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The Adang archipelago on the border of Thailand and Malaysia is often called the "Thai Maldives" for its white sand. Lipe is the only inhabited of the islands of 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 can be 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 can be found in the coastal waters of Ko Lipe.

There is no own pier on the island, boats arriving to Ko Lipe moor to a special floating platform, on which tourists change into small boats of local residents, who in turn deliver them to the shore. This pleasure costs only 50 THB per person. The return trip from the island to the boat platform will also cost 50 THB.

The feature of this archipelago is Tarutau National Park, a must-see. Prices on the page are for November 2019.

How to get to Lipe Island

It is easier to get to the island in the high season: a ferry service is organized from many popular resorts in the Andaman Sea: from Lanta, Phuket, Ph-Phi, etc. In the low season, boats run only from the Pak-Bara pier, which is most conveniently reached from the town of Hat -Yai.

From Bangkok

1. The fastest way is air travel. Flights to Hat Yai depart from Don Muang Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi, where planes from Russia arrive. Then you can take a taxi to the pier in Pakbara (about 1000 THB) or buy a complex ticket to Koh Lipe at the airport for the same money. Or get 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 about 2 hours.
2. In addition, at the capital's Don Muang Airport, you can immediately take a complex ticket to Ko Lipe, which includes a flight, a transfer to the pier and a ferry ticket. In terms of cost, such a route is comparable to an independent one, while there are no worries about changing transport: they will meet you everywhere and see you off.
3. You can also get to Hat Yai from Bangkok by train. An evening train departs Hua Lamphong Station and arrives in Hat Yai early in the morning.
4. Another budget option is the bus. They leave for Hat Yai from the southern capital terminal and go all night (10-12 hours). In terms of cost, a bus ride is comparable to a train ticket, while the bus travels somewhat faster than the train, and besides, it arrives immediately at the bus station.

From the pier in Pakbara, you can sail to the island either on a speedboat or on the so-called ferry. They go a whole hour longer (2.5 hours), but sailing on them is much more comfortable than on a speedboat that shakes from hitting the waves (and the seats are hard and uncomfortable there), besides, splashes often fall on passengers. The cost of tickets for speedboat and ferry does not differ.

In addition, it is worth considering that boats run between the mainland and the island only during the day, so it is better to arrive in Pakbara as early as possible.

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

From the southern resorts of Thailand

In the case of Lipe, islands such as Phuket and Lanta can only be called "southern" islands, as they are located north of the country's southernmost archipelago. During the high season, boats run from most of these southern resorts to Koh Lipe. A 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, it is also possible to get to Ko Lipe from this country. The closest to it - only 30 km - is the Malaysian island of Langkawi, from where boats start towards the Thai Lipe. Guests from Malaysia go through border control upon arrival on the island, however, the checkpoint on Ko Lipe works only in high season, in 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 island-reserve Tarutao. This is a fairly large island, most of which is occupied by tropical jungles. There is no tourist infrastructure and 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 the boats going to it from 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.

At the southernmost point of Thailand is a picturesque island with beautiful beaches called Koh Lipe. In recent years, it has been actively developing, and from a wild island, it is gradually turning into a popular tourist resort. There are more and more new hotels, cafes and entertainment. However, there are still many places with pristine nature and secluded beaches.

Lipe Island is located just 20 km from Malaysia. It is considerably removed from popular resorts: 250 km to Phuket, 220 km to Krabi, and 70 km to the mainland. The closest islands to Koh Lipe are Koh Adang and Koh Tarutao.

Lipe Island is included in the Tarutao National Park, which includes more than 50 islands. Many of them are uninhabited and have a pristine nature. You can visit such islands along with an excursion, which can be bought on Koh Lipe at any travel agency.

The island of Lipe itself is inhabited, mainly sea gypsies live here, who moved here from Malaysia. The infrastructure on the island is gradually developing: quite a lot of cafes, restaurants, shops and hotels. If you wish, you can stay overnight or spend your entire vacation on the island. There are all necessary conditions for this.

