How to get there: Koh Lipe

For those who still want to get to Koh Lipe,

It's really not that difficult...

During High Season (November until May) especially you'll be spoilt for choices

1. Go through Langkawi

It is no surprise that Koh Lipe used to be under Malaysia,

that it is easy to reach there from Langkawi

In fact, from what I've read, it is a mere one hour boat ride

which makes it easier and nearer from Thailand

so all you need to get there is

A. fly to Langkawi (or take the long land route)

B.  Get yourself to Kuah Jetty or Telaga Harbour

C. Take a ferry to Koh Lipe and go through Immigration

2. Go through Pak Bara

The more common route especially during low season 

is travelling through land to Pak bara pier 

A. Get to Hat Yai

I read there are many vans around the train station

 I went through another route, by going to the newer Van station

 located 7 km outside of the city

not to be confused with the bus station

even though there are lot of vans there too

At the van station

 go to the ticket counter 9

where you can buy the van ticket to pak bara

for 150 baht

they also offer ferry tickets + the van ticket at 650 baht

slight more expensive but convenient

 then you just wait...

After the 2 hour van ride, you get off near the pier

You can just ask anyone for directions if still uncertain where the pier is

tickets for the boat can be bought at the pier too...

After you get on the ferry,

be prepared for one heck of a ride

and the reason why it is low season

Check out the mother and son...
so for those with motion sickness...

be well prepared

but after an hour and a half (or nearly two)

you arrive near Pattaya beach

 and since a pier has yet to be constructed

you get off near land
 

and get your luggage transferred later
(which for some even includes their dogs?!?)

 but that is pretty much how easy it is to get there...

The reverse is pretty much the same...

At the drop off point there'll be quite a few taunts 

asking for tourists to buy their return tickets 

 here there are a few opinions
If you are those inflexible,

perhaps it is best to buy your ticket early

in case there are no more when you wish to leave

(though unlikely in low season)

The other opinion is to just rock up early a bit to any of the ferry counters 

and buy your ticket

because the boats arrive and leave at different times,

you can prevent unnecessary waiting times

but either way there are no guarantees

but I found the latter one no hassle

 and even those who had purchased earlier,

when they arrived later also got a later number

as they ran it pretty fairly in my opinion on a first come first serve basis

does that mean they don't get a seat if it's full?

I think the more likely scenario is 

they'd just pack you into an already full boat

 3. I hear you can also get to and back from Satun and Trang

but as a malaysian this is too far north to be the first choice...