All routes to Koh Lipe, depending on where you start.
Koh Lipe has no airport, so all arrivals involve a speedboat. From anywhere in Thailand, the route leads via Hat Yai year-round. You can fly or take the night train to Hat Yai and from there, a combined van and speedboat ticket will take you from Pak Bara Pier to Koh Lipe. The journey takes approximately four hours and costs 950 baht. From Malaysia, ferries depart from Langkawi in about 90 minutes from mid-October to May. The Thai immigration office is located on the beach upon arrival.
Check the latest flight times and seat availability for Hat Yai → Koh Lipe on 12Go.
From mid-October to May, speedboats operate along the Andaman coast from Phuket (approx. 5 hours, 2,500 baht), Koh Phi Phi (approx. 4 hours, 2,350 baht), Koh Lanta (3 hours, 1,700 baht), and Ao Nang or Railay (approx. 5 hours, 2,400 baht). Outside of these months, there are no boats to Langkawi and the islands; Pak Bara is then the only access point. Below you will find all routes with schedules and prices, as well as information on how to get there and back.
Accommodation in Koh Lipe
This route ends in Koh Lipe. Search for hotels in Koh Lipe for your travel dates or narrow your search to the specific region you wish to visit. Filter for hotels with free cancellation if you'd like to book a room and decide later.
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My picks in every price category on Koh Lipe
Key facts
The nearest airport is Hat Yai (HDY).
Nineteen daily non-stop flights from Don Mueang with Thai Lion Air, Thai AirAsia and Nok Air, and seven flights from Suvarnabhumi with Thai VietJet and THAI; flight time approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, price approximately 1,400 Baht.
Pak Bara is the only route that is open all year round.
Speedboats depart from Pak Bara at 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM, with an additional departure at 9:30 AM starting in December. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs 700 baht. A ticket for the van and boat from Hat Yai costs 950 baht.
Boats to Langkawi and the islands operate from mid-October to May.
The ferries to Langkawi operate from October 15th to the end of May, the speedboats from Lanta, Phi Phi and Phuket from October 15th to May 20th and from Ao Nang from November 1st to May 4th.
The parking fee must be paid in cash.
Koh Lipe is located within Tarutao National Park, so the entrance fee is 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. Bring extra baht for the entrance fee and for the longtail boat ride from the boat to the beach, approximately 50 baht.
Malaysia is one hour ahead.
The ferry schedules for Langkawi are given in Malaysian time, while those for Lipe are given in Thai time. Therefore, a 90-minute crossing may appear as 30 minutes on a booking website.
All routes to Koh Lipe compared
Bundhaya's timetables and prices are from their live booking search; Telaga's from their own timetable and reservation search; flights from Google Flights for a weekday in November; bus and minivan combinations from 12Go, whose prices include a booking fee. Times in the Langkawi lines refer to Thai arrival time.
Bookable departures · updated daily
Hat Yai → Koh Lipe: Departure times you can book now
All flights currently bookable via 12Go on this route, sorted by booking class. The prices shown are distributed across the different booking classes; the exact price for a seat and a specific date can be found on the booking page.
Minivan
Ferry & Speedboat
12Go timetables and fares are updated daily. Services that operate only locally—regular trains, weekend trips, and ferry terminal tickets—are not listed; these can be found in the table above. Sponsored link: We may receive a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Check the connection from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe by van and boat for your date.
12Go lists combined van and speedboat tickets from Hat Yai Airport and the city, including departure times from the providers and e-tickets. Prices include a booking fee.
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From Bangkok
Bangkok is about 940 km from Pak Bara, so almost everyone flies the first leg of their journey. Hat Yai Airport is the best choice for this. On a weekday in November, there were 19 direct flights from Don Mueang Airport with Thai Lion Air, Thai AirAsia, and Nok Air, starting at around 1,400 baht, as well as seven flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport with Thai VietJet and THAI, all with a flight time of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The choice of flight determines the daily schedule. The van and speedboat from Bundhaya depart from Hat Yai Airport at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, arriving in Lipe at 1:00 and 3:00 PM for 950 baht. With an early flight, you'll be on the beach by early afternoon.
