How to Go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

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After the bustle, heat, and – well we’ve got to say it – huge traffic problems of Bangkok you’d be more than forgiven for wanting a little peace, quiet and laid-back relaxation.  And so heading south, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the south coast of Thailand to Koh Lipe is something you’ll want to consider.  We explored, chilled out, and relaxed on this island known for snorkeling, diving, and the glorious white sandy beaches.  It’s not just Lipe, there are 50 other islands nearby, making up the stunning Tarutao National Park too.  First, though, we’ve got to get from Bangkok to Koh Lipe.  And you’ve got a variety of options – there’s the quick way, a slower cheaper way and multiple transport options.  So if you’re ready.  Here’s our guide on how to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok.

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Where is Koh Lipe?

“The thin island” – is what the name Koh Lipe translates to, and it is also known as Lipe and Ko Lipe. It is in Satun Province, off the Andaman Coast of Thailand, and is included in the Butang/Adang Archipelago group of islands.  However, it’s only 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the northwestern coast of Langkawi, Malaysia, and around 200 kilometers to the southeast of the Thai island of Phuket.    It is a great jumping-off point for Malaysia (and our guide on going between Koh Lipe and Langkawi is here)

How to Go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

There is no airport on Koh Lipe, so at least part of your journey will involve a boat, but you can shorten the trip immensely if you fly south to Hat Yai.  It’s cheaper (and arguably more environmentally friendly) to take the overnight bus (and save a night’s accommodation, but likely without much sleep) and then finally the ferry to the island.   If traveling overnight is on your agenda, then you can also look at the train south to Hat Yai.  I’ll cover all these options and you can take your pick. 

#1 BUS + FERRY TICKET COMBO

bus and boat combo ticket

Easiest Way to Go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

The easiest way to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok is to take the combined Bus + Boat ticket – all connections are guaranteed. And it’s really easy.

Book your bus + ferry tickets here

How to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok

The first step of your journey to Koh Lipe from Bangkok is to get south to the port of Pak Bara.  This involves a train, a bus, a plane, or a combination of these.  Pak Bara is the port on the mainland that is closest to Koh Lipe and it is from here that you’ll find the ferry services to Koh Lipe.  However, if you just rock up and try and get a ticket you’ll likely be out of luck, especially in high season, so pre-book your tickets, even if you’re making this journey just from Hat Yai.

Even if you fly down, then the closest airport is at Hat Yai, which is 2 hours away from Pak Bara (it’s 77 miles or 117 kilometers).  Once you’ve arrived at Pak Bara then the boats take between 90 minutes and two hours to get to Koh Lipe.

To make it easier I’ll split the journey down, by different transport modes.  But if you want the easiest, least hassle option, then I recommend a through ticket, which you can book online.

Book a combined Bus and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Lipe with 12goAsia

(If you’re traveling in the opposite direction- from Koh Lipe to Bangkok, then you can also use Bookaway, but they don’t book the southbound journey.)

Bangkok to Koh Lipe Flights

The quickest way to go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe is to fly from Bangkok to Hay Yai, then take a 2-hour transfer from Hat Yai to Pak Bara and then the ferry from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe.  

Flights from Bangkok to Hat Yai

Flights take around 90 minutes and you can fly from both Don Mueang, Bangkok (DMK) or Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).  Prices increase the closer to your departure time, so book early if you can.  Flights operate from 06:30 (ish) until 20:00.  But try and take an EARLY flight, so that you can account for the time taken to go from Hat Yai airport to Pak Bara and then on the boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe.  There are usually NO boats that depart after 13:00 each day, so plan accordingly.

Powered by 12Go system

Flights are operated by a number of airlines, you’ll find all the usual suspects, Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Bangkok Airways, and Nok Air.  Don’t forget you’ll need to allow time to get to the airport from where you’re staying in Bangkok as well as time to check in and deposit any luggage that you might have.

Transfer from Hat Yai to Pak Bara

The next stage of the journey is to get from the airport to Pak Bara.   You’ll be able to pick up a taxi or a shared bus, but if you’re trying to get to Koh Lipe in one day (which surely is the point of taking the plane), then you’ll want to go for a taxi – or a pre-arranged transfer.  You can also use the Grab App at Hat Yai airport.

I’d recommend pre-booking both this transfer and your boat to Koh Lipe.  You can make it easy on yourself and book a combined ticket here – this guarantees you get on the boat.    It’s going to take about 2 hours to go from Hat Yai airport to Pak Bara.

If you’re not booking a combined ticket, then make sure you check the ferry times before you book ANY of your transport, unless you fancy spending the night in Hat Yai or Pak Bara.  A reminder, the last boat out of Pak Bara towards Koh Lipe is likely to be at around 13:00.

Boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe

There are a number of operators that run this route (no one of them gets much worse reviews than the others, and I’ve traveled on most of them) so I’d just pick the time you want to travel and go with that.  However, they ALL tend to set off and arrive at the same time (I know crazy right?, well that’s how it is).

Unlike the Langkawi to Koh Lipe service, the boats from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe run year-round, but there is likely to be a reduced number of boats in service in the off-season. 

The boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours.  Try and check in early and get yourself a forward-facing seat if possible, it’s much easier to brace yourself against bouncing off the waves if the weather is a little rough.

If you’re looking to just book the boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe, then you’ll find your options here.

All boats arrive in Koh Lipe at the same place.  I’ll cover that later on, it’s easy and you CANNOT get lost.

Arriving in Koh Lipe

Bangkok to Koh Lipe Train

Of course, when I say Bangkok to Koh Lipe train, I mean you can get the train from Bangkok to Hat Yai and then you need to take alternative transport.  I love overnight trains in Thailand, they’re pleasant, you can get some sleep if you want (as there are sleeper carriages available) and it’s a good way to travel in any country!

