Yacht Charter Phuket

Yacht Charter in Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and the main charter hub of the Andaman Sea — a vibrant, cosmopolitan destination of extraordinary natural beauty, outstanding cuisine, and a yachting infrastructure that has developed significantly over the past two decades to become one of the finest in Southeast Asia. The island sits on the western coast of the Thai peninsula, connected to the mainland by two bridges, and its position at the northern end of the Andaman sailing grounds provides easy access to the limestone karst landscapes of Phang Nga Bay, the Similan Islands national park, the Phi Phi Islands, and the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar. For charter sailors, Phuket is both an outstanding destination and the ideal gateway to some of the most spectacular and least-visited sailing grounds in Asia.

Marinas and Charter Infrastructure

Phuket has several world-class marinas that serve as bases for charter yachts. Royal Phuket Marina and Ao Po Grand Marina on the northeast coast, and Yacht Haven Marina at the northern tip of the island, are among the best equipped in Southeast Asia, with full repair facilities, diesel and petrol, provisioning, and good restaurants and accommodations on site. The island's international airport, connected to Bangkok by dozens of daily flights and to major international hubs by direct services, makes Phuket one of the most convenient charter bases in Asia for international visitors. The annual Phuket King's Cup Regatta, held each December, is one of the premier offshore regattas in Asia and attracts yachts from across the region and beyond.

Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay, east of Phuket, is the most spectacular sailing ground accessible from the island — a UNESCO-listed landscape of limestone karst towers rising dramatically from green, shallow water, their vertical cliff faces colonised by tropical vegetation and their bases undercut by the sea into dramatic overhangs and sea caves. The bay contains more than 40 islands, including James Bond Island (Ko Tapu), a 20-metre-tall pillar of limestone balanced on a narrow base, made famous by The Man with the Golden Gun in 1974 and now one of Thailand's most visited tourist attractions. The sea kayaking through the hongs (internal lagoons accessible through sea caves) of Phang Nga Bay is one of the signature outdoor experiences of southern Thailand.

The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands, a nine-island national park 80 kilometres northwest of Phuket, are considered the finest diving destination in Southeast Asia outside the Coral Triangle. The islands' underwater environment — granite boulders forming complex reef structures, exceptional visibility (often exceeding 30 metres), warm water year-round, and an extraordinary diversity of marine life including whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, and moray eels — attracts divers from around the world. The islands are accessible as a day trip from Phuket by fast boat, but the best experience is to arrive by charter yacht, anchor overnight in the protected bays, and dive the sites in the early morning before the day boats arrive from the mainland.