Trang is the other airport. Flights from Don Mueang depart in the morning around 7:55 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. (according to the 12Go flight schedule). Trang is about 110 km from Pak Bara, making it slightly closer than Hat Yai. Minibuses run from the airport and Trang town to Pak Bara in the morning, so the earliest flight is recommended.
The night train is the slower but more comfortable option. Special train No. 31 departs Bangkok at 4:50 PM and arrives in Hat Yai at 7:05 AM. Air-conditioned second-class sleeper berths are available from approximately 1,003 baht. It's too late for the 9:00 AM airport shuttle, but the city shuttle departs at 8:30 AM and arrives in Lipe at 1:00 PM. Alternatively, there are two night trains to Trang, leaving Bangkok at approximately 6:50 PM and 8:30 PM.
The cheapest way to travel is with a combined bus and ferry ticket. Travel agencies on Khao San Road and at the southern bus station sell overnight buses that connect with a morning ferry. The buses depart between 4:00 and 5:15 p.m. and arrive in Lipe the following day around 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tickets cost approximately US$79–94 through 12Go. It's a long night for the savings.
Which flight from Bangkok goes on which ship?
Flight times from Bangkok to Hat Yai are provided by 12Go and may vary depending on the flight schedule. Please check your flight times before booking the van. Van and boat times are provided by Bundhaya. Road distances are based on OSRM route planning via OpenStreetMap.
Breakdown of the trip and return to Bangkok
If your flight doesn't arrive until after 11:00 AM, or if you don't want to travel in one day, a stopover on the mainland is recommended. Minibuses from Hat Yai to Pak Bara depart in the morning. Therefore, rent a car at the airport (approximately 153 km, a two-and-a-half-hour drive) and stay overnight in Pak Bara to catch the ferry the following morning. Pak Bara is located in Satun Province, for which there are no travel warnings from the UK, the US, or Canada. Canada advises against travel to Hat Yai itself, so I wouldn't plan an overnight stay there. Trang is another good stopover; minibuses to Pak Bara depart from there in the morning.
On the return journey, you'll reach Bangkok on the same day. The 9:30 AM boat from Lipe arrives at Hat Yai Airport around 1:30 PM, in time for the afternoon flights to Don Mueang starting at approximately 3:20 PM. The 11:30 AM boat reaches the airport around 3:30 PM, in time for the evening flights to both airports in Bangkok. I wouldn't book a flight before approximately 3:00 PM, as the speedboat's arrival depends on sea conditions.
From Hat Yai and Pak Bara
Pak Bara, a pier in Satun province, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Hat Yai Airport, is the gateway to the mainland and the only year-round ferry route to Lipe. The Bundhaya combination ticket is the easiest option. The van departs from Hat Yai Airport at 9:00 and 11:00 (arriving in town at 8:30 and 10:30), and the boat reaches Lipe at 13:00 or 15:00 for 950 baht. If you are already in Pak Bara, the speedboat trip alone costs 700 baht and departs at 11:30 and 13:30, with an additional departure at 9:30 in December. Other operators sell the same van-boat combination through 12Go, which also offers private transfers from the airport to the pier.
Hat Yai is located in Songkhla province. The UK advises against all but essential travel to four districts in southern Songkhla and along the Hat Yai–Padang Besar railway line. Canada advises against all travel to Hat Yai. Neither travel advisory mentions Satun, where Pak Bara and Lipe are located, nor the Canadian government. Please check your government's current travel advice before traveling and read my safety guide to understand the specific recommendations.
The best-rated hotels in Koh Lipe
Here is my ranking of the 10 best hotels in Koh Lipe. Each button will take you directly to the hotel's page on Booking.com, where you can enter your travel dates.