Not so long ago there were no banks and ATMs on the island, but now the situation has changed. It will not be difficult for you to change or withdraw money from the card. However, the course is completely unprofitable. Therefore, it is better to change money in Bangkok or another popular resort in Thailand.

As for prices, on the island of Lipe they do not differ much from the mainland. You can dine in the restaurant at very affordable prices.

When is the best time to go to the island?

Like throughout Thailand, Lipe Island is always warm and the air temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. However, tropical climates have dry and wet seasons. The most favorable weather for a holiday on the island is during the dry season, which lasts from December to March. From April, the weather begins to deteriorate, the winds intensify, the waves rise on the sea and relaxing in nature is no longer so pleasant.

Hotels

The island has a fairly large selection of hotels and bungalows for every taste and budget. The cheapest accommodation will cost you an average of 500 baht per day. If you want to rent a comfortable room with all amenities, you will have to pay at least 1500 baht per day. Prices may vary depending on the season, they are the highest in winter.

If you want to rent inexpensive accommodation, then it is better to stay in the center of the island near the main street. It can be noisy here and the view from the window is not so beautiful, but housing prices are the most affordable. For more budget options, I can recommend Harmony Bed & Bakery, A Plus Delux Hotel, Mountain Resort Koh Lipe and Ricci House Resort.

If the budget allows, I recommend staying at one of the best hotels on the island: Idyllic Concept Resort, Bundhaya Villas or Mali Resort Sunrise Beach.

If you are going to visit Lipe Island during the dry season, then book a hotel 1-2 months in advance, because the good options are almost all occupied at this time.

Beaches

There are four main beaches on Koh Lipa. These include Pattaya, Sunrise, Sunset and Karma Beach. There are two more very small beaches: Sanom and Bila Beach. Moving from one beach to another is quite convenient, as paths are laid between them.

Pattaya Beach- the most important beach on the island. There is a port where all boats sail. However, this beach is also suitable for swimming. Near Pattaya Beach is the main street of the island - Walking Street. It is here that many inexpensive hotels, as well as cafes, restaurants and shops.

Sunsetbeach- the most secluded beach on the island. Here you can admire beautiful sunsets, take a break from the hustle and bustle alone.

Karmabeach located north of Sunset Beach. There is white sand, clean and calm sea. This beach is preferred by families with children.

Sunrisebeach- the longest beach on Koh Lipe. An ideal place to meet the dawn. The sand is white, the sea is clean. It is here that the best snorkeling and diving on the island.

What to do on the island?

People go to Lipe Island to enjoy natural views, beach holidays and completely relax away from the hustle and bustle. The main attractions on the island are excursions to neighboring uninhabited islands, relaxing on the beach, snorkeling, diving and sea fishing. There are many diving centers on Koh Lipe.

In the evening, a wide selection of cafes, restaurants and bars is available, many of them are located on the seashore. Closer to midnight, all establishments are closed, and active life subsides until morning.

Transport

There is no public transport on Ko Lipe, since its territory is small, the island can be walked around in a few hours. But if you wish, you can always use the services of a taxi, which is a motorbike with a sidecar. You can also rent a bike or a speedboat to take you to the neighboring islands.

Video review of Lipe Island

Thanks to the video, you will take away what Koh Lipe looks like, how beautiful its beaches and picturesque nature are.

How to get there?

To get to Koh Lipe from other popular resorts, the easiest way is to take an air flight to the city of Hat Yai. Here is the nearest airport in Thailand from Lipe Island. Transfers can be booked from Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe. The road to the Pakbara pier takes about 2 hours, then the same amount of time will have to sail by sea to the island of Lipe.

Only by sea can you get to Koh Lipe from the islands of Phuket, Phi Phi Don, Lanta and Krabi province. Such flights are carried out by ship. The average cost of a trip is about 1500 baht.

Koh Lipe on the map

See the exact location of Lipe Island on this map.

If you want to diversify your holiday in Thailand, spend time away from the hustle and bustle, then go to Lipe Island. Here you will get a lot of new positive emotions, beautiful photos and unforgettable impressions.

