From Bangkok to Hat Yai
Trains leave Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Train Station between 17.00h and 20.00h every day. We recommend second or first class sleepers for this 15 hour journey. There are also several busses every day, but because they are very similarly priced but a lot less comfortable we suggest you only take them if you have no other choice.
There are several flights per day between Bangkok and Hat Yai. Flights take a little over 1 hour. Expect to pay between 1000 and 2000 THB with cheap airlines like Air Asia & Nok Air, and 3000 and up with Thai Airways.
If your flight arrives before 10.00 in the morning (11.30 if you have a private taxi pre-arranged to pick you up) you have time to make it for the last ferry. If you arrive after 10.00h we suggest you spend the night in Hat Yai. You can buy a ticket for a minibus into town at the yellow stand in the luggage arrival hall near the exit. Minibus into town is 80 THB, Taxi's are 300 THB.
From Hat Yai to Pak Barra
If you have enough time you can head for the Official Minibus Station (Thalat Kasit). It is located a few kilometres out of Hat Yai centre, on the road to the airport. Minibuses leave every hour (or when they are full) to Pak Barra (and many other destinations in the South). The ride to Pak Barra takes around 2 hours and costs around 150 THB per person.
Some travel agents in Hat Yai run their own minibuses to Pak Barra, but some will only take you if you buy the ferry ticket with them. A trustable choice is Cathay Travel Shop, at the cathay Guesthouse (Thanon Niphat Uthit 2 - 3 blocks down from the train station). They offer minibuses to Hat Yai for 150 THB, and if you book your ticket the day before they will come and pick you up at your hotel.
A private Taxi or private Minibus is a good choice if you are arriving less then 3 hours before the last ferry leaves from Pak Barra. Also if you are traveling with 2 or 3 and you have a lot of luggage. Travel time to Pak Barra is 1.5 hours with private transport.
From Pak Barra to Koh Lipe
The Pak Barra Pier can seem like an overwhelming and hectic place when you arrive but don't panic, people just want to sell you a ferry ticket. If you know what ferry you want just tell them and people will point you towards the right person. You can also buy tickets at the check-in desks of most ferry companies. Prices range from 650 to 750 depending on the ferry company. Only buy a return ticket if you are really sure you are going to use the same ferry to return to Pak Barra. Because there are many ferries on this route it makes more sense to buy your return ticket on Koh Lipe and allow yourself flexibility on your way back.
There are many stalls with street food, small restaurants and little shops in Pak Barra, so it's easy to kill an hour and refuel for the onward journey.
