Ko lipe airport. Koh Lipe is an ideal island for a beach holiday in Thailand. How to get from Koh Lipe to Phuket Airport

Everything stated below is relevant for the high season, from early November to mid-April. During the low season, the number of ships traveling to Lipe Island is sharply reduced, and on some routes, such as Phuket - Lipe and Langkawi - Lipe, flights are canceled altogether.

Most tourists arrive to Lipe Island either from Bangkok or from the islands closest to Lipe and tourist centers southern part Andaman Sea. It is these routes that will be described below.

From Bangkok to Koh Lipe

The closest airport to Lipa, receiving flights from Bangkok, is located near the city of Hat Yai.

Several airlines operate flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai Airport, including low-cost carriers AirAsia and Nok Air.

Ticket prices for this route vary widely, starting from 1,200 baht. This price can be obtained if you pay for the ticket several months before departure. If you buy a ticket a few days before departure, the price can significantly exceed 2000 baht.

At Hat Yai Airport you can buy a transfer (joint ticket) to Lipe Island, which includes a minibus ride to Pakbara Pier and then by speedboat to Lipe Island.

Similarly, from Bangkok you can get to Lipe Island via. Such a trip takes approximately the same time as a trip through Hat Yai Airport, but usually costs a little more.

If you prefer to travel by taxi, a trip from Hat Yai Airport to Pakbara Pier will cost you 1800 - 2000 baht, from Trang Airport - 2200 baht. All prices for taxis, minibuses and speedboats are indicated as of the beginning of 2020. Over the past 10 years, they have changed slightly, all that has happened over the years is that a minibus transfer has risen in price by 100 baht.

Note. The last ship from Pakbara pier usually leaves at 15-30. Accordingly, if you do not want to spend the night on the pier, it makes sense to arrive at Hat Yai Airport no later than 12 noon.

Cheap from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

If the cost of air tickets seems excessive to you, or there simply won’t be any tickets, because... planes fly to Hat Yai packed to capacity; you can get from Bangkok to Hat Yai either by train or by bus.

Train ticket prices, as of March 2018, started at 149 baht for a seat in a non-air-conditioned 3rd class carriage. Tickets for more comfortable 2nd and 1st class carriages cost 345 baht and 734 baht, respectively. Travel time from Bangkok to Hat Yai was 16–17 hours, trains departed during the day from central station Bangkok (Hua Lamphong Railway Station) and arrived in the city of Hat Yai in the morning. The current train schedule and prices can be found on the official website of Thai Railways; tickets can be purchased directly at the station.

Bus tickets from Bangkok to Hat Yai, as of March 2018, start from 643 baht for a second class bus seat. A ticket for a more spacious and comfortable first class bus cost, at the same time, exactly 1000 baht, transportation was carried out by a state transport company. It carried out 13 flights per day, buses departed from (Southern Bus Terminal, another name is Sai Tai), the departure time of all buses was in the range of 16-30 - 19-30, buses arrived in Hat Yai the next morning, spending 14 hours on the way hours.

From the islands of southern Thailand to Lipe Island

During the high season, the route - - - - - - is served by ships and speedboats from several carriers, including Tigerline Travel, Bundhaya Speedboat, Satun Pakbara Speedboat and Andaman Inter Line (no website).

Ticket prices for all carriers are approximately the same, and, as of the beginning of 2020, prices for transfers from neighboring islands were the following:

From the islands of southern Thailand to Lipe Island cheaply

If you go from the islands of Phuket and Lanta to Lipe not by a short road (by sea), but by land, along the shore of the Andaman Sea to the Pakbara pier and only from there by sea to the island of Lipe, then you can save more than 2 thousand baht and 800 baht, respectively.

Such transfers, by minibus to Pakbara Pier, can be easily purchased both in Phuket and Lanta; their cost can be found here:.

From Langkawi to Lipe Island

Lipe Island is located on the border with Malaysia, and Lipe is about 30 km from the nearest Malaysian resort. There are no difficulties in crossing the Thai-Malaysian border, Russian citizens do not need to obtain visas, and if you have time, it would be a good idea to visit both Lipe Island and Langkawi Island. Such a trip between the islands costs 1,200 baht, and takes about an hour, not counting the time for passport control and other formalities.

If you are planning a trip along this route, do not forget that boats operate between Lipe and Langkawi only in high season, from early November to mid-April. In the low season, you can also get to Lipe from the island of Langkawi, but not directly, but by a roundabout road through land (Langkawi - mainland Malaysia - crossing the border on the mainland - trip to Pakbara pier - and only from there by sea to Lipe island). According to Malaysian travel agents, this road can be covered in 5 hours. This thesis, however, does not need to be taken quite literally.

The island of Koh Lipe is located in the Andaman Sea in the Satun province 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.

