Koh Lipe island in Thailand: useful information and our review.

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Koh Lipe is a small island in the south of Thailand, next to Tarutao National Park. There are several ways to get to Koh Lipe.

You can get to Koh Lipe either by air (by plane) or by sea (by ferry).

How to get to Koh Lipe by plane

Two Thai airlines, Nok Air and Air Asia, offer combined tickets that allow you to quickly and conveniently get to Koh Lipe.

Nok Air offers flights from Bangkok to Trang, and from there a ferry transfer to the island. The transfer can be ordered directly on their website, ticket price is 2530 baht. Departure from Bangkok at 07:20, arriving in Koh Lipe by 15:15.

Air Asia flies to the city of Hat Yai, then takes tourists by bus to the Pak Bara pier, from where it delivers to the islands of Koh Lipe. Tickets can also be booked on the official Air Asia website, the price is 3,288 baht. Departure from Bangkok – 06:40, arrival in Koh Lipe – 13:00.

Please note that both airlines are low cost airlines and do not fly from the main airport Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and from Don Muang Airport.

How to get to Koh Lipe by boat

During the low season, Koh Lipe can only be reached by one boat. It departs at 11:30 from Pak Bara Jetty.

During the high season (November to May) things are much better; many carriers operate regular flights to Lipe Island:

• Adang Sea Tours: Three boats per day from Pak Bara Pier (November 1 to May 15) - 11:30, 12:30 and 14:30. Ticket price: 500-650 baht, the trip takes an hour and a half (the ferry makes stops at two other islands).
• Bundaya Resorts also sails from Pak Bara and Langkawi (Malaysia) at the same time and at the same price.
• Satun Pakbara Speed ​​Boat operates daily flights from Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe. Ferries depart at 13:00, make three stops (Ko Ngai, Ko Muk and Ko Bulon) and arrive in Ko Lipe at 16:00. Transfers to this ferry are possible from Phuket. The same company operates flights twice a day from the Telaga Terminal on the island of Langkawi in Malaysia (the distance from Langkawi to Koh Lipe is 42 kilometers). Departure from Langkawi at 09:30 and 14:30, trip duration is 1 hour. Ticket price is about 120 ringgit.
• Tigerline Ferries sail daily from Hat Yao Pier in Trang. The price of the trip is 750 baht. The same company can get to Koh Lipe even from the Phi Phi Islands: the boat departs at 8:00 and arrives in Koh Lipe at 15:30.
• Tropical Charters - two daily sailings from Langkawi during high season (November - May) at 09:45 and 14:30. From May to June, only the morning ferry runs, and from the end of May to October, the ships of this company do not sail at all. Ticket price: 118 ringgit (100 ringgit if you book a ticket on the website).

Please note: most ferries do not land on the shore, but remain on the water near Koh Lipe. Tourists are met by boats that transfer to the island for an additional 50 baht.

The Adang archipelago on the border of Thailand and Malaysia is often called the “Thai Maldives” for its snow-white sand. Lipe is the only inhabited island in this archipelago. Lovers of serene bliss come here, as well as divers, since representatives of almost a quarter of the species of marine life that exist in nature are found in the coastal waters of Ko Lipe.

Lovers of serene bliss come here, as well as divers, since representatives of almost a quarter of the species of marine life that exist in nature are found in the coastal waters of Ko Lipe.

The island does not have its own pier; boats arriving at Koh Lipe moor at a special floating platform, on which tourists transfer to small boats of local residents, who in turn take them ashore. This pleasure costs only 50 THB per person. The return trip from the island to the platform with boats will also cost 50 THB.

How to get to Lipe Island

It is easier to get to the island in the high season: ferry services are organized from many popular resorts in the Andaman Sea: Lanta, Phuket, Phi Phi, etc. In the low season, boats operate only from the Pak Bara pier, which is most conveniently accessible from the town of Hat -Yay.

