Thailand Yacht Charter: Phuket & the Andaman Sea Guide

Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast is one of the world’s most spectacular sailing environments. The limestone karst towers of Phang Nga Bay — rising vertically from the water in formations of extraordinary drama, their bases hollowed into sea caves and lagoons accessible only at certain tides — are unlike anything else in Asia. The Similan Islands offer some of the finest diving in the world. And the pace of life on the water here — unhurried, warm, richly coloured — makes a Thailand yacht charter a genuinely restorative experience.

Phuket: The Charter Base

Phuket is the main charter base for the Andaman Sea, with several well-equipped marinas (Yacht Haven, Royal Phuket Marina, Ao Po Grand Marina) and excellent international connections via Phuket International Airport. The island itself is large and developed, but the coast south of Phuket town and the islands to the west and north are extraordinary. Phuket is a full provisioning and maintenance base — everything you need for a week or longer at sea is available here.

Phang Nga Bay

The defining experience of a Thailand charter is Phang Nga Bay — an enclosed body of shallow water studded with more than 40 limestone karst islands, their sheer faces rising 200–300 metres from the sea. James Bond Island (Ko Tapu) is the most famous — a single needle of rock that has appeared in more Thai tourism imagery than any other single formation. But the real revelation is the hongs: hidden lagoons inside the karst islands, accessible at low tide through narrow sea caves. Reaching a hong by sea kayak, paddling through darkness into a hidden world of birds and vegetation open to the sky, is an experience of extraordinary strangeness and beauty.

The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands — a national park 84 kilometres northwest of Phuket — are consistently rated among the world’s top ten diving destinations. The clarity of the water (often 30+ metres visibility), the diversity of marine life (whale sharks, manta rays, leopard sharks, turtles, extraordinary coral gardens), and the dramatic underwater topography (granite boulders with swim-throughs, walls, and pinnacles) make them outstanding. The islands themselves — deserted, forested, with white sand beaches — are beautiful above water too. The national park is closed from May to October.

Ko Lanta and the Southern Andaman

South of Phuket, the chain of islands running toward the Malaysian border — Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Rok, Ko Haa — offer increasingly remote and beautiful anchorages. Ko Phi Phi Don has one of the most dramatic natural harbours in Southeast Asia (though it is crowded in season); Ko Phi Phi Leh is a completely uninhabited island with the famous Maya Bay (closed for reef regeneration but viewable by sea). Ko Rok and Ko Haa, further south, are among the finest diving destinations in Thailand.

Charter Season

November to April is the prime season for the Andaman Sea — dry northeast monsoon, calm seas, excellent visibility. The southwest monsoon (May to October) brings heavy rain and swell to the Andaman coast; charter activity moves to the Gulf of Thailand during this period. Most Similan and offshore island trips are only possible between November and April.

Thailand Charter Costs 2026

• Sailing catamarans (12–15m): $10,000 – $25,000 per week
• Motor yachts (18–28m): $20,000 – $70,000 per week
• Luxury catamarans (16m+): $25,000 – $60,000 per week

Singular Yachting arranges Thailand charters from Phuket and can plan itineraries covering Phang Nga Bay, the Similan Islands, and the southern Andaman. Contact our team to discuss.