Ko Lipe how to get there

There is no airport on the island of Koh Lipe, there is no bridge leading to it (like, 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 Islands 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

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

How to get to Koh Lipe from Pakbara Pier

Speedboats/fast boats from various companies depart from Pakbara Pier several times a day.

Approximate boat schedule for Pakbara - Koh Lipe:

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

Schedule may 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.

The travel time from Pakbara to Lipe is one and a half hours; in rough seas it can increase to 2 hours or more. Along the way, all boats stop for 15 minutes at Tarutao Island. Those interested can stay for a few days on this island; there are bungalows and tents here national park. Or just go to the island and walk along the shore while waiting for the boat to depart.

Entrance to the island of Tarutao is paid - 200 baht, more precisely, this is the fee for visiting the Tarutao National Park, the ticket is valid for 5 days, including for visiting the island of Koh Lipe and other national islands. parks that you can visit during one of the.

Price

• Ticket price for speedboat/boat 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, live there for a couple of days and sail further using the same ticket :)

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

Pakbara Pier

The Pakbara pier is well equipped with air-conditioned waiting areas, restrooms, and a shop with overpriced sundries. Entrance to the pier is paid (!) 20 baht :)

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

Loading and unloading luggage is 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 give valuables to be loaded onto 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 the suitcase can arrive wet and dirty...

How to get to Pakbara Pier

Nearest major cities to the village of Pakbara:

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

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

• Taxi. A car from these two cities to Pakbara Pier will cost 1800 - 2200 baht, the approximate travel time is one and a half hours
• Minibus. There is a mini bus from Hat Yai bus station, cost 150 baht, travel time one and a half to two hours
• By purchasing a comprehensive ticket. For example, upon arrival at Hat Yai airport, we bought a comprehensive ticket for a minibus + boat: airport - Pakbara Pier - Koh Lipe for 900 baht per person. It’s better to buy such a ticket in advance on this website, firstly it will be cheaper (~ 750 baht), and secondly you won’t have to wait long at the airport until tourists from other flights arrive.

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

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

How to get to Koh Lipe from Trang

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

How to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok

To get to Koh Lipe from you must first get to one of the cities listed above: Trang or Hat Yai, then go 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 flight option that suits your time and cost to Hat Yai or Trang.

2. By bus. Buses Bangkok - Hat Yai depart from the southern bus terminal in Bangkok (Sai ​​Tai Mai or Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal). Buses run quite frequently 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 is 13-17 hours (+ trains in Thailand tend to be late!). To get to Koh Lipe on the same day, you need to take trains that depart from Bangkok at 15:10 or 15:30.

Cost from 300 baht (in third class carriages), we usually take tickets to second class with air conditioning, cost from 850 baht.

You can view the train schedule for Thailand on the website of the Thai Railways, and buy tickets at the railway station.

4. By purchasing a complex ticket plane + minibus + boat

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

Important: do not forget that the planes of these low-cost companies fly from Don Mueang airport, and all flights are from Russia, Ukraine, etc. arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport. Read about how to get between airports and how much time to allow for transfers.

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 by:

1. Tiger Line Ferry Company on quite large yellow boats (boats). Departure from Rassada Pier in Phuket (from the same place where ferries depart to) at 9:00, scheduled arrival in Koh Lipe at 13:00, i.e. 4 hours of travel (in fact, boats take much longer!). Along the way, change boats on Lanta Island. Cost Phuket - Koh Lipe ~ 2300 baht. Tickets can be purchased in advance on their website: tigerlinetravel.com

2. Satun Pakbara Speed ​​Boat Company whose boats go along the route Phuket - Phi Phi - Lanta - Ngai - Muk - Kradan - Bulon - Lipe. Transportation by speedboat. Departure from Phuket at 8:30, arrival in Koh Lipe at 13:30. Cost ~ 2400 baht (cheaper if purchased through the website!). You can find out the schedule and buy tickets on their website: spcthailand.com

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

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

We got to Koh Lipe right from I thought for a very long time about how to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket. I decided to choose the sea route 🙂 I rejected speedboats right away (I couldn’t stand 4-5 hours in such a high-speed boat, even an hour and a half was enough for me 🙂), 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 was better to choose another option on how to get to the island of Koh Lipe from Phuket :) In the reviews, people complained about the old boat and frequent long delays, they wrote that the boat takes not 4 hours, as stated, but almost twice as long longer! After reading the reviews, I decided to choose another way to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket, namely the more standard route through Hat Yai and Pakbara.

Option 2: via Hat Yai and Pakbara

By bus

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

The best way to travel is by night bus VIP 24, which departs 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

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

We chose this option on 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, boarded a small plane, had breakfast :) We arrived in Hat Yai even before the time indicated in schedule.

