Ko Lipe is a tiny island in the far south of Thailand’s Andaman coast, in Satun province, about 60 km (37 miles) off the mainland and just north of the Malaysian border, within sight of Langkawi. Only about 2 km (1.2 miles) across, it has three soft white-sand beaches, clear turquoise water and coral reefs a few strokes from shore, and it sits inside Tarutao National Park, a protected archipelago of jungle-covered islands. Ko Lipe is home to an Urak Lawoi (Chao Le) sea-nomad community and has grown into a lively but still car-free island of guesthouses, beach resorts and a sandy walking street. Come for snorkeling and diving around Ko Adang, Ko Rawi and the Butang islands, the viewpoint at Chado Cliff, sunsets on Sunset Beach and easy island-hopping, including the ferry to Langkawi in Malaysia. Ko Lipe’s season runs from about November to April; from May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain and rough seas, and many boats stop running.
Right now in Ko Lipe
- Wed 27–29°C 80–84°F 8 mm Cloudy
- Thu 27–29°C 81–85°F 11 mm Rain
- Fri 27–29°C 81–84°F 5 mm Showers
Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB
Top tours in Ko Lipe
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Ko Lipe at a glance
- Best for: snorkeling and diving, white-sand beaches, island-hopping, a car-free island stay, and crossing to or from Langkawi.
- How long: 3–4 days for the beaches and a long-tail snorkeling trip; a week to add diving and Ko Tarutao.
- Best time: December to March, with highs of about 33–35 °C (91–95 °F) and the calmest, clearest sea; November and April are also good.
- Getting there: speedboat from Pak Bara pier on the mainland (about 1.5 hours), from Langkawi in Malaysia, or by island-hopping boat from Phuket, Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi in the high season. There is no airport.
- Getting around: on foot, by motorcycle taxi on the few paths, and by long-tail boat to beaches and islands.
- Fees to know: visitors pay Tarutao National Park’s entry fee on arrival; some dive sites around Ko Adang and Ko Talang close from October 1 to December 31.
- Before you go: entry rules, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, money and general safety are in our Thailand travel guide.
Ko Lipe’s areas: where things are
Ko Lipe is small enough to walk across in 20 minutes. A paved path, the Walking Street, runs through the middle of the island linking its three beaches; there are no cars, only motorcycles and motorcycle taxis with sidecars.
Pattaya Beach
The long, curving bay on the south coast, where most boats arrive, with fine sand, calm water in the high season and the most resorts, beach restaurants and bars. Long-tail boats and speedboats moor offshore, so the swimming area is marked off.
Sunrise Beach (Hat Chao Ley)
On the east coast, a long, wide beach facing Ko Adang, with good snorkeling at its northern end and views of the sunrise. The Urak Lawoi village is behind its southern end. Sunrise Beach is quieter than Pattaya Beach and good for families.
Sunset Beach (Hat Pramong)
A small, peaceful cove on the west side, reached by a jungle path, with a few bungalows and bars and, as the name promises, the island’s best sunsets.
The Walking Street
The island’s spine and main village: cafés, restaurants, dive shops, massage parlors, clinics, minimarkets and ATMs, busy in the evening.
Top things to see on Ko Lipe and nearby
The reefs off the beaches
Some of Ko Lipe’s best snorkeling is straight off the sand: the northern end of Sunrise Beach, the rocks off Sunset Beach and the little island of Ko Kra just off Sunrise Beach. Wear a rash guard and fins rather than walking on the reef, and watch for boat traffic.
Ko Adang and Chado Cliff
The big, jungle-covered island just north of Lipe is part of Tarutao National Park, with a ranger station, a beach and trails. The climb to Chado Cliff (Pha Chado) is short but steep, about 30 minutes, and rewards you with a view over Ko Lipe and the islands around it; the Pirate Waterfall, a small fall in the forest, flows mainly in the rainy season. Long-tail boats from Sunrise Beach make the short crossing.
Ko Hin Ngam
A small island west of Adang whose beach is made of smooth, black, striped stones, polished by the waves. Local belief says that anyone who takes a stone away will be cursed; it is also forbidden in the national park. Leave the stones and stack them only in photos.
Ko Rawi, Ko Yang and the Butang islands
West of Ko Adang, the Butang group includes Ko Rawi, with long white beaches and good snorkeling, and smaller islands such as Ko Yang, Ko Jabang and Ko Talang, whose reefs are among the best in the area. Long-tail tours visit four or five sites in a day.
