Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Koh Lipe?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Koh Lipe?

Most visitors spend three to seven days in Koh Lipe when visiting. The tranquil island offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the beautiful scenery, and the hiking.

Ko Lipe is a small island near Thailand's border with Malaysia. It's part of the Tarutao National Marine Park and it has some of the country's best snorkeling and scuba diving. While it remained completely off most tourist's radars just a few years ago, it has grown in popularity and today it has less of an undiscovered vibe.

Do you have one or two days to visit Koh Lipe? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Koh Lipe?

One day is generally not enough time to enjoy the scenery and sights of Koh Lipe. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to explore the underwater world, lounge on the beach, admire the wonderful scenery, and discover the nearby hiking trails. To genuinely appreciate the highlights of the tranquil island, a more lengthy visit is recommended. Many travelers opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days to fully explore the area. After all, Koh Lipe is a nice island that isn't very crowded with tourists since it only has a few sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your journey.

How to spend a day in Koh Lipe

Scuba diving and snorkeling around Koh Lipe is world-class, and is one of the main reasons why so many visitors come here. Spend a day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. Although it is no longer the undiscovered island paradise that it once was, the snorkeling and diving on Koh Lipe remains some of the best in the country.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Discover SCUBA Diving ($151)
  • Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch ($24)

Koh Lipe is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. Many visitors consider this to be one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. It still holds on to that undiscovered quality and the nearby national park offers excellent nature to explore.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport by Satun Pakbara Speed Boat and Shared Minivan ($33)
  • Koh Lipe to Pakbara Pier by Satun Pakbara Speed Boat ($25)
  • 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe ($15)

Koh Lipe is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the island, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. It's an easy island to explore on foot and you can walk from one end of the island to the other in about half an hour.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Koh Lipe?

Koh Lipe is a great place to visit if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. It has some interesting activities and attractions. Given only a weekend, you will likely find yourself rushing through the island's activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, and the beautiful scenery. To really see what this island boasts, you'll more likely need at least 3 or as many as 7 days. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit, including Sunrise Beach.

Koh Lipe, Thailand Koh Lipe, Thailand

How to spend 2 days in Koh Lipe

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Koh Lipe, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the island has to offer.

The beautiful beaches await you in Koh Lipe, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. Despite the island's small size, the beaches are truly spectacular. They have white sand and the undersea world is just steps away, so don't forget your mask and snorkel.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport by Satun Pakbara Speed Boat and Shared Minivan ($33)
  • Koh Lipe to Pakbara Pier by Satun Pakbara Speed Boat ($25)
  • 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe ($15)

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There's enough of a restaurant selection that you'll find good local food and freshly caught seafood. The options change frequently as the tourist crowds have varied dramatically over the years, making it difficult for businesses to stay open.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Koh Lipe, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

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