Yacht Charter Krabi

Yacht Charter in Krabi, Thailand

Krabi is one of the most dramatically beautiful provinces in Thailand — a landscape of towering limestone karst cliffs, emerald green water, mangrove-fringed estuaries, and some of the finest beaches in Asia, spread across the Andaman coast south of Phuket and the offshore islands of the Krabi coastline. The Krabi region encompasses both the mainland town and estuary and the islands and beaches of the area — most famously the Phi Phi Islands, Ko Lanta, Ko Hong, and the extraordinary Railay Beach, accessible only by boat and enclosed by sheer limestone cliffs on three sides. For charter yachts, Krabi combines magnificent sailing scenery with excellent provisioning facilities and a relaxed, genuine Thai atmosphere that contrasts pleasantly with the busier resort culture of Phuket.

Railay Beach

Railay Beach, on a peninsula south of Krabi Town, is one of the most extraordinary beaches in Thailand — a collection of four beaches and coves enclosed by sheer limestone cliffs that rise 100 to 150 metres on three sides, making road access impossible and ensuring that the only way to arrive is by boat. This enforced inaccessibility has preserved Railay's extraordinary character: the beach, the jungle-covered cliffs, the crystal-clear water, and the caves and lagoons accessible by kayak combine to create an environment of almost theatrical natural beauty. Charter yachts can anchor off Railay and go ashore by dinghy, and the rock climbing on the cliffs above the beach — some of the finest sport climbing in Southeast Asia — is accessible to all levels of experience.

The Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi Islands, accessible from Krabi as well as Phuket, are among the most beautiful in Thailand. Ko Phi Phi Don has a small but lively resort village in the narrow isthmus between its two bays and offers excellent dining, equipment rental, and a social atmosphere that is lively but not overwhelming. Ko Phi Phi Leh, the uninhabited companion island, is where the film The Beach was filmed, and its Maya Bay — a circular cove enclosed on three sides by vertical cliffs — became so famous that it was temporarily closed to protect its fragile ecosystem. The bay has now reopened with visitor limits, and arriving by charter yacht to anchor offshore before taking the dinghy ashore in the early morning, before the day boats arrive, remains the finest way to experience it.

Ko Lanta and Trang Islands

Ko Lanta, south of Krabi, is a long, relatively flat island of rubber plantations, small resorts, and excellent beaches on its western coast. The island has a quieter, more family-oriented atmosphere than the Phi Phi Islands and the northern Andaman coast, and its Hat Phra Ae (Long Beach) and Hat Khlong Nin are among the finest beaches in the region. Further south, the Trang Islands — Ko Muk, Ko Kradan, Ko Hai, and Ko Libong — are among the least-visited in the Andaman Sea and offer exceptional diving, snorkelling with dugongs in the seagrass beds around Ko Libong, and the extraordinary Tham Morakot cave (Emerald Cave) on Ko Muk, accessible only by swimming through a 80-metre tunnel to reach a secret beach enclosed by cliffs — one of the great natural wonders of Thailand.