Koh Lipe vs Koh Phi Phi: Quiet Sand or Big Views
Koh Lipe is the quieter, walkable island. Phi Phi has the bigger cliffs and Maya Bay, and the day-trip crowds that come with them.
Back to Koh Lipe AndamanIslandsPark fees
VerdictLipe for calm beach days; Phi Phi for views and nightlife
Park feeLipe 200 THB; Phi Phi 400 THB plus 20 THB pier fee
Boat inPak Bara to Lipe 600 to 700 THB; Phuket to Phi Phi 600 to 650 THB
SeasonBoth best November to April
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Both sit in Andaman marine parks. Lipe is a far-south sandbar near Langkawi. Phi Phi is one to two hours from Phuket and Krabi, which is why it fills by 10:00.
The one-line verdict
- Koh Lipe: calm water, a walking-only island, and evenings without day boats. Worth the longer trip.
- Koh Phi Phi: the cliffs, Maya Bay, and a party strip on Tonsai. Easy to reach, hard to find quiet.
Side by side
| Koh Lipe | Koh Phi Phi | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there | Pak Bara speedboat, about 1.5 hours, 600 to 700 THB | Rassada ferry, about 2 hours, 600 to 650 THB |
| Landing | Floating pontoon, longtail about 50 THB | Tonsai Pier, 20 THB island fee |
| Park fee | 200 THB, valid five days | 400 THB for park sites like Maya Bay |
| Crowds | No day-tour fleets from Phuket | Speedboat tours from Phuket and Krabi daily |
| Beaches | Sunrise, Pattaya, Sunset, all on foot | Loh Dalum, Long Beach, Maya Bay by boat |
| Nightlife | Walking Street bars, low-key | Tonsai beach bars and fire shows |
What it costs in 2026
- Lipe park fee: 200 THB for foreign adults, paid on arrival and valid five days.
- Phi Phi park fee: 400 THB for foreign adults, plus 20 THB at Tonsai Pier.
- Island to island: the direct Lipe to Phi Phi speedboat runs about 4 hours for 1,600 to 2,500 THB, in high season only.
- Maya Bay: no swimming, and it closes every year from 1 August to 30 September.
Who should pick which
- Pick Lipe if you want to snorkel off the beach and walk to dinner.
- Pick Phi Phi if you have two nights, want the viewpoint, and like a late bar.
- Do both from November to April on the direct boat, Phi Phi first.
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Common questions
- Is Koh Lipe harder to reach than Phi Phi?
- Yes. Fly to Hat Yai or Trang, then van and boat via Pak Bara. Phi Phi is a two-hour ferry from Phuket.
- Which island is cheaper to visit?
- Boats cost about the same. Lipe has the lower park fee, 200 THB against 400 THB.