Practical guide
Krabi to Koh Lipe
Five hours by sea from Ao Nang, or a dawn van to Pak Bara and the boat from there
Take the Ao Nang Speedboat From November to Early May
Krabi to Koh Lipe is a long day either way, and there are two ways to do it. From 1 November to 4 May, Bundhaya's speedboat leaves Ao Nang's Nopparat Thara pier at 10:10 and Railay East at 10:30 and reaches Pattaya Beach on Lipe at 15:30, for ฿2,400. That's the one I'd take. You board near your hotel at a civilized hour and the whole trip is on the water. The rest of the year, and for anyone who'd rather save money, a van and speedboat ticket goes overland to Pak Bara pier and crosses from there, about 6 to 7.5 hours from Ao Nang at 06:00 or Krabi Town around 06:30, from about ฿1,150.
Check live Krabi → Koh Lipe times and seats on 12Go
One thing catches people out. The Krabi boat starts on 1 November, two weeks after the Lanta and Phuket boats, so in late October go via Koh Lanta or take the van.
Arriving in Koh Lipe
Where to stay in Koh Lipe
This route ends in Koh Lipe. Search Koh Lipe hotels with your dates, or narrow it to the area you're heading for. Filter for free cancellation if you want to hold a room and decide later.
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Key Facts
The speedboat runs 1 November to 4 May
Bundhaya leaves Ao Nang's Nopparat Thara pier at 10:10 and Railay East's floating pier at 10:30, both reaching Lipe at 15:30. It's one boat a day.
The speedboat is ฿2,400, the van and boat from about ฿1,150
Bundhaya's child fare is ฿2,000. The van and speedboat tickets via Pak Bara cost about ฿1,150–1,500 on 12Go, booking fee included.
The van via Pak Bara runs all year
Vans collect from Ao Nang at about 06:00 and Krabi Town at about 06:30 to 07:15, drive south to Pak Bara pier and connect with the speedboat to Lipe.
From Krabi airport, go to Ao Nang first
The shared van from the airport to Ao Nang costs ฿150–200 and takes 35 to 45 minutes, so spend the night there and catch the 10:10 boat or the 06:00 van.
In late October, go via Koh Lanta
The Lanta and Phuket boats start in mid-October, two weeks before the Krabi one. Take the boat or van to Lanta and the 10:30 speedboat on to Lipe.
Bring baht for the park fee
Koh Lipe is in Tarutao National Park, ฿200 for an adult and ฿100 for a child, in cash. The longtail from the boat to the beach is about ฿50 if your ticket doesn't include it.
Every Way From Krabi to Koh Lipe, Compared
| Option | Leaves | Time | Cost | When it runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundhaya speedboat from Ao Nang (Nopparat Thara pier)Seats on 12Go | 10:10 | About 5 hours 20, arriving 15:30 | ฿2,400, child ฿2,000 | 1 November to 4 May |
| Bundhaya speedboat from Railay East | 10:30 | About 5 hours, arriving 15:30 | ฿2,400, child ฿2,000 | 1 November to 4 May |
| Van to Pak Bara and speedboat, from Ao Nang | About 06:00 | About 6 to 7.5 hours | About ฿1,200–1,400 | All year |
| Van to Pak Bara and speedboat, from Krabi Town | About 06:30 to 07:15 | About 6 to 7.5 hours | About ฿1,150–1,500 | All year |
| Boat or van to Koh Lanta, then the Lanta speedboat | Morning | Most of a day | Two tickets | From mid-October, before the Krabi boat starts |
Bundhaya's times and fares from its own live booking search for October 2026 to May 2027; the van and speedboat tickets from 12Go's board, which includes a booking fee. Times can change with the weather and the sea.
Bookable departures · refreshed daily
Krabi → Koh Lipe: departure times you can book now
Every departure currently on sale through 12Go for this route, by class. Fares are the spread across the classes shown; the exact price for a seat and date is on the booking page.
Ferry & speedboat
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Minivan + Speedboat | 06:30, 07:00, 07:15 |
| High Speed Ferry | 07:00, 07:15 |
Minivan
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Van + Speedboat | 06:30 |
Times and fares as sold on 12Go, refreshed daily. Services sold only locally — ordinary trains, weekend excursion trains, walk-up pier tickets — are not listed; see the table above for those. Sponsored link: we may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Krabi → Koh Lipe
Check the Krabi to Koh Lipe boats and vans for your date
12Go lists the speedboats from Ao Nang and Railay and the van and speedboat tickets via Pak Bara from Ao Nang and Krabi Town, with live seats and e-tickets. Its prices include a booking fee.
Sponsored link — we may earn a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
The Speedboat From Ao Nang and Railay
Bundhaya's boat leaves Nopparat Thara pier, a few minutes from Ao Nang, at 10:10 and calls at Railay East's floating pier at 10:30, then runs south down the coast to Lipe, arriving at 15:30. The fare is ฿2,400 from either pier, ฿2,000 for a child, and it runs from 1 November to 4 May, one boat a day. From Railay, board at the floating pier on the east side, where the boat ties up, so there's no wading.
It's a long ride on an open sea, about five hours with stops, so take water and a snack, sit near the back, where the boat moves least, and take something for seasickness if you need it. On Lipe the boats stop off Pattaya Beach and a longtail takes you to the sand, so wear shorts and keep your bag light.
The Van and Speedboat via Pak Bara
The overland ticket runs all year and is the cheaper way. A van collects from Ao Nang at about 06:00, or from Krabi Town at about 06:30 to 07:15, drives south to Pak Bara pier, and you transfer to a speedboat for the last stretch to Lipe. It takes about 6 to 7.5 hours in all and costs about ฿1,150–1,500 on 12Go.
