Where is Koh Lipe?
Koh Lipe is a small island in the Andaman Sea (that’s the Phuket side of Thailand) in the South near the Thai-Malay border. Koh Lipe is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park, Thailand’s largest marine park. When we say small, we mean really small. Koh Lipe is about 3.5km by 2.5km and there are only a couple of thousand rooms on the whole island. This of course is part of its attraction, small, remote, surrounded by uninhabited islands and breathtaking beauty. There aren’t many places in Thailand which offer the same attractions.
Getting To Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is 60km from the nearest Thai port, Pak Bara, and 40km from Langkawi.. The easiest way to get to Koh Lipe is from either Pak Bara or Langkawi, but during the high season these are not the only ways to get here. The high season is from early November to late April and there are speed boats and ferries connecting Koh Lipe with all the islands and areas up and down the coast including Koh Lanta, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket.
During the low season, from May to the end of October, the only direct boats to Koh Lipe are from Pak Bara. To get to Koh Lipe from Langkawi you can travel via Satun to Pak Bara and catch a speed boat to Koh Lipe.
The journey between Pak Bara and Koh Lipe takes about 90 minutes direct, but during the season some boats stop at Tarutao or other islands along the way making for a longer journey. Make sure you take some bottled water with you.
If you are outside Thailand you can either fly to Bangkok, Langkawi, Hat Yai, Krabi or Phuket.
From Bangkok
From Bangkok fly to Hat Yai. From Hat Yai travel to Pak Bara, the journey by taxi takes about 90 minutes. When booking a flight make sure you leave enough time to catch a ferry or speed boat. Once at Pak Bara you are nearly there, take a boat to Koh Lipe.
If you don’t want to fly then the other options are train or long distance bus to Hat Yai.
From Phuket
If you fly into Phuket then during the high season you can travel down by ferry or speed boat to Koh Lipe. The coastal road in this area has got some great scenery. You can travel by bus or taxi to Pak Bar, and catch a speed boat to Koh Lipe.
From Langkawi
Once you’ve made it to Langkawi you are only a short boat ride to Koh Lipe. During the high season this route can get very busy and you should book your tickets in advance and remember to confirm your return ticket too. Be aware that in low season there is no immigration on Koh Lipe and you cannot travel directly from Langkawi Koh Lipe.
From Hat Yai
From Hat Yai it takes about 90 minutes by taxi to the port Pak Bara. We can book a taxi for you.
Arriving in Koh Lipe
Once you arrive in Koh Lipe the speed boat or ferry will stop offshore outside the coral reefs. You will either get off the boat directly into local long tail taxi boats, or onto a pontoon and then on to local long tail taxi boats. The boats will take you anywhere for 50 Baht per person. Tell them to go to Castaway. During the high season the taxis may try and drop you off on Pattaya Beach telling you Castaway is close. Castaway is close (everywhere is close on Koh Lipe) but it’s still a 10 minute walk with a hill, so insist on being dropped off directly at Castaway.
