Koh Lipe: 5 Island Snorkeling Trip by Longtail Boat w/ Lunch

Koh Lipe’s best feature is underwater, and this five-island longtail boat trip gives you a good look at it in one half-day. You move from soft coral at Jabang to hard coral at Koh Yang, then finish among colorful fish near Koh Adang.

I like the small group of up to 10 people, and I like the low $22 price, which includes the boat, lunch, fruit, drinking water, gear, and guide. Koh Rawi is another strong point: its white sand and clear water make a lovely lunch stop.

The main caution is crowding and guide communication. Jabang can get busy, some stops may have strong currents, and several departures have had little English explanation despite the advertised English-speaking guide.

Key points to know before you book

• Jabang’s soft coral: Pink, lavender, and red coral make this the most unusual snorkeling site on the route, but it can be crowded.
• Hin Ngam’s black stones: The island is made for photos and a short walk, not a long swim on the pebble beach.
• Koh Rawi lunch stop: You get white sand, turquoise water, seasonal fruit, and a one-hour break, though the meal portion of that hour may feel short.
• Koh Yang’s shallow reef: This is a useful stop for seeing hard coral and large boulders covered with soft coral.
• Koh Adang finish: The final snorkeling stop is a good chance to see large numbers of colorful tropical fish.
• National park fee: Bring 200 THB per adult or 100 THB per child, unless you already paid and still have your ticket.

What this Koh Lipe boat trip is really like

This is a five-and-a-half-hour outing around the islands of Tarutao National Park, close to the Malaysian border. You meet the crew at the Star Travel office on Walking Street near Pattaya Beach, arriving 30 minutes before departure.

The route uses a traditional longtail boat rather than a speedboat. That matters. A longtail gives you an open view and a more local feel, but the ride is slower and more exposed to sun, spray, and wind. The schedule allows about 30 minutes each way for transport, leaving roughly four and a half hours for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and island visits.

The group is limited to 10 people, which is a useful size for a small boat. Still, the snorkeling sites are shared with other boats. A small group improves the boat experience, but it cannot prevent busy conditions at popular reefs.

The guide is listed as speaking English and Thai. Sunny is the named contact who handled pre-trip questions and arrangements well. On the water, though, English ability can vary. If clear safety instructions matter to you, listen closely at the start and ask direct questions before entering the water.

Jabang soft coral and the first hour in the sea

After about 30 minutes on the water, you reach the Jabang snorkeling site. The attraction here is the coral color. Pink, lavender, and red soft coral grow around the site, along with sea whips, sea anemones, feather stars, and small reef fish.

This is not simply a stop for checking off another island. It is the place to pay attention to texture and color. Soft coral moves with the water, while the fish gather around the reef. If you use an underwater camera, this is one of the better places to try it.

You have about an hour here, but conditions can change the feel of that time. Strong current is possible in this area, and the site may be crowded with other boats. At busy moments, swimmers can end up close together, so keep your fins under control and leave space around the coral.

Non-swimmers should not book this trip. Even confident swimmers need to take the life jacket and guide’s instructions seriously. The boat provides masks, fins, and life jackets, but you are responsible for avoiding coral contact and keeping track of your own equipment.

Hin Ngam’s black stones and the photo stop

Next comes Hin Ngam, a small island southwest of Koh Adang. The shore is covered with smooth, black volcanic stones polished by waves over many years.

The stones are the point of the stop, so this is more of a sightseeing and photo visit than a classic beach break. You get about 30 minutes for swimming, followed by up to an hour for photos, walking, and looking around.

A local custom says that stacking 12 stones and making a wish brings good luck. You can enjoy the story, but do not carry stones away. The beach is attractive because of its natural covering, and the stones are slippery underfoot. Water shoes are a sensible item to pack.

There is one important limitation here: the black pebble beach is not the white-sand beach many people picture when they hear Koh Lipe. If your main goal is soft sand and a long swim, save your enthusiasm for Koh Rawi.

Koh Yang’s hard coral reef

Koh Yang provides a different underwater view. The reef is made up of hard coral in shallow water, with larger boulders covered in soft coral at greater depth.

This contrast is useful. Jabang is known for soft coral color, while Koh Yang gives you reef structure and a chance to look across the shallows. The stop lasts about 30 minutes, so you should be ready to enter the water without wasting much time adjusting your mask.

A strong current can affect the safety of any snorkeling stop, and one reported departure found a site unsuitable because of current. Conditions are not fixed, so your guide may alter the amount of time in the water. That can be disappointing if you want a full schedule, but it is the right call when the sea is not comfortable.

The reef is best suited to people who can swim steadily and follow instructions. If you are uneasy in open water, use the life jacket and stay near the boat or guide. Do not treat the short transfer between spots as a reason to relax your attention.

Koh Rawi lunch on a white-sand beach

Koh Rawi is the prettiest land stop on the route. Its white sand and turquoise water give you the classic island setting that the black stones of Hin Ngam do not provide.

The schedule allows about an hour for lunch and a break. The package includes a lunch box, drinking water, and seasonal fruit, with watermelon specifically noted as part of the food served on some departures.

You should manage your expectations about the meal. This is a simple island lunch, not a restaurant outing, and the eating time can feel rushed when the stop also includes walking and swimming. One account described the meal as being finished in about 20 minutes, leaving limited time to enjoy the beach.

