Koh Lipe is a small island located in South Thailand, close to the border with Malaysia. It is known for its laid-back atmosphere and beautiful beaches. In this article, we will be looking at how to reach Koh Lipe from Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Lanta, and Phuket. I’ll also show you ways to get around the island.
Koh Lipe does not have an airport, the only way to get to the island is by boat. You can take a boat from the nearby mainland at Pak Bara Pier, or from nearby islands such as Langkawi, Koh Lanta, or Phuket.
Here are the main content:
How to Get to Koh Lipe from Krabi
There are several ways to travel from Krabi to Koh Lipe. It all involves taking a van/taxi to the pier, then boat to Koh Lipe. There are numerous piers where you can take a boat to Koh Lipe, including Klong Jilad Pier and Ao Nam Mao Pier in Krabi, Hat Yao Pier in Trang, and Pak Bara Pier in Satun.
Klong Jilad Pier is located closest to Krabi Town, while Pak Bara Pier is furthest from Krabi Town. Some speedboat routes are only available in the high season (November to April). It is best to book the combined ticket (van to the pier +ferry) to ensure you come to the right pier on time.
It can take up to a full day to travel from Krabi to Koh Lipe. I booked my ticket online at 12go.asia with Andaman Sea Tour & Transport. They picked me up at my hotel in Krabi Town to Pak Bara Pier in a van, then we transferred to a speed boat to Koh Lipe.
It was around a 4.5 hour van ride. Along the way, they stopped at Trang Train Station to pick up more passengers. After a 30 minute drive from the train station, we had a 20 minute break at a petrol station for a toilet and some snacks.
As Koh Lipe is part of the Tarutao National Park, you need to buy a ticket at Pak Bara Pier. It is 200 baht for foreigners. The ferry we are taking is a Z-touch speedboat.
The speed boat stops at Koh Tarutao for 20 minutes. Passengers can get off to take photos, and look around. It is the part of the National park that you’ve already bought a ticket for at the pier. You can buy handmade coconut cream there.
The boat arrived at the pier on Pattaya Beach of Koh Lipe around 2pm. From here, you can take a book tuk tuk to get to your hotel. It was 100 baht/ 1 ride to anywhere on the island.
My hotel, Daya Beach, is located on the same beach, just within a 10 minute walking distance from the pier along the sand. But I was with my suitcase, so I couldn’t do it. I decided to walk through walking street as it is only a 20 minute walk on Google map.
It was hot and a bit hilly on the road near Sunset Beach. The worst part is that, after a 15 minute walk on the paved road under the heat, I encountered the dirt gravel road.
After a long day of traveling by van and ferry, I’m already tired and don’t want to drag my suitcases through it anymore. I just wait for a tuk tuk to pass by and take 1. It was still 100 baht. I should take it for the first time at the pier.
I highly recommend taking the tuk tuk from the pier to your hotel, especially your hotel located outside of the walking street area and you have a suitcase with you. Lots of roads on the island are dirt roads and Google didn’t tell you anything about it.
How to Get to Koh Lipe from Koh Lanta
There are direct boats between Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta during high season. The journey is around 3 hours. You can buy tickets at many travel agencies on Koh Lanta, at the pier, or online in advance. I always buy one day before my departure, sometimes at the last minutes at the pier.
Some boat companies running this route include Tigerline Travel, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club, and Bundhaya Speed Boat. The boat departs at Saldana Pier and arrives at a different pier along Pattaya Beach. I recommend buying a ticket that includes a transfer from your hotel to Saladan Pier.
If there are no direct boats from Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe in low season (May to October), you need to travel onland to Pak Bara Pier first, then take a boat from this pier to Koh Lipe. A local travel agency in Koh Lanta can support you with this.
How to Get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok
Bangkok to Koh Lipe by air + van + boat
Koh Lipe does not have an airport, the closest airport is Hat Yai International Airport on the mainland. Taking a flight is the fastest way to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lipe. You can book your flight ticket with many airlines such as Thai Airways, Nok Air, Air Asia, or Lion Air. The journey is around 1.5 hours.