More classic sights
- Urak Lawoi village: a community of sea nomads, whose ancestors settled on Lipe long before tourism; visit respectfully.
- Sunset Beach viewpoint: the rocks at the end of the beach at dusk.
- Walking Street at night: seafood displays, cocktails and fire shows on the beaches nearby.
- Pattaya Beach (Ko Lipe)
Snorkeling, diving and boat trips
Long-tail snorkeling trips
The classic day out is a long-tail boat trip to four or five snorkeling spots around Ko Adang, Ko Rawi, Ko Hin Ngam, Ko Yang and Ko Kra, with lunch on a beach. Half-day and private trips are also possible. See our guides to snorkeling and boat trips.
Diving
Dive shops on the Walking Street run courses and fun dives to sites around the Butang group, such as Stonehenge, Eight Mile Rock and the pinnacles off Ko Talang, with soft corals, reef fish, turtles and, at the deeper sites, larger pelagic fish. According to the national parks department, several sites, at northern and eastern Ko Adang, Ko Talang (Stonehenge, Step and Wall) and Ko Hin Ru, close every year from October 1 to December 31. See our guide to diving.
Tarutao National Park
Tarutao National Park covers 51 islands in the Andaman Sea between Ko Lipe and the mainland. Its largest island, Ko Tarutao, is mountainous and forested, with long empty beaches, mangroves and the remains of a 1930s–40s penal colony for political and criminal prisoners, who turned to piracy during World War II. It can be visited on a long day trip or with a night at the park’s accommodation. See our guide to beaches.
Activities and best months
- SnorkelingIn Tarutao National Park the dive and visitor sites around north and east Ko Adang, Ko Talang (Stonehenge, Step and Wall) and Ko Hin Ru close every year from 1 October to 31 December. · source
Other things to do on Ko Lipe
Food and drink
Ko Lipe’s restaurants specialize in fresh seafood, displayed on ice along the Walking Street and grilled to order, alongside southern Thai curries, Thai Muslim dishes such as roti and massaman curry, and plenty of international cafés. Prices are higher than on the mainland because most food is brought by boat. Beach bars on Pattaya and Sunrise beaches serve drinks with sunset or fire-show views.
Yoga, freediving and kayaking
Yoga classes, freediving schools and kayak and paddleboard rentals are found on all three beaches.
Festivals
The Urak Lawoi hold their Loy Ruea boat ceremony twice a year, around the full moons of the sixth and eleventh lunar months, when they launch small model boats to carry away bad luck. Songkran in mid-April and Loy Krathong (November 24 in 2026) are also celebrated.
Day trips from Ko Lipe
- The Butang islands snorkeling tour: a full or half day by long-tail.
- Ko Adang and Chado Cliff: a half day by long-tail from Sunrise Beach.
- Ko Tarutao: a long day by speedboat, or better with a night.
- Ko Bulon Lae: a quiet island in Mu Ko Phetra National Park on the way to Pak Bara; the national parks department lists Ko Bulon Lae and its neighboring islands and campsites among the sites closed from June 1 to September 30.
- Langkawi: the Malaysian island, about 1.5 hours by ferry in the season; see our Langkawi guide.
Nearby destinations
- Langkawi57 km
- Ko Lanta127 km
- Ko Phi Phi150 km
- George Town (Penang)165 km
- Ao Nang (Krabi)181 km
- Phuket198 km
- Khao Lak265 km
Getting there and getting around
From the mainland: Pak Bara
The main gateway is Pak Bara pier in Satun province, served by speedboats to Ko Lipe several times a day in the high season, taking about 1.5 hours, with fewer departures from May to October. To reach Pak Bara, fly to Hat Yai (HDY) or Trang (TST) and take a minivan (about 1.5–2.5 hours), or take a bus or overnight train from Bangkok to Hat Yai or Trang and continue by road. Ferry operator Lomprayah sells connecting tickets with partner boats from Pak Bara to Ko Lipe.
From Langkawi and the Andaman islands
Ferries link Ko Lipe with Langkawi in Malaysia, about 1.5 hours away, with immigration formalities at a checkpoint on Ko Lipe. In the high season, roughly November to April, island-hopping speedboats also run from Phuket, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and the Trang islands, and Lomprayah’s partner network sells tickets from Phuket to Ko Lipe and from Ko Lipe to Langkawi. Check whether your boat runs in the low season before you book.