I wanted to buy tickets for the transfer airport - pier - Koh Lipe in advance online on the website (it was cheaper this way), but while I was thinking whether we would be able to catch the minibus, which leaves at 9 am (we would have time even with a large reserve), the sale of tickets stopped (tickets can be purchased online no later than three days in advance). Therefore, at the airport we found a travel agency, where we bought a combined mini-bass + speedboat ticket. But we had to wait for 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, which are used to board the boat (numbers are very convenient - there is no queue). We sailed at 12:00 instead of the promised 11:30, and arrived in Koh Lipe at 14:00 - due to the storm and rain that began 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 boat’s arrival point :)

Lipe Island how to get from Krabi

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

Tickets for a minibus to Hat Yai will cost 350 - 400 baht, a comprehensive ticket for Ao Nang (Krabi) - Koh Lipe - 1000 - 1200 baht. You can buy it 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 Pakbara, and then by boat to Lipe 🙂 The path is not short... Read about how to get to Hat Yai from Samui in

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

Langkawi Koh Lipe how to get there

Despite the fact that Lipe thai island, it is separated from Malaysian by only 30 km, and in clear weather it is clearly visible from observation deck sky bridge in Langkawi :)

Direct route Langkawi - Lipe

During the high season, boats operate on the Langkawi-Lipe and Lipe-Langkawi routes. On the island of Koh Lipe there are even immigration offices where passport control takes place.

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 Kuah Jetty Pier (in the capital of Kuah Island, near the city's eagle symbol)
• from Telaga Harbor Pier, which is located next to Oriental Village Park

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

Carrier companies on the route Langkawi - Lipe - Langkawi

Additional information

The article contains all useful information about the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand: how to get to the island, what to do, Koh Lipe beaches, hotels and other infrastructure. And, of course, our review with photos and advice.

On the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand

Koh Lipe: general information

Koh Lipe Island- a small island in the south of Thailand in the Andaman Sea in the province of Satun, located next to Malaysia (the nearest Malaysian island is only 30 km away). Koh Lipe island on the map

Ko Lipe is part of the Tarutao Marine National Park, for a visit to which you need to pay 200 baht per person (don’t throw away your tickets, they will come in handy if you go on an excursion to the neighboring islands, and even before leaving the island we were asked to show our tickets!).

The island of Koh Lipe became known among tourists relatively recently: some 40 years ago it was inhabited by sea gypsies from Malaysia, and the first European tourists appeared in the 90s of the last century.

I was lucky enough to visit Koh Lipe in Thailand in 2006 and find a small piece of paradise :) At that time, the island was already equipped for tourists, but, of course, not on the same scale as now: on Koh Lipe there were only cheap wooden bungalows, almost deserted beaches, one store in the center of the island and Pooh Bar - the only place on Koh Lipe where there was internet :) And in general, all Europeans gathered in this bar every evening for dinner and beer :) There were no concrete roads on the island of Koh Lipe, everywhere there was sand, and before entering any room you had to take off your shoes, and in general you didn’t need shoes on the island - you walked around barefoot everywhere.

A couple of years later, the total development of the island began, the first large hotels appeared (some of them even with a swimming pool), old wooden bungalows were also reconstructed, and a little later Koh Lipe was connected by sea with Langkawi, an immigration office appeared on the beach for passport control upon arrival from Malaysia and departure from Thailand. A little later, the central street was concreted - this is how the walking street appeared.

Of course, the development of the island’s tourism infrastructure could not but entail an increase in the flow of tourists, and crowds, huge crowds of vacationers flocked to Koh Lipe. For some reason, the island of Lipe is especially loved by the Chinese (every self-respecting Chinese wants to have a selfie with Koh Lipe and 🙂). And there are plenty of other Asians there now; Thais and Malaysians especially like to come to Lipe Island on holidays and weekends. There were times when there were so many tourists on the island that they couldn’t fit in the hotels, and people spent the night in tents on the beach!

According to rumors, travel agencies even tried to send our compatriots “package travelers” to the island of Koh Lipe and people were very unhappy with what hole they were sent to (where are the entertainment and shopping centers, as in? :)

But now, fortunately, the unhealthy excitement for the island has subsided, there are no our package travelers on Koh Lipe, but Chinese tourists come to large quantities, especially in winter for Chinese New Year.

Sketch map of Koh Lipe island

Seasons and weather on Koh Lipe: when is the best time to go to the island

There are two main seasons on the island of Koh Lipe:

• Rainy and stormy season: April-May to October
• Dry season: November to April

Previously, the island was “closed” for the summer; due to strong storms at sea, sea communications with the mainland almost completely ceased, hotel workers went on vacation :) In recent years, communications with the island and the mainland of Thailand have not stopped all year round, only the number of flights has been reduced. And the weather and climate are now so changeable that even in the summer you can find good sunny weather, but during the peak season you can get caught in the rain.

But hotel prices usually differ according to the three seasons:

• Low season: summer
• High season: October – November and March – April
• Peak season: December - February

When is the best time to go to the island?