The article contains all the useful information about the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand: how to get to the island, what to do, the beaches of Koh Lipe, hotels and other infrastructure. And, of course, our review with photos and tips.

On the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand

Koh Lipe: general information

Koh Lipe island- a small island in the south of Thailand in the Andaman Sea in the province of Satun, located near Malaysia (the nearest Malaysian island is only 30 km away). Koh Lipe on the map

Ko Lipe is part of the Tarutao Marine National Park, for which you have to pay 200 baht per person (do not throw away tickets, they will come in handy if you go on a tour of the neighboring islands, and even before leaving the island we were required to show tickets!).

The island of Koh Lipe became known among tourists relatively recently: some 40 years ago it was inhabited by sea gypsies from Malaysia, and the first European tourists appeared in the 90s of the last century.

Koh Lipe: Sunrise Beach

I was lucky enough to visit Koh Lipe in Thailand in 2006 and catch a small piece of paradise deserted beaches, one store in the center of the island and Pooh Bar - the only place on Koh Lipe where there was internet 🙂 And in general, all Europeans gathered every evening in this bar for dinner and beer 🙂 There were no concrete roads on the island of Koh Lipe, everywhere there was sand, and before entering any room, you had to take off your shoes, and in general, shoes were not needed on the island - everyone went barefoot everywhere.

Koh Lipe in 2006

A couple of years later, the total development of the island began, the first large hotels appeared (some of them even with a pool), old wooden bungalows were also reconstructed, and a little later Koh Lipe was connected by sea to Langkawi, an immigration office appeared on the beach to go through passport control upon arrival from Malaysia and departure from Thailand. A little later, the central street was concreted - this is how the walking street appeared.

Immigration office on Koh Lipe in the center of Pattaya Beach
Entrance to the promenade from Sunset Beach
Volkin Street: the main street was concreted and a walking street appeared with shops, cafes, bars
Roads almost all over the island were put in order
Although there are still clay and sandy roads on the island, and on the way to Sunrise Beach there are deposits of garbage
Pointers in the center of the island
Houses of local residents
But there are also such huts of local residents that have not changed at all in 10 years ... The funny thing is that huge plasma TVs hang on the walls in such houses 🙂
Island locals
There are many well-groomed cats and dogs on the island.

Of course, the development of the tourist infrastructure of the island could not but lead to an increase in the flow of tourists and crowds, huge crowds of vacationers, poured onto Koh Lipe. For some reason, the Chinese especially fell in love with Lipe Island (every self-respecting Chinese wants to have a selfie with Koh Lipe and with 🙂). Yes, and there are enough other Asians now, especially Thais and Malaysians like to come to Lipe Island for holidays and weekends. There were times when there were so many tourists on the island that they did not fit in hotels, and people spent the night in tents on the beach!

According to rumors, travel agencies even tried to send our compatriots to Koh Lipe, and people were very unhappy with what hole they were sent into (and where are the entertainment and shopping centers, as in? 🙂)

But now, fortunately, the unhealthy excitement for the island has subsided, there are no our packages on Koh Lipe, but Chinese tourists come in large numbers, especially in the winter for the Chinese New Year.

Bright colors of Koh Lipe

Schematic map of Koh Lipe

Map-outline of the island

Seasons and weather on Koh Lipe: when is the best time to go to the island

There are two main seasons on Koh Lipe:

• Rainy and stormy season: from April-May to October
• Dry season: November to April

Previously, the island was “closed” for the summer, due to severe storms in the sea, sea communication with the mainland almost completely stopped, hotel workers went on vacation 🙂 In recent years, communication with the island and the mainland of Thailand has not stopped all year round, only the number of flights has been reduced. And the weather and climate are now so changeable that even in summer you can catch good sunny weather, and at the peak of the season get caught in the rain.

But hotel prices usually differ in three seasons:

• Low season: summer
• High season: October - November and March - April
• Peak season: December - February

When is the best time to go to the island?

The best weather on Koh Lipe is in winter, in December - February, but during this period there are a lot of tourists on the island and prices for everything, especially for accommodation, rise significantly. Summer is the rainy season, but deserted beaches and low hotel prices. In my opinion, the best time to visit Koh Lipe in Thailand is November and March-April.

