Region · yacht charter
Thailand.
Andaman Sea cruising from Phuket, with access to Phang Nga Bay and the Similan Islands.
- Phuket
Overview
What to expect.
Thailand’s charter cruising runs on the Andaman Sea, the sheltered coast west of the peninsula where Phuket sits as the single working base. It is a monsoon-driven ground: the season follows the dry northeast window and closes when the southwest monsoon brings weather onto the coast. Within that window the water is calm, the passages are short, and the limestone geography of Phang Nga Bay and the reefs of the Similan Islands lie within a day’s cruising of the base.
Phuket carries the whole operation. Embarkation runs from the island’s marinas, with Ao Po Grand Marina and Yacht Haven handling provisioning and crew, and the yacht cruising west and north from there. Phang Nga Bay, with its karst towers and hidden lagoons, is the closest and most-requested ground; the Phi Phi islands lie to the south; and the Similan Islands, a national park with the region’s clearest water, sit further offshore for the diving and snorkelling weeks.
The window runs November through April. December through February are the driest and most reliable, with light winds and settled seas, and the year-end holidays are the tightest weeks for yacht availability. The season closes through April as the southwest monsoon approaches, after which the Similan Islands national park itself closes to visitors until the following season. Charters embark from Phuket across the whole window.
A Thailand yacht charter is planned around the monsoon window and run end to end by one advisor: the shortlist of yachts and crews who know the Andaman coast, the embarkation from Phuket, and the day-to-day routing set to the reefs and the weather. Because the standing fleet based in Phuket is smaller than the Mediterranean’s, the year-end weeks reward early commitment.
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–April
- Prevailing winds
- NE monsoon · light
- Base ports
- Phuket Yacht Haven · Ao Po
November through April for the dry season. Routes are built around Phuket, Phang Nga Bay and the Similan Islands.
Monsoon between May and October closes the Andaman Sea; we move yachts to the Mediterranean and the Maldives for the European season.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for a Thailand yacht charter?
- November through April, the dry northeast-monsoon window. December through February are the most reliable, with light winds and settled seas; the year-end holidays are the busiest weeks. The season closes through April as the southwest monsoon approaches, and the Similan Islands national park closes with it until the following season.
- Which areas does a Thailand charter cover?
- Most charters run from Phuket into Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi islands and, further offshore, 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?
- Three to six months for a standard week. The year-end holidays tighten yacht availability sharply, and for those a brief six to twelve months ahead is safer.
- How do you reach a Thailand charter?
- Phuket International airport is the gateway, a short transfer to the island’s marinas where most charters embark. International connections run through the regional hubs, and 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. Itineraries are built around the reefs, the national-park access and the weather.
- What does a Thailand yacht charter cost?
- As a guide, a crewed yacht in the 30 to 50 metre range runs from around EUR 100,000 to EUR 400,000 per week, with the advance provisioning allowance and gratuity additional. The advisor sets out the full figure 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 from the Phuket marinas for a full week. The advisor matches the yacht to the route and the anchorages.
Plan your charter
Guides and charter services.
Elsewhere
Other cruising grounds.
Plan a charter
Plan a charter in the Thailand.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.