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

A day of color, fish, and salty air. This Koh Lipe 5 Island Snorkeling trip is one of the most efficient ways to see Tarutao National Park underwater, hitting multiple reef types plus that iconic white-sand lunch stop on Koh Rawi. I especially love the soft-coral candy colors at Koh Jabang and the fact that the day includes a proper beach break, not just a hurried stop.

Do note one drawback: English support can be inconsistent. Even though the tour is set up with an English-speaking guide and safety instructions, some departures have seen more Thai than English, and the first snorkeling stop at Jabang can feel crowded in the water. If you’re picky about clear instructions, you’ll want to plan for that.

Key Things You’ll Notice on This Koh Lipe Snorkeling Trip

• Koh Jabang soft coral in pink, lavender, and red, with lots of reef life like sea anemone and feather star
• Hin Ngam’s black volcanic pebbles plus a fun local custom of stacking 12 rocks for luck (if you want to)
• Koh Yang hard coral reef with boulders and soft corals in shallow water
• Koh Rawi lunch on white sand with drinking water and seasonal fruit, then time to relax on the beach
• Koh Adang final swim where you can expect to see hundreds of tropical fish
• Small group feel with a limit of 10 participants, plus masks, fins, and life jacket provided

Price and What You’re Really Paying For

At $22 per person, this is a bargain if you judge it by what you actually get: multiple snorkeling stops, a lunch package, and the gear you need to float around and breathe without worrying about your own mask fit. You’re also on a longtail boat, which matters here because it keeps you flexible around the best nearby sites instead of locking you into one reef.

The big “don’t forget” cost is the National Park entrance fee, which is not included. It’s 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child, and the tour does not roll that into the price. The good news: if you already paid the park fee after arriving by ferry or speed boat, you should be able to reuse your ticket so you do not pay twice.

Also, the trip duration is listed at 330 minutes. In real life, the exact pacing can shift based on conditions and how fast the group moves from stop to stop. So if you’re timing a later ferry, give yourself a buffer.

From Star Travel on Koh Lipe to Your First Snorkel Stop

You meet at Star Travel Koh Lipe in the walking street near Pattaya Beach. Plan to arrive about 30 minutes before departure, because that’s when the crew is ready to check you in and get everyone lined up.

You’ll ride out on the longtail boat to the snorkeling areas around Koh Lipe in Tarutao National Park, right by the Malaysia border. This is why the itinerary works so well: you’re not driving far, you’re hopping between islands and reef pockets that can change the “what you see” from one stop to the next.

The guide gives snorkeling and safety instructions before you hit the water. Still, because English proficiency can vary on some departures, I’d treat those instructions as the moment to ask your clearest questions. If you want to communicate well, point at your mask, ask about hand signals, and confirm where the group should swim back to if you get separated.

Koh Jabang, the Soft Coral Color Show

The first major snorkeling stop is Koh Jabang. This is the place people remember because the reef is soft-coral heavy, and the colors are the main character. Expect pink soft coral, lavender soft coral, and red soft coral sitting together like someone designed a reef in a paint studio.

This stop is also about spotting life beyond the obvious “fish everywhere” feeling. You may see animals like:

• sea whip
• sea anemone
• feather star

And yes, there are beautiful fish around the reef. What makes this stop valuable is the mix of color and variety. Many snorkeling trips in Thailand give you one type of coral and call it a day. Here, you get a reef style that looks different from the hard-coral boulders later.

One practical note: the first stop can be busy because it’s early and the group is fresh. If you’re comfortable in crowded water, you’ll love the action. If you hate flailing strangers near you, take a second to get your breathing calm and keep your kicks small and controlled.

Hin Ngam Island, Black Volcanic Stones and a Wish

Next up is Hin Ngam Island. You’ll swim for about 30 minutes, then there’s also time for photos, sightseeing, and a walk.

Hin Ngam is famous for its black polished volcanic stones. These pebbles are shaped by waves over a very long time, and that’s why the beach looks so smooth and dramatic instead of jagged. If you’re into textures and photos, this is one of the best non-water moments of the day.