The weather on the island depends on the seasons. The best season is in winter, but at this time there are a lot of tourists

How to get to Koh Lipe

The island of Koh Lipe in Thailand is located in the Andaman Sea, the island is small, there is no airport here 🙂 The nearest airports to Koh Lipe are:

• Hat Yai (Thailand)
• Trang (Thailand)
• Langkawi (Malaysia)

You can get to Lipa only by water - on fast boats or boats by sea that go from the piers:

• Pakbara Pier, Thailand. It can be said that this is the main pier, the connection between Pakbara and Lipe is year-round
• Trang (Hat Yao Pier), Thailand
• Kuah (Kuah Jetty), Malaysia, Langkawi
• Telaga Harbour, Malaysia, Langkawi

Direct water communication between Langkawi - Koh Lipe stops in the low season.

Also in the high season opens sea communication between the islands - - - Lipe.

Many boats and boats bring tourists to the island

In short, the algorithm for how to get to Lipe Island is as follows:

• Flight to or. We are looking for flights
• Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, from Bangkok to Hat Yai or Trang, or you can get to Hat Yai by land - by bus or train
• Taxi / minibus / transfer to the pier
• Boat/Boat to Koh Lipe

A very detailed article with prices and tips on how to get to Koh Lipe from various places in Thailand, Malaysia and Russia:

Transport on the island: how to move

There are no big roads on the island of Lipe, there are no cars and few bikes (some locals ride bikes, but they don’t rent them to tourists 🙂)

Koh Lipe is a small island and you can move around it:

• on foot
• if necessary, take a motorbike taxi (this is a bike with a cart) for 50 baht per person one way or ride around the island for 400 baht / hour
• bicycles for rent - 200 baht per day.
• you can also move between the beaches by boat. But taxi boats on the island are not as common as, for example, on or in, because. almost all the beaches of the island of Koh Lipe can be easily walked

Moto taxi rates around the island

Hotels Koh Lipe: where to stay on the island

Every year more and more new hotels open on the island, but despite this, finding accommodation on the spot during the peak season can be a problem. Therefore, I advise you to book Koh Lipe hotels in advance.

Most hotels in Ko Lipe are located right on the coastline, many bungalow-type hotels, although there are hotels with rooms in buildings.

Air-conditioned bungalow right on the beach: Andaman Resort
A very popular hotel among Europeans
New villas on the green lawn of the Z-Touch Lipe Island Resort
One of the hotels in the center of the island

Prices for hotels in Koh Lipe are quite high:

• a double room in an average hotel on the beach will cost +/- 3000 baht
• cheap beach bungalows - from 1000 baht

Prices are for the high season, in summer housing is half the price. Perhaps you can find huts for 500 baht, for example, the houses in the photo below are right on the beach and belong to the Andaman Resort hotel. The cost was not known.

Very budget houses right on the beach

Sample prices for Koh Lipe hotels

A detailed article about Koh Lipe hotels with their features, prices, recommendations:

Our review of the hotel where we stayed for a few days:

All hotels in Koh Lipe can be booked on the following booking sites:

Koh Lipe hotels on the map

The beaches of Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe island in Thailand is famous for its gorgeous beaches. There are the following main beaches:

• Pattaya Beach
• Sunrise Beach
• Sunset Beach
• Karma Beach or north beach
• Beaches in the bays

Pattaya Beach

The most popular beach in Koh Lipe is Pattaya Beach. It is located in a bay in the south of the island. Snow-white white sand, clear sea, not far from the coast of a living coral reef with fish. Good infrastructure, but sometimes it is noisy and crowded, especially when boats arrive with tourists from the mainland and Langkawi and in the evening before sunset. Details about Pattaya Beach:

Pattaya beach in the south of Koh Lipe
View of a piece of Pattaya Beach from the sea
Long and rather wide Pattaya beach
Before the boats leave, the beach can be crowded
Before sunset, a crowd of vacationers also gather here 🙂

Sunrise Beach

Sunrise Beach is the second most popular beach on Koh Lipe. I loved it for its peace and quiet. The beach has white coarse sand, a good sharp entry into the sea. More about this beach here:

Sunrise Beach: South
Sunrise Beach: North
Central part of Sunrise Beach

Sunset Beach

Beach in the west of Koh Lipe. The sand is grayish, the entry into the sea is very smooth, there are many picturesque stones on the shore. To be honest, this beach did not impress me at all, maybe we were on it at the wrong time ...