The most good weather on Koh Lipe in winter, in December - February, but during this period there are a lot of tourists on the island and prices for everything, especially accommodation, rise significantly. In summer there is a rainy season, but deserted beaches and low prices to hotels. In my opinion, the optimal time to visit Koh Lipe in Thailand is November and March-April.

How to get to Koh Lipe

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand is located in the Andaman Sea, the island is small, there is no airport here :) The airports closest to Koh Lipe are:

• Hat Yai (Thailand)
• Trang (Thailand)
• Langkawi (Malaysia)

You can only get to Lipe by water - on fast boats or speedboats by sea that go from the piers:

• Pakbara Pier, Thailand. You can say this is the main pier, the connection from Pakbar to Lipe is year-round
• Trang (Hat Yao Pier), Thailand
• Kuah Jetty, Malaysia, Langkawi
• Telaga Harbour, Malaysia, Langkawi

Direct boat connections between Langkawi and Koh Lipe are closed during the low season.

Also in the high season, sea communication opens between the islands of Lipe.

Briefly, the algorithm for getting to Lipe Island is as follows:

• Flight to or. We are looking for air tickets
• Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, from Bangkok to Hat Yai or Trang, or you can get to Hat Yai by land - by bus or train
• Taxi/minibus/transfer to the pier
• Boat to Koh Lipe

Very detailed article with prices and tips on how to get to Koh Lipe from different places Thailand, Malaysia and from Russia:

Transport on the island: what to use

On the island of Lipe there is no big roads, there are no cars and few bikes here (some locals ride bikes, but they don’t rent them to tourists :)

Ko Lipe is a small island and you can move around it:

• on foot
• if necessary, take a motorbike taxi (this is a bike with a trolley) for 50 baht per person one way, or ride around the island for 400 baht / hour
• bicycles for rent - 200 baht per day.
• You can also move between beaches by boat. But taxi boats on the island are not as common as, for example, on or in, because... You can easily walk between almost all the beaches of Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe hotels: where to stay on the island

Every year more and more new hotels open on the island, but despite this, finding accommodation on site can be a problem during peak season. Therefore, I advise you to book Koh Lipe hotels in advance.

Most hotels in Koh Lipe are located right on coastline, many hotels are of the bungalow type, although there are also hotels with rooms in buildings.

Koh Lipe hotel prices are quite high:

• a double room in an average lousy hotel on the beach will cost +/- 3000 baht
• cheap bungalows on the beach – from 1000 baht

Prices are for high season; in summer, housing is half the price. Perhaps you can find huts for 500 baht, for example, the huts in the photo below are located right on the beach and belong to the Andaman Resort hotel. The cost was not known.

Example of prices for hotels in Koh Lipe

Detailed article about Koh Lipe hotels with their features, prices, recommendations:

Our review of the hotel where we stayed for several days:

All Koh Lipe hotels can be booked on the following booking sites:

Koh Lipe hotels on the map

Beaches of Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe island in Thailand is famous for its gorgeous beaches. The following main beaches are distinguished:

• Pattaya Beach
• Sunrise Beach
• Sunset Beach
• Karma Beach or northern beach
• Beaches in bays

Pattaya beach

The most popular beach in Koh Lipe is Pattaya Beach. It is located in a bay in the south of the island. Snow-white white sand, clear sea, not far from the shore there is a living coral reef with fish. Good infrastructure, but can sometimes be noisy and crowded, especially when boats with tourists from the mainland and Langkawi arrive and in the evening before sunset. Details about Pattaya Beach:

Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach is the second most popular beach in Koh Lipe. I liked it for its silence and tranquility. The beach has snow-white coarse sand, a good sharp entry into the sea. More details about this beach here:

Sunset Beach

Beach in the west of Koh Lipe. The sand is grayish, the entry into the sea is very smooth, there are many picturesque stones on the shore. To be honest, this beach did not impress me at all, perhaps we were there at the wrong time...

Karma beach

Karma Beach or the beach next to the Mountain Resort hotel is the northernmost beach of the island with a beautiful sand spit (the spit is washed closer to winter, it may not be there in summer). The sand is very coarse, white, the sea is bright turquoise, beautiful view to the neighboring island of Adang. This beach often experiences strong winds in winter. More details here:

What is the best beach on Koh Lipe? – it’s hard for me to answer this question, I like both Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach :) Detailed Description all beaches of Koh Lipe:

Infrastructure

The tourist infrastructure on the island is well developed. Of course, there are no large stores like Tesco and Big C on Lipe Island, but there are:

• two 7-eleven (which for some reason have eternal queues)
• small shops with water and food
• shops with souvenirs and beachwear
• a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, which offer not only Thai cuisine and seafood, but also Indian and European food
• bars and coffee shops
• tents with pancakes, fruit shakes, ice cream
• massage parlors
• and even a beach club on Pattaya beach :)
• several ATMs, currency exchange (the rate at exchange offices is not favorable, it is better to come to Koh Lipe with cash in baht)
• travel agencies where you can buy excursions, tickets, exchange money, etc. etc.
• pharmacies
• hospital

Basically all the infrastructure is located in the center of the island on the walking street. More details here:

Prices for Koh Lipe

About the prices on Koh Lipe, we can say the following: there are expensive hotels here, prices are 7 elven higher than on the mainland, expensive fruit, but the prices in the cafe are quite adequate, I would say even low for this quality of food.

