There are many options to get from Malaysia to Thailand. The easiest, but probably the most expensive is to fly. Flying also doesn't allow you to get to the southern islands. Alternatively, you can travel overland. However, if already on Langkawi it is a bit awkward and involves a lot of changes in travel. Therefore you are left with the option of the boat.
In high season there are several direct boats to the islands. We understand in low season you need to go to take a boat to Satun, as the immigration office closes on Lipe.
We traveled with Tropical Charters and bought our tickets from a travel agent in town for 100MYR each. They run two boats a day - one at 09:30 and the other at 14:00. This was the best rate we could find and included a free pick up (which would normally cost 30 MYR in a taxi) from our guesthouse. You can buy them direct for about 118 or 100 on the web, but you need to organise your own transport to the ferry port, so seemed to be a good deal. Alternatively SatunPakbara SpeedBoat Club, which we used later on in our trip and are good and go from Telaga Habour Marina, Pantai kok, making it a shorter journey and closer to our resort, but they are a little more expensive and you miss the journey through the Langkawi islands.
When you get dropped at the port you are directed to a table (office opening soon we were told) where you are checked in. You are given your boarding pass. After this (there is a fancy bread shop and Starbucks there for breakfast or a food court if you fancy noodles at 8am in the morning), you are directed to go through immigration (no problem there) and proceed to the ferry. For whatever reason (and I don't like giving my passport to anyone) they take your passport off you. Apparently this is a Thai immigration thing which is quite annoying. They put them all in the same waterproof bag.
The ferry is fine and shows an English language movie which is good, as you are not allowed outside and the windows were a little dark. Just watch out for dripping AC and the rather dodgy toilet. We arrived into Koh Lipe at 10:30 (Thai time).
VISAs/VISA exemption
There is a lot of confusion about VISAs. We thought as part of the G7, British nationals get 30 days overland or at an airport. The Thai embassy, a hotel on Lipe and official documents say we get 30 days, with no charges for entry over land (and sea we assumed). However, with a day to go we were told by the ferry company that we would only get 15 days. This was all very confusing and if we hadn't got the 30 day VISA we would need to do a VISA run.
Well now having done the trip, I can reveal that citizens of the G7 can indeed get a 30 day visa. All other nations either get 15 days, or need to check that they can get a visa on Lipe. If not, you will need to go to Satun to get the 30 day overland visa and then carry on to Ko Lipe.
When you arrive on Lipe
When you arrive the boat stops at a pontoon and you are transferred, with your bag to a waiting long tail boat, which then takes you to the island. This is free.
Take care when getting off the long tail as the boat pulls up onto the beach and therefore you will get wet and maybe your bags too, so be careful (but it is a fun way to travel!).
The ferry company then lay out the passports piling them into countries and you go to a counter to say your name and get your passport back. They will ask if you wish to return and if you do, you need to give them a date.
When your passport is handed back, you will also get an arrival card. Fill this in and join the line for immigration at the immigration shack! The chap in immigration is fairly quick and after a quick photo and a few stamps you are in! Keep the departure card, as your accommodation and immigration will need it when you leave.
You may or may not need to pay 200 THB reserve fee, so make sure you have some cash with you. It is also a good idea to bring extra cash with you from Malaysia - you can easily change MYR at better rates on the island than in Langkawi and the rates are surprisingly okay. There are 4 ATMs (3 on walking street and one if you turn right at the Sunrise Beach end), but we have found them to be intermittent in accepting cards, freezing, running out of cash etc. and they charge 200 THB (£4) to get money out. If you really get stuck, you can get a cash advance at 5%.
Now time to enjoy the island!!!
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| A map (borrowed from kohlipe.net) |
We traveled with Tropical Charters and bought our tickets from a travel agent in town for 100MYR each. They run two boats a day - one at 09:30 and the other at 14:00. This was the best rate we could find and included a free pick up (which would normally cost 30 MYR in a taxi) from our guesthouse. You can buy them direct for about 118 or 100 on the web, but you need to organise your own transport to the ferry port, so seemed to be a good deal. Alternatively SatunPakbara SpeedBoat Club, which we used later on in our trip and are good and go from Telaga Habour Marina, Pantai kok, making it a shorter journey and closer to our resort, but they are a little more expensive and you miss the journey through the Langkawi islands.
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| Our ferry |
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| and the exits are here, here and here... |
VISAs/VISA exemption
There is a lot of confusion about VISAs. We thought as part of the G7, British nationals get 30 days overland or at an airport. The Thai embassy, a hotel on Lipe and official documents say we get 30 days, with no charges for entry over land (and sea we assumed). However, with a day to go we were told by the ferry company that we would only get 15 days. This was all very confusing and if we hadn't got the 30 day VISA we would need to do a VISA run.
Well now having done the trip, I can reveal that citizens of the G7 can indeed get a 30 day visa. All other nations either get 15 days, or need to check that they can get a visa on Lipe. If not, you will need to go to Satun to get the 30 day overland visa and then carry on to Ko Lipe.
When you arrive on Lipe
When you arrive the boat stops at a pontoon and you are transferred, with your bag to a waiting long tail boat, which then takes you to the island. This is free.
 |
| The ferry and pontoon |
The ferry company then lay out the passports piling them into countries and you go to a counter to say your name and get your passport back. They will ask if you wish to return and if you do, you need to give them a date.
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| Passports laid out... and Julia in the reflection. |
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| Queuing for immigration on the beach |
Now time to enjoy the island!!!
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