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

Koh Lipe’s best scenery is often below the water, and this half-day trip gives you several chances to see it. You’ll swim over soft coral at Jabang, hard coral at Koh Yang, and clouds of tropical fish near Koh Adang. I especially like the mix of reef stops and beaches, plus the chance to see Hin Ngam’s smooth black stones, a sight you won’t find at Koh Rawi’s white beach.

I also like the small group limit of 10 and the simple longtail boat setup. At $22, the price covers lunch, drinking water, seasonal fruit, snorkeling gear, a life jacket, a guide, and basic accident insurance. The main concern is communication: some departures have had guides with very limited English, and Jabang can be crowded with boats and inexperienced swimmers.

Quick reasons to consider this Koh Lipe boat trip

• Jabang’s pink, lavender, and red soft coral gives you the most unusual reef colors on the route.
• Hin Ngam is a land-based photo stop, with polished black volcanic stones shaped by years of waves.
• Koh Rawi combines lunch and beach time, with white sand and clear water.
• Koh Yang offers a different reef setting, with shallow hard coral and larger boulders covered in soft coral.
• Koh Adang is the final underwater stop, where you can see large groups of colorful tropical fish.
• The $22 price includes the main equipment and meal, but you must add the national park fee if you have not already paid it.

Leaving Koh Lipe by longtail boat

You meet the crew at the Star Travel office on Walking Street, near Pattaya Beach, 30 minutes before departure. That early meeting time matters on a small island. Give yourself enough time to find the office, check your equipment, and listen to the safety instructions without rushing.

The journey from Koh Lipe to the first stop takes about 30 minutes. You travel by traditional longtail boat, not a large enclosed vessel. That makes the ride part of the experience, but it also means you should protect yourself from the sun and expect an open-air trip.

The boat carries a small group of up to 10 people. That is a useful limit for getting on and off the boat, handling masks and fins, and finding a place to sit. Still, the water sites are shared with other tour boats, so a small group does not mean you will have each reef to yourself.

Bring a towel, swimwear, a change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat, flip-flops, and water shoes. A camera is welcome, but large bags and luggage are not. Drones are not allowed.

Jabang and its unusual soft coral colors

Jabang is the first snorkeling stop, with about an hour in the water. The site is known for soft coral in pink, lavender, and red shades. You can also see sea whips, sea anemones, feather stars, sponges, and reef fish.

This is the stop for anyone who wants colorful coral rather than only open-water swimming. The range of coral shades gives you plenty to look for, especially if you take underwater photos.

Jabang also has the biggest practical warning of the day. The site can become crowded with other boats, and some swimmers may be uncomfortable in the water. That can make the first few minutes feel hectic, with people close together and fins moving in every direction.

Listen carefully to the guide’s safety instructions and stay aware of the current and nearby swimmers. If you are a weak swimmer, use the provided life jacket and tell the crew before entering the water. The trip is not suitable for non-swimmers, and this is not the place to pretend otherwise.

The advertised guide language is English and Thai, but communication has not been consistent on every departure. Some visitors have found that the crew spoke only a few English words. If instructions are unclear, ask the guide to demonstrate the route, entry point, and meeting time before you swim away from the boat.

Hin Ngam’s black stones and short island visit

The boat then continues to Hin Ngam, a small island southwest of Koh Adang. The island is covered with smooth, black volcanic stones shaped by waves over a very long period.

This stop includes swimming, sightseeing, photographs, and a walk. You get about 30 minutes for swimming and roughly an hour at the island overall, depending on the day’s timing and conditions.

Hin Ngam is visually different from the pale sand at Koh Rawi. The rounded stones look almost polished, and the contrast between the dark shore and the surrounding sea makes this one of the strongest photo stops.

There is a local belief that stacking 12 stones and making a wish brings good luck. Treat this as a bit of island folklore, not a reason to remove or rearrange the beach. The stones are the attraction, so leave them where you find them.

One practical point: this is not necessarily a long, relaxed beach stop. The island can become crowded, and the beach may be better for photographs and a short walk than for a quiet swim. Wear water shoes if your feet are sensitive, since a black pebble beach is very different from soft sand.

Koh Yang for hard coral and shallow water

Koh Yang gives you a second snorkeling style. The reef here includes hard coral in shallow water, along with large boulders covered by soft coral at greater depth.

That change matters. Jabang is known for soft coral color, while Koh Yang lets you look at the structure of a reef, with hard coral formations close to the surface and larger shapes below. You spend about 30 minutes here, so use your time well and look both down into the shallows and toward the deeper boulders.

Conditions can vary. One account of the day described a snorkeling location with a very strong current, so do not assume every stop will feel calm. Stay close to the boat and guide, use your life jacket if needed, and avoid swimming farther than you can comfortably return.

This is also a good reason to carry water shoes. They protect your feet during entry and exit, but do not stand on coral. Reefs are easily damaged, and touching coral can harm both the reef and your skin.

Lunch and white sand at Koh Rawi

Koh Rawi is the lunch stop, with about an hour set aside for a break and a meal. The island is known for white sand and clear water, and it provides the most classic beach setting of the trip.

Lunch, drinking water, and seasonal fruit are included. The food is supplied as a lunch package, so you should not expect to choose from a restaurant menu. Watermelon or other seasonal fruit may be served, depending on what is available.

