What to expect when visiting Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe is a Thai island in the Andaman Sea, near the Malaysian border. An ocean lover’s dream, you’ll find colourful coral gardens just a few metres from its shores. The waters surrounding the island are said to be home to 25% of the world’s tropical fish species!
Combine this with Koh Lipe’s pristine beaches and clear blue waters, and you’ll understand why it’s becoming such a famous destination for snorkelling and diving. What we love most is that fewer tourists are travelling to Koh Lipe, making it the perfect place to get away from it all.
Before you go: Customs & Immigration
Much like taking a plane, travelling by ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe requires you to check in for customs and immigration in both ports.
Customs in Langkawi
The customs and immigration offices are at both Kuah Jetty and Telaga Terminal in Langkawi. Make sure you arrive around 90 minutes before your ferry departure as you would when taking flights.
Prepare your luggage for checking and give your passport to the captain or the immigration officers. Passport processing can sometimes take a while. To pass the time, you can wait in a nearby cafe until your name is called.
Customs in Koh Lipe
Upon arrival in Koh Lipe, passengers will be transferred to a smaller water taxi from the floating dock. The final drop-off point is at Pattaya Beach (high season) or Sunrise Beach (low season).
The immigration counter is located next to the arrival port in Pattaya Beach. Processing in Koh Lipe goes usually faster (only about 10 to 15 minutes). Wait for your name to be called and once you get your passport back, you’re free to go to your hotel!
Note that when entering Thailand via water or land, some nationalities are given only a 15-day visa. Double-check your visa stamp upon receiving your passport to ensure you don’t overstay!
3 ways to get from Langkawi to Koh Lipe
There are 3 ways to travel the distance of 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Langkawi to Koh Lipe by ferry from Telaga Harbour (1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes), ferry from Kuah Jetty (1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours) and ferry via Satun (4 hours to 5 hours 15 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour to 5 hours 15 minutes and the quickest way is by ferry from telaga harbour. The lowest priced tickets start from 35 MYR (€7.50) for the ferry via Satun.Where to stay in Koh Lipe?
Still looking for accommodation? Don't forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Koh Lipe at the bottom of this page.
Langkawi to Koh Lipe by Ferry via Satun
UPDATE: The last time we checked (June 2024), the ferry from Satun to Koh Lipe has resumed, but the cross-border ferry route from Langkawi to Satun is still unavailable. We suggest taking a direct ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe instead.
Until a few years ago, taking a ferry via Satun used to be the alternative for tourists travelling this route during the low season. Direct ferries from Langkawi to Koh Lipe were only available during the high season.
Nowadays, you’ll still find a few direct ferry options in the low season (from June to October). In case they run out of tickets for your desired travel date, you can still take this alternative route via Satun.
Step 1: Langkawi to Satun by Ferry
First, you’ll have to travel to Tammalang Pier in Satun, a southern province in Thailand.
Ferries operating from Langkawi to Satun depart from Kuah Jetty, around 20 km east of Pantai Cenang. A 40-minute taxi ride to this port will cost you around 40 MYR (€8.50). If you’re travelling solo, you can also try finding a shared taxi for a cheaper fare.
Langkawi Ferry Services offers two trips for this route daily. However, if you want to arrive in Koh Lipe within the same day, you’ll have to take the first ferry trip at 09:30. Otherwise, you’ll have to stay overnight in Satun and take the connecting ferry the next day.
Travel time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and a ticket costs 35 MYR (€7.50).
You can buy your ticket at the port or you can reserve by calling them beforehand. Contact details are available on the Langkawi Ferry Services website.
Step 2: Satun to Pak Bara by Minivan
At Tammalang Pier, you’ll also need to go through immigration, which will take only about 20 minutes. Once you’re done, you need to travel to Pak Bara Pier, located 70 km north, for the ferry to Koh Lipe.
Keep in mind that Tammalang Pier is just a small pier, so there aren’t a lot of establishments and public transportation around. The most convenient way to get to Pak Bara is to take a 1.5-hour taxi to Pak Bara Pier. Rates start from 1,400 THB (€38) on 12GoAsia.
