On this information, we’re going to break down how you can get to Koh Lipe rapidly and simply. Attending to Koh Lipe generally is a longer journey day, however it’s well worth the journey – and we’ll present you the way.
We first visited Koh Lipe on a whim after we had been in Langkawi, Malaysia. We noticed photos of Koh Lipe and took the subsequent speedboat. That was 10+ years in the past and it’s nonetheless our favourite place in Thailand, if not the world.
Listed below are all of the completely different choices on how you can get to Koh Lipe from nearly wherever!
The place is Koh Lipe?
Koh Lipe is a tiny island within the Andaman Sea accessible solely by boat. It’s the Southernmost island in Thailand, near the Malaysian border. The mainland and nearest Thai port is Pak Bara, which is 37 miles (60 km) away. Koh Lipe is 25 miles (40 km) from Langkawi, Malaysia.
Ferry to Koh Lipe
The ultimate step to get to Koh Lipe is a ship from Pak Bara, Langkawi, or different Thai Islands on the Andaman Sea.
Pak Bara Pier (Thailand) – That is the solely place the place you possibly can journey to Koh Lipe year-round. All the opposite routes are closed in the course of the wet season. Click on right here for Koh Lipe ferry timetables.
Langkawi, Malaysia – Throughout the Excessive Season in Thailand (mid-October – Could thirty first), boats additionally run to and from Langkawi, Malaysia. Guide ferry tickets on-line right here
Thai Island Ferry – In excessive season, you possibly can take ferries from Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket, and several other small islands within the Andaman Sea. It is a nice choice in the event you plan on Island Hopping in Thailand. (November to April) Examine Routes and Scedules Right here
Attending to Koh Lipe by Air
Sadly, a Koh Lipe airport doesn’t exist, you cannot fly on to Koh Lipe. The closest airport is Hat Yai, Thailand.
There are home flights to Hat Yai from throughout Thailand. That is the best choice for many vacationers.
Worldwide vacationers will doubtless have to have a connection in Bangkok or one other regional hub like Kuala Lumpur. You might need to e book the tickets individually to be less expensive, simply control the airport codes as a result of huge cities in Southeast Asia have separate airports for home low-cost airways.
It’s attainable to fly to Langkawi and take the ferry from there, however this isn’t as straightforward and is barely beneficial if the flight saving is justified. Attending to Koh Lipe could be very easy from Hat Yai, however extra cumbersome from Langkawi.
3 Straightforward Methods to Journey to Koh Lipe
1. Bangkok to Koh Lipe
The quickest method is to fly to Hat Yai from Bangkok. Home flights in Thailand are tremendous low-cost and a lot quicker than taking the bus or practice. In case you are touring to Thailand on a price range, you would take a 15-hour practice to Hat Yai or a 17-hour bus and make your solution to Hat Yai airport.
One of the simplest ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Lipe is to fly to Hat Yai Worldwide Airport (HDY). It’s a fast 1.5-hour flight. There are a number of flights a day on varied airways; anticipate one-way flight costs to be between $40-$75.
When looking for flights to Hat Yai, ensure to go looking each airports in Bangkok DMK and BKK. A number of of the price range Thai airways like Air Asia and Nok Air fly out of this airport. We primarily flew with Air Asia.
TIP: Double-check if you’re flying out of BKK or DMK airport in Bangkok. You don’t need to go to the improper airport and miss your flight.
When you land in Hat Yai, you are taking a 1.5 – 2 hour shuttle bus or taxi to Pak Bara Pier. There are shuttle buses to Pak Bara Pier proper from the airport. You’ll be able to e book tickets upfront on-line right here, which embrace each the shuttle to Pak Bara Pier and the ferry to Koh Lipe.
As soon as on the Pakbara Pier, you’ll get on a speedboat to Koh Lipe. The boat journey takes wherever from 1.5-2 hours. We recommend having your passport and electronics with you in your seat in a dry bag. The boat journey to Koh Lipe will be tough, and it’s possible you’ll get some sea spray.
Throughout excessive season, boats from Pak Bara go away a number of instances a day between 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. When reserving your flight, ensure you have sufficient time to catch the final ferry.
If you happen to e book this ferry with Bundhaya Pace Boat or Jolly Journey, the speedboat stops within the Tarutao Nationwide Park at Koh Tarutao and Koh Khai versus a direct ferry. Koh Khai is the image above with a picture-perfect stone arch. These boats add a further hour or so to the journey.
2. Langkawi to Koh Lipe
Langkawi is the northernmost island in Malaysia and solely 30 miles away from Koh Lipe. The ferry to Koh Lipe from Langkawi takes about 90 minutes and runs from the tip of mid-October till Could thirty first. You’ll be able to verify ferry instances and e book ferry tickets on-line right here.
Double-check your ticket for which Langkawi port you booked. There are two ports in Langkawi, Telaga and Jeti Kuah. Each have immigration, and each supply speedboats from Langkawi to Koh Lipe.
Be certain to get to the port at the least an hour early; it’s important to move by means of Malaysia immigration earlier than getting on the boat. The workers will maintain your passport, and when you’ve arrived in Thailand, you’ll go to the immigration workplace, which is true off Pattaya Seashore, the place the ferry docks on Strolling Road.
Immigration in Koh Lipe is a sizzling mess. As quickly because the boat docks, you go straight to immigration. Right here, you wait till the immigration officer calls your title and arms your passport again. It strikes sluggish…we waited over an hour.
Relying on which Thai island you might be coming from, the journey time and value will range. The closest Thai island is Koh Mook, which is lower than 2 hours away. The furthest is Phuket; the ferry from Phuket to Koh Lipe is 5 hours. Different islands Koh Kradan (2 hours), Koh Ngai (2-3 hours), Koh Lanta (3 hours), Koh Phi Phi (4-5 hours). Most ferries will cease at each island to let passengers on and off, so price range that point into your journey day.
Learn: Issues to Do in Thailand
Arriving at Koh Lipe Pier
There isn’t an official pier in Koh Lipe. Speedboats and ferries use a floating platform simply off Pattaya Seashore. Passengers disembark boats right here and pay the Nationwide Park payment of 200 baht, which isn’t included in ferry tickets.
From the floating platform, you are taking a longtail boat to the seashore (50 baht). In case you are staying at a resort on Dawn Seashore, negotiate a price to take you straight there as a substitute.
Koh Lipe Map
Click on right here to see our Koh Lipe Map, which pinpoints a few of the greatest issues to do in Koh Lipe, eating places, bars, Koh Lipe seashores, greatest resorts, and extra.
