Snorkeling around Koh Lipe: Five islands, private longtail boat

Five islands in one afternoon: shallow reefs, black pebble beaches, and coral gardens

A private longtail boat snorkeling trip around Koh Lipe visits five islands over five hours, with a guide in English or Thai, life jacket and snorkeling gear included. You begin at Koh Yang's shallow waters (ideal if you're new to snorkeling), then move through Koh Jabang's colorful soft corals, walk the black pebble beach at Koh Hin Ngam, swim and relax at Koh Rawi, and finish snorkeling Koh Adang's pristine reef. The boat is private, so you choose the group size at checkout: one to three people, four to six, or seven to ten.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private longtail boat island tour

• Snorkel at Koh Yang shallow reefs
• Explore colorful corals at Koh Jabang
• Visit black pebble beach at Koh Hin Ngam
• Swim and relax on Koh Rawi beach
• Snorkel around Koh Adang reef

The experience

You arrive at the boat ready to move between five separate islands, each one a different reason to stop. Koh Yang opens the day with shallow water and coral reefs. The place to start if you've never snorkeled before, or to ease back in if it's been a while. The water is calm enough that you can see what's below without fighting the current, and the reef itself is alive with small fish and soft corals that don't demand a deep dive to reach.

From there the boat carries you to Koh Jabang, where the underwater landscape shifts. The corals here are denser and more colorful (the Andaman Sea's soft coral gardens, according to the operator), and the visibility stays clear enough to pick out individual fish moving through them. Koh Hin Ngam breaks the snorkeling rhythm: the island is famous for its black pebbles, smooth and glossy, and you walk the beach instead of entering the water. Local legend says the stones are cursed if you take them, so they stay where they are. At Koh Rawi, the day slows down. White sand, clear water, shade from trees. This is the stop where you swim if you want to, or simply float and rest on the beach while the boat waits. The final snorkel happens at Koh Adang, where the reef system is healthy and the tropical fish are abundant enough that you don't have to search for them.

Life jacket and snorkeling equipment come with you. A guide speaks English or Thai throughout. The boat is yours alone (no other groups sharing the stops or the guide's attention), and you pick your group size when you book: one to three people, four to six, or seven to ten. The whole outing runs five hours from start to finish, with the remaining time split between boat travel between islands and the time you spend in the water at each stop.

What’s included

• Life jacket and snorkeling equipment.
• a live guide in English or Thai.
• private longtail boat for your group size.
• insurance.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private 1-3 peopleUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Thai · 09:00Lasts 5 hours

Private 4-6 peopleUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Thai · 09:00Lasts 5 hours

Private 7-10 peopleUp to 10 per booking · Guide in English or Thai · 09:00Lasts 5 hours

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to10h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Thai

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?Book the one-to-three option if you're traveling as a couple or solo and want the guide's full attention; choose four-to-six if you're a small family; pick seven-to-ten if you're traveling with a larger group and want to split the boat cost across more people.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Thai.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Is Koh Yang really suitable if I've never snorkeled before?

Koh Yang is the first stop specifically because the water is shallow and the reef is accessible without deep diving. The operator describes it as ideal for beginner snorkelers, and the calm conditions make it a low-pressure introduction to the equipment and the underwater landscape.

What's the black pebble beach at Koh Hin Ngam actually like?

Koh Hin Ngam is covered entirely in smooth, glossy black stones instead of sand. The operator notes that local legend says the pebbles are cursed if removed, so the beach has remained untouched. You walk it and observe the unusual geology, but don't take anything away.

How much time do I actually spend snorkeling versus traveling between the islands?

The full outing is five hours. The operator allocates remaining time based on boat travel between islands and transit times between activities, so the exact split between snorkeling and travel varies depending on sea conditions and how long you choose to stay at each stop.

Does the price change if I book for just myself versus bringing a group?

You choose your group size at checkout: one to three people, four to six, or seven to ten. Each size is a separate booking option with its own price, so the cost depends on which group tier you select, not on how many people actually show up.

What snorkeling gear do I need to bring myself?

Life jacket and snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel) are all included. You don't need to bring or rent your own gear. Everything comes with the boat.

Can I bring my infant on the boat?

Infants are permitted but must sit on an adult's lap throughout the trip. There is no separate seating or equipment for babies, so you'll need to hold your child while the boat moves between islands.