Bangkok to Koh Lipe A flight to Hat Yai, a van to Pak Bara, then the speedboat.
The short answer: Koh Lipe has no airport. The usual way is to fly to Hat Yai, about an hour and a half, take a van to Pak Bara pier and a speedboat of about an hour and a half: about four hours from Hat Yai Airport, and it runs all year. The last speedboat from Pak Bara leaves at about 13:30, so take a morning flight. Overland, the sleeper train to Hat Yai arrives early enough for the morning boats.
Below: the options compared, which flight to take, the train, and the island-hopping boats in season.
Bangkok to Koh Lipe at a glance
Hat Yai to Lipe times and fares from Visit Thailand Today (October 2026) and our Getting to Koh Lipe page; flights from Skyscanner and Baolau; trains from train36 (2026 timetable). 12Go prices include a booking fee.
| Option | Leaves Bangkok | Total time | Price (one way) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fly to Hat Yai + van + speedboat | Many flights a day from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi; take a morning one | About 5–6 hours | Flight about 1,700–1,900 baht on the dates we checked, plus about 800–950 baht for the van and boat | Almost everyone, all year |
| Sleeper train to Hat Yai + van + speedboat | No. 171 at 15:10 or No. 31 at 16:50, Krung Thep Aphiwat | About 19–21 hours | Berth, plus about 800–950 baht | A bed for the night |
| Fly to Krabi or Phuket + island-hopping speedboat | Many flights a day | A long day | Flight, plus about 1,700 baht from Lanta or 2,500 from Phuket | Mid-October to May only |
Compare live times and prices: all Bangkok to Koh Lipe options on 12Go.
Which one should you pick?
Fly to Hat Yai in the morning and book the van and speedboat on one ticket. Vans leave Hat Yai Airport at about 09:00 and 11:00 and connect with the 11:30 and 13:30 boats from Pak Bara.
Take the sleeper train if you want to save a hotel night: it reaches Hat Yai at dawn, in time for the morning vans.
Between mid-October and May, if you are already on the Andaman coast, take the island-hopping speedboat from Koh Lanta, Phi Phi or Phuket instead. See Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe.
Flying to Hat Yai
Hat Yai is the nearest airport to Koh Lipe, with many flights a day from both Bangkok airports, taking about an hour and a half. From Don Mueang fly Thai AirAsia, Nok Air or Thai Lion Air; from Suvarnabhumi, Thai Airways, Thai Vietjet or Thai AirAsia. On the dates we checked, one-way fares were about 1,700 to 1,900 baht.
Vans to Pak Bara wait at the airport; Bundhaya's leave at about 09:00 and 11:00, and the van and speedboat together cost about 950 baht. The van takes two to two and a half hours. Land by about midday at the latest, or you will miss the last boat and have to stay a night near the pier. See getting to Koh Lipe.
Sleeper train to Hat Yai
Night trains leave Krung Thep Aphiwat for Hat Yai every day, among them Rapid No. 171 at 15:10, arriving at 05:50, and Special Express No. 31 at 16:50, arriving at 07:05. From Hat Yai, take a van to Pak Bara and one of the morning speedboats. Book berths early in the high season. See our guide to trains in Thailand.
The speedboat from Pak Bara
Speedboats leave Pak Bara at about 09:30, 11:30 and 13:30 and take about an hour and a half. There is no proper pier on Lipe: the boats stop off Pattaya Beach and a longtail takes you to the sand, about 50 baht if your ticket does not include it. Koh Lipe is in Tarutao National Park, so you pay a park fee of 200 baht (children 100) in cash. In the rainy season boats often land on Sunrise Beach instead.
In the high season: via the Andaman islands
From about mid-October to May, island-hopping speedboats run to Lipe from Koh Lanta (about three hours, 1,700 baht), Phi Phi (about four hours, 2,350 baht) and Phuket (about five hours, 2,500 baht). This makes sense if Lipe is the last stop of a trip down the Andaman coast. See Bangkok to Koh Lanta.
Booking Bangkok to Koh Lipe on 12Go
12Go sells the flights to Hat Yai, the trains, and the van and speedboat from Hat Yai Airport on one ticket, so you can check that the van time leaves room after your flight.
Prices on 12Go include a booking fee. Hat Yai is in Songkhla province; some governments advise against travel to parts of the deep south, so check your own government's advice before you go.
Bangkok to Koh Lipe FAQ
What is the fastest way from Bangkok to Koh Lipe?
A morning flight to Hat Yai, then the van to Pak Bara and the speedboat: about five to six hours in all.
Is there an airport on Koh Lipe?
No. The nearest airport is Hat Yai; from there it is about four hours by van and speedboat.
What time is the last boat to Koh Lipe?
The last speedboat from Pak Bara leaves at about 13:30, so land in Hat Yai by about midday.
Can I take the train from Bangkok to Koh Lipe?
To Hat Yai, yes: night trains such as No. 171 (15:10) and No. 31 (16:50) arrive early the next morning. Then take the van and the speedboat.
Do I pay a fee on Koh Lipe?
Yes, a Tarutao National Park fee of 200 baht for adults and 100 for children, in cash.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Hat Yai to Koh Lipe vans, boats, landing and park fee from Visit Thailand Today's Koh Lipe guide (17 October 2026) and our Getting to Koh Lipe page; island-hopping boats and fares from Visit Thailand Today; airlines and flight time from Skyscanner and Aviasales, sample fares from Baolau; trains 171 and 31 from train36 (2026 timetable), total train time from GeckoRoutes; travel advice note from GOV.UK. Timetables and fares change, so check before you travel.