From Bangkok

1. Most quick way- air travel. Flights to Hat Yai depart from Don Mueang Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi, where planes fly from Russia. Then you can take a taxi to the pier in Pakbara (about 1000 THB) or buy a comprehensive ticket to Koh Lipe at the airport for the same money. Or go to the bus terminal in Hat Yai (150 THB by tuk-tuk or 400 THB by taxi), where you can take a bus to the pier. From Hat Yai to Pakbar it takes about 2 hours.
2. In addition, at the capital's Don Muang Airport you can immediately buy a comprehensive ticket to Ko Lipe, which includes a flight, transfer to the pier and a ferry ticket. In terms of cost, such a route is comparable to an independent one, and there are no worries about changing transport: you will be met and escorted everywhere.
3. You can also get to Hat Yai from Bangkok by train. An evening train departs from Hua Lamphong Station and arrives in Hat Yai early in the morning.
4. Another budget option is a bus. They depart to Hat Yai from the capital's southern terminal and travel all night (10-12 hours). The cost of a bus trip is comparable to a train ticket, but the bus travels slightly faster than the train, and also arrives directly at the bus station.

From the pier in Pakbara you can sail to the island either by speedboat or on the so-called ferries. They take a full hour longer (2.5 hours), but sailing on them is much more comfortable than on a speedboat, which shakes from being hit by waves (and the seats are hard and uncomfortable), and the spray often hits passengers. Ticket prices for speedboats and ferries do not differ in price.

It's also worth considering that boats only operate between the mainland and the island during the day, so it's best to arrive in Pakbara as early as possible.

Search for flights to Phuket (the nearest airport to Koh Lipe)

From the southern resorts of Thailand

In the case of Lipe, islands such as Phuket and Lanta can be called “southern” only conditionally, since they are located north of the country’s southernmost archipelago. In high season, boats run from most of these southern resorts to Ko Lipe. The ticket costs about 1000-1200 THB, it will be much cheaper (but also longer) to take a bus to the pier in Pakbara and from there swim to the island.

From Malaysia

Since the island is located on the border with Malaysia, Ko Lipe can also be reached from this country. The closest to it - just 30 km - is the Malaysian island of Langkawi, from where boats start towards Thai Lipe. Guests from Malaysia go through border control upon arrival on the island, however, the checkpoint on Koh Lipe is only open in the high season; in the low season, you will have to cross the border on the mainland, in the Thai city of Satun, from there get to Pakbar and cross to Lipe.

Next to the Adang Archipelago is the Tarutao Island Nature Reserve. It's pretty large island, most of which is occupied by tropical jungle. There is no tourist infrastructure or full-fledged hotels here - only small guesthouses and private bungalows that are rented to tourists.

You can get to Tarutao in the same way as to Lipe, since boats going to it from the Pakbara pier make a stop off the coast of Tarutao. The cost of a ticket to it is about a hundred baht cheaper than to Ko Lipe.

Koh Lipe is a tiny island in the Andaman Sea in the very south of Thailand.
I visited it for the first time at the end of 2006.
And I realized that I had found a place for which I have only one definition - it’s paradise!
There are perhaps more beautiful places in Thailand, for example, the postcard Pi-Pi Don.

But Lipa had a unique combination of beauty, a special atmosphere, nature almost untouched by man, and what was especially pleasing was a very small number of people.

I was constantly being pulled back.
But as often happens, when something is close to you and easily achievable, you choose it last.
So, having traveled almost all of Southeast Asia over the past 5 years, I got to Lipe for the second time only this February.

The first thing we saw when we landed on the island:

Oopss, we're late, there's no more heaven...
There are now many hotels on the island, most of the beaches have turned into piers for boats and there are people, people, people everywhere.

Fortunately, it turned out that not everything is so sad! And pieces of the former paradise can still be found.

Fantastic water color.
Snow-white, fine sand.

Every day we had dinner at the Daya Resort restaurant, on the seashore, by candlelight.
Freshly caught fish is brought to them right before dinner. Cooked on the grill.
We ordered a grouper there - it was great!

In the mornings we went for a walk around the island, you can walk around it all in a few hours

Clear, clear water with vibrant underwater life
It's interesting to snorkel. Watching the fish.
During the week we saw several moray eels, stingrays, boxfish, schools of fish... But we saw the most interesting living creatures from the shore. Fortunately!!!

The meeting was unforgettable. We walked from the restaurant along the shore in the evening. The water was well illuminated by the lanterns of one of the hotels. At the same time, my sister and I saw some multi-meter hose swaying in the surf near the shore. As a joke (since this does not happen) they suggested that it was a snake. We managed to agree with each other that it was probably a loose cable from one of the boats. We came almost close to the shore and then the “cable” floated out into the sea with several smooth, sliding movements. Fantastic! It was a snake after all. At least 4-5 meters long.