From Langkawi, Malaysia
Langkawi is the closest town to Lipe and can be reached by ferry in 90 minutes. Two ferry companies offer the crossing from October 15th to the end of May. Telaga Terminal departs from Telaga Port on Langkawi's northwest coast, 15-20 minutes from the airport. During the high season (November 1st to April 15th), the ferry departs at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM Malaysian Time, arriving in Lipe at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM Thai Time. At the beginning and end of the season, there is one departure per day. The fare is RM 160 plus a RM 10 surcharge and a RM 3 booking fee, totaling RM 173 each way. A longtail boat transfer to the beach is included. Bundhaya departs from Kuah Jetty in Langkawi's capital city at 9:15 AM and 2:00 PM from November to March, and daily at 10:15 AM before and after these times. The fare is 1,400 ฿. The Langkawi–Koh Lipe travel guide includes timetables, terminal selection, and return travel information.
You will pass through Malaysian immigration at the terminal, and the crew will collect your passports for Thai immigration, which takes place after you land at an office on Pattaya Beach. Expect passport control to take between 20 minutes and one hour. Complete the digital entry card for Thailand before your trip. From June to mid-October, there is no direct boat service; the route involves taking a ferry from Kuah to Tammalang Pier in Satun, then a minibus to Pak Bara, and finally a speedboat. The entire journey takes approximately 5 to 6 hours.
From Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Krabi and Trang
From October 15th to May 20th, island-hopping boats operate from Bundhaya along the Andaman coast to Koh Lipe. They depart from Rassada Pier in Phuket at 8:30 am and arrive at Koh Lipe at 1:30 pm. During peak season, there is an additional departure at 10:00 am. The fare is 2,500 baht. The "Phuket – Koh Lipe" guidebook lists all boats, the transfer in Koh Lanta, and the land route. From Tonsai on Koh Phi Phi, boats depart at 9:30 am or 11:00 am for 2,350 baht, and from Saladan on Koh Lanta at 10:30 am or 12:30 pm for 1,700 baht. The three-hour journey includes stops at Koh Ngai, Koh Mook, and Koh Kradan. From there, you can also start the tour for 1,400–1,600 baht. The guidebook "Koh Lanta – Koh Lipe" lists all boats departing from Saladan as well as the island stops. The boat departs from Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang at 10:10 a.m. and from Railay East at 10:30 a.m. Both arrive at Lipe at 3:30 p.m. for 2,400 baht. These trips run from November 1st to May 4th.
Outside of peak season, or from Krabi Town and Trang, Pak Bara can be reached by road and then by speedboat. Minibuses depart from hotels in Ao Nang around 6:00 AM and arrive in Lipe in the early afternoon. Minibuses also depart from the airport, train station, and Trang city center in the morning, arriving in Lipe around 1:30 PM. All tickets are available through 12Go for approximately US$30–35.
Arrival on Koh Lipe
Lipe doesn't have a dock for large boats. During the season, they dock at floating platforms off Pattaya Beach, from where you can take a longtail boat to the beach for about 50 baht (included in some tickets). During the rainy season, the boats often dock at Sunrise Beach instead. Visitors pay the Tarutao National Park entrance fee in cash: 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. Those arriving from Langkawi must queue at the immigration office on the beach before continuing their journey.
Leaving Koh Lipe
Speedboats to Pak Bara depart from Lipe year-round at 9:30, 11:30, and 13:30. Through tickets from Bundhaya arrive at Hat Yai Airport at 13:30, 15:30, or 17:30. For an evening flight, the 9:30 or 11:30 ferry is recommended. During peak season, island-hopping boats depart north towards Lanta and Phuket at 9:00. A second ferry departs at 12:00 during the high season. Ferries to Langkawi depart from late morning onwards. Since the ferries to Langkawi operate on Malaysian time, you will arrive there an hour later than the stated arrival time suggests.