You can also take public transport, but it involves two transfers that may stretch your travel time to 2 hours. First, you need to ride a shared taxi or a motorbike taxi outside the terminal to get you to Satun Bus Station for 40 THB (€1.10).
At the bus station, you can take a minivan or a bus to La-Ngu, but tell the conductor to drop you off at the turning to Pak Bara. Songthaews and taxis with rates from 20 THB (€0.50) pass by this road to take you to the pier. Combined fares if taking public transport start from 110 THB (€3).
Step 3: Pak Bara to Koh Lipe by Ferry
Several ferry companies operate from Pak Bara Pier to Koh Lipe, but the departure times are only between 11:00 and 13:30. Ticket prices start from €11.60.
We recommend that you book online through BookAway to secure a seat. Fares start from 685 THB (€18.80).
Langkawi to Koh Lipe by Ferry from Kuah Jetty
If you’re staying on the eastern side of Langkawi, then it’s easier to take a ferry from Kuah Jetty.
An advantage of this port is that there are more ferries operating on this port during the high season.
Ferries from Kuah Jetty to Koh Lipe may take a bit longer, but not more than 30 minutes. Ferry prices start from 175 MYR (€37) when booking your tickets through BookAway.
Departure and arrival station
Kuah Jetty is a little further away (20 km east) from the main tourist hub of Pantai Cenang.
You can reach this port through a 40-minute taxi ride with prices from 40 MYR (€8.50). If you’re travelling solo and don’t mind sharing a ride, you should be able to find a shared taxi in the town centre.
Same as the ferries from Telaga Harbour, the ferries from Kuah Jetty arrive at Pattaya Beach.
Ferry schedule from Kuah Jetty in Langkawi to Koh Lipe
With the time zone change, you’ll be arriving at Koh Lipe at 10:30 and 15:00 Thailand time with this ferry schedule.
TIP: Klook currently offers a great deal for Bundhaya Speed Boat from Kuah Jetty, Langkawi to Koh Lipe. You can buy tickets as cheap as 155 MYR (€33).
More ferry options during the high season
Another option is Langkawi Ferry Services which offers 3 daily trips. It’s usually available from November to early June, but the last time we checked (June 2024), their ferry was unavailable.
Same as the other ferries, travel time between Langkawi and Koh Lipe takes around 1h 30m - 2h. A one-way ticket costs 120 MYR (€26).
Langkawi to Koh Lipe by Ferry from Telaga Harbour
From Langkawi, it’s easy to take a direct ferry ride to Koh Lipe. Ferries are available at Telaga Harbour and Kuah Jetty, where you can also find the immigration office.
There are two popular ferry companies departing from Telaga Harbour. They were out of operations for a long time during the pandemic, but since October 2022, Satun Pakbara is back offering two daily trips from Langkawi to Koh Lipe.
Jumping Frog used to be the other ferry company, but they haven’t resumed their operations yet.
Fares start from 180 MYR (€38) for a ride that takes around 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.
Departure and arrival station
Telaga Harbour is our preferred departure port because of its proximity to the main tourist area in Langkawi.
The harbour is located just 15 km north of Pantai Cenang and you can easily reach it with a 20-minute taxi ride. Rates start from 30 MYR (€6.40), but if you’re hoping for cheaper rates, you can also look for shared taxis.
The arrival point for these ferries is Pattaya Beach on the southern coast.
Ferry schedule from Telaga Harbour, Langkawi to Koh Lipe
The ferry trip from Langkawi to Koh Lipe takes 1.5 hours. However, keep in mind that Thailand is one hour behind Malaysia. With Satun Pakbara’s schedule, you’ll arrive in Koh Lipe at 10:00 and 15:00 Thailand time.