Arriving on the island
Ko Lipe has no deep-water pier at most beaches: boats usually stop at a floating pontoon off Pattaya Beach or transfer passengers to long-tail boats for a small fee. Wear sandals you can get wet and keep valuables in a dry bag.
Around the island
Walk, or use the motorcycle-sidecar taxis that wait on the Walking Street and at the beaches. Long-tail boats are the taxis of the sea, between beaches and to the islands nearby.
When to go and how long to stay
Ko Lipe follows the Andaman monsoon calendar: dry, sunny and calm from about December to March, and wet and windy from May to October, when the sea is often rough. There is no long-term weather station on the island, so the table uses the 1991–2020 normals of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) for its Satun station on the mainland, about 85 km (53 miles) to the east, as submitted to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO): average daily highs and lows, total rain, and days with at least 1 mm of rain. Being far out at sea, Ko Lipe often gets less rain than the mainland.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain (days with 1 mm or more) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 44 mm (1.7 in), 4 days | Dry, sunny and calm; peak season |
| February | 34 °C (94 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 41 mm (1.6 in), 4 days | The best month for clear water |
| March | 35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 134 mm (5.3 in), 8 days | Hot; mostly calm; some storms |
| April | 34 °C (94 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 210 mm (8.3 in), 14 days | Hot with afternoon storms; end of the season |
| May | 33 °C (92 °F) / 25 °C (76 °F) | 229 mm (9.0 in), 15 days | Monsoon begins; boats reduced |
| June | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | 190 mm (7.5 in), 13 days | Low season; rough seas some days |
| July | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 230 mm (9.1 in), 14 days | Low season; many resorts closed |
| August | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 278 mm (10.9 in), 16 days | Wet and windy |
| September | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 334 mm (13.2 in), 17 days | One of the wettest months |
| October | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 344 mm (13.5 in), 20 days | The wettest month; some dive sites close from October 1 |
| November | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 218 mm (8.6 in), 15 days | Season starts mid-month; still some rain |
| December | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 118 mm (4.7 in), 10 days | Mostly sunny; busy at Christmas and New Year |
The Satun station records about 2,370 mm (93 in) of rain a year, with the heaviest falls from August to October. From December to March the sea around Ko Lipe is usually calm, with visibility often over 15 m (50 ft).
Weather month by month
Averages from TMD normals 1991–2020, Satun · Last reviewed 5 Oct 2026
3 days on Ko Lipe
Day one, arrive, settle in, and watch the sunset from Sunset Beach. Day two, a long-tail snorkeling trip to Ko Rawi, Ko Hin Ngam, Ko Yang and Ko Kra. Day three, an early climb to Chado Cliff on Ko Adang, then snorkeling off Sunrise Beach and dinner on the Walking Street.
A week
Add two days of diving, a day trip or night on Ko Tarutao, and a lazy day or two; or continue to Langkawi.
Where to stay on Ko Lipe
- Pattaya Beach: the most choice, the arrival point and lively beach bars; boats moored offshore.
- Sunrise Beach: wide sand, snorkeling and a quieter mood; good for families.
- Sunset Beach: a few bungalows and peace, a walk from everything.
- The Walking Street: budget rooms close to restaurants and dive shops.
Rates peak from late December to February and on Thai and Malaysian holidays. From May to October many resorts close, and those that stay open cut prices.
What a trip to Ko Lipe costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 33 baht to the US dollar.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Thai dish at a local restaurant | 80–150 baht (about US$2.40–4.50) |
| Seafood dinner for two | 1,000–2,500 baht (about US$30–75) |
| Speedboat from Pak Bara | 600–700 baht (about US$18–21) |
| Tarutao National Park entry fee, foreign adult | about 200 baht (about US$6) |
| Long-tail snorkeling day trip, shared | 600–1,000 baht (about US$18–30) |
| Two fun dives | 3,000–4,000 baht (about US$90–120) |
| Long-tail taxi between beaches | 50–100 baht per person (about US$1.50–3) |
| Mid-range beach bungalow double | 2,000–5,000 baht (about US$60–150) |
Practical tips for Ko Lipe
- Bring cash: there are a few ATMs on the Walking Street, but they sometimes run out and charge high fees; many places add a fee for cards.
- Check boats in the low season: from May to October, confirm that your boat and resort are operating.