I would treat Koh Rawi as a beach stop with lunch, not lunch with a beach nearby. Eat efficiently, then use the remaining time for the sand and water. Bring a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and breathable clothing so you can enjoy the break without changing in a hurry.

Koh Adang and the final fish-filled snorkel

The last major stop is Koh Adang. You get about an hour for snorkeling before the boat returns to Koh Lipe.

This is where the trip earns its place on a first visit to the area. The water around Koh Adang can hold large numbers of colorful tropical fish, making it a strong final stop for underwater photos. After seeing soft coral, hard coral, black stones, and white sand, you finish with the simple pleasure of watching fish move through the reef.

The final stop also gives you a second chance if Jabang or Koh Yang felt too crowded. You might find the water calmer or the fish easier to watch, though conditions vary. Keep your camera secure, and do not bring a drone. Drones are not allowed on the activity.

After snorkeling, the longtail boat takes about 30 minutes to return to the Star Travel office. The full advertised duration is 330 minutes, but one departure returned nearly an hour early. If you have a fixed evening plan, leave extra room rather than assuming every minute will be used.

Is $22 good value for Koh Lipe?

At $22 per person, this is a low-cost way to see several islands around Koh Lipe. The price includes the longtail boat, mask, fins, life jacket, lunch, water, seasonal fruit, an English or Thai guide, and basic accident insurance.

The national park admission is extra: 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child. If you already paid the fee when arriving on Koh Lipe by ferry or speedboat, reuse that ticket instead of paying again. Keep it with you on the tour.

The value comes from the range of stops. Booking separate transport, snorkeling gear, and food would likely be more work, while this trip links five places in one morning or afternoon. You also avoid paying for a private boat.

The tradeoff is polish. This is a budget shared excursion, not a private charter. The schedule can feel tight, the guide may offer limited English, and busy reefs can reduce the sense of space. At this price, those limits are easier to accept if your priority is seeing several sites rather than receiving long explanations or quiet beach time.

What to bring and how to prepare

Pack light. Large luggage and big bags are not allowed on the boat. A small day bag is practical, but keep loose items secured.

Bring:

• Swimwear and a change of clothes
• Towel and sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Flip-flops and water shoes
• Breathable clothing
• Camera
• Any personal items you need for a half-day on the water

Water shoes are particularly useful at Hin Ngam, where polished stones can be slippery. Sunscreen matters because the boat and beaches offer limited shade in the supplied details. Apply it before departure, then protect your shoulders and head with a hat and light clothing.

The operator provides snorkeling equipment, but you are responsible for lost or damaged masks and snorkels at full replacement cost. Check your gear before entering the water and keep it together when you return to the boat.

The trip is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or non-swimmers. The longtail ride and open-water stops require reasonable physical comfort. If you have a medical concern, this is not the place to guess.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants a broad sample of the islands around Koh Lipe without paying for a private boat. You get reef variety, two different beach settings, lunch, and a manageable half-day schedule.

It also suits strong swimmers who want to take underwater photos. Jabang’s coral colors, Koh Yang’s reef structure, and Koh Adang’s fish offer three different subjects instead of repeating the same type of snorkel.

You may want another option if you dislike crowds, need detailed guiding in English, or want a slow beach day. Hin Ngam can become a queue for photos, Jabang can be crowded, and the lunch stop may not leave as much free beach time as you expect.

This is also not ideal for someone who wants luxury. The longtail boat is functional, the lunch is basic, and the tour depends on sea conditions. Its strength is access and variety, not comfort.

Booking advice and final verdict

Book this trip if you want the best value from a shared outing and your main aim is to see coral, fish, and several islands around Koh Lipe. The most praised parts are the excellent snorkeling away from Jabang, Koh Rawi’s white sand, and the large numbers of colorful fish around Koh Adang.

I would book it with three cautions in mind: bring the national park ticket if you already paid for one, prepare for crowds at the popular sites, and do not assume the guide will give a full English explanation. Ask for safety instructions before each stop if needed.

For $22, the mix is hard to dismiss. You get a real taste of the area’s reefs and beaches in 5.5 hours, with the main costs already covered. If you value quiet water, long meals, or private attention more than variety, pay for a private boat instead. If you want a practical introduction to Koh Lipe’s surrounding islands, this is a sensible choice.

FAQ

Where does the Koh Lipe snorkeling trip start?

Meet at the Star Travel office on Walking Street near Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe. You should arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is 330 minutes, or five and a half hours. The route includes about 30 minutes of boat travel at the beginning and end.

Which islands and snorkeling sites are included?

The trip visits Jabang for soft coral snorkeling, Hin Ngam for swimming and sightseeing, Koh Yang for hard coral snorkeling, Koh Rawi for lunch and a beach break, and Koh Adang for a final snorkeling stop.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The tour includes masks, fins, and a life jacket. Lost or damaged equipment must be paid for at full replacement cost.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A lunch package, drinking water, and seasonal fruit are included. Watermelon is listed among the fruit served on the trip.

Do I need to pay a national park entrance fee?

The fee is 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child. If you already paid after arriving on Koh Lipe by ferry or speedboat, you can reuse that ticket.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers reserve now and pay later booking.