Krabi to Koh Lipe

The fastest way and the easiest way

In high season, the direct speedboat from Klong Jilad is the fastest, and you spend the day on the water instead of in a van. All year, the easiest is your own van to the pier, timed to the boat.

See every route on Getting around Thailand.

Ask Tanner which boat fits your day.

The Krabi to Koh Lipe ferry

The Krabi to Koh Lipe ferry is really a big speedboat. Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club leaves Klong Jilad Pier at 8:50am, about 4 hours 40 minutes to Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe, roughly once a day (checked 28 October 2026).

Tigerline also runs speedboats leaving between about 8:15am and 11:15am, at 4 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours.

There's no pier for big boats on Lipe, so you step onto a floating platform off Pattaya Beach and a longtail runs you in, about ฿50 if your ticket doesn't cover it.

Insider tip: the 8:50am boat is the only direct one listed, so a late start means the long way round via Pak Bara.

Ask Tanner to hold the morning boat for the group.

Via Pak Bara, all year

Out of season, the road to Pak Bara in Satun is the way in. The van-and-speedboat combos leave Krabi between about 5:30am and 8:45am and take 5 hours 45 minutes to 7 hours 30 minutes in all.

The boat from Pak Bara takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours, with at least five boats a day in high season and one a day outside it. The last boats leave by mid-afternoon.

Ask Tanner for the van to Pak Bara, timed to the boat.

The Koh Lipe national park fee

Koh Lipe sits in Tarutao National Marine Park, so every visitor pays the park fee in cash: about ฿200 an adult (checked October 2026), and children pay half, under the Department of National Parks' fee rules (checked November 2026).

Some boat tickets include the longtail from the floating platform; the park fee is paid on top. Carry small notes, and keep the ticket.

Ask Tanner to have the cash for the fees in the plan.

Why the group goes by private car

Your own van takes the group to Klong Jilad for the direct boat in season, or all the way to Pak Bara in any season. No 5:30am shared pickup, no hotel-by-hotel loop, and the bags go in the back.

Four of you fit a luxury van for up to 4, from ฿6,500 for 10 hours. Up to ten take the party van, and twenty or more go by coach.

Ask Tanner to set the van for an early start.

Boat tickets and what the trip costs

The Krabi to Koh Lipe ferry price depends on the operator and the season. These are the starting fares listed today.

For a group, Tanner puts the van and the boat tickets into one price.

Tanner's pick: in season, take the direct boat from Klong Jilad. Out of season, go by van to Pak Bara and cross on the first boat.

Ask Tanner to price the van and the boat together.

When to go, and Langkawi

Koh Lipe is at its best from December to April. From late May to mid-October only the Pak Bara route runs, and the crossing can be rough.

Langkawi in Malaysia is about 90 minutes away by ferry from 15 October to late May. Thai immigration is on Pattaya Beach, so fill in the TDAC before you land.

Insider tip: Malaysia is an hour ahead, so set your watch before the Langkawi boat.

Ask Tanner to add Langkawi to the trip.

Krabi to Koh Lipe in short

• What it is: Thailand's far south island, about 167 km from Krabi by land.

• Fastest: the direct speedboat from Klong Jilad, 8:50am, about 4 hours 40 minutes.
• All year: a van to Pak Bara and a 1 hour 15 minute to 2 hour boat.
• Park fee: paid in cash, as Koh Lipe is in Tarutao National Marine Park.
• Best months: December to April.
• For a group: your own van, timed to the boat.

Checked October 2026.

Is Koh Lipe worth it?

Yes, for clear water and a small, walkable island at the far south of the Andaman. It's a long trip, so give it at least three days.

From Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta and Langkawi are a boat away in high season.

See Krabi to Koh Lanta, Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe, Hat Yai to Koh Lipe and the Koh Lipe guide, and ask Tanner to plan the island hop.