Sunset beach in the west of the island

Karma Beach

Karma Beach or the beach next to the Mountain Resort Hotel is the northernmost beach of the island with a beautiful sandy spit (the spit is washed closer to winter, it may not be there in summer). The sand is very large, white, the sea is bright turquoise, a beautiful view of the neighboring island of Adang. There are often strong winds on this beach in winter. Read more here:

The picturesque sandy spit in the north of the island is the symbol of Koh Lipe 🙂
Karma beach in the north of the island
Beach in the north of the island

What is the best beach in Koh Lipe? – it’s hard for me to answer this question, I like both Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach 🙂 A detailed description of all the beaches of Koh Lipe:

Almost all beaches of Koh Lipe are good 🙂

Infrastructure

The tourist infrastructure on the island is well developed. Of course, there are no large stores like Tesco and Big C on Lipe Island, but there are:

• two 7 elevens (in which for some reason there are eternal queues)
• small food shops
• shops with souvenirs and beachwear
• a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, which offer not only Thai cuisine and seafood, but also Indian and European food
• bars and coffee houses
• tents with pancakes, fruit shakes, ice cream
• massage parlors
• and even a beach club on Pattaya Beach 🙂
• several ATMs, currency exchange (the exchange rate is not favorable, it is better to come to Koh Lipe with baht in cash)
• tour agencies where you can buy a tour, tickets, exchange money, etc. etc.
• pharmacies
• hospital

There are two 7-elevens on the island
Several pharmacies
Shops with souvenirs and beachwear
Cozy bars
Cafe with delicious ice cream
Pancakes, baguettes, croissants, fruit shakes, smoothies
Walking along Volkin Street
Evening relaxation on the beach

Basically, all the infrastructure is located in the center of the island on walking street. Read more here:

Prices for Koh Lipe

We can say the following about the prices on Koh Lipe: there are expensive hotels, prices are 7 levs higher than on the mainland, expensive fruits, but the prices in the cafe are quite adequate, I would say even low for such a quality of food.

This is not the first time I have noticed a strange feature for myself: on small islands in Thailand, everything is usually more expensive, except for food in a cafe. So it was, for example, on Phi Phi - the island is not cheap, and the food in the cafe is not only tasty, but also inexpensive!

For example, our average bill for a dinner with beer on Koh Lipe never exceeded 500 baht (except for one evening when we went to dinner at an unlimited buffet at the Progress restaurant).

Some prices on Koh Lipe:

• Water 1.5 l at 7 lev - 26 baht
• Yogurt - 21 baht
• Coffee in seven - 60 - 65 baht
• Ready meals in boxes at 7 leven (e.g. rice + meat) – 70 – 80 baht
• Beer Chang 0.6 in seven - 90 baht, in a small shop - 65 baht
• Packing of water 6 bottles of 1.5 liters in a shop - 100 baht
• Pancakes with different fillings ~ 40 - 70 baht
• Fish in a cafe ~ 240 baht
• Squid, shrimp in a cafe ~ 150 baht
• Tom yum ~ 120 - 150 baht
• Rice with meat or seafood ~ 80 baht
• Beef steak at the Steakhouse - 450 baht
• Coffee in a cafe ~ 70 - 90 baht
• Breakfast in a cafe - 200 - 300 baht

One of our dinners
Seafood buffet at Progress restaurant on Walking Street 490 baht per person
From 6 p.m. restaurants and cafes begin to put fish on display. Photo prices
Cocktails in bars average 200 baht, beer 100 baht