This is not the first time I have noticed a strange feature: on small islands in Thailand everything is usually more expensive, except for food in a cafe. This was the case, for example, on Phi Phi - the island is not cheap, but the food in the cafe is not only tasty, but also inexpensive!

For example, our average bill for a beer dinner in Koh Lipe never exceeded 500 baht (except for one evening when we went to the Progress restaurant for an unlimited buffet dinner).

Some prices for Koh Lipe:

• Water 1.5 liters at 7 elven – 26 baht
• Yogurt – 21 baht
• Coffee in seven – 60 – 65 baht
• Prepared food in boxes at 7 eleven (for example, rice + meat) – 70 – 80 baht
• Beer Chang 0.6 in seven - 90 baht, in a small shop - 65 baht
• Packaging of water 6 bottles of 1.5 liters in a store - 100 baht
• Pancakes with different fillings ~ 40 – 70 baht
• Fish in a cafe ~ 240 baht
• Squid, shrimp in a cafe ~ 150 baht
• Tom yum ~ 120 – 150 baht
• Rice with meat or seafood ~ 80 baht
• Beef steak at Steakhouse – 450 baht
• Coffee in a cafe ~ 70 – 90 baht
• Breakfast in a cafe – 200 – 300 baht

Things to do in Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe - an island for relaxation beach holiday, there are no noisy parties, nightclubs or attractions here :) The main attraction of Koh Lipe is its beaches, the neighboring islands of the national park and underwater world. Therefore, the list of things to do on Koh Lipe is not that long:

• Visit and swim at all the beaches of the island
• Go snorkeling. The island of Koh Lipe is the only place in Thailand where we have been where there is good snorkeling close to the shore
• Go to
• Swim to the neighboring Adang Island
• Take a course at a diving school - there are excellent diving spots near Koh Lipe
• Eat – drink – sleep – go for a massage – relax :)

Koh Lipe Island reviews

You know, there are such places on earth that at first sight sink into your soul. I had a similar situation with Koh Lipe :) I fell in love with the island not even at first sight, but even earlier, when I read about it on a forum (if I’m not mistaken, this was in 2003). Soon my dream came true: I flew to Thailand. But for the first time, the route was simpler and did not include the island of Koh Lipe, but included - -.

A little later, I finally ended up in Lipe and was completely delighted with this tropical paradise. Years passed, countries alternated and most beautiful islands(just look at the beauty in the Philippines or the islands of Saraya and Kanawa in Indonesia), but the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand always remained in my memory and I knew that someday I would definitely return there :) And I returned after more than 10 years!

Yes, the island has changed (but I read about it and this fact did not come as a shock to me), but I still like it just as much as before. Most likely for those who are looking for parties, shopping, etc. etc. It will be boring in Lipa (in this case it’s better to go to Phuket), but it’s just right for us :)

How many days to spend on Koh Lipe?

Many people advise not to spend more than 3-4 days on the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand, but we spent almost a week on Lipe and didn’t want to leave at all. If you are traveling around Asia, then you can combine Koh Lipe with some more large island and city, for example the routes can be as follows:

• Bangkok – Phuket – Koh Lipe – – Bangkok
• Bangkok – Hat Yai – Koh Lipe – Langkawi – Kuala Lumpur
• Kuala Lumpur – – – Langkawi – Koh Lipe

And many other options :) Enjoy your holiday!

Updated: Sep 17, 2018

The Adang Archipelago, located in the southern part of the Andaman Sea, near the mainland of Thailand and Malaysia, is often called the “Thai Maldives”, primarily for its snow-white sand. Ko Lipe (Thailand) is the only inhabited island in this archipelago. Tourists come here to enjoy the serenity and tranquility. In addition, the island attracts divers, because many marine inhabitants live off the coast - almost a quarter of all those existing in nature. The island is the southernmost point of Thailand and many tourists are frightened by the question of how to get to Koh Lipe. However, the number of travelers is increasing every year. We have prepared detailed information for those planning a trip to the island.

General information

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand is located in the southern part of the Andaman Sea and belongs to the Satun province. This is the southernmost point of the country. On a sunny, cloudless day, you can see the coast of Malaysia from the island, namely the Langkawi archipelago, located at a distance of 30 km.

The distance to Phuket is 250 km, to Krabi – about 220 km, and to mainland Thailand – 70 km.

The length of the island is only 3 km, it is easy to get around on foot; there are about 800 indigenous people on Koh Lipe. The main source of income is fishing and tourism.

