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.
3 ways to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe
There are three ways to travel the distance of 185 km (115 miles) from Phuket to Koh Lipe: by bus + ferry (11h30m-11h), flight + ferry (4h30m-5h30m) and ferry (5-7 hours). The journey takes between 4h30m - 11h and the quickest way is by flight + ferry. The lowest priced tickets start from 1,210 THB ($34.00) for the bus + ferry.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.
Phuket to Koh Lipe by Bus + Ferry
Travelling by bus/minivan and ferry from Phuket to Koh Lipe is not the best option because it takes almost twice the time. It does, however, serve as a good alternative if want to save your budget.
For this journey, you will have to take a bus from Phuket to Hat Yai first. From Hat Yai, you can book a combined van+ferry tickets to Koh Lipe. The van will first bring you to Pak Bara pier, from where it is only a 1.5-hour ferry ride to Koh Lipe.
Unfortunately, there is no combined ticket for bus and ferry that goes directly from Phuket to Koh Lipe.
This means you have to arrange the transfer in Hat Yai by yourself. See the step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Phuket to Hat Yai by Bus
Sri Trang Tour is the only bus company offering bus trips from Phuket to Hat Yai. The bus has several departures a day, between 05:00 and 21:30. You can choose between an economy and a standard bus.
Bus from Phuket heading to Hat Yai departs from Phuket Bus Terminal 2, which is just a 10-minute drive from the Phuket town centre.
The bus will arrive at Hat Yai Bus Terminal, located 3 kms from the town centre.
We recommend taking this night bus so you don’t lose a day travelling. When you arrive at Hat Yai in the early morning, you can still stretch your legs and have breakfast before the first van departs for Koh Lipe at 08:00.
Bus + Ferry options from Phuket to Koh Lipe
- 24/7 customer support
- 24/7 customer support
Local Buses from Phuket to Hat Yai*
*COVID-19 UPDATE: We couldn’t confirm the latest schedule for this local bus. If you want to be sure of your tickets, we recommend booking the tickets mentioned above.
There is also one local bus that operates on this route. This departs from Phuket Bus Terminal 2 at 21:30 and is due to arrive at the Hat Yai Bus Station at 03:30. You can buy tickets directly at the bus terminal for around 270 THB ($7.00).
Unfortunately, you will likely have to wait for 4-5 hours before you can continue on to the second leg of the journey. For this reason, we would recommend booking the Sri Tran Tour bus for a more comfortable journey.
Step 2: Hat Yai to Koh Lipe by Minivan + Ferry
From Hat Yai, there are many companies that offer combined van + ferry rides from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe. The combined minivan and ferry ride takes around 4-6 hours.
The first leg of this journey from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe will take about 2 hours to reach Pak Bara Pier by minivan. From there, you will be transferred to the 1.5-hour ferry to Koh Lipe.
The most popular ones are Sukhothai Tour Hat Yai, Dee Travels Hat Yai, and Smart En Plus. All minivans listed below conveniently leave from Hat Yai Bus Terminal. This is the same bus terminal where the buses from Phuket arrive.
Bus + Ferry options from Phuket to Koh Lipe
Phuket to Koh Lipe by Flight + Ferry
A combination of the flight and van+ferry is another alternative to travel from Phuket to Koh Lipe. It’s cheaper than the direct ferry and takes around the same time.
Still, the journey from Phuket to Koh Lipe will be much more spectacular. Also, bear in mind that you will need to arrange transport from your accommodation in Phuket to Phuket Airport.
Because Koh Lipe doesn’t have an airport, you have to fly from Phuket to Hat Yai. The flight from Phuket to Hat Yai takes only one hour.
From Hat Yai Airport, there are also several minivans departing to Koh Lipe. The minivan tickets include a transfer to the ferry to Koh Lipe.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Step 1: Phuket to Hat Yai by Flight
Direct flights from Phuket to Hat Yai take only 1 hour and fares start from 1,200 THB ($33.00).
This direct flight is operated by Bangkok Airways, with one daily flight departing at 9:35. Flights from Phuket Airport arrive at Hat Yai International Airport at 10:35. Unfortunately, this current schedule won’t give you enough time to transfer to the minivans departing from Hat Yai Airport.
We recommend checking the button below to see if there are new flights scheduled with an earlier arrival time.
Step 2: Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe by Minivan + Ferry
There are several minivans departing from Hat Yai bus terminal, as well as Hat Yai Airport.
Note that the latest departure time from Hat Yai Airport is 11:30 because the minivans need to be on time at Pak Bara Pier to transfer passengers to the ferry to Koh Lipe. This means you have about 1 hour after your flight lands.
This gives you normally enough time, but keep in mind that a delay in your flight schedule might result in missing this transfer. If you miss your transfer, you will need to stay one night in Hat Yai before continuing to Koh Lipe.
The minivan to Pak Bara Pier takes about 2 hours and the ferry to Koh Lipe takes about 1.5 hours. Including transfer time this total journey will take 4-6 hours.
Flight + Ferry options from Phuket to Koh Lipe
Phuket to Koh Lipe by Ferry
Although not cheap, there are two direct ferries operating from Phuket to Koh Lipe. Travel time is around 5-7 hours and you can get a seat for 3,400 THB ($95.00).
The two ferry companies that operate from Phuket to Koh Lipe are Bundhaya Speedboat and Satun Pakbara Speedboat. The ferry operators have alternating schedules which means that only one ferry leaves per day.
Tigerline High-Speed Ferry used to be another popular operator for the Phuket to Koh Lipe route. But the last time we checked (May 2022), this company is unavailable.
Note that ferry tickets used to be cheaper at 2,550 THB ($71.00) with all 3 ferry companies. However, due to the pandemic, the companies raised their rates and operate less often. Likely this will change once the demand for this route rises again.
Departure station
Ferries heading to Koh Lipe from Phuket usually depart from Rassada Pier. The pier is only a 20-minute drive from Phuket town centre. You can take a songthaew, a minivan, or a Grab taxi with fares starting from 300 THB ($8.00).
Luckily, Bundhaya Speedboat offers free hotel pick in the most popular areas of Phuket, so you won’t have to worry about transportation going to the pier. See here the areas they serve:
- Kata
- Karon
- Patong
- Phuket town
Ferry Schedule from Phuket to Koh Lipe
Arrival Station
All ferries dock on a floating platform in front of Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe. On arrival, you will have to pay an additional 50 THB ($1.30) for a long-tail boat ride to the shore, plus 200 THB ($5.50) mandatory tourist fee when entering Koh Lipe.
Be sure to check the weather prior to booking your ferry trip from Phuket to Koh Lipe. Ferries may be suspended if the weather is not favourable. Also, be aware that fewer ferries operate on this route during the low season (April to mid-October).
Our favourite 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 Phuket to Koh Lipe
What is the distance from Phuket to Koh Lipe?
The distance from Phuket to Koh Lipe is 185 km (115 miles).
What is the fastest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe?
The fastest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe is by flight + ferry and takes 4h30m-5h30m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe?
The cheapest way to get from Phuket to Koh Lipe is by bus + ferry with ticket costs starting from 1,210 THB ($34.00).
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Phuket 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.