Local wildlife

The island is inhabited by sea gypsies

Cheerful chorus girls sat and proudly drank their soda.
And only the girl on the far right thought that life was not fair and for some reason she didn’t get soda.
The decision took about five minutes to mature. All the fun ended in a fight with a massacre)))

Beggar. Literally begged me to eat something)

A farewell look at your favorite island

The only photo left from the day in Hat Yai. A small pleasant Thai town.
No special attractions. But the lanterns were impressive

Is it worth going to the island now? For me the answer is clear. Yes!
Lipe is still one of the best and most beautiful places in Thailand.
You can still find deserted beaches there. And in some places amazing views.
How long? I think no. Another couple of years and the last pieces of paradise will be swallowed up by more hotels, bars and boat moorings.
So we need to seize the moment now. There are not many places like this island in the world.

Practical information.

Ko Lipe on the map:

How to get to Koh Lipe:

1. Evening train to Trang or Hat Yai, then by minivan to Pakbara + boat to Ko Lipe island.
On the train it is better to take second class with a fan (with air conditioning - this is death from icing). Costs approximately 900 baht one way.
Minivan + boat 450-700 baht depending on the company where you buy the transfer.

2. You can also get to Hat Yai by plane. The cheapest tickets can be purchased from AirAsia.
If you buy in advance and at a promotion, you can get it almost free :)
My tickets, purchased 8 months before the flight, cost 400 baht for the flight Bangkok - Hat Yai - Bangkok.
My sister's tickets, which were purchased about a month before departure, cost 3 thousand baht
To get to Lipe on the same day, choose the first morning flights.

From the airport by minivan to the bus station (80 baht per person). From the bastion as in the first option to Pakbara, etc.
You can get to Pakbara by taxi. Price 2-2.5 thousand baht.

Where to live in Lipa:
My choice is Mountain Resort - great beach, beautiful location.
If you want to save money, then there is Andaman Resort nearby.
You can make a reservation here.

Ko Lipe is a remote island located in the south of Thailand, 20 km from the border with Malaysia. Washed by the waters of the Andaman Sea as part of the Adang Ravi archipelago, it is no longer a wild island, but an actively developing world resort.

Today the island is one of the largest in the whole South-East Asia nautical national park Tarutao. Distance from the mainland is 70 km. The number of local residents hardly exceeds 800 people, these are the sea gypsies, Chao Lei (Chao Lei) or Urak Lawoi (Urak Lawoi), who came to Thailand on the island of Lipe, from Malaysia, about 100 years ago.

Ko Lipe on the map of Thailand

Very often the name of the island is interpreted differently: Ko Lipe, Koh Lipe, Koh Laip and Ko Lipei. At the beginning of the new century, since the 2000s, with the development of low-cost air travel and sea communications, the island of Koh Lipe has truly become a popular tourist center; it is also one of the protected islands where tourists visiting Thailand can freely relax.

As for the island as a whole, activity usually calms down around midnight. Top things to do in Koh Lipe: trips to the islands National Park Tarutao, diving, snorkeling, sea activities, fishing and of course beach holidays.

It is worth considering that previously there were no ATMs on the island, but now you can find ATMs on the street, next to the 7/11 supermarket. As for exchangers, they are located almost every step, but the exchange rate is extremely unfavorable. Take care of this in advance by exchanging currency in advance, for example in Bangkok.

Prices for food and drinks in shops, bars, and restaurants are absolutely affordable. Finding a restaurant where the cost of meals is very affordable, below 100 baht, is not difficult; most are located directly on the beaches. In retail stalls and shops on the island, prices do not differ from those on the mainland, within the prices of the 7/11 store chain.

How to get to the island

There is no airport on the island, the closest is in Hat Yai. Several airlines operate flights from Suvarnabhumi: Nok Air, Tiger Air and Air Asia. Ticket prices start from 1200 baht.

Transport routes

Arriving at Hat Yai Airport, you can take advantage of the transfer service to the island, which includes a trip by minivan to Pakbara Pier, then by boat to Koh Lipe. The cost of providing services is 800 baht per person. Travel time is 1.5-2 hours from the airport to Pakbara pier, and approximately 2 hours to the island of Koh Lipe.

