Koh Lipe, Thailand: A Low-Budget Maldives You Deserve

Koh Lipe, located in the southern Andaman Sea, is one of the southernmost islands in Thailand, belonging to Satun Province, Thailand. It is close to Tarutao National Marine Park on the border of Malaysia, so you can get there from Hat Yai, Thailand, or Langkawi, Malaysia.

This incredibly beautiful island in southern Thailand is little known due to its inconvenient transportation, making it isolated from the world, peaceful and tranquil, full of rugged primitive beauty. It is one of the few quiet places in Thailand. In recent years, AirAsia has opened up car-and-boat combined transportation to Koh Lipe, which has made it gradually known to the public. Compared to the hustle and bustle of Phuket and the red lights of Phi Phi, it retains more of the original flavor of Thai islands.

Thailand is a natural country for travel. There are mountains and rivers, romantic beaches, food and culture. Many tourists who love Thailand are keen on its islands. It is a country that you will never tire of, even if you go to it N+1 times.

Koh Lipe, as a relatively new tourist attraction in Thailand, has been well preserved in its original marine environment. It is therefore considered the most beautiful island by Thais, and is also known as the Maldives of Thailand. The sand is fine and white, very comfortable. The marine life is diverse and colorful, making it ideal for diving and other activities. However, be careful of the coral underfoot while playing.

Koh Lipe is located at the border between Thailand and Malaysia, so there are two routes to the island.

Route 1: From Thailand

Route 2: From Langkawi, Malaysia

The number and timing of boat services on both routes will vary depending on the season. The peak season is typically from mid-October to mid-May of the following year, and the off-season is from mid-May to mid-October.

From Thailand

The closest Thai airport to Koh Lipe is Hat Yai Airport. You need to take a domestic flight from Bangkok to Hat Yai Airport, then take a two-hour car ride to Pak para Pier, and then take a 1.5-hour boat ride to Koh Lipe.

The last boat in the off-season is at 2:30 pm, while the last boat in the peak season is at 3:30 pm. Regardless of the season, the actual departure time of the boat will be half an hour later than the schedule, because there are always tourists who have booked tickets in advance but cannot arrive on time, so the boatman will wait for half an hour before setting sail.

Currently, there are direct flights to Krabi from the Pearl River Delta region. You can also fly to Krabi from China, and take a car from Krabi to Koh Lanta, and then take a boat from Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe.

During peak season, there are four boats departing daily from Pakbara Pier (Hat Yai) to Koh Lipe, at 09:30-11:30, 11:30-13:30, 13:30-15:30 (not available in the off-season), and 15:30-17:30.

There are also four boat departures from the island, at 09:30-11:30, 11:30-13:30, 13:30-15:30, and 16:30-18:30.

You can choose the departure time based on your flight time. You will need to pay an entry fee of 20 baht per person + a 200 baht island development fee when you board the island from Hat Yai pier.

From Malaysia

Langkawi is a Malaysian island that is much larger than Koh Lipe. It takes about 20 minutes from Langkawi Airport to the pier, and then you can take a 1-hour boat ride from Langkawi Pier to Koh Lipe. However, the boat from Langkawi to Koh Lipe is only available during peak season, so you can only board from Hat Yai during the off-season.

Also, boarding from Langkawi requires an additional Malaysian visa, so it is more convenient to board from Hat Yai while you are taking advantage of Thailand’s visa-free entry.

After seeing all these twists and turns, you may be a bit dizzy. But when Koh Lipe appears before your eyes, it’s all worth it. It’s definitely worth traveling thousands of miles for.

Koh Lipe Beaches

There are three beaches on the island:
Sunset Beach, on the northwest side, where the transportation from the mainland comes and goes, is a bit crowded;
Sunrise Beach, on the east side, has a long coastline and many mid-range hotels nearby;
Pattaya Beach, on the south side, has the finest sand, but there are more long-tailed boats docked there, and there are bars, which are lively at night.

Transportation on the Island

The entire island is small, and you can basically walk around it; or you can rent a motorcycle here, which costs about 150-200 baht/day; or you can take a tricycle, which is actually a motorcycle with a bucket car attached to it, they call it TAXI, and the price is 50 baht/person.

Suggested Itinerary

DAY1

From anywhere – Phuket / Bangkok (transfer) – Hat Yai – board the island, go deep into the island, experience the rural atmosphere and explore the area.

DAY2

Take a day trip to nearby islands, explore the underwater world, pure white beaches, crystal clear water, and experience the tranquility of the ocean.

DAY3

Sleep in, have a hearty brunch, relax on the beach in the natural swimming pool, go on a magical snorkeling trip in the afternoon, experience the sunset in the sea, and encounter a magical “blue tears”.

DAY4

Another sleep-in morning, experience the various amenities provided by the hotel, have a massage facing the sea in the afternoon, watch the sunset on Sunset Beach in the evening, and then join the fun in the bustling and lively pedestrian street.

DAY5

After breakfast, leave the charming and peaceful Koh Lipe and go to Hat Yai for sightseeing and shopping, which has a “Penang feel”.

Sa Wan Resort

Lipe Island Pattaya Beach Mali Resort

A large lawn, facing the sea, spring is in the air

Akira Lipe Resort

I don’t know why the rating is so low, but after experiencing it myself, I think it’s amazing. The first floor rooms have direct access to the swimming pool.

Here, there are fine white beaches, turquoise to deep blue waters, prices lower than other popular islands in Thailand, not too many tourists, a slow pace of life. The whole of Koh Lipe exudes a lazy, leisurely vibe, and is the perfect choice for a getaway.