Things to do in Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe is an island for a relaxing beach holiday, there are no noisy parties, nightclubs or attractions here 🙂 The main attraction of Ko Lipe is its beaches, neighboring islands of the national park and the underwater world. Therefore, the list of things to do on Koh Lipe is not so big:

• Visit and swim on all the beaches of the island
• Go snorkeling. Koh Lipe is the only place in Thailand where we have been where good snorkeling is near the shore
• go to
• Swim to the neighboring island of Adang
• Take a course at a diving school - excellent diving spots near Koh Lipe
• Eat - drink - sleep - go for a massage - relax 🙂

Cost of diving in Koh Lipe
Cost and description of sightseeing tours with Koh Lipe
Visiting neighboring islands during one of the excursions
View of Adang Island, which you can swim to by renting a boat
Adang: Taken at close zoom

Koh Lipe reviews

You know, there are places on earth that sink into the soul at first sight. I had a similar situation with Ko Lipe 🙂 I fell in love with the island not even at first sight, but even earlier, when I read about it on the forum (if I'm not mistaken, it was in 2003). Soon my dream came true: I flew to Thailand. But for the first time, the route was simpler and did not include the island of Koh Lipe, but included - -.

A little later, I nevertheless got to Lipe and was completely delighted with this tropical paradise. Years passed, countries and beautiful islands alternated (what beauty is worth in the Philippines or the islands of Saraya and Kanawa in Indonesia), but the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand always remained in my memory and I knew that someday I would definitely return there 🙂 And I returned more than 10 years later!

Yes, the island has changed (but I read about it and this fact did not come as a shock to me), but I still like it the same way as before. Most likely for those who are looking for parties, shopping, etc. etc. it will be boring on Lipa (in this case it is better to go to Phuket), but it’s just right for us 🙂

Koh Lipe - my love for many years :)))

How many days to spend in Koh Lipe?

Many advise not to spend more than 3-4 days on the island of Koh Lipe in Thailand, but we spent almost a week on Lipe and did not want to leave at all. If you are traveling in Asia, then you can combine Koh Lipe with some larger island and city, for example, routes can be as follows:

• Bangkok – Phuket – Koh Lipe – – Bangkok
• Bangkok - Hat Yai - Koh Lipe - Langkawi - Kuala Lumpur
• Kuala Lumpur – – – Langkawi – Koh Lipe

And many other options 🙂 Enjoy your holiday!

Koh Lipe is a tiny island in the Andaman Sea in the very south of Thailand.
I first visited it at the end of 2006.
And I realized that I had found a place for which I have only one definition - this is paradise!
In Thailand, there are places that are perhaps even more beautiful, such as the postcard Phi Phi Don.

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

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

The first thing we saw upon landing on the island:

Oops, too late, heaven is gone...
There are now many hotels on the island, most of the beaches have turned into moorings for boats and everywhere people, people, people.

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

Fantastic water color.
White, fine sand.

Every day we dined at the Daya Resort restaurant, by the sea, by candlelight.
Freshly caught fish is brought to them right before dinner. Grilled.
We ordered a grouper there - it's great!

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

Clear-clear water with lively underwater life
It is interesting to swim with a mask. Watching the fish.
During the week we saw several moray eels, stingrays, boxfish, shoals of fish... But we saw the most interesting living creatures from the shore. Fortunately!!!

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

local wildlife

Sea gypsies inhabit the island

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 matured for about five minutes. All the fun ended in a fight with a scuffle)))

Beggar. Literally asked for something to eat)

Farewell look at the beloved island

The only photo left from a day in Hat Yai. Small pleasant Thai town.
No special attractions. But the lanterns impressed

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 on it. And some amazing views.
How long? I think no. A couple more years and the last bits of paradise will be swallowed up by more hotels, bars and boat docks.
So you need to seize the moment now. There are not so many places like this island in the world.

Practical information.

Koh 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.
On the train, it is better to take second class with a fan (with air conditioning - this is death from icing). It costs about 900 baht one way.
Minivan + boat 450-700 baht, depending on the company where you buy the transfer.