You can take a bus from the bus station in Sai Tai Mai (Southern Bus Terminal) to Hat Yai. You can purchase tickets in the terminal building. Travel time Bangkok - Hat Yai, 10 - 11 hours. Ticket prices depend on the class, from 700 baht per seat on an air-conditioned bus.

From Phuket, Krabi and other resorts you can get there by ship. The main carrier is Tigerline Travel. They provide good, fast boats.

Estimated cost of providing Tigerline Travel services:

• From the resorts of Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta from 1500 - 2000 baht;
• From the resorts of Ngai, Kradan and Koh Muk from 1000 - 1500 baht;
• From Hat Yao pier in Trang, approximately 750 baht.

Please note that high season is October - April. The rest of the time, ships go to the island much less often.

Transport

In general, the island is small, you can easily get around it on foot in a couple of hours. That's why public transport absent. There are few cars on the island; they are mainly used as freight transport.

But at any time you can use the services of local taxis (TAXI) - a motorcycle with a sidecar that ply around the island, delivering tourists from beach to beach.

You can rent a bicycle for 200 baht per day. A fairly popular means of transportation - boats - are also the main link with neighboring uninhabited islands. You can rent them on the shore.

Weather

The resort has a tropical climate. The year is conventionally divided into two seasons, the first of which is dry, the second is wet. The low season, also known as the wet season, lasts from May to the end of November. At this time, the weather on the islands is quite gloomy and it often rains. The second season is dry, with little rainfall. This is the season that most tourists choose to go on holiday to Thailand. At this time, the sea is quite calm, the weather is not too hot, and beautiful photos are obtained against the backdrop of blooming nature.

Housing

There is a decent selection of accommodation on the island. You can stay in a bungalow, rent an apartment or rent a hotel room starting from 500 baht, photo below. Air-conditioned rooms and bungalows hot water on average - 1000 - 1200 baht per day. There are enough such offers even during peak season, on the beaches of Sunrise, Sunset, Pattaya and the central part of the island.

Koh Lipe hotel prices vary depending on comfort and season. In order to get good accommodation, it is better to resolve the issue in advance by booking a room or bungalow a month before your trip. Because, as a rule, by the high season prices rise significantly by 1.5 - 2 times. On average, a night's stay in a decent hotel in high season will range from 1,500 - 2,000 baht.

Map of hotels on Koh Lipe

In addition to the fact that you can stay in hotels during your vacation, local hotels, as a rule, also offer a number of additional services. One of the most budget options for the traveler - a tent. There are campsites on the island, mostly on Sunset Beach.

Beaches

The resort island consists of four large beaches: Pattaya, Karma, Sunset and Sunrise. All beaches are connected by small paths through which you can quickly get from one place to another. Small and secluded beaches of the island: Sanom Beach and Bila Beach.

The main beach is Pattaya Beach. Located in the southern part of the island, it is the most popular among tourists, its shape resembles small sizes horseshoe The entire length of the coast is covered with fine white sand, the sea is calm.

On the busy Walking Street, which should not be confused with the street of the same name in the resort of Pattaya, for which Thailand is so famous, there are many cafes, bars and restaurants with different cuisines.

Many establishments have the Internet, and you can also pay by card.

Sunrise Beach, as its name suggests, is best suited for watching sunrises; you can often find similar photos on the Internet. Besides, pure water makes this place almost ideal for snorkeling and diving.

There are budget and luxury luxury hotels on the beach.

Sunset Beach is a cozy bay where you can take great photos of sunsets and relax with your loved one. The coast is quiet and peaceful, and there are some very interesting exotic restaurants on its territory.

The last of the large beaches on the island is Karma. In fact, this is just a continuation of the previous beach, which stretches far to the north. Calm sea - you can swim with children, a quiet cozy environment and the best panorama on the entire island, against which you can take great photos.

The beach infrastructure is constantly being improved, good hotels have been built, and the Internet has been installed. You can buy fresh food right on the beaches. True, at the same time, you will not find great variety products. Try different ones for which the country is so famous.

Koh Lipe is one of the best places for the holiday that Thailand gave the world. Good conditions for relaxation and the beautiful landscapes are good for doing best photos as a souvenir of a heavenly holiday.

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 either from Bangkok or from the islands and tourist centers of the southern Andaman Sea closest to Lipe. 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 2019. 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 Bangkok Central Station (Hua Lamphong Railway Station) and arrived in 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 2019, prices for transfers from neighboring islands were as follows:

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 - a 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.