It’s the Southern Line that goes from Bangkok to Hat Yai and these trains depart from the old Bang Sue Junction, now known as Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station, Bangkok.  You’ll find about 5 trains a day that run, but the overnight sleeper is the best – however, it can take between 14 and 16 hours.  You don’t need first class unless you want to splurge, and second class with AC is a good option.  You can cut the cost considerably by opting for second-class with a fan.  It just depends on how comfortable you want to be.

Buy a train ticket to Hat Yai from Bangkok here.

You can’t currently buy a through ticket (train, transfer, and ferry), but you can book them separately.

Transfer from Hat Yai Train Station to Pak Bara

Hat Yai train station is in the center of Hat Yai, and there are plenty of taxis or shared shuttles available.  It takes just over 2 hours to go from Hat Yai station to Pak Bara.  You can also use Grab, or prebook a transfer to Pak Bara here.

This ticket combines your transfer from the train station and the boat to Koh Lipe, so you are guaranteed to get the boat.

Again, if you’re not booking a combined ticket from Hat Yai train station to Koh Lipe check the ferry times, because otherwise you’ll be looking for accommodation in Pak Bara.

Boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe

Boats leave Pak Bara for Koh Lipe, usually at 09:30, 11:15, and 11:30.  Prebook your ticket because they go full in high season.

Bangkok to Koh Lipe Bus + Ferry

I’m not normally an advocate of buses, I prefer trains.  But it’s hard to avoid the bus in Thailand and this route from Bangkok down to Pak Bara is easy.  The buses in Thailand are generally good – you’ll get a decent amount of legroom and the seats recline.  They tend not to be broken because people wouldn’t book them after a few bad reviews.  The VIP buses are good.  Express buses are good.  Slower buses that stop everywhere will drive you insane.

The bus from Bangkok to Pak Bara takes between 13.5 and 16 hours.  Go shorter time whenever you can.  Buses depart from either the Southern Bangkok Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) or the Khao San Road and drop off at Hat Yai Bus Terminal, or, if you’ve got a through ticket, you’ll also get a transfer to the ferry port and a ferry to Koh Lipe.

If you’re catching the bus just to Hat Yai, then the drop-off point is usually the Hat Yai Bus Terminal, (there are TWO, make sure you know which one you’re getting the bus to) where you’ll be able to get a transfer to Pak Bara. 

The costs of booking separately versus a combined ticket are similar, so I’d book a combined ticket.  It’s just easier.

What you will specifically want to look at is where your bus leaves from in Bangkok.  I mentioned either the Southern Bus Terminal or Khao San Road.  Traffic in Bangkok is ALWAYS a nightmare, so when possible, pick somewhere close to where you’re staying in Bangkok and you can thank me later.

Book the combined bus/ferry ticket to Koh Lipe from Bangkok here.

Bangkok to Koh Lipe Private Transfer

If you’re in a group of 4 or more, then you might want to consider a private transfer to the Pak Bara ferry, it can work out both more cost effective AND more comfortable. Check your options here.

Of course, you will also have to consider what time you set off, the stops for your driver/drivers, and the time of the ferry that you’ll want to catch too.    But it’s worth looking at.

Arriving on Koh Lipe from Bangkok

The boats from Pak Bara (and from Langkawi) all arrive at Koh Lipe at the same place.  Arrivals in Koh Lipe go to either Pattaya Beach (usually in the high season) or Sunrise Beach (in the low season), but the island is small and easily walkable, so it’s not far between the two.  I’ve marked them both on the map.

You can either walk to your accommodation or grab yourself a tuk-tuk to get there, there will be plenty hanging around.

Thai Boats on Koh Lipe Arrivals

Map of Bus Stops and Train Stations for going from Koh Lipe to Bangkok

You can also see the full map of train station and bus terminals from Koh Lipe to Bangkok here.

Bangkok to Koh Lipe Map

Popular Routes in Thailand

Want to know more about different forms of transport in Thailand? Our guide to Thailand transport is here. And here’s how to travel some of the popular routes around Thailand, your options, and how we did it.

The quickest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

The time it will take you to get to Bangkok from Koh Lipe depends on the modes of transport that you take.  Flying will take an elapsed travel time of about 5.5 – 6 hours, but you’ll also need to factor in getting to the airport in Bangkok and check-in times.   

The easiest way to go to Koh Lipe from Bangkok

The easiest way to get to Koh Lipe from Bangkok depends on where you are staying in Bangkok.  If you are near the Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Railway Station, then that is a great option.  And then book a through ticket from Hat Yai railway station to Koh Lipe.

Book Trains from Bangkok to Hat Yai here

Book a transfer and boat from Hat Yai Train Station to Pak Bara to Koh Lipe here.

Alternatively, a through ticket bus from Khao San Road with a transfer and boat ticket really can’t be beaten.

The cheapest way to go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

The cheapest way to get to Bangkok from Koh Lipe is to take the combined ticket bus+transfer+ferry – reserve your seats here.

The best way to go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

I’d opt for the train.  (as always) 

Travel Tips for Exploring Thailand

Final Words on How to Go from Bangkok to Koh Lipe

The white sand beaches of Koh Lipe are a paradise after the crowded busy streets of Bangkok.  But you’ll need to factor in the up to 24 hours of travel time that it will take you to get here.  Whether you choose to take the train (always my choice), fly, or take the bus you’ll also need to factor in a transfer from the bus terminal, train station, or airport and work around the times of the ferries.  Good luck and let me know how you go!

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THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER

AUTHOR

Sarah Carter
Sarah Carter is an avid reader, writer and traveller. She loves hiking, sailing, skiing and exploring the world through food. She left a successful career in IT security and compliance in both the UK and US to travel the world with husband and partner in adventure, Nigel.

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