Koh Lipe: 7 Island Snorkeling Trip by Longtail Boat w/ Lunch

Koh Lipe’s traditional longtail boat makes this more than a simple ride between snorkel sites. You spend a full day moving through the eastern Adang island group, from the cliffs of Koh Hin Son to the black stones of Hin Ngam and the quiet beach at Koh Ro Khloi. The route gives you a broad look at the islands instead of keeping you in one bay.

I like the small group of up to 10 people, which should make getting gear, boarding, and following the guide much easier than on a packed boat. I also like the practical package: lunch, drinking water, seasonal fruit, mask, fins, life jacket, and basic accident insurance are included. The main drawback is that the six-and-a-half-hour trip includes several stops, and not every snorkeling site will feel equally special.

Key points to know before booking

• Koh Hin Son opens the day with cliffs and sea views, not just a quick swim.
• Koh Buloh, Ao Kam Nan, Koh Peung, and Jabang provide several chances to see coral, fish, and sea fans.
• Koh Ro Khloi offers the quietest beach stop, with a viewpoint for wide island views.
• Monkey Beach combines lunch and a short break with the chance to watch monkeys in the trees.
• Hin Ngam is a photo stop with unusual black stones, but the rocks are for looking, not taking.
• The 200 THB national park fee is extra, unless you already paid it when arriving on Koh Lipe.

What your 390-minute boat day looks like

You meet at the Star Travel office on Walking Street near Pattaya Beach. This is a central starting point on Koh Lipe, but you should allow enough time to find the office and arrive ready for the water. Large bags are not allowed, so bring only what you need for the day.

Before departure, your English or Thai-speaking guide gives basic snorkeling and safety instructions. That matters here. You will be stepping into and out of a longtail boat several times, carrying wet gear, and swimming at different sites. The guide also helps make the day less intimidating if you are new to snorkeling.

The first boat ride takes about 45 minutes. This is part of the experience, not dead time. A longtail boat is slower and more open than a speedboat, so you get more wind, spray, and views along the way. It can also feel noisier and less smooth, especially when the sea picks up. If you prefer a quiet, fast crossing, this is not the right boat style. If you want a traditional Thai island outing, it fits the setting well.

Koh Hin Son gives the morning a dramatic start

Koh Hin Son is a small island with steep rock formations and broad views across the water. You have about 45 minutes here for sightseeing and possibly swimming below the cliffs. The appeal is visual first: this is where you get your early photos of the unusual rock shapes and the open sea.

You may be able to view the island from above the cliffs, but the exact amount of walking depends on conditions and how the stop is managed. Wear flip-flops with care and keep your footing in mind around rocks. The supplied information does not promise a formal hike, so treat the viewpoint as an option rather than the main event.

This stop also helps break up the first boat ride. Instead of arriving at the first reef and immediately putting on a mask, you get a chance to look around, swim, and settle into the rhythm of the day.

Coral gardens at Koh Buloh and Ao Kam Nan

The next water stop is Koh Buloh, a small island known for coral and tropical fish. You have about 30 minutes for snorkeling. That is enough for a useful look, but it is not a long session, so get your mask adjusted before entering the water and listen closely to the guide’s directions.

A guide can make a real difference here. One French participant praised the guide for pointing out fish and coral, staying close, and helping build confidence in the water. The same guide also took photos during the outing and later shared them, which is a thoughtful touch if your own camera stays dry in your bag.

You might spot a sea turtle, but it should be treated as a lucky possibility, not a promised sighting. Marine conditions vary, and the quality of a reef can change with weather, visibility, and the number of boats in the area.

The trip then reaches Ao Kam Nan, a bay on the south side of Koh Dong. This stop lasts about an hour and combines swimming with time on the beach. It is a useful change from the reef stops because you can simply float, sit on shore, or take a break from the mask and fins.

The description of the route identifies Ao Kam Nan as a coral reef area, but the stop also has a beach element. If your group has different swimming abilities, this gives people more than one way to enjoy the hour. Non-swimmers are not allowed on the tour, though, so everyone joining should be comfortable in the water.

Koh Ro Khloi is the best pause in the middle of the day

Koh Ro Khloi is a remote island with a wide beach and a viewpoint. You get about an hour here, enough time to swim, relax, and possibly walk up for views of the surrounding islands.

This may be the most restful part of the trip. Snorkeling days can become a blur of masks, fins, ladders, and short swims. Koh Ro Khloi gives you dry land and a quieter setting. You can enjoy the beach without needing to chase another fish sighting.

The viewpoint is worth considering if your legs and the heat allow it. The reward is a wider look at the islands rather than another close-up reef. Bring water with you, use sunscreen, and do not assume the walk will feel easy in the midday sun.

Monkey Beach pairs lunch with a change of pace

The route continues to Monkey Beach on the northeast side of Koh Dong. This is the planned one-hour break and lunch stop. A lunch package, drinking water, and seasonal fruit are included, so you do not need to arrange a separate meal for the boat day.

