What are the general characteristics of renting a sailboat in Thailand?

Thailand is very easily accessible with its many airports and daily international flights. The largest airports in the main charter area are in Phuket and Krabi. You can also fly the smaller ones like on Phi Phi Island for example. Phuket International Airport offers direct flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

The incredibly crystal clear waters and rich underwater flora and fauna make this area a scuba divers dream. Yacht charters will be rewarded with absolutely stunning scenery. From the boat you get the best view of the typically dramatic limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the sea.

Thai cuisine is second to none in the world. It is purely delicious and uses a myriad of tasty ingredients and fresh produce. Thailand is also famous for the friendliness of its people. And sightseeing is amazing. There are beautiful temples, Buddha statues, elephant sanctuaries and national parks/nature reserves to explore. Nature and wildlife are exuberant, with many rare species to admire.

Finally, the year-round tropical climate with no hurricanes or cyclones is perfect for motor or sailing yacht charters. There are numerous islands and long stretches of coastline with great sailing areas to choose from.

Some of the most important figures for chartering a yacht in Thailand:

Coastline length: 3,219 km

Population: approx. 68,000,000

Country code: +66

Climate: Tropical, moderated by monsoonal winds

Main charter areas: Phuket Island, Phang Nga Bay, Krabi Coast and all islands in between

Tidal range: 1.5 – 2.5 m

What are the most popular charter destinations and cruising areas in Thailand?

The main charter region is in the Andaman Sea, in the area off the southeast coast of Thailand. Includes the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.

Phuket is the largest island and at the same time the richest province of Thailand. It has a territorial extension of 543 km². Phuket Yacht Haven, on the north east coast of the island and only 10/15 minutes from the international airport, is the perfect port of call or base to start your yacht charter holiday. It offers 300 berths for yachts up to 30 m, multiple nautical services, a fully equipped modern gym, excellent restaurants, a massage parlor, excellent shops and much more.

Head to the Raya Archipelago, about 12 nautical miles south of Phuket, which consists of two islands. There are beautiful large bays with amazing long sandy beaches. It is a true paradise for divers and has rich fishing grounds and beautiful mountainous islands covered in rainforest.

Make your way to the Phi Phi Islands 28 NM southeast of Phuket. One of the two islands has served as the backdrop for the hit movie “La Playa” due to its impressive lagoons and cliffs. There are excellent anchorages, lovely beach bars, many restaurants, as well as newly built hotels and resorts.

Check out Koh Rok Nok 49 NM south of Phuket. It is a national park that consists of 2 islands separated by a narrow channel that is very suitable for anchoring, diving, snorkeling and kayaking.

A large sailing terrain is the Tarutao National Park with an area of ​​1,490 km² and 51 islands in the extreme southwest of Thailand on the border with Malaysia. It is best to go from November to April during the dry season. There you will find spectacular limestone or granite cliffs, tropical jungles and mangroves, beautiful viewpoints and impressive waterfalls.

At the southern tip of Thailand, about 20 nautical miles west of the northwest coast of Malaysia, is Langkawi, an archipelago of 104 stunningly beautiful islands, only two of which are inhabited. The main island, Langkawi, is duty free and offers very good infrastructure and entertainment for tourists. UNESCO granted it the status of World Geopark. Enjoy the impressive landscape with tropical jungles, rivers, freshwater lakes, lagoons, caves, etc.

Sailing along the Krabi coast is best recommended during the northeast monsoon season, as anchorages are protected at that time. Admire the fantastic scenery that features limestone cliffs covered in lush rainforest, an extension of the mountains into Phang Nga Bay, looming over pristine beaches. There is the Railay peninsula, for example, with Phra Nang beach, which is located in one of the most beautiful bays in the world. You can find moorings in the center of the bay or anchor further offshore at a depth of 4-5m in the sand. There is a coral reef that is great for snorkeling. You can rent bungalows for the day at a cheap price. With many caves to explore, it is also a paradise for rock climbers.

Explore the picturesque bay of Phang Nga in the northeast of Phuket with more than 100 islands. It is very protected due to its geography, which makes it a good cruise year-round. There are some more spectacular vertical cliffs up to 250m high with fissured rocks where it is possible to kayak around many caves and grottos. Navigating the many sheltered inlets and channels is a delight.