For Ao Nang and Railay, the speedboat departs Bundhaya at 9:00 AM, arrives at Railay East at 2:50 PM, and at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang at 3:00 PM for 2,400 baht. It operates once daily from November 1st to May 20th. The Tigerline speedboat also departs at 9:00 AM and arrives at Railay East at 1:45 PM for approximately 1,950 baht. The Krabi to Koh Lipe guidebook describes both routes, as well as the van journey via Pak Bara. For Langkawi, ferries depart Koh Lipe for Kuah Jetty or Telaga at 10:30 AM, 10:45 AM, and between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM (Thai time) for approximately 1,400–1,600 baht.
Boats leaving Koh Lipe, to destination
12Go's offers for mid-November and mid-December include the booking fee. Boats to Langkawi and the Andaman Coast operate during the same season, from mid-October to May, as boats to Lipe; outside of this period, only the route to Pak Bara is served.
Plan the rest of your trip
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about traveling to Koh Lipe.
Fly to Hat Yai and from there take the van and speedboat from Bundhaya via Pak Bara (950 baht). Departure is at 9:00 or 11:00, arriving in Lipe at 13:00 or 15:00. This service operates year-round. From mid-October to May, the 90-minute ferry crossing from Langkawi is the more convenient option if you are traveling from Malaysia.
Approximately five hours. The speedboat from Bundhaya departs from Rassada Pier at 8:30 a.m. from October 15th to May 20th and arrives in Lipe at 1:30 p.m. The fare is 2,500 baht. Outside of these months, there is no boat service; the route then goes via the road to Pak Bara.
Yes, from October 15th to the end of May. Ferries from Telaga Terminal depart from Telaga Port (RM 173 including all fees) and from Bundhaya from Kuah Pier (1,400 THB). The journey takes approximately 90 minutes in each case. Thai immigration control takes place at Pattaya Beach on Lipe. From June to mid-October, the route goes via Satun and Pak Bara.
Fly to Hat Yai (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, from around 1,400 baht) on a flight arriving around 10:00 AM, and from there take a minibus and speedboat for 950 baht. Alternatively, you can take the night bus No. 31 to Hat Yai (arriving at 7:05 AM) and from there the city bus at 8:30 AM. Tickets for the night bus and boat trip from Khao San Road cost approximately US$79–94, and the journey takes about 19 hours.
The drive to Pak Bara pier is approximately 940 km, from where it takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes by speedboat. The flight to Hat Yai also takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the entire journey from Don Mueang by van and boat takes six to seven hours.
No. The nearest airports are Hat Yai in Thailand, about a 2.5-hour drive from Pak Bara Pier, and Langkawi in Malaysia, a 90-minute ferry ride away.
From December to April, when the sea is calm, all boats operate. Island-hopping boats and ferries to Langkawi start on October 15th; from late May to mid-October, only the Pak Bara runs, and the crossing can be rough.
200 Baht for adults and 100 Baht for children, payable in cash, as Lipe is located in Tarutao National Park.
From mid-October to May, you can take the ferry. Boats depart from Lipe at 10:45 AM and 3:30 PM (Thai time) from Kuah Pier and from Telaga Port at 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM (Thai time). The crossing takes about 90 minutes, with arrival between 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM Malaysian time. The fare is approximately 1,400–1,600 baht. From June to mid-October, the return journey goes via Pak Bara and Satun instead.
During the season, you travel by speedboat. Bundhaya departs at 9:00 AM and arrives in Railay East at 2:50 PM and Ao Nang at 3:00 PM for 2,400 baht; Tigerline departs at 9:00 AM and arrives in Railay at 1:45 PM for approximately 1,950 baht. Outside of the season, you take a boat to Pak Bara and from there a van northwards; the journey takes about six to seven hours, the same as the outward journey.
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I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled throughout the country from there. The guidebooks reflect my personal opinion and are written as I would explain things to a friend planning a trip.
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