A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Koh Lipe for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Koh Lipe?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Lipe? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Eilat or Koh Lipe?

Eilat

Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.

Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.

Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.

Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Koh Lipe, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lipe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Koh Lipe is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Lipe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lipe and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Koh Lipe.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Koh Lipe Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Eilat or Koh Lipe?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Lipe in the Summer?

Both Koh Lipe and Eilat during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round.

Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Koh Lipe. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Lipe receives 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Koh Lipe. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Lipe averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Lipe in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Koh Lipe. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Lipe. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Lipe receives 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Koh Lipe. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Lipe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Lipe in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Koh Lipe. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year.

Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Koh Lipe. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Lipe receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Eilat is much colder than Koh Lipe in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Koh Lipe fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Eilat or Koh Lipe in the Spring?

Both Koh Lipe and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Lipe. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Lipe receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Koh Lipe. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Lipe averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Koh Lipe and Eilat