Hat Yai Airport is located around 120 km from Pak Bara Pier, about a 2 hour drive. I recommend book combined tickets from Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe which include a van to Pak Bara Pier and ferry to Koh Lipe. I found this option makes it easy to travel.
If you prefer to do it yourself, you can book a transfer from Hat Yai airport to Pak Bara Pier, then another ticket for a boat from Pak Bara Pier to Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe. You need to check schedule and align these two transfers well.
Bangkok to Koh Lipe by train + van + boat
If you train travelers, you can consider taking a train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in Bangkok to Hat Yai Train Station, then bus to Pak Bara Pier and boat to Koh Lipe.
Krung Thep Aphiwat Station is easily accessible from central Bangkok by taking the MRT to Bang Sue MRT Station. The train ride is around 15 hours. I recommend taking the 2nd class sleeper AC for your comfort. Also consider taking an overnight train.
It is around 5-6 hours traveling from Hat Yai Train Station to Pak Bara Pier then ferry to Koh Lipe. You can book the combined ticket here with one of the boat operators and travel agencies such as Tigerline, Marinee Travel, and Andaman Sea Tour & Transport.
Bangkok to Koh Lipe by bus + ferry
It is possible to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lipe by bus but it is not the most comfortable option. There are several bus departures from Southern Bus Station or Khao San Road. The bus will terminate at Hat Yai Bus Terminal. From there, you can take another transfer to Pak Bara Pier and then a ferry to Koh Lipe.
You can book a connecting ticket from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal to Koh Lipe here. If you do it yourself by taking a bus from Bangkok to Hat Yai, you can book a ticket from Hat Yai Bus Terminal to Koh Lipe separately.
How to Get to Koh Lipe from Phuket
It is approximately a 5 hour ferry ride from Rassada Pier in Phuket to Koh Lipe. Some companies running this route include Tigerline, Bundhaya Speed Boat, Jolly Travel, and Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club.
It is easy to use a speed boat from Phuket to Koh Lipe during high season. I highly recommend booking a ticket at travel agencies or boat operators that include a pick up from your hotel in Phuket to the pier.
If there is no boat connection between two islands during low season (May to October), you need to travel by land from Phuket to Pak Bara Pier first then take a boat to Koh Lipe. There are several companies offering this route including Minibus 1996, Jolly Travel, and King Travel.
It is an 8 hour bus + van ride from Phuket to Pak Bara pier. Some travel agencies offer pick up at Phuket Airport, Patong, Kata, Karon, and Phuket Town. On some routes, you need to get to Phuket Bus terminal 2 by yourself.
Best ways to get around Koh Lipe
Walking
Koh Lipe is a relatively small island, only around 3 kilometers long and about 2 kilometers wide at its widest point. You can easily explore the beaches and the town center on foot.
Within a few days on Koh Lipe, I was able to explore all the famous beaches and hidden ones by walking. Most popular beaches are Sunset Beach, SunRise Beach, and Pattaya Beach. Smaller beaches are Lipe Secret Beach, Pollo Beach, and Svedo Beach.
The Walking Street and town center are small and packed with tourist amenities. You can easily find convenience stores, restaurants, travel agencies, and massage shops on foot.
Using tuk tuk
There is no car on Koh Lipe. Tuktuk (motorbike taxi) and Songthaew are the only kind of transport on the road. It is 100 baht per road wherever you go. This is a great option when you are tired of walking. Tuk tuk are everywhere, you can easily find one.
Long tail boat
Long tail boat is great for travel to nearby islands such as Adang. I used it for my day trip to Adang island. The ticket for boat taxi can be bought at several booths on Sunset beach and Sunrise Beach.
I bought my return ticket at Sunrise Beach and told the driver what time I wanted to come back, so he could pick me up. The return ticket was around 300 baht as I remember. Once in Koh Adang, you can enjoy the beaches, waterfall, and viewpoint on foot.
See more:
- Where to stay in Koh Lipe
- How to spend 2-3 Days In Koh Lipe Itinerary
- 12 Popular Things to Do in Koh Lipe
These are my recommendations of how to get to Koh Lipe from various locations in Thailand, including Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phuket, and Bangkok. This island is very small, there are no cars on the island,, so you can easily explore by walking, using tuk tuk, or long tail boat.