It's the only way from 5 May to the end of October, when the Krabi boat doesn't run. It's an early start, so pack the night before and ask whether your ticket includes the pickup from your hotel.
From Krabi Airport and Krabi Town
No boat to Lipe leaves from Krabi airport, and the speedboat doesn't call at Krabi Town. From the airport, take the shared van to Ao Nang, ฿150–200 and 35 to 45 minutes, and unless you land early in the morning, spend the night there, because the boat leaves at 10:10 and the van at 06:00.
From Krabi Town, the van and speedboat tickets via Pak Bara collect from town, or take a taxi to Ao Nang for the boat.
Arriving in Koh Lipe
Top-Ranked Hotels in Koh Lipe
The top of my ranked list of the 10 best hotels in Koh Lipe. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#1Akira Lipe Resort4.6 (1,211 reviews)
A well-regarded beachside resort on Koh Lipe offering a relaxed island escape in southern Thailand.
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#4Ten Moons Lipe Resort4.8 (562 reviews)
Beachfront bungalow resort on Koh Lipe offering direct beach access, a restaurant, and yoga.
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#7Serendipity Resort Koh Lipe4.6 (630 reviews)
Hillside bungalow resort steps from Sunrise Beach, blending rustic charm with a relaxed island vibe.
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Koh Lipe to Krabi
Going back, Bundhaya's speedboat leaves Pattaya Beach at 09:00 and reaches Railay East at 14:50 and Ao Nang's Nopparat Thara pier at 15:00, for ฿2,400, from 1 November to mid-May. It's one boat a day. Tigerline's 09:00 to Railay East is sold on 12Go for about ฿1,950–2,640.
All year, a speedboat and van ticket via Pak Bara leaves Lipe at 09:30 or 11:30 and reaches Ao Nang or Krabi Town 5.5 to 8 hours later, from about ฿820. For a flight out of Krabi, take the morning boat and leave a wide margin, or spend the last night in Ao Nang.
Bookable departures · refreshed daily
Koh Lipe → Krabi: departure times you can book now
Every departure currently on sale through 12Go for this route, by class. Fares are the spread across the classes shown; the exact price for a seat and date is on the booking page.
Ferry & speedboat
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Speedboat | 09:00, 09:30, 11:30 |
| Speedboat + Van | 09:30, 11:30 |
| Standard | 09:00 |
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Speedboat | 09:00 |
| Standard | 09:00 |
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Speedboat + Van | 09:30, 11:30 |
| Speedboat | 09:00, 09:30, 11:30, 12:30 |
| High Speed Ferry | 09:30 |
| Speedboat + Minivan | 09:30 |
Minivan
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Van + Speedboat | 09:30 |
| Minibus | 09:30 |
| Standard | 11:30 |
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Van + Speedboat | 09:30 |
| Class | Departures |
|---|---|
| Van + Speedboat | 09:30 |
| Minibus | 09:30 |
| Standard | 11:30 |
Times and fares as sold on 12Go, refreshed daily. Services sold only locally — ordinary trains, weekend excursion trains, walk-up pier tickets — are not listed; see the table above for those. Sponsored link: we may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Koh Lipe → Krabi
Check the Koh Lipe to Krabi boats and vans
The same live board for the trip back, with the morning speedboats to Railay and Ao Nang and the speedboat and van tickets via Pak Bara.
Sponsored link — we may earn a small commission when you book, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
May to October
From 5 May to the end of October no boat runs from Krabi to Lipe, and the van and speedboat via Pak Bara is the way in. It's the rainy season on the Andaman coast, so the crossing from Pak Bara can be rough, Lipe is much quieter and many places close. Check that your hotel is open before you book.
More on getting to Koh Lipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Krabi to Koh Lipe.
From 1 November to 4 May, take Bundhaya's speedboat from Ao Nang (10:10) or Railay East (10:30), reaching Lipe at 15:30 for ฿2,400. All year, a van and speedboat ticket via Pak Bara leaves Ao Nang at about 06:00 and Krabi Town around 06:30, about 6 to 7.5 hours, from about ฿1,150.
Yes, a speedboat, from 1 November to 4 May. Bundhaya runs one a day from Ao Nang's Nopparat Thara pier and Railay East. There's no slow ferry on this route.
About 5 to 5.5 hours on the speedboat from Ao Nang or Railay, and about 6 to 7.5 hours by van to Pak Bara and the speedboat from there.
Bundhaya's speedboat is ฿2,400 for an adult and ฿2,000 for a child. The van and speedboat via Pak Bara is about ฿1,150–1,500 on 12Go. Add the ฿200 national park fee, paid in cash on Lipe.
Not directly. Take the shared van to Ao Nang (฿150–200, 35 to 45 minutes), stay the night, and catch the 10:10 speedboat or the 06:00 van to Pak Bara the next morning.
No. It starts on 1 November. In late October, go via Koh Lanta, whose speedboat to Lipe starts in mid-October, or take the van and speedboat via Pak Bara, which runs all year.
In season, Bundhaya's 09:00 speedboat reaches Railay East at 14:50 and Ao Nang at 15:00 for ฿2,400. All year, a speedboat and van ticket via Pak Bara leaves Lipe at 09:30 or 11:30 and takes 5.5 to 8 hours, from about ฿820.
Where to stay in Koh Lipe
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Written by
Mac Kiley
I lived in Bangkok for four years and traveled the country from there. The guides are my own opinions, written the way I'd explain them to a friend planning a trip.
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