from 1200 baht.

Transport routes

Arriving at Hat Yai Airport, you can use the transfer service to the island, which includes a trip by minivan to Pakbara Pier, then by ship to Koh Lipe. The cost of providing services is 800 baht per person. Travel time is 1.5-2 hours from the airport to Pakbara Pier, and approximately 2 hours to Koh Lipe.

You can take a bus from the bus station in Sai Tai Mai (Southern Bus Terminal) to Hat Yai (Hat Yai). You can buy tickets in the terminal building. Travel time Bangkok - Hat Yai, 10 - 11 hours. Ticket prices depend on the class, from 700 baht per seat in an air-conditioned bus.

From Phuket, Krabi and other resorts can be reached by ship. Tigerline Travel is considered the main carrier. They provide good, fast boats.

Estimated cost of providing Tigerline Travel services:

• From the resorts of Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta from 1500 - 2000 baht;
• From the resorts of Ngai, Kradan and Koh Muk from 1000 - 1500 baht;
• From Hat Yao Pier in Trang, approximately 750 baht.

Please note that the high season is October - April. The rest of the time, ships go to the island much less frequently.

Transport

In general, the island is small, it is quite possible to walk around it in a couple of hours. That's why public transport absent. There are few cars on the island, mainly used as freight transport.

Local taxi.

But at any time you can use the services of local taxis (TAXI) - a motorcycle with a sidecar that ply around the island, delivering tourists from beach to beach.

Taxi prices.

You can rent a bike for 200 baht per day. A fairly popular means of transportation - boats are also the main link with neighboring uninhabited islands. You can rent them on the beach.

Weather

The resort has a tropical climate. The year is conditionally divided into two seasons, the first of which is dry, the second is wet. From May to the end of November, the low season lasts, which is also the wet season. At this time, the weather on the islands is rather gloomy, it often rains. The second season is dry, characterized by low rainfall. It is this season that most tourists choose to travel to Thailand on vacation. At this time, the sea is quite calm, the weather is not too hot, and beautiful photos are obtained against the backdrop of blooming nature.

Housing

The island has a decent selection of accommodation. You can stay in a bungalow, rent an apartment or rent a hotel room, costing from 500 baht, photo below. Rooms and bungalows with air conditioning and hot water on average - 1000 - 1200 baht per day. Such offers are enough even at the peak of the season, on the beaches: Sunrise, Sunset, Pattaya and the central part of the island.

Koh Lipe hotel prices vary depending on comfort and season. In order to get good accommodation, it is better to resolve the issue with him in advance by booking a room or bungalow a month before your trip. Because, as a rule, by the high season, prices rise significantly by 1.5 - 2 times. On average, a night in a decent hotel, in the high season, will be from 1500 - 2000 baht.

Map of hotels in Koh Lipe

In addition to the fact that you can stay in hotels for a vacation, local hotels, as a rule, also offer a number of additional services. One of the most budget options for the traveler - a tent. There are campsites on the island, mainly on Sunset Beach.

Beaches

The resort island consists of four large beaches: Pattaya, Karma, Sunset and Sunrise. All beaches are interconnected by small paths through which you can quickly get from one place to another. Small and secluded beaches of the island: Sanom Beach and Bila Beach.

The main beach is Pattaya Beach. Located in the southern part of the island, it is the most popular among tourists, its shape resembles a small horseshoe. The coast along the entire length is covered with fine white sand, the sea is calm.

On the lively Walking Street, not to be confused with the street of the same name in the resort of Pattaya, which Thailand is so famous for, there are many cafes, bars and restaurants with various cuisines.

Walking Street on Koh Lipe.

Many establishments have the Internet, and you can also pay by card.

Sunrise Beach, as its name implies, is best suited to meet sunrises, you can often find such photos on the Internet. In addition, the clear water makes this place almost ideal for snorkeling and diving.

On the beach there are budget and luxury luxury hotels.

Sunset Beach is a cozy bay where you can take great photos of sunsets and have a great time with your loved one. The coast is quiet and peaceful, and very interesting exotic restaurants are located on its territory.

The last of the major beaches on the island is Karma. In fact, this is just a continuation of the previous beach, which stretches far to the north. Calm sea - you can swim with children, quiet cozy atmosphere and the best panorama on the whole island, against which you can take great photos.

The infrastructure of the beaches is constantly being improved, built good hotels, internet. Right on the beaches you can buy fresh food. True, at the same time, you will not find a wide variety of products. Try the different ones that the country is so famous for.

Koh Lipe is one of the best places for the holiday that Thailand gave to the world. Good conditions for relaxation and beautiful landscapes are well suited for making best photos in memory of paradise.

Koh Lipe Island in Satun Province, Thailand is perhaps the most pleasant place for connoisseurs of leisurely and calm beach holiday. Excellent and clean beaches, excellent diving and snorkeling, and at the same time a sufficient distance from the main package tourist flows - these are the main features of the island of Koh Lipe.

A good idea to “get stuck” on Lipa is to combine business with pleasure - to go and then arrange a long beach relaxation for yourself.

