Thailand’s rocky peninsulas, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil bays and tropical forests make it a stunning destination for any yacht charterer seeking the perfect escape. A yacht charter in Thailand has a lot more to offer than just turquoise waters and world-renowned diving sites. The national parks provide magnificent scenery with colourful birds, unusual plants and scenic waterfalls.
Board your Thailand yacht charter at Ao Po Marina on the north-eastern side of the peninsula and depart for the Koh Hong archipelago in Krabi and the Phi Phi islands. Some have said that the beaches here are among the most beautiful in the world. Leave your afternoon anchorage after dinner and steam overnight to the islands of Ko Phi Phi Don.
Enjoy a relaxed day of watersports or snorkelling to discover reefs teeming with schools of clownfish, parrot fish, angel fish, sergeant majors and needlenose fish to name a few. The Ko Phi Phi Don area is said to have three of the most beautiful islands in the world, comprising Ko Phi Phi Don, Ko Phraya Nak and Ko Bida Nok. The movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed here. The setting won’t disappoint, as the geology has a jagged, Jurassic feel, where you’ll see spectacular limestone cliffs and inlets with soaring eagles and sea birds; there are even wild monkeys that come down to the beach from the thick forest. The only things breaking the silence are the local Thai long-tail boats. Cruise overnight to Ko Muk, Koh Ngai, Ko Rok Nai, Ko Ha Yai and the many islands in between.
These islands are similar to the Seychelles or even Maine in some areas, but feature a lush, tropical and flowering jungle canopy. Enjoy stunning water that is brilliant emerald green. Wake up in Ko Ha Yai, for some unbelievable diving or snorkelling. Or try Ko Muk, where you can don a lifejacket and swim through an 80-metre rock tunnel with a torch and underwater camera. At the end of the tunnel is a small oasis known to locals as the ‘Emerald Cave’. The islands around Ko Muk and Ko Rok Nai are like a South Pacific paradise, beyond beautiful due to a wonderland of fish and brightly coloured corals. Make an overnight passage to Ko Racha Noi and Ko Racha Yai.
Start the fifth day of your Thailand yacht charter with a relaxing morning of world-class snorkelling and diving. Enjoy a walk through a five-star resort to the opposite side of the island for a cool and refreshing drink, then board one of the local Thai long-tail boats to experience this local mode of transport back to your yacht; it’s just long enough to be enjoyable and is definitely something you need to try once. Get underway over lunch and head for Surin Beach, located on the western side of Phuket, for dinner ashore. Enjoy your evening meal on the beach, surrounded by flaming torches.
Spend the morning on a shopping trip with a local guide. Enjoy shops that offer homemade Thai spa products, ceramics or famous branded Thai silks and traditional textiles, pillows and more. Back on board your yacht, reward yourself with a flavoursome lunch of lobster salad, Vietnamese spring rolls, steamed broccoli with silken tofu and egg fried rice. Leave in the afternoon to visit one of the nearby islands for sunset cocktails ashore.
Set a course for northern Phang Nga Bay and anchor near Ko Phana, Ko Boi Noi or Ko Yai Islands for what could provide the highlight of your yacht charter in Thailand. You’ll find over 40 limestone rock formations, jutting from the sea, caused by a volcanic eruption. Navigate the shallow waters near the estuaries by tender and visit the famous James Bond Island. Here you’ll see some of the most spectacular cliffs and caves along the shoreline. Later, head into the estuaries to see the famous vertiginous cliffs where the locals climb to extract the nests for bird’s nest soup.
On your last day, enjoy breakfast on the beach with sand between your toes and water lapping nearby, before returning to Phuket’s Ao Po Marina and reluctantly disembarking your magical Thailand yacht charter.
Looking for the full package of nature, activities and R&R on your South East Asia yacht charter? Bali has the answer. From the volcanic peaks and rice paddies to the pristine beaches and coral reefs, the Indonesian island of Bali offers rich rewards for adventurous charterers.
With outstanding diving and an abundance of protected national parks, the natural beauty of Thailand is hard to beat. If you're seeking comfort and glamour, there is a growing number of luxury resorts, not to mention a vibrant nightlife scene, on islands such as Phuket.
Bali is one of the 33 provinces of Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world where the plants, mammals and marine life are simply stunning. A yacht charter in Bali will take you through to a paradise of jasmine, water lilies, frangipani and a variety of orchids abound in the temple grounds.