- Langkawi crossing: carry your passport and check the immigration rules and opening hours before you travel; Malaysia and Thailand have separate entry requirements.
- Water and power: both are limited on the island; use them sparingly.
- Cannabis and vaping: cannabis flower needs a Thai prescription, and e-cigarettes are illegal in Thailand.
- Help: the Tourist Police (1155) speak English, and the TAT Contact Center (1672) answers tourist questions.
Safety
Ko Lipe is relaxed and safe, but it is a remote island, and the sea is the main hazard.
- Sea conditions: from about May to October, waves and currents can be strong, and boat crossings are often rough or canceled; don’t travel when the operators say the sea is too high.
- Boat traffic: long-tails and speedboats come close to the beaches, especially Pattaya Beach; snorkel only in marked areas or with a guide and a buoy, and keep clear of propellers.
- Diving safety: dive within your certification with a licensed shop, and leave 18–24 hours before flying. Ko Lipe has clinics but no hospital; serious cases are evacuated to the mainland, which can take hours, so make sure your insurance covers diving and evacuation.
- Coral and sun: coral cuts infect easily, so clean them well; reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard protect you and the reef.
- Paths at night: the jungle paths to Sunset Beach are dark; carry a flashlight.
- Heat: drink plenty of water, especially from February to April.
- Emergencies: call 1155 for the Tourist Police (English spoken), 191 for the police and 1669 for an ambulance.
What to pack for Ko Lipe
Swimwear and a rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, your own mask and snorkel if you have them, fins, sandals and water shoes, a dry bag for boats and arrivals by long-tail, a flashlight or headlamp, enough cash, a light rain jacket from May to October, and your passport if you plan to cross to Langkawi. Thailand uses 220 V; sockets take both flat two-pin and round two-pin plugs.
What to pack
- Reef-friendly sunscreenSnorkelers burn their backs fast; mineral sunscreen and a rash vest are kinder to marine life.
- Snorkel masks and finsYour own mask fits better than a rental and makes clear-water coves and lava pools more fun.
- Water shoesEntries are often over rock, so water shoes protect feet getting in and out.
- WetsuitsEven in summer, 30+ minutes in 19–23 °C water gets cold; a 2–3 mm suit extends sessions.
Ko Lipe travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Ko Lipe?
From December to March, for calm, clear sea and sunshine; November and April are also good. May to October is the rainy season.
How do I get to Ko Lipe?
By speedboat from Pak Bara pier (about 1.5 hours), reached from Hat Yai or Trang airports; by ferry from Langkawi; or by island-hopping boat from Phuket, Ko Phi Phi or Ko Lanta in the high season.
Is Ko Lipe in a national park?
Yes, it lies within Tarutao National Park, and visitors pay the park’s entry fee on arrival.
Is Ko Lipe open in the rainy season?
The island is inhabited year-round, but from May to October many resorts close, boats are reduced and the sea is often rough.
Can I go from Ko Lipe to Langkawi?
Yes, by ferry in about 1.5 hours, with immigration formalities on Ko Lipe; carry your passport and check the current timetable.
Which beach is best on Ko Lipe?
Sunrise Beach for space and snorkeling, Pattaya Beach for restaurants and convenience, and Sunset Beach for quiet evenings.
Is the snorkeling good on Ko Lipe?
Yes, both off the beaches and on long-tail trips to Ko Rawi, Ko Yang, Ko Hin Ngam and Ko Kra.
Are there cars on Ko Lipe?
No, only motorcycles and motorcycle-sidecar taxis; most people walk.
Are there ATMs on Ko Lipe?
Yes, a few, mostly on the Walking Street, but bring enough cash in case they are empty.
How many days should I spend on Ko Lipe?
Three or four days for the beaches and a snorkeling trip; a week to add diving or Ko Tarutao.
Sources and last review
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Tarutao and Mu Ko Phetra closure dates: the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation; ferry connections from Phuket, Pak Bara and to Langkawi: Lomprayah; cannabis and e-cigarette rules and the Tourist Police: the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); climate normals: the Thai Meteorological Department via the World Meteorological Organization’s 1991–2020 normals; Loy Krathong date: the 12th-month full moon from the US Naval Observatory; exchange rate: the US Federal Reserve. The park fee, boat times and fares, immigration arrangements, sight details and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and schedules change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Thailand travel guide.
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