Then there’s the local tradition tied to the black pebble beach: if you stack 12 rocks and make a wish, you’re said to be blessed with good luck. You do not have to do it, but I like it because it’s simple, quick, and gives you something fun to focus on while others are getting their camera angles.

This stop also helps break up the snorkeling rhythm. You go from reef breathing to beach walking, which is great for legs and for rehydrating before you head back into the water.

Koh Yang, Hard Coral Reef and Shallow Boulders

After Hin Ngam, you head to Koh Yang for a 30-minute snorkeling stop. This one shifts the look of the reef. Instead of soft-coral saturation, Koh Yang features a hard coral reef in shallows, plus big boulders that are overgrown with soft corals.

That combination is why Koh Yang is such a satisfying “second act.” You get structure from the hard coral area and added color texture from the soft corals growing over rocks. In other words, you’re not just hunting fish, you’re looking at the reef like a sculpture garden.

Timing here is short, so I suggest you go in with a simple plan:

• Start slow for the first minute so you can settle
• Then scan left to right in short sections
• Save your best photo attempts for when you find a spot with fish activity

Some departures have also noted that one snorkeling location can be affected by strong current. While you can’t control the sea, you can control how you respond. If you feel pushed around, don’t fight the water. Stay calm, keep your breathing steady, and follow the guide’s cues.

Koh Rawi Lunch on White Sand, Plus a Much-Needed Reset

Lunch is on Koh Rawi, and this is the emotional reset of the tour. You get a 1-hour break for beach time and lunch.

Koh Rawi is known for its white sand beaches. The scenery is the point here, and the water’s color tends to make people put their phones down just to stare for a minute. After hours of snorkeling planning and gear juggling, this stop feels like a reward.

What’s included:

• lunch package
• drinking water and seasonal fruit

That said, your experience at Koh Rawi can depend on how busy the beach area is that day. One review described crowding and quick dining, including photo queue energy. Another key theme from feedback is that the lunch stop itself is beautiful and worth it.

My practical advice: treat lunch as your fuel. Don’t spend the whole hour standing in one spot taking photos. Find some shade, eat, and then decide whether you want a quick dip or mostly beach time.

Koh Adang, Hundreds of Tropical Fish for the Final Swim

After lunch, you head to Koh Adang for the last snorkeling segment, about 1 hour. This stop is all about underwater variety and fish density, with expectations of seeing hundreds of tropical fish.

Because it’s the final swim, this is where your body and mind need to be in good shape. If you went hard during the earlier stops, you might feel it now. If you paced yourself, this is the best time to really enjoy the water.

In practice, I think this stop works best when you keep your expectations simple. You’re not trying to memorize coral types. You’re looking for movement, color, and patterns of fish around reef edges. Swim gently, hover when you find activity, and let the fish come to you. The calm approach usually makes better videos too.

Snorkeling Gear, Safety Gear, and How to Make It Easier

Good news: the tour provides the essentials. You’ll have snorkel masks and fins, plus a life jacket. You also get drinking water and seasonal fruit, which is a real help on a long boat day.

You should bring:

• sun hat
• swimwear
• change of clothes
• towel
• camera
• sunscreen
• flip-flops
• breathable clothing
• water shoes

The water shoes point matters. You’re stepping on boats and beaches where footing can be uneven. Flip-flops can slip, especially around wet stone. If you have them, wear water shoes and keep your mask and fins organized so you’re not digging through a bag at the dock.

Photo help is built into the day too. The schedule includes photo stop time on Hin Ngam, and the snorkeling sites are where you can take home lots of underwater shots. Just remember: camera care is your job. Rinse gear if it gets salty spray, and keep it protected when you’re not using it.

Safety-wise, this trip is not suitable for non-swimmers, and it’s also listed as not suitable for people with back problems or heart problems, and for pregnant women. If you’re unsure about your comfort in open water, be honest with yourself before booking.

