Koh Lipe or Koh Lanta? A tiny island for snorkelling, or a big one for long beach days.
The short answer: Koh Lipe is a small island in Tarutao National Park near the Malaysian border: no cars, three main beaches close together, and snorkelling straight from a longtail. It takes longer to reach, usually a flight to Hat Yai, a van and a speedboat. Koh Lanta is much bigger, with long beaches down its west coast, roads and resorts, and a van from Krabi Airport that runs all year. In season, a three-hour speedboat links the two.
Below: a side-by-side comparison, rain month by month, who each island suits, and how to travel between them.
Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta side by side
The practical differences that usually decide it. Checked in November 2026.
| Koh Lipe | Koh Lanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Fly to Hat Yai, then a van to Pak Bara and a speedboat: about four hours from the airport | Fly to Krabi, then a van and a short car ferry: about two to three hours from the airport |
| Size and getting around | Small; Walking Street links Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach in about 20 minutes on foot; no scooters for visitors | Long and spread out; you get around by scooter, tuk-tuk or taxi |
| Beaches | Pattaya Beach (boats arrive), Sunrise Beach (best swimming), Sunset Beach (quieter) | Klong Dao and Long Beach near Saladan, quieter bays to the south such as Kantiang |
| Snorkelling and trips | Longtail trips to the islands of Tarutao National Park, such as Koh Adang and Koh Rawi | Koh Rok and Koh Haa (about October to mid-May), and the islands of Trang |
| Low season | About May to October: at least half of the restaurants, bars and tour shops close, and only the Pak Bara boats run | About May to October: many beach restaurants and some hotels close; the van runs all year |
Rain figures are long-term averages (1991–2020) from the Thai Meteorological Department stations at Satun, on the mainland closest to Lipe, and on Ko Lanta; see the month-by-month table below.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Koh Lipe for a few days of snorkelling and walking barefoot between beaches, and if you do not mind a longer trip to get there. Four nights suit most people; three is the minimum worth the journey.
Choose Koh Lanta for an easier trip, a longer stay, families, or more space: long beaches, more choice of places to stay, and a road that works all year.
Do both between mid-October and 20 May: the speedboat from Saladan reaches Lipe in about three hours, via Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan.
Rain month by month
Average rainfall per month and the number of rain days, 1991–2020, Thai Meteorological Department (WMO climate normals). A "rain day" means at least 1 mm of rain; many are short showers.
| Month | Satun (for Koh Lipe) | Ko Lanta |
|---|---|---|
| January | 44 mm 4 rain days |
31 mm 3 rain days |
| February | 41 mm 4 rain days |
24 mm 2 rain days |
| March | 134 mm 8 rain days |
69 mm 5 rain days |
| April | 210 mm 14 rain days |
122 mm 9 rain days |
| May | 229 mm 15 rain days |
228 mm 14 rain days |
| June | 190 mm 13 rain days |
286 mm 15 rain days |
| July | 230 mm 14 rain days |
288 mm 15 rain days |
| August | 278 mm 16 rain days |
342 mm 15 rain days |
| September | 334 mm 17 rain days |
319 mm 17 rain days |
| October | 344 mm 20 rain days |
298 mm 18 rain days |
| November | 218 mm 15 rain days |
148 mm 12 rain days |
| December | 118 mm 10 rain days |
65 mm 8 rain days |
More months and places on our Thailand climate guide.
Getting there
Koh Lipe has no airport. The usual way is to fly to Hat Yai, take a van to Pak Bara pier and a speedboat of about an hour and a half; this runs all year. From about mid-October to May there are also speedboats from Koh Lanta, Phi Phi and Phuket, and from about 15 October to late May ferries from Langkawi in Malaysia. Big boats stop off the beach and a longtail takes you to the sand, about 50 baht. See getting to Koh Lipe.
Koh Lanta has no airport either, but it is simpler: fly to Krabi and take a shared van, which drives onto a short car ferry, about two to three hours to your hotel. See Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Beaches and getting around
Lipe is small enough to walk. Walking Street runs across the island between Pattaya Beach and Sunrise Beach in about 20 minutes. Visitors cannot rent scooters; sidecar motorbikes and longtails between the beaches cost about 50 baht a person. See where to stay on Koh Lipe.
Lanta's beaches run down the west coast of Lanta Yai for many kilometres, so where you stay matters more; you get around by scooter, tuk-tuk or taxi. See where to stay on Koh Lanta.
Snorkelling and day trips
On Lipe, shared longtail trips to the nearby islands cost about 600 to 800 baht a person and take four to eight hours; a private longtail costs about 1,800 to 2,800 baht. On Koh Adang, across the channel, a steep trail of about 1 km climbs to the Chado Cliff viewpoint.
From Lanta, speedboats go to Koh Rok and Koh Haa in Mu Ko Lanta National Park, known for clear water and snorkelling; they close in the monsoon, and in 2026 the season reopened on 1 October.
The low season
From about May to October both islands are much quieter. On Lipe, at least half of the restaurants, bars and tour shops close, the sea can be rough, the island-hopping speedboats stop and only the Pak Bara boats run. On Lanta, many beach restaurants and some hotels close, but the van from Krabi keeps running. In either case, check that your hotel is open before you book.
Travelling between Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe
From about mid-October to 20 May, speedboats leave Saladan pier on Lanta in the morning and early afternoon and reach Pattaya Beach on Lipe about three hours later; Bundhaya's 10:30 costs 1,700 baht. The rest of the year, a van to Pak Bara and the speedboat from there make the trip in a day.
Bring baht in cash: there are ATMs on Lipe's Walking Street, but many places want cash, and you pay the park fee and the longtail in cash.
Koh Lipe vs Koh Lanta FAQ
Is Koh Lipe or Koh Lanta better for families?
Lanta is usually easier: a simpler journey, long beaches and more space. Lipe works well too if you are happy with a small island and a longer trip to get there.
Is Koh Lipe better for snorkelling?
Lipe is the easier one: longtail trips leave from the beach for the islands of Tarutao National Park. From Lanta, the best snorkelling is on the speedboat trips to Koh Rok and Koh Haa.
How do I get from Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe?
By speedboat from Saladan pier, about three hours, from about mid-October to 20 May. Outside the season, by van to Pak Bara and speedboat.
Are there cars on Koh Lipe?
No. It is a small car-free island, and visitors cannot rent scooters. You walk, or take a sidecar motorbike or a longtail for about 50 baht.
How many nights do I need on Koh Lipe?
Four suit most people; three is the minimum worth the journey.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Koh Lipe getting there, the landing, the park fee, beaches, getting around, trips, money, the low season and length of stay from Visit Thailand Today's Koh Lipe guide (17 October 2026) and our Getting to Koh Lipe page; the Lanta–Lipe speedboats from Visit Thailand Today's Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe guide (26 October 2026); Koh Lanta facts from our Krabi to Koh Lanta and Koh Lanta vs Koh Phi Phi pages; rain from the WMO 1991–2020 climate normals for the Satun and Ko Lanta stations (Thai Meteorological Department).