An hour sounds generous, but beach time can pass quickly once the group leaves the boat, collects food, eats, and takes photos. Some departures have had a much shorter practical lunch period, so keep an eye on the guide and boat rather than wandering far down the beach.

Koh Rawi is likely to be the part of the trip you remember most clearly if you want a proper island beach. The white sand and turquoise water give you a welcome break from fins, masks, and boat transfers. You can swim here, but you should not assume the full hour is free swimming time.

If you want a quiet meal, move away from the main gathering point once you have your food, but stay close enough to hear the return instructions. There are no details provided about special diets, so contact Star Travel before booking if you need a particular meal.

Koh Adang and the final fish-filled swim

Koh Adang is the final snorkeling stop, with about an hour in the water. This is the stop to watch for large groups of tropical fish and colorful underwater life.

The longer time here is useful. Instead of rushing through one short look, you can swim at a comfortable pace, pause for photos, and look for fish among the reef. The trip description calls this an underwater paradise, but your actual visibility and fish activity will depend on sea conditions.

Koh Adang also works well as a final stop because you have already seen two different coral settings. By this point, you know how the mask fits and how the boat operates. If your mask fogs or your fins rub, fix the problem before entering the water here. The final swim is your last chance to use the equipment properly.

Keep your camera secure and stay aware of the return time. The boat then takes about 30 minutes to return to Koh Lipe, arriving back at the Star Travel office.

What the $22 price really covers

At $22 per person, this is a low-cost way to reach several islands that would be difficult to visit independently in one half-day. The value comes from the combination of transport, three snorkeling areas, an island walk, beach time, lunch, and equipment rental.

The price includes:

• Longtail boat transport
• Snorkel mask and fins
• Life jacket
• Lunch package
• Drinking water and seasonal fruit
• Professional guide
• Basic accident insurance

You must add the Tarutao National Park entrance fee if you have not already paid it. The stated fee is 200 THB for an adult and 100 THB for a child. If you arrived on Koh Lipe by speedboat or ferry and already paid the park fee, reuse that ticket instead of paying again.

The price is especially good if you need to rent snorkeling gear and want lunch included. It is less attractive if you dislike group beach stops, want a private boat, or prefer to spend long periods at one reef. You are paying for variety and convenience, not total privacy.

The guide and communication question

The listed languages are English and Thai, and the tour is meant to include an English-speaking guide. In practice, communication has varied. Some departures have had strong help from the team, while others had crew members who spoke little or no English beyond basic words.

That matters most at Jabang and Koh Yang, where safety instructions and current conditions are important. Before you leave the boat, make sure you understand where to swim, how long you have, and where to meet again.

Sunny and the team have been described as helpful and responsive before the trip, which is useful if you have questions during booking. Still, the person answering messages may not be the same person leading your boat. I would ask the operator to confirm the guide language if detailed explanations are important to you.

The tour has a rating of 3.9 from 11 ratings, which fits the experience: strong scenery and good value, with uneven communication and crowding as the main weak points.

Who should book this trip

I would choose this trip if you want to see several sides of the Koh Lipe area without paying for a private charter. It suits confident swimmers, casual snorkelers, photographers, and anyone who wants both reefs and beaches in one outing.

It is also a sensible choice for first-time visitors who want a simple introduction to the islands around Koh Lipe. You receive the basic gear, food, and boat transport, so you do not need to arrange each part separately.

I would think twice if you are pregnant, have back or heart problems, or are traveling with a child under two. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers, and the open longtail boat plus changing sea conditions may be uncomfortable for some people.

You should also reconsider it if you need a quiet, private beach day. Hin Ngam and Jabang can be crowded, and one beach stop may feel rushed. This is a busy sightseeing and snorkeling circuit, not a secluded island escape.

Final verdict: good value with realistic expectations

I would book the Koh Lipe five-island snorkeling trip if my priority were variety, low cost, and easy access to several reefs. Jabang’s soft coral colors, Hin Ngam’s black stones, Koh Rawi’s white sand, Koh Yang’s coral boulders, and Koh Adang’s fish give you a broad look at the area in 330 minutes.

Go in prepared for shared sites, possible current, and uneven English communication. Bring water shoes, protect yourself from the sun, use the life jacket if you need it, and keep your expectations practical about lunch time and crowds.

For $22, the package is hard to fault on inclusions. It is best for a flexible swimmer who wants a full half-day on the water and does not need a private guide or a silent beach. If that sounds like you, this is a worthwhile way to see the islands around Koh Lipe.

FAQ

Where does the Koh Lipe snorkeling tour start?

Meet at the Star Travel office on Walking Street near Pattaya Beach on Koh Lipe.

How early should I arrive?

You should meet the boat crew 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours.

Which islands and sites does the tour visit?

The route includes Jabang, Hin Ngam, Koh Yang, Koh Rawi, and Koh Adang, with boat travel at the beginning and end.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. A snorkeling mask, fins, and life jacket are included.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The tour includes a lunch package, drinking water, and seasonal fruit.

Do I need to pay a national park fee?

You need to pay 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child if you have not already paid the Tarutao National Park entrance fee. If you already paid after arriving by speedboat or ferry, you can reuse that ticket.

Can non-swimmers or young children join?

The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers or children under two years old. It is also not suitable for pregnant women or people with back or heart problems.