Yacht Charter Koh Samui

Yacht Charter in Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is the third-largest island in Thailand and the main charter hub of the Gulf of Thailand — a large, mountainous island of coconut palms, white-sand beaches, luxury resorts, and a well-developed tourism infrastructure that provides an excellent base for exploring the surrounding islands and waters of the Gulf. Unlike the Andaman coast, the Gulf of Thailand has two separate sailing seasons — the northeast monsoon (December through April) and a secondary season on the east coast of the peninsula during the southwest monsoon — allowing for year-round sailing in different parts of the region. Koh Samui, with its international airport and extensive resort facilities, is the most accessible and most comfortable charter base in the Gulf of Thailand.

Koh Samui's Beaches

Koh Samui has some of the finest beaches in Thailand, ranging from the long, busy strand of Chaweng Beach on the northeast coast — the island's main tourist beach, lined with hotels, restaurants, and nightlife — to the quieter, more exclusive beaches of the southwest coast (Lipa Noi, Taling Ngam) and the secluded coves of the north coast (Mae Nam, Bophut, Bangrak). Chaweng and Lamai beaches are busy and social during the peak season; the north coast beaches are calmer and better suited to families. The best anchorages for charter yachts are in the north and northwest of the island, where several small marinas and guest moorings accommodate visiting boats.

Koh Tao and Koh Phangan

The two islands most commonly visited on sailing itineraries from Koh Samui are Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Koh Tao, 45 kilometres north of Koh Samui, has become one of the world's most popular destinations for learning to scuba dive — its clear, warm water, accessible dive sites, and affordable dive school infrastructure attracting tens of thousands of students each year. The diving is genuinely excellent: whale sharks are regular visitors around the island, the seamounts of Sail Rock and Chumphon Pinnacle are world-class dive sites, and the shallow coral gardens are ideal for newly qualified divers. Koh Phangan, between Koh Samui and Koh Tao, is famous for its Full Moon parties but has a quieter, more peaceful face in its northern bays that is well worth discovering by yacht.

Thai Cuisine and Culture on the Gulf Islands

The Gulf islands share the same extraordinary food culture as the rest of Thailand, with an emphasis on fresh seafood — grilled whole snapper, tiger prawns in garlic butter, crab in yellow curry, and squid stir-fried with holy basil — that makes waterfront eating one of the great pleasures of any Gulf of Thailand charter. The food markets of Koh Samui, particularly the Fisherman's Village Walking Street in Bophut on Friday evenings, are among the best in southern Thailand. The temples (wats) scattered throughout the islands — the Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai on Koh Samui is the most famous — provide a cultural counterpoint to the beach culture and are worth visiting for their atmosphere and the insight they provide into Thai Buddhist practice.