The stop also gives you the chance to watch monkeys in the trees. Keep food and personal items under control, and observe the animals without trying to approach them. The supplied details do not promise a particular number of monkeys or a guaranteed close sighting, so enjoy it as an added feature rather than the reason to book the tour.

Lunch on an island beach is convenient, but it will not suit everyone’s idea of a full meal. The information only confirms a lunch package, not the exact menu. If you have dietary needs, check before booking rather than assuming the meal will meet them.

Koh Peung is for sea fans and underwater color

After lunch, the boat stops around Koh Peung for about 30 minutes of snorkeling. This site is noted for colorful sea fans, which give the underwater view a different character from a basic coral garden.

A 30-minute session goes quickly. I would use the first few minutes to get comfortable, then follow the guide’s eye line instead of swimming off in search of something better. The guide may point out fish and coral that you would otherwise miss.

The route includes several snorkeling sites, but they should not all be judged by the same standard. One recent French assessment found that only two of the many stops felt truly exceptional, while the rest were still pleasant. That is a useful warning if you have already snorkeled in famous tropical locations. You may find the variety worthwhile without finding every reef spectacular.

Hin Ngam is a black-stone beach, not a place to collect souvenirs

Hin Ngam, also called Koh Hin Ngam, is a beach island famous for smooth black stones with different shapes and patterns. You get about 30 minutes for photos and a walk, with the option to swim in calm water.

This is one of the more distinctive stops because the attraction is geological rather than coral-based. The dark stones create good patterns for photographs, especially when wet. Do not take them home. They are part of the island’s character, and removing them spoils the very feature people come to see.

Wear footwear that can handle a rocky shoreline. Flip-flops are listed as a suggested item, but they may not feel secure for every step. You should also keep your camera protected from spray during the boat ride and at the water’s edge.

Jabang finishes the route with soft coral

The final snorkeling stop is Jabang, also spelled Ko Cha Bang in the route details. You have about 30 minutes here among colorful soft coral and schools of fish.

Ending with a reef stop makes sense. If the sea conditions have been kind, you get one last chance to use the equipment and watch the underwater world before heading back to Koh Lipe. As with the other sites, the quality depends on visibility and conditions. The route promises a soft-coral area, not a guaranteed display of a certain species or size of fish.

The return boat ride lasts about 30 minutes. You arrive back at the Star Travel office near Pattaya Beach after roughly 390 minutes in total.

What the 27 USD price really includes

At about $27 per person, this is a strong-value full-day outing if you want transport between several islands and do not want to rent or carry your own snorkeling gear. The value comes from the number of moving parts covered in one price: boat transport, lunch, fruit, drinking water, mask, fins, life jacket, guide, and basic accident insurance.

You still need to budget for the national park entrance fee: 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child. If you already paid this fee when arriving on Koh Lipe by speedboat or ferry, bring or reuse that ticket rather than paying again.

The small group is important to the price calculation. A maximum of 10 people is not private, but it is much closer to a personal outing than a large boat packed with people. You should have a better chance of hearing the guide and getting help with equipment.

Lost or damaged masks and snorkels must be paid for at full replacement cost. Handle the gear carefully, and do not leave it loose on the beach or boat deck.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this outing if you want to see several islands in one day, enjoy a traditional longtail boat, and prefer a guided day over arranging separate trips. It suits confident swimmers and people who are happy with a mix of snorkeling, beach time, photos, lunch, and short boat rides.

It is also a good first snorkeling trip around Koh Lipe. The guide gives instructions, provides the equipment, and may point out fish and coral. A participant specifically appreciated the guide’s calm help in the water, which can matter if you are still learning how to use a mask and fins.

I would be more cautious if you have already snorkeled in top reef destinations and expect every stop to be exceptional. The route gives you variety, but some sites may feel ordinary beside the best places you have visited. If your priority is one perfect reef and a slow morning, a shorter, more focused trip may suit you better.

This activity is not suitable for children under two, pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, or non-swimmers. The repeated boat transfers and open-water swimming make those restrictions practical rather than fussy.

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a camera, flip-flops, breathable clothes, and a change of clothes. Leave large bags and drones behind. You will be glad to have dry clothes for the return to Koh Lipe.

Should you book the Koh Lipe 7-island trip?

Book it if you want a low-cost, well-organized introduction to the islands around Koh Lipe, especially with a small group and several different types of stops. The guide support, included equipment, lunch, and traditional boat make the $27 price easy to justify.

Skip it if you dislike longtail boats, need a fully private outing, or have high expectations based on snorkeling in world-famous reef areas. The strongest reasons to go are the variety, the island scenery, Koh Ro Khloi’s beach, Hin Ngam’s black stones, and the chance to see sea fans and coral across several sites. For a first full day on the water around Koh Lipe, that is a fair package at a sensible price.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts about 390 minutes, or six and a half hours.

What type of boat is used?

The tour uses a traditional Thai longtail boat.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. A lunch package, drinking water, and seasonal fruit are included.

Is the national park entrance fee included?

No. The fee is 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child. If you already paid after arriving on Koh Lipe by speedboat or ferry, you can reuse that ticket.

What languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Thai.

Can I cancel the booking?

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