Region · yacht charter
Thailand.
Andaman Sea cruising from Phuket: Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi islands, the Krabi coast and the Similan Islands.
- Phuket
Overview
What to expect.
Thailand's charter cruising runs on the Andaman Sea, the coast west of the peninsula where Phuket is the working base. It is a monsoon-shaped ground: the season follows the dry north-east monsoon and closes when the south-west monsoon sends swell onto the coast. Within that window the water is calm, the passages are short, and the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay and the reefs of the Similan Islands lie within reach of the base.
Phuket carries the whole operation. Embarkation is from the marinas on the east side of the island, among them Ao Po Grand Marina, Royal Phuket Marina, Yacht Haven and Boat Lagoon. Phang Nga Bay, with its karst towers and hidden lagoons, is the closest and most requested ground; the Phi Phi islands and the Krabi anchorages lie to the east and south-east; and the Similan Islands, a national park with the clearest water of the coast, sit about 70 kilometres off the mainland for the diving and snorkelling weeks.
The season runs from November to April. December to February are the driest and most settled months, and the King's Cup Regatta, in late November or early December, opens the busiest stretch: Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year are the tightest weeks for yacht availability. From May the south-west monsoon arrives and the Similan Islands national park closes until the following season, while routes move into the shelter of Phang Nga Bay.
A Thailand yacht charter is planned around the monsoon and run end to end by one advisor: the yachts and crews that know the Andaman coast, the embarkation in Phuket, and a day-to-day route set to the reefs and the weather. Because the fleet based in Phuket is smaller than the Mediterranean's, the year-end weeks reward early planning.
Destinations
Where we cruise in the Thailand.
1 destination curated through our network of brokers, owners and management firms.
Season
When to cruise.
- Best months
- November to April
- Prevailing winds
- North-east monsoon · light
- Base ports
- Ao Po · Yacht Haven · Royal Phuket Marina
November to April, in the dry north-east monsoon, with routes built around Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi islands and the Similan Islands. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings swell to the west coast and the Similan Islands close, so routes move into the shelter of Phang Nga Bay.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for a Thailand yacht charter?
- From November to April, the dry north-east monsoon season. December to February are the most settled, with light winds and calm seas, and the year-end holidays are the busiest weeks. From May the south-west monsoon arrives, and the Similan Islands national park closes until the following season.
- Which areas does a Thailand charter cover?
- Most charters cruise from Phuket into Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi islands and the Krabi coast, and further offshore to the Similan Islands. Phang Nga Bay, with its limestone towers and lagoons, is the closest and most requested ground; the Similan Islands hold the clearest water for diving and snorkelling.
- How far ahead should a Thailand charter be arranged?
- Six months is comfortable for a standard week. Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year tighten yacht availability sharply, and for those weeks earlier is safer.
- How do you reach a Thailand charter?
- Fly into Phuket International Airport, in the north of the island, a short drive from the marinas on the east side where most charters embark. It has direct flights from Europe, the Gulf and much of Asia, and frequent services from Bangkok. The advisor arranges the transfer to the yacht.
- What is there to do on a Thailand charter?
- Diving and snorkelling above all, around the Similan Islands and the Andaman reefs, alongside the limestone scenery and sea caves of Phang Nga Bay. Routes are built around the reefs, the national-park seasons and the weather.
- What does a Thailand yacht charter cost?
- Each charter is quoted individually, by yacht, season and length, from a single day to a week or more. On top of the rate come the Advance Provisioning Allowance for fuel, food, berths and national park fees, the applicable tax and a gratuity at your discretion. A delivery fee may apply if the yacht starts away from its base, and the full cost is set out before anything is signed.
- What size of yacht suits Thailand?
- The full range. Motor yachts and catamarans suit the short Andaman passages and the shallow bays, while larger motor yachts base in the Phuket marinas for a full week. The advisor matches the yacht to the route and the anchorages.
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Plan a charter
Plan a charter in the Thailand.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.