About the ride from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai
The tropical paradise island of Koh Lipe needs no introduction. It’s vibrant corals and coconut tree-lined beaches are the stuff of dreams. In fact, countless tourists such as yourself have called this place their favorite getaway spot. Sad as it may be, you will eventually need to leave. For most people, this will mean taking a trip from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai.
Koh Lipe is a pretty small island. While this makes it easy to get around, it also means that there’s no room for an airstrip. This is why most comings and goings from the island are done by ferry. Going back from Koh Lipe to Thai mainland typically means going to the city of Hat Yai.
Located around 87 miles by air from Koh Lipe, Hat Yai is a commercial hub of southern Thailand, and one of the largest cities in the country. This is the place you want to be if you want to catch a flight to Bangkok. The question is, how do you get from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai in the first place?
It’s pretty straightforward – you just need to get a ferry to the mainland, and then hop on a bus to the city. The journey takes between four and five and a half hours. Thankfully, there are as many as 9 operators you can choose from, so you won’t have problems finding a way to get off the island.
Together, they combine for 35 departures every day, meaning that you can be pretty flexible with your departure time, too.
What to see when traveling from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai
A trip from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai will take you through one of Thailand’s most precious marine sanctuaries – the Tarutao National Park. The park encompasses over 50 islands, the largest one being Koh Tarutao.
With its pristine beaches, clandestine caves and humming waterfalls, the wild beauty of this place will make your jaw drop. If you missed visiting this time around, make sure to mark it on your map for the next go-around!
Your ferry ride will take off from Koh Lipe Pier and, in most cases, hit the mainland at Pak Bara Pier. In these parts, ferries are more like speedboats than the traditional workhorse vessels you’ll see in the West. But in case someone calls them that, you’ll know what they mean.
After docking on the mainland, it’s time to hop into your bus. The buses are operated by the same companies running the ferry, so there’s no need to worry about losing your way. For the most part, the road to Hat Yai will take you along a well maintained highway, so you’ll even get a chance to get some shuteye if you need to.
Getting from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai
Taking a bus and ferry
With as many as 9 operators running from Koh Lipe to Hat Yai, you’ll be pretty much spoiled for choice on how to get to your destination. Prices range between $21 and $31, depending on the operator you choose. The differences are subtle, so pay attention to what each one has to offer.
One of the most important ones is the luggage policy. Most of the minivans allow you to bring a 20 kg bag plus a 7 kg hand bag. If you’re bringing a lot of stuff with you, this might not cut it. If that’s the case, the larger bus operated by Tigerline is your best option, as it allows two big bags plus one carry-on.
It’s good to have some flexibility in case something comes up. With that in mind, you should pay attention to the different cancellation policies the operators will offer. On Tigerline, you can cancel for free up to 7 days before the departure. If it’s 5 days before, there will be a 15% cancellation fee, and a 50% fee if you’re cancelling with 3 or less days notice.
There are other operators that are more flexible with cancellations. With Smart En Plus, you can cancel for free up to 72 hours before the trip. The trade-off is, you guessed it, the luggage rules. If you’re bringing a second large suitcase, you’ll need to purchase a second ticket from the bus driver.
With Jumping Frog Travel, you can cancel for free up to 24 hours before the trip. That’s really great, especially considering that you can arrange a hotel pickup at Koh Lipe. The only downside is that the journey takes around 5 hours.
Every operator has its pros and cons, but the good thing is that, with so many options on offer, you’re bound to find a good choice for yourself.
One last thing that you should have in mind is that ferries might not sail in severe weather. Rescheduling will thankfully be free in this case, but you will need to find accommodation for another night.