Best places to stay in Koh Lipe
Being much smaller than many of the popular Thai islands, the number of accommodations is also smaller. This means that prices are higher on Koh Lipe, and a lot of the accommodations are luxury resorts that come with a price tag. Places tend to start around $30 for a room, a lot higher than the rest of Thailand, but also cheaper than most of the world.
Here are our favourite places to stay in Koh Lipe, for all budgets:
Nest Hostel - Budget Friendly
Nest Hostel isn’t the kind of place that you shout from the rooftops about, but it is one of the cheapest and best-rated places to stay on Koh Lipe. The rooms are clean, comfortable and peaceful. Dorm rooms are also available if you want to save even more money.
Here you’re only 300m from Pattaya Beach and within walking distance of the other main beaches on Koh Lipe. The staff are amazing and make you feel instantly at home.
- Clean and comfortable rooms
- Close to the beach
- Amazing staff
- Dorm and private rooms available
Dorm rooms start from $13 per night.
Lipe Garden Beach Resort - Treating Yourself
When visiting a tropical island like Koh Lipe, the dream is to stay seconds from the beach right? Lipe Garden Beach Resort helps you to make that dream come true. You can hear the gentle sound of waves crashing from your bungalow.
The rooms are simple, but comfortable, each coming with their own private balcony with a seating area and hammock. As well as the perfect beach location, you’re also close to the Walking Street and pier.
- Directly on the beach
- Bungalow style rooms
- Private terrace
- Great location
Bungalows start from $55 per night.
Ananya Lipe Resort - Treating Yourself
The best way to describe this place is with one word — WOW! Ananya Lipe is the kind of resort most of us can only dream of. The beautiful rooms have swim-up pools or you can go for a swim in the huge lagoon-style pool and grab a drink from the bar while you’re still in the water!
Tired of the pool? Don’t worry, the beach is only steps away. And that’s if you can be persuaded to leave your stunning oasis of a room and huge bathrooms. If you opt for a room with a jacuzzi, you’re probably never going to want to leave. This place is amazing!
- Huge swimming pools
- Beautiful and comfortable rooms
- Right on the beach
- Delicious free breakfast
Rooms start from $161 per night.
Frequently Asked Questions about Langkawi to Koh Lipe
What is the best way to get from Langkawi to Koh Lipe?
The only way to travel from Langkawi to Koh Lipe is by ferry. We recommend departing from Langkawi’s Telaga Terminal, which is the closest to the island’s tourist attractions. Fares start from 180 PHP (€2.90) for the 1 to 1.5-hour journey.
Alternative options include a ferry from Langkawi’s Kuah Jetty to Koh Lipe and a ferry via Satun.
Are you travelling the opposite route? You can also check out our Koh Lipe Langkawi guide for more information.
What are the best things to do in Koh Lipe?
Koh Lipe is known for its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters. These make it a popular getaway destination for relaxing and swimming. Other things you can do when on Koh Lipe include:
Beach-hopping: Koh Lipe has three popular beaches — Pattaya, Sunset, and Sunrise Beach. We recommend watching the sun come up at Sunrise Beach, spending the day at Pattaya (surrounded by resorts and restaurants) and then moving on to Sunset Beach when the sun is about to set.
Diving & snorkelling: As part of Tarutao National Marine Park, the shallow waters of Koh Lipe are teeming with underwater life. You will find coral gardens just a few metres from the shore, but you can also take a boat tour to find the best diving spots.
Explore the island: Despite the growing number of tourists, Koh Lipe still boasts of a grand display of nature. You can escape the crowd at Pattaya Beach by walking through jungle trails or exploring the island by bike. Koh Lipe is just about 3.5 km long and 2.5 km wide, so you shouldn’t have a problem with that!
What is the weather like in Koh Lipe?
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Langkawi to Koh Lipe. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
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Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Abby is a writer who finds joy in mountains, beaches, and road trips. She considers her solo backpacking trip to the rice terraces of Bontoc one of the most fulfilling moments in her life. She’s loyal to the islands of her home country, the Philippines, but Thailand’s beaches also have a special place in her heart.