When is the best time to go to Koh Lipe

The best weather in Lipa is from December to March. Nevertheless, you can come here from October 20th. The season from October 20 to November 16 and from April 1 to May 16 is considered low. This is the time when prices are lowest, but there may be rain and the sea is rough.
It should be borne in mind that the island is small and there is little housing, 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, 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 Lipe.

There are no airports on Lipa, you can only get there by sea, and besides, 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, then the route will be something like this: flight to Bangkok - flight to Hat Yai - bus to the pier - ferry or boat on Lipa. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems.

The easiest option is to buy a single ticket on the website from Bangkok immediately with a transfer to Koh Lipe. Then you just get on a plane in Bangkok, and then you will be accompanied everywhere, all the way to the island.

Important! Please note that in Bangkok, AirAsia planes fly from Don Muang Airport (this is NOT the airport you will fly into from Russia, Ukraine or Europe). Until this airport still need to. Therefore, it will be too tiring to get from Europe to Koh Lipe in 1 day. It is 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 put on a ferry to Koh Lipe. The whole journey will take from 6 to 9 hours. Along the way you will be accompanied by employees of the company. 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 the combined bus-ferry tickets that are sold at any travel agency throughout Thailand. To decide from which places it is better to get to Koh Lipe, see the map:

I'll tell you more:

How to get from Penang (Malaysia) to Koh Lipe
1. First by 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 Langkawi from the Telaga pier.
A single ticket can be bought at the box 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, by bus or minivan, get to the piers of Pak Bara or Hat Yao.
3. Then another transfer by ferry or boat.

Prices depend on the route and the chosen transport, for example, the approximate price of 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 by boat, speedboat or ferry. However, this option is only for those who tolerate pitching well. Long and painful.
A direct ticket can be bought in Phuket at any travel agency right on the street.

In the photo: disembarkation of tourists from the boat. Lipe Island

By the way, there is no berth on Lipa, so at the very last stage you will have to transfer from the ferry to small boats - longtails, followed by disembarkation into the water. So prepare 50 baht each and take care of good shoes and cameras :)

The quietest months on the island of Lipe are October and April. In other months there are many tourists.

The beaches of Koh Lipe

As elsewhere in Thailand, Koh Lipe does not have a single ring beach along which it would be possible to bypass the entire island. There are only three large beaches on Lipa - Sunrise, Sunset and Pattaya. And a few smaller 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 is what experienced tourists use. So, look at the map of Ko Lipe.

Lipe looks like a horseshoe on the map

Pattaya Beach is primarily a transshipment base. Crews of tourists come and go here, the Thai immigration office and several large hotels are also located here. The beach is long and clean, and quite suitable for swimming, however, this is not Bounty, if you know what I mean :)

In the photo: the most crowded beach of Lipe Island - Pattaya Beach

Sunset is the most picturesque and "wild" beach of Koh Lipe. There are steep slopes, there are more stones along the coast and, accordingly, fewer boats.

In the photo: the end of Sunset beach on Koh Lipe

Sunrise Beach is perhaps the most balanced. There is enough space for everyone - both beachgoers and boats.

In the photo: on the Sunrise beach on the island of Lipe
In the photo: complete relaxation at Sunrise Beach on Koh Lipe, Thailand

Sunrise has the best beach bars where you can spend your evenings chatting with friends, listening to music and drinking Chang.

Pictured: Sea La Vie is one of the best beach bars in Koh Lipe

Diving and snorkeling in Lipa

In the photo: newcomers to Lipa master diving quickly

Lipe Island is located on the territory of the Koh Tarutao National Park, so the surrounding water area is just perfect for good diving. The surrounding coral reefs abound with many species of tropical fish, you can also admire turtles, barracudas and dolphins. Beginner divers should take study tours to the neighboring islands of Sawang and Chabang. The most advanced diving companies are Adang Sea Divers and Ko Lipe Castaway Divers.

If you are looking for budget accommodation, most likely you will stay in the center of the island, in one of the guesthouses around the local Walking Street. Noisy, but close to the whole tourist crowd: cafes, bars, shopping. One of the freshest hotels and inexpensive - "A Plus Deluxe Hotel". See 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 with great views from the rooms, but they have their own problem - nightly transport - either constantly call the local "taxi" or walk, which is inconvenient in the dark.

In the photo: view from the window at the Mountain Resort hotel on the island of Lipe

If the main purpose of the holiday is diving, it is best to settle 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, train with equipment, and loading onto boats will be more optimal for you.

In the photo: a party of divers in the Castaway resort

Comfortable hotels in Ko Lipe

The most luxurious hotels on the island are definitely Serendipity Resort, Mali Resort and the modern Idyllic Concept Resort. If your budget allows, be sure to stay in one of them!

In the photo: view from the veranda of the Serendipity Resort, Lipe Island

Budget accommodation in Ko Lipe

In the photo: cheap bungalows of the Izgoy resort - exotic in its purest form

Oddly cheap and hippy bungalows hotel “Castaway Resort”