Interesting fact! Indigenous people belongs to the sea gypsies - immigrants from Malaysia who arrived on the island about a century ago.

Koh Lipe has a themed marine park Tarutao, which was given national status, was named the second largest in Thailand at the end of the 20th century.

Tourist infrastructure and recreation features

Every year the number of tourists on the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand increases, despite the fact that you can only get here by water. The infrastructure is accordingly developing rapidly - the resort is flourishing and attracting more and more vacationers. The first and main reason why tourists come here are the beaches where you can enjoy relaxing holiday or go on an exciting dive or snorkeling.

Interesting fact! Not far from Koh Lipe there are several uninhabited islands where you can go on an excursion tour or stay in a tent for several days.

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand boasts a walking street - Walking Street, where there are souvenir shops, a pharmacy, travel agencies, cafe and exchange office. Prices on the main street of the island are quite high, and the exchange rate is unfavorable, so it is better to stock up on everything you need on the mainland. Local attraction starts at Pattaya Beach and extends to Sunrise Beach. The signs indicate that the street is open from 6:00 to midnight, but Walking Street does not close; many cafes, restaurants and bars open in the afternoon. Of course, most establishments are empty and close by midnight, but you can still find a few bars that invite tourists.

Relatively recently, there were no bank branches or banks on the island, but today withdrawing money is not difficult. It should be taken into account that you will have to pay a commission to withdraw money, and the exchange rate is unfavorable. Also in some hotels you can pay for your room and services with a plastic card, but a fee is charged for this. At exchange offices you can exchange dollars and the Malaysian currency – ringgit.

Koh Lipe in Thailand has Wi-Fi; Internet access points are available in hotels and Internet cafes.

Most cafes and bars are located on the coastline, the maximum distance to the sea is 200 meters. There are no discos and other entertainment venues, as well as attractions, on the island.

Interesting fact! The maximum distance between beaches on the island is 1 km, so during your vacation you can easily visit them all. A walk from one to the other will take about a quarter of an hour. If you don't like to walk, rent a bike.

Why is it worth getting to Koh Lipe?

1. Seascapes. Already on the way to the island, on the ferry, you can do beautiful photos.
2. Bright underwater world. There are a lot of fish and marine inhabitants off the coast of the island; even tourists who cannot swim can take beautiful photographs. You don't need to wear this special equipment, just a mask and a tube is enough.
3. Large selection of excursion tours. Most of them are on deserted islands; it’s easy to stay here for a few days. There are tours with night swimming, which shimmers with the abundance of plankton, a trip with a barbecue against the backdrop of a sea sunset. The cost of the excursion is about $17-19.
4. Snow-white beaches and clear turquoise water. Despite the fact that getting to the island is not so easy, and Koh Lipe in Thailand has minor drawbacks, the beaches are attractive and allow you to ignore minor inconveniences. Here you can find fabulous sunrises and sunsets, numerous bars offer drinks and delicious treats right on the shore.
5. Large selection of seafood dishes. Every restaurant and bar offers delicious treats from sea creatures you've never even heard of. Some dishes are prepared right in front of tourists.

Good to know! In addition to traditional restaurants, there are buffets on Walking Street; for a certain amount you can try the entire range of dishes. The cost is about $15-17.

It would be wrong to talk only about the positive aspects of the island in Thailand. If you decide to travel and get to Koh Lipe, be prepared for the following unpleasant surprises:

• garbage, the island authorities simply do not have time to remove it;
• boats are the real scourge of the island, they are moored on all the beaches;
• cats and dogs, some of them annoying;
• prices for products are higher than in stores on mainland Thailand.

A natural disadvantage is strong ebbs and flows. During high tide, the shore is under water, there is simply no place left for sunbathing. At low tide, the sea becomes so shallow that only children can swim in the sea.

Interesting fact! The only place on the island where there are no ebbs and flows is the northern edge of Sunrise Beach.

There are no large stores on the island; there are small grocery stores. Be sure to try the pancakes - they are sold in street stalls.

Transport

Getting to the island is not so easy, but on Koh Lipe we can solve the issue of transportation. There are no cars here, there are few bikes, public transport doesn't walk. Travelers are offered several ways to get around the island:

• on foot;
• motorbike taxi;
• bike rental;
• Boats regularly ply between the beaches.

Accommodation on the island

Every year new hotels open on Koh Lipe in Thailand, but in high tourist season Finding available accommodation is not so easy, so it is better to book a room several months before your trip. Most hotels are built right on the beach, many have the appearance of bungalows, but you can also find a traditional hotel.

During the tourist season, rates for accommodation in a three-star hotel are about 3 thousand baht, and a bungalow can be rented for 1 thousand baht. During the low season, prices are halved.

Hotel features in Koh Lipe (Thailand):

Good to know! In addition to hotels, the island also has budget option accommodation - tents in camping sites. Most of them are located on Sunset Beach.