The Small-Group Factor and Why It Can Go Either Way

This tour limits the group to 10 participants, and that can make a difference compared to big mass tours. It usually means shorter chaos at the boat and easier coordination when you’re getting in and out of the water.

That said, even a small group can get mixed into crowded snorkeling zones at certain stops. One piece of feedback highlighted Koh Jabang as overcrowded, with some people uncomfortable in the water. So the real “small group” benefit here is the boat logistics, not that you control who else is in the sea around you.

If you’re the type who loves order, I recommend you focus on early preparation:

• keep your gear on
• follow the guide signals immediately
• avoid rushing into the water at maximum speed

A calm entrance prevents most problems.

Lunch Quality, Timing, and What to Expect When the Day Runs Tight

Lunch is included, and it’s built into a 1-hour beach break. That’s a decent amount of time to eat and reset. Still, one review described lunch as quicker than expected and noted crowding during beach photo moments. That suggests that the “how you experience lunch” can change with daily conditions.

My advice is simple: don’t treat lunch as a long sit-down meal. Treat it as a planned stop to eat, hydrate, and refuel so you can enjoy the last snorkeling hour.

Also, if you’re the type who gets hungry quickly, bring a bit of your own snack just in case. The tour provides seasonal fruit and drinking water, but you do not control the flavor of the fruit or the exact pace of the beach break.

Who This Trip Suits Best on Koh Lipe

This is a strong match if you:

• want a classic multi-island snorkeling day without renting gear
• like a mix of reef types: soft coral colors, hard coral structure, and fish-heavy final swim
• enjoy photography, with both underwater chances and a walk and photo time on Hin Ngam
• prefer a small group for boat handling

It’s also a solid option for first-time snorkeling on Koh Lipe, as long as you can follow basic safety guidance and you’re comfortable swimming with a life jacket.

It may not be the best match if you:

• need very clear English for safety instructions and you feel uncomfortable when instructions are limited
• hate crowds in the water, especially at the earlier snorkeling stop
• struggle with snorkeling when currents pick up

If you fall into any of those categories, consider asking Star Travel about guide language comfort before you pay.

Should You Book This Koh Lipe 5 Island Longtail Snorkeling Trip?

I think this is an easy yes for most people who are staying on Koh Lipe and want to see more than one reef. The itinerary is packed in a sensible way: soft coral first, beach and volcanic stones next, hard coral boulders after, then a lunch reset, and a fishy finish on Koh Adang.

It’s also good value because you get more than snorkeling. You get lunch, fruit, water, and all the basic gear included. That reduces what can otherwise turn a “cheap” trip expensive once you buy masks and fins on the island.

The only real deal-breaker is communication and crowd tolerance. If you know you’ll be stressed by unclear instructions, message ahead and confirm that the guide’s English will work for you. If you’re fine with some boat-day bustle and you can stay calm in crowded water, you’ll leave with a lot of underwater memories and a beach break that makes the day feel complete.

FAQ

How long is the Koh Lipe 5 Island snorkeling trip?

The total duration is listed as 330 minutes.

Where do I meet the tour on Koh Lipe?

You meet at the Star Travel office in the walking street near Pattaya Beach.

What snorkeling gear is included?

The tour includes snorkel masks and fins, plus a life jacket.

Is lunch included in the price?

Yes. There’s a lunch package included, along with drinking water and seasonal fruit.

Do I have to pay a national park entrance fee?

Yes. The national park entrance fee is 200 THB per adult and 100 THB per child, and it is not included in the tour price.

Can I use my existing national park ticket?

If you already paid the national park entrance fee after arrival on Koh Lipe by speed boat or ferry, you can reuse that ticket to avoid paying again on the day of the tour.

Are there restrictions on who can join?

The tour is not suitable for children under 2, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with heart problems, and non-swimmers.

What should I bring, and what is not allowed?

Bring sun hat, swimwear, change of clothes, towel, camera, sunscreen, flip-flops, breathable clothing, and water shoes. Luggage or large bags are not allowed, and drones are not allowed.