2. Hat Yai can also be reached by plane. The cheapest tickets can be bought from AirAsia.
If you buy much in advance and for a promotion, you can get it almost for free :)
My tickets bought 8 months before the flight cost 400 baht for the flight Bangkok - Hat Yai - Bangkok.
Sister's tickets, which were bought 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 version, to Pakbara, etc.
You can take a taxi to Pakbara. The price is 2-2.5 thousand baht.

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

All of the following is relevant for the high season, from early November to mid-April. During the low season, the number of ships sailing to Lipe is sharply reduced, and on some routes, such as Phuket - Lipe and Langkawi - Lipe, flights are canceled altogether.

Most tourists come to Lipe either from Bangkok, or from the islands closest to Lipe and tourist centers in the southern Andaman Sea. These routes will be described below.

From Bangkok to Lipe Island

The nearest airport to Lipa, receiving planes from Bangkok, is located near the city of Hat Yai.

Several airlines fly from Bangkok to Hat Yai Airport, including low-cost carriers AirAsia and Nok Air.

The cost of tickets for this route is very wide, and starts from 1200 baht. This price can be obtained if you pay for the ticket a few months before departure. In the case of buying 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 trip by minibus to Pakbara Pier and then by speedboat to Lipe Island.

Similarly, from Bangkok to Lipe Island can be reached through. Such a trip takes about 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 as of the beginning of 2020. Over the past 10 years, they have changed insignificantly, 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 departs 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.

From Bangkok to Lipe island cheap

If the cost of air tickets seems excessive to you, or there simply will not be tickets, because. planes to Hat Yai fly packed to capacity, from Bangkok to Hat Yai can be reached either by train or by bus.

The cost of train tickets, as of March 2018, started at 149 baht for a seat in an unair-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 in the afternoon from Bangkok Central Station (Hua Lamphong Railway Station) and arrived in Hat Yai in the morning. The current train schedule and prices can be viewed on the official website of Thai Railways, tickets can be bought directly at the station.

The cost of bus tickets from Bangkok to Hat Yai, as of March 2018, started at 643 baht for a second-class bus seat. A ticket to a more spacious and comfortable first class bus cost, at the same time, exactly 1000 baht, transportation was carried out by the state transport company. During the day, she performed 13 flights, 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, having spent 14 hours.

From the islands of southern Thailand to Lipe

In high season, the - - - - - - route is operated by ships and speedboats from several carriers, including Tigerline Travel, Bundhaya Speedboat, Satun Pakbara Speedboat and Andaman Inter Line (no site).

Ticket prices for all carriers are approximately the same, and, as of the beginning of 2020, the prices for transfers from neighboring islands were as follows:

. Phuket - Lipe = 3400 baht;
. Phi - Phi - Lipe = 2600 baht;
. Lanta - Lipe = 1900 baht;
. Ngai - Lipe = 1600 baht;
. Kradan - Lipe = 1400 baht;
. Muk - Lipe = 1400 baht

From the islands of southern Thailand to the island of Lipe cheap

If you go to Lipe from the islands of Phuket and Lanta not by a short road (by sea), but by land, along the coast of the Andaman Sea to Pakbara Pier and only from there by sea to Lipe Island, you can save more than 2,000 baht and 800 baht, respectively.

Such transfers, by minibus to Pakbara Pier, can be bought without any problems both in Phuket and Lanta, their cost can be viewed here:.

From Langkawi to Lipe Island

Lipe Island is located on the border with Malaysia, and from the nearest Malaysian resort, Lipe is separated by about 30 km. There are no difficulties in crossing the Thai-Malaysian border, visas are not required for Russian citizens, 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 1200 baht, and takes about an hour in time, not counting the time for passport control and other formalities.

If you are planning a trip along this route, do not forget that boats between Lipe and Langkawi run only during the high season, from early November to mid-April. In the low season, you can also get from Langkawi to Lipe, but not directly, but by a ring road across land (Langkawi - mainland Malaysia - border crossing on the mainland - a trip to Pakbara Pier - and only from there by sea to Lipe island). According to the assurances of Malaysian travel agents, this road can be mastered in 5 hours. This thesis, however, should not be taken quite literally.