With bustling streets and markets, Bangkok is one of the most vibrant cities in the world. After a few days in this restless environment, you will surely want to go to the beach to relax in a completely different place. Then Ko Lipe is the perfect place. There are many fantastic islands and beaches in Thailand, but if you want a complete change of pace, Koh Lipe is for you. This small island is located in the Straits of Malacca on the west coast of Thailand and is known for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. It is the perfect place for snorkeling or relaxing on the beach. If you want to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lipe, please read the details.
Travel options from Bangkok to Koh Lipe
There is a long distance from Bangkok to Koh Lipe. As the crow flies, there are approximately 820 kilometers between the two destinations, but the journey will be much longer depending on the mode of travel chosen. The fastest way to get to Koh Lipe would be by plane. However, because it is a small island, Koh Lipe does not have an airport, which means that part of the journey must be made by boat. There are various options that allow you to travel by train, van and ferry, or bus and ferry. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Below are all the details.
Flight, van and ferry from Bangkok to Koh Lipe
Nok Air plane taking off from Trang Airport © Decha Kiatlatchanon / Shutterstock.com
As we said, Koh Lipe is not big enough to have its own airport. This means that to make part of your journey by air, you would have to fly from Bangkok to another mainland airport to continue your journey by boat. There are various options to get to Ko Lipe this way. You can fly to Trang Airport and continue your flight from there, or fly further south to Hat Yai International Airport. The latter is closer to Koh Lipe, so the rest of the tour should be a bit shorter. There are various airlines that serve this route from Bangkok.
Trang Airport can be reached by Nok Air, Thai AirAsia or Thai Lion Air. These three airlines offer flights from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, there is also the option of flying with Thai Smile from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Prices of all airlines are similar to both Trang and Hat Yai. In any case, browse through all your options and try to book your flights as far in advance as possible to get the best prices.
Please note that if you choose to travel by plane, you will need to take a van or bus to the pier to catch the boat that will take you to Koh Lipe. If you want everything organized, search the website 12Go.asia. You will find that you can buy combo tickets for flights from Bangkok to Koh Lipe that also include a transfer to the pier and a ferry ticket. If you choose this option, your flight will be operated by Nok Air and you will be able to choose between two different departure times. Depending on which one you choose, the total duration of the tour can be 6 hours and 10 minutes or 7.5 hours. It may seem very long, but compared to other options to get from Bangkok to Koh Lipe, it is quite fast.
The main disadvantage of the plane is the cost. It is the most expensive means of transport to travel from Bangkok to Koh Lipe. But while traveling by train is cheaper, some train services are not much cheaper than flying.
Train, van and ferry from Bangkok to Koh Lipe
It takes approximately 23 hours by train, van and ferry from Bangkok to Ko Lipe © Sallehudin Ahmad / Shutterstock.com
Thanks to the combination of train, van and ferry, your journey from Bangkok to Koh Lipe will be completely different than before. Let’s start with the fact that train travel in Thailand is a very relaxing way to get around as the trains are relatively slow, allowing you to enjoy the scenery in peace. This part of the train takes about 16 hours and also runs at night. This means you won’t always be able to see the scenery, but if you book a sleeper ticket, you’ll be able to sleep on the way.
Trains depart from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok in the evening and arrive at Hat Yai in the early morning. You can choose between first and second class beds, but remember that first class is slightly more expensive. For this extra fee, the journey is more comfortable and private than in second class, where you share the space with many other people and the beds are not as comfortable.
At Hat Yai, you have to wait a while for the van to leave the pier. There, you will board the high-speed ferry for the final leg of your journey to Koh Lipe. Combination tickets covering all three legs of this journey are available at 12Go. So you can easily book your entire journey with the certainty that you will reach your destination without any problems.
From Bangkok to Koh Lipe by bus and ferry
The last option to get from Bangkok to Koh Lipe is to take a bus and then a ferry. This is usually the cheapest way to get to Ko Lipe, and although it may surprise you, it is faster than the bus. The duration of the trip varies between different bus companies as some have more stops than others. This means that it can change between 13:00 and 20:00. As with other solutions, it is possible to purchase combined tickets for bus, transfer to the pier and ferry with companies such as: Jolly Travel from Khao San Roador you can choose a company that comes directly from south bus terminal in bangkok. If you choose the latter, you will have to find a way to get to the pier on your own.
Many travelers prefer to spend more on a flight because it is much faster. Additionally, when booking a combined ticket at 12Go You will have everything arranged in advance, including transfer and ferry. Although buses are the cheapest way to travel, they are also the least comfortable because passengers have much less space than on a train.