How to get to Koh Lipe from anywhere in Thailand & Malaysia.

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Koh Lipe is one of Thailand’s most beautiful islands on the Andaman coast. It belongs to the province of Satun and sits very close to the Malaysian border. While it has had issues with overtourism in the last few years like many other paradisical islands, I still consider Koh Lipe worth a trip. Especially if you are a waterbaby and scuba diver. The scuba diving in Koh Lipe is some of the best Thailand has to offer, and the clear turquoise water has given the island the nickname “Maldives of Thailand”. 

However, when it comes to the question – how to get to Koh Lipe – the answer is rarely straightforward. Compared to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui, or Koh Tao, it takes a bit more effort and time to get there, and it usually involves at least one boat trip. Getting to paradise is never easy. 

In this article, I will break it down for you how to get to Koh Lipe from various places in Thailand and also from Malaysia. 

Quick guide for your Koh Lipe Trip

How to get to Koh Lipe – the fast, the easy & the cheap way

Koh Lipe sits in the Andaman Sea about 1,5 hours by speedboat from the mainland. The closest harbor is Pakbara, and Hat Yai is the closest airport to Koh Lipe. However, there are plenty of other boat connections if you are coming from other islands in the Andaman Sea or even from Langkawi in Malaysia. 

Please note that Koh Lipe’s high season runs from November until April. Boat times and frequency can change in the low season and be affected by the weather. 

How to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok

Getting from Bangkok to Koh Lipe takes a while but is pretty straightforward. If you want the cheapest, you can book a bus + van + ferry trip in one go. However, this trip will take you about 20 hours so not an option I would entertain. 

A better option is to fly from Bangkok to Hat Yai, take a van to the pier in Pakbara, and then a speedboat. I did this as a return trip when I was heading from Koh Lipe to Bangkok and it was pretty straightforward. 

I booked a speed boat ticket with a transfer to the airport while I was on Koh Lipe, but you can also book it online. After that, I had booked a Lion Air flight from Hat Yai to Don Mueang in Bangkok. 

That said, if you book these tickets as a stand-alone, your connections won’t be guaranteed. Considering how the weather can cause delays, it wasn’t the smartest idea in hindsight. 

Especially as I learned afterward that Air Asia offers a connecting package with a flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai, a van to Pakbara, and a speedboat to Koh Lipe with all your connections protected by the airline. And they offer the same return trip if you are heading from Koh Lipe to Bangkok. 

Prices start at $80 which is no more than I paid. 

Book a ticket from Bangkok to Koh Lipe with Air Asia

However, if you end up having a longer layover at Hat Yai airport, don’t fret – it is a pretty nice airport that has a few okay dining options and even a small but very charming lounge. 

By the way, if you are heading from Chiang Mai to Koh Lipe, you will also need a stop in Bangkok. 

How to get to Koh Lipe from Hat Yai

Hat Yai town is about 120 km from Pakbara Pier and the airport is only a little closer. You can usually book your boat ticket and transfer from Hat Yai to the pier on one ticket. From Pakbara it takes about 2 hours on a good day. 

How to get to Koh Lipe from the Gulf Islands

If you are coming from one of the Gulf islands, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, or Koh Phangan, you are in for a long trip if you want to go to Koh Lipe. Heading there in one day is basically impossible. This is due to the fact that Hat Yai offers very few direct flights so you will most likely have to go via Bangkok. 

The only exception is one connection with a ferry + van + ferry but this will also take you about 18 hours. 

What is your best alternative? Plan a night stopover in Bangkok! I did this during my most recent trip when I headed from Koh Lipe to Koh Tao. My trip went like this: 

• Koh Lipe to Pakbara
• Pakbara to Hat Yai airport
• Hat Yai to Don Mueang

Then I spent the night at the amazing Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel and boarded an early flight the next morning to Surat Thani. From there I boarded a ferry to Koh Tao. 

Read more: How to get to Koh Tao

Admittedly it was quite a mission, but made a lot more bareable thanks to my night at the Amari which is so close to both terminals at Don Mueang that you can just walk. 

Book a room at Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok

If you are going from Koh Samui to Koh Lipe you will need to do the same kind of trip. However, it will be a bit pricier as only Bangkok Airways flies to Koh Samui with prices to match. Make sure to book a flight to Don Mueang (Bangkok Airways flies to both airports in Bangkok) or you will have to switch airports the next day and add even more travel time.

Read more: How to get to Koh Samui

Do I have to stay overnight in Bangkok when heading from the Gulf of Thailand to Koh Tao? Unfortunately yes, the boat and flight travel times won’t line up to do it all in one day. 

How to go to Koh Lipe from Phuket, Krabi or Koh Lanta

Whether you are coming from Phuket or wonder about how to get to Koh Lipe from Krabi, a boat trip is involved, sometimes a long one. 

The Phuket to Koh Lipe ferry (it is called a ferry but is actually a speedboat) will leave from Jian Wanich Pier, Phuket, and take about 5 hours. From Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lipe, it takes about 4 hours and from the Saladan pier in Koh Lanta, it takes 3 hours. Depending on the route there might be stops at some of the smaller islands on the way. 

Sometimes travel times shown will be longer as they include a transfer from your location in Phuket, Koh Lanta and Krabi to the respective pier you are departing from. 

How to get to Koh Lipe from Langkawi, Malaysia

Koh Lipe is a bit of a unique place in Thailand because it is the only island with a small immigration office right on the beach. This is due to the fact that many visitors come here straight from Langkawi in Malaysia. 

In Langkawi most boats leave from Kuah Jetty and it will take about 1,5 hours by speedboat to go to Koh Lipe. You will need to make sure to have your passport and visa in order (if you need a visa) before you board your boat. This also applies if you are heading from Koh Lipe to Langkawi and want to enter Malaysia. 

Tips for your boat trip to Koh Lipe 

Where to sit on the boat // Since only speed boats go to Koh Lipe do yourself a favor and try to sit as far in the back as possible – it is a lot less bumpy there. However, don’t sit all the way in the back by the engines as this part usually gets a lot of spray, and passengers tend to get very wet. 

Luggage // While most operators have limitations on luggage, my suitcase has never been weighed. That said, if you bring a few pieces it is better to check before. Usually, the crew will give you a luggage tag as well as a sticker for your shirt with the name of your final destination. 

Once you are at the pier, the they will take your luggage and bring it on board. 

Arrival in Koh Lipe // The pier in Koh Lipe is a very wobbly ponton that goes onto Pattaya Beach. From there you will need to carry your luggage to the arrival area. All visitors have to pay a 200 Baht fee for the marine park. The ticket is valid for 5 days. If you plan on scuba diving you will need to pay more, however, this is charged separately by the dive centers. 

Once you have paid you can get a motorbike taxi with a sidecar that are pretty much the only public transport in Koh Lipe. The fee is a set 50 baht, however, drivers will often ask for more. That said, just insist on 50 baht and you are good to go. 

Departure from Koh Lipe // Boats depart from Pattaya Beach as well and you will check in with your operator on the beach in front of the Walking Street exit. This is a bit unfortunate if you are relying on wheeling your suitcase as you will need to walk a bit on the beach. Once you have checked in though, the crew will sort out your luggage and take it to the boat.