Find out PRICES or book any accommodation using this form

Beaches of the island

The first and main advantage of Koh Lipe is its beaches, which are considered the best in Thailand. The coastline is better only on the Similan Islands. Several decades ago, the island’s beaches were deserted, but today the situation has changed - infrastructure has appeared, but the exotic nature has been preserved. It is for the sake of the beaches that many tourists decide to go to Koh Lipe. We have made a selection for you best places for a holiday on the island.

Pattaya Beach is located in the south of Koh Lipe and has a long coastline of almost 1.5 km. The shore is covered with white and very fine sand. In sunny weather, the water takes on a turquoise hue, but in the low season, strong waves appear due to the wind, which bring garbage to the shore. The descent into the water is gentle and smooth. Pattaya Beach has strong ebbs and flows, and given the smooth entrance to the sea, it is difficult to find a place to swim.

There is a reef near the shore, so be sure to take your mask and snorkel with you. Unfortunately, there are a lot of boats off the coast, but they moor in an orderly manner, leaving areas for swimming. In the evening there is a fire show on the shore. There are quite a lot of hotels, cafes and restaurants on the first line.

Good to know! Pattaya Beach is located tourist office for visitors from Malaysia and mainland Thailand. In addition, there are representative offices of all shipping companies here.

The eastern coast of the island is Sunrise Beach, where the sand is coarse and quite loose, and the descent into the sea is sharp. On the right side there are corals and many different fish.

The coastline stretches for 1.5 km, and the width varies depending on the tides. The widest part is in the northern part, and the narrowest is in the central part.

Good to know! There are no entertainment venues or discos here; by 10 p.m. the shore is empty. To get to Walking Street, you need to pass by the local slums.

There are hotels, cafes and restaurants on the shore, you can purchase an excursion to mainland Thailand, to uninhabited islands archipelago and rent a kayak. There are also diving schools.

The only thing that mars your holiday on Sairaz Beach is the chaotically moored boats.

Interesting fact! It is believed that the beach has the most beautiful sunrises, which is why the place is called Sunrise Beach.

Western part of Koh Lipe. It's small, cozy beach, where the most beautiful sunsets are, that’s why the beach was named Sunset Beach. The shore is covered with stones, and in some places there are large stones in the water. The sand is coarse, of uneven color - white interspersed with gray and dark colors. The sea is quite shallow, there are fish in the water, but not many of them. This place is calm, uncrowded, and there are many boats in the central part of the beach.

Good to know! The sand is unpleasant to the touch due to shell fragments, so take shoes with you.

On the left side of the bank there is a cafe and sun loungers. There are hotels on the first line. The distance to Walking Street can be covered on foot in a quarter of an hour.

A sheltered, quiet beach, it is often called a secret beach. To get here, you need to go right along Pattaya Beach, get to the wooden bridge and cross it. Not all tourists come to this part of the island, so not everyone knows about the beach.

Good to know! There is only one bungalow built on the shore.

Cross the bridge with caution, it looks fragile, and the creaking boards do not give you confidence. Huge boulders lie under the bridge, and turquoise water splashes quietly.

There is a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere on the shore - some are swimming in the calm sea, some are drinking a cocktail on the shore, and some are taking pictures of the beautiful views.

The beach is perfect for swimming - the water is clean, the sea is calm, the slope is gentle. The seabed is soft, covered with sand, without stones.

Weather and climate, when is the best time to come?

Koh Lipe - an island of two seasons:

• dry – begins in late autumn and lasts until mid-spring;
• rainy - begins in mid-spring and lasts until the second half of autumn.

Today, the island's communication with mainland Thailand remains open throughout the year. Earlier in the summer, in the low season, when the sea was stormy, Ko Lipe was closed, hotel employees went on vacation. In recent years, the climate on the island has been so changeable that even in the low season there is good, sunny and clear weather.

Regarding pricing policy in hotels, there are three seasons:

• low – three summer months;
• high season - two autumn months - October and November, two spring months - March and April;
• peak – from December to February.

To get to the island you need:

• come to Trang or Hat Yai;
• get to Pakbara pier;
• purchase a ticket for a boat that goes to Koh Lipe.

There are several ways to get to Trang or Hat Yai.

• by plane;
• by bus – flights depart from the southern bus station, the schedule is from 6-00 to 20-00, the journey takes 13-14 hours, tickets cost about 1000 baht;
• by train - from Bangkok flights depart to Hat Yai, the route takes 13-17 hours, to get to the island on the day of departure from Bangkok, you need to leave no later than 15-30, fare from 400 to 900 baht;
• complex ticket - provides travel by plane, minibus (to the pier) and by boat (to Koh Lipe), flights are provided only in the morning.

Koh Lipe (Thailand) – how to get there on your own from Phuket.

By sea.