In the dry season, visit the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea, 55 nautical miles northwest of Phuket. They are closed to access during the southwest monsoon season. It is an archipelago of 9 islands that includes the Mu Ko Similan National Park with wonderful clear aquamarine waters and white sand beaches. Diving there is wonderful, you can observe manta rays and a myriad of other fish. Spend the night to enjoy the place with as few people as possible.

What are the prevailing weather systems relevant to your bareboat charter in Thailand?

The coastal and southern areas of Thailand have tropical temperatures of up to 40° moderated by afternoon sea breezes. Two main seasons are distinguished:

November to April is the northeast monsoon or dry season with good weather. January and December are the coolest months. January, February and March are the driest months and April is the best month for swimming with an average sea temperature of 30°.

May to October is the rainy or “green” season at the time of the southwest monsoon. It has a mix of rain and clear skies and temperatures never drop below 25°. The winds are reliable with 12 knots on average. September and October have the heaviest rainy periods, sometimes up to 5 days in a row.

Thailand is close to the equator and has daylight from 6 am to 6 pm all year long. It lies outside the Pacific cyclone belt and the Indian Ocean.

Brief summary of the time to rent a boat without crew in Thailand:

Month with the highest average temperature: March, 29º

Month with the lowest average temperature: January, 27º

Month with the highest average rainfall: September, 400 mm

Month with the lowest average precipitation: February, 30 mm

Strongest Wind Speed: Southwest Monsoon, 12 knots average

Humidity: 82% on average

Average daily sunshine hours: 7 – 9 throughout the year

Main season: European/North American winter, November – April

How much does it cost to rent a yacht in Thailand and what types of charters are there?

Prices for small sailboats start at around €2,000 per week. They go up according to the type, size and equipment of the boat. You can choose to charter a powerboat or charter a sailboat or catamaran, respectively, and choose to charter a bareboat, skippered, or crewed boat. One day charter with speedboats or other motor boats is also available as an option. Charter day fishing trips are also quite popular.

What is there to do besides sailing on your charter boat in Thailand?

Attend Phuket Race Week in July on the island’s east coast. It is an international sailing regatta for a wide range of yachts and there are many lively parties during the course of the regatta.

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in the first week of December is the most prestigious regatta in Asia and a great social event that attracts sailors from all over the world.

During the Bay Regatta, the boats sail through the three provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, thus traversing some of the most beautiful seascapes on the entire planet. It is known as “the fun run” due to its casual nature and is popular with both serious and not-so-serious runners. It lasts four days and the sailors arrive each day at a different anchorage near a beach. Most of the crews sleep on board and many like to rent a sailboat for the occasion.

The Phuket International Boat Show at the end of March is also great for yachting fans and is said to be the Asian equivalent of the Monaco boat show.

Visit Koh Panyi in Phang Nga Bay, an entire fishing village of 1,700 people built on stilts about 20 nautical miles north of Phuket. It is one of the main tourist attractions in the area and was built by Malay fishermen in the 18th century. Also in Phang Nga Bay is Khao Phing Kan, also known as “James Bond Island” with its distinctive 20m tall vertical islet that has served as the backdrop for 2 James Bond films.

Try the elephant ride and the jungle through the lush landscape. There are many safari tours on offer, as well as canoe trips, some including a camp/overnight option. Go whitewater rafting, for example, on the Khlong Song Phreak stream in the Ton Pariwat Wildlife Sanctuary in the vicinity of Phang Nga city. Go climbing the sheer limestone cliffs and around the many caves on Krabi’s Railay Peninsula.

Enjoy the nightlife and bustle of Patong Beach or Phuket Town. There are many beach clubs too. Eat the delicious Asian street food – you get great value for very little money. Shopping is great and very varied in the malls and markets. There is a great infrastructure for diving tourism with many schools and diving centers. Sightsee and see Sino-Portuguese architecture. Or visit the 45m tall Big Buddha, a white jade marble statue on a 400m high hill with stunning views of Phuket. Admire the largest and most famous Buddhist temple in Phuket, Wat Chalong.

Families can try one of the many amusement parks like Fantasea in Phuket, for example. In addition, there are cabaret shows, cinemas and zoos. You could take a Thai cooking class and learn to cook like a local. Alternatively, get properly pampered at a spa by the incredibly friendly and talented locals.

As you can see, there really is no shortage of fun things to do on a charter yacht in Thailand. We wish you a wonderful sailing vacation and a great cruise!