During high season, the most convenient way to get to the island is by water. Yellow boats regularly operate between Phuket and Koh Lipe. Departure from Rassada Pier. Tourists spend 4 hours on the road. The fare is about 2100 baht.

The first route is by bus. The algorithm is as follows: take a bus from Phuket to Hat Yai. It is most comfortable to travel on night flight VIP 24. Departure is at 21-45, transport arrives at the destination at 06-00. Then you need to get to the pier and from there by boat to the island - departure at 9-30, and arrival at 11-30.

Another route is by plane. There are direct flights from Phuket to Hat Yai - departure at 7-25, arrival at 8-30. Ticket price is about 1700 baht. You can purchase a transfer online - from the airport to the pier, then to the island. Sales of transfer tickets stop three days before the trip. Travel agencies also sell complex tickets.

How to get to Koh Lipe in Thailand from Krabi

The only way to get from Krabi (Ao Nang) to the island is through Hat Yai. Direct air traffic no, so you can choose the following method:

• by bus;
• mini bass;
• Taxi.

The cost of a comprehensive ticket is about 1200 baht

Prices on the page are for September 2018.

What Koh Lipe (Thailand) lacks in attractions, it more than makes up for with beautiful beaches. To fully enjoy nature and spend your vacation in a bungalow on the seashore, prepare for your trip in advance - choose a hotel, book tickets.

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How to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok is a popular question among independent travelers. The tropical island of Lipe, located in the southwest of Thailand, is not only a piece of paradise, but also unique place of this country. The fact is that this island is a protected area with unique flora and fauna. Many tourists who come to Thailand for a vacation or to live in this country definitely try to get here. Let's look at how to get to Koh Lipe from the northeastern resorts or from the capital of the state, Bangkok.

To get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, you'll need to break up your trip in several stages. The first is a flight by plane, bus or train. The second is a trip to the pier and the third is a trip by ferry or speed boat.

Koh Lipe: how to get there by plane

You can get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok by plane. More precisely, get to the cities closest to the pier.
From Bangkok you can take a plane, which is located at a considerable distance from the coastline, but here is the closest airport to the island.

The service is carried out by low-cost airlines Nok Air and Air Asia. Ticket prices vary widely, depending on the season. Prices start from 1200 baht.

In addition, to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, you can. The flight to it is a little closer and it is located directly on the coastline, but getting there by water will take much longer, is more expensive and requires a transfer.

Koh Lipe, Thailand: how to get there by train

If the cost of a plane ticket seems very expensive to you or for some reason, you will want to take a ride around Thailand and look at it from the window ground transport, then you can get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok by train.

You can board the train from Bangkok to Hat Yai at the central railway. d. Lampong Railway station (Lampong Station). The train schedule can be viewed on the website of this station, and you can buy tickets directly there. Ticket prices are divided into three classes and are 200 baht - 3rd class, 500 baht - 2nd class and 800 baht - 1st class. Trains take around 5 pm, but if you take the evening train you can arrive in Hat Yai early in the morning.

How to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok by bus

Another option for getting to Koh Lipe from Bangkok is by bus. Buses to Hat Yai depart from Bangkok's Sai Tai South Bus Terminal. The cost of tickets depends on the class of the bus; the most expensive tickets for air-conditioned seats will be about 700 baht. Travel time is slightly less than by train and is 13 hours. Most buses go in this direction at night and leave in the evening.

Koh Lipe Island: how to get there on your own by transfer and ferry

You can buy tickets for the transfer minibus at the airport or bus station in Hat Yai. It will take you directly to the pier in Pak Barra town to reach Koh Lipe on your own. This is very convenient, since you don’t have to stand in line separately at the pier a second time, just board the ship with the group. The trip by minibus to the pier will be 1.5-2 hours and the same by sea. The cost of such a ticket for two types of transport is about 700 baht.

Also, to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, you can take a taxi for about 1,500 baht and buy ferry tickets yourself for 400 baht. The last ferry leaves around 15.00 in the afternoon. So if you don’t want to lose a precious day by spending it on the pier, you should plan your route so as to arrive in the city no later than noon.

From the city of Trang the situation is similar, but since it is located right on the coastline, the transfer to the pier takes less time, but the cost of ferry tickets is much more expensive, and the travel distance is longer.

By speed boat

Links to Lipe Island are also provided by speedboats from Bandhaya and Satun Pak Barra. The cost of such a trip will be about 1,500 baht, but travel time is reduced by almost half. Boats depart when they are full and if you have significant funds, this can be a backup option if you do not have time to catch the ferry.

How to get to Koh Lipe from Phuket and Krabi

A few words about Koh Lipe, how to get there from Phuket, Krabi and other resorts. You can also get to Lipe Island on your own from other provinces of Thailand. From large resorts organized tours to Koh Lipe. You can buy tickets at a travel agency on the street. This will be the simplest option.

These are all the ways to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket.