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Home > Travel Guide > Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

Cruising, Island Hopping and Boat Charter Destinations around Phuket

September 2, 2018 By: Jermaine Reefs
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

Phuket is a beautiful island in its own right, but it is surrounded by many stunning little desert islands. They range in size from major resort destinations in their own right down to tiny idyllic lumps of rock and pure white sand in the middle of the glittering blue sea. Island-hopping is a popular activity, whether on a speedboat, motor yacht or sailing boat, and the following fantastic charter destinations are available from Phuket.

Phi Phi Islands
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Phi Phi Islands - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

The Phi Phi Islands are easily the most famous of the islands off Phuket, and are the most popular sailing and boat charter destination. The largest is Koh Phi Phi Don, which is the only one with a resident population. The other five islands in the group are Koh Phi Phi Ley, Koh Bidah Nok, Koh Bidah Nai, Koh Yung and Koh Phai aka Bamboo Island.

The waters around the islands are home to beautiful coral reefs, making them popular for snorkelling and diving. There are plenty of striking natural sites to see and beaches to relax on, too, if you would rather stay above the waves. Covering a total area of 42 sq km, it can take at least a full day to explore and enjoy them fully.

Popular sites: Maya Bay, Loh Dalum Beach, Ton Sia Bay, Loh Samah Bay, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, Plile Lagoon and Bamboo Island.

Phi Phi Islands - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • Maya Bay - Made famous by its starring role in the 2000 Leonardo Di Caprio movie The Beach, Maya Bay is extremely picturesque both above and below the water, having a lovely isolated beach and colourful coral gardens. It can get very busy with day trippers, though.
  • Ton Sai Bay - This is probably the longest bay in the Phi Phi Islands, incorporating both the sheer cliffs and busy pier of Ton Sai Village and the aptly named Long Beach. The sheer cliffs around the deep natural harbour make a great spot for a kayaking trip, with the chance of seeing Brahmin Raptors soaring above you in the early evening or the bustling coral reefs below.
  • Loh Dalum Beach - Popular with the young backpacker crowd, Loh Dalum is probably the easiest beach to get to from the pier on Koh Phi Phi Don. With a good choice of nearby restaurants and bars, it's a nice place to enjoy a day in company while still getting the stunning view and soft sand of the more private places.
  • Loh Samah Bay - Loh Samah is also a good spot for snorkelling, thanks to its flourishing coral beds, but also offers an amazing panorama of the beautifully blue seas.
  • Viking Cave - A small refuge in the side of sheer cliffs, the cave takes its name from the remarkable ancient paintings on its walls, which appear to show viking longships, as well as boats of other historical European, Arab and Chinese types. The cave is now revered by local people, who collect the nests of the resident swifts for use in Bird's Nest Soup.
  • Monkey Beach - Another famous spot on the Phi Phi Islands, and one with a name which says all you need to know about it - it's a beach and there are monkeys. You can wade to shore from your charter boat to feed them as they are very used to tourists and are generally friendly.
  • Pileh Lagoon - This is one of the most private spots in the area - effectively a chamber eroded out of the limestone rocks to form an almost completely enclosed sea lake. Its crystal-clear waters are fantastic for swimming in and the dramatic cliffs make for stunning photos.
  • Bamboo Island - Known as Koh Phai in Thai, this is one of the many popular tourist destinations in the area. The star attraction is the beaches which, as the island is uninhabited, are pristine and unspoilt.
  • Laem Tong Beach - In contrast to Maya Bay, Laem Tong is quite remote and, with no movie fame, is generally quiet. It gets a cooling breeze on its unspoilt sands, making it a great place to chill out and relax, far from the crowds.
  • Loh Ba Gao Bay - This spot is even quieter than Laem Tong Beach, mostly because it is even more remote and secluded. It is no less striking than Maya Bay, with its nodding palms, white-sand beaches and sheer limestone cliffs. It's an especially good spot for watching the sunset and Camel Rock offers a particularly good view.
  • Long Beach - Sometimes called Yao Beach (which is 'Long' in Thai), this is one of the most popular resort destinations on Phi Phi. The broad, sweeping beach is popular with sunbathers while the reef just off the coast is great for snorkelling. This is also home to Shark Point, which is a popular gathering point for small reef sharks.
  • Phak Nam Bay - A fantastic snorkelling or diving spot, this peaceful spot on the untouched eastern side of Koh Phi Phi Don has a fantastic coral reef. Being harder to reach without your own charter boat, it is generally quiet and peaceful, too.
  • Koh Bidah Nok - This small limestone islet is the best dive site in the Phi Phi Islands thanks to its amazing selection of sea life. Underwater, the sheer sea cliffs are covered with soft corals and brightly coloured anemones, which create a home for many different fish species.
  • Koh Bidah Nai - Like its brother, Pida Nai is also a tiny rocky island and popular with scuba divers. It has a greater diversity of dive sites, though, making it good for both new and advanced divers.
  • Laem Hin - This beach is said to have the softest, finest white sand on the island, which is really saying something as almost every beach on Phi Phi is amazingly soft and fine. Laem Hin is excellent both for sunbathing and snorkelling, making it the perfect beach holiday destination.
  • Mosquito Island - Also known as Koh Yung, the island gets its name from the clouds of the little blood-suckers which emerge at sunset at certain times of the year. During the day, though, it is perfectly safe and home to some of the best coral gardens in the area, making it popular with snorkelers.
Phang Nga Bay
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Phang Nga Bay - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

The stunning Phang Nga Bay is a landscape of limestone islets and outcrops jutting out of emerald waters, very similar to Vietnam's Ha Long Bay. A cruise around the 120 islands allows you to visit tidal caves, hidden lagoons, unique villages and breathtaking scenery.

It takes about three hours to see the majority of the most famous sights. This is best done from December to April, but can be done at any time as the enclosed bay creates perfect sea conditions throughout the year.

Popular sites: James Bond Island or Koh Tapu, Koh Panyi, Khao Ping Khan, Koh Hong and Koh Panak.

Phang Nga Bay - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • James Bond Island - Correctly known as Koh Tapu (meaning "nail island", after its distinctive shape), the popular nickname comes from its staring role in The Man with the Golden Gun. It is surrounded by Koh Ping Gan, where you will find souvenir stalls and great views.
  • Koh Panyi - This picturesque Muslim fishing village in the shadow of a towering limestone outcrop is primarily built on stilts, giving it the appearance of floating on the calm waters of Phang Nga Bay. With no overland access to the mainland, the village has quite a unique culture, which has endured for over a century.
  • Koh Panak and Koh Hong - The best canoeing/kayaking spots to explore tidal caves and hidden lagoons.
Racha Yai & Racha Noi Islands
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Racha Yai Island - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

The Racha Islands are idyllic tropical islands near Phuket, with some of Thailand's best coral reefs, secluded bays and white-sand beaches. The sand here is particularly fine, snow-white in colour and with the consistency of talcum powder. The sea is crystal-clear, making it an especially good snorkelling and diving spot.

Racha Noi Island - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • Racha Yai Island - The bigger of the two Racha Islands is also the most popular, with most people landing at the deep, U-shaped bay - Ao Tawan Tok (also known as Ao Bungalow). Several other bays surround the island, including the quiet and peaceful Ao Siam. There is a hotel on Racha Yai, but there is also plenty of undeveloped areas, with lush vegetation, limestone boulders and deserted beaches to explore.
  • Racha Noi Island - Unlike its larger neighbour, Racha Noi is uninhabited. While it has more rocks than beaches, it is no less beautiful and the rugged shore creates great natural habitats for sea life, making it the better of the two for snorkelling, swimming, diving and fishing. Being the less popular of the two islands, this is also a great place to really get away from it all.
Surrounding Islands of Phuket
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Koh Hey - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

Phuket is Thailand's largest island, but has many other beautiful smaller islands just off its coast, reachable within just 10 or 15 minutes by boat from one of the many pier's around Phuket's east coast. While several are uninhabited and have mostly rocky shorelines, there are a few which can be visited for a relaxing day trip.

Popular sites: Coral Island or Koh Hey, Koh Khai Nok, Koh Maiton, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai.

Koh Khai - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • Coral Island or Koh Hey - Probably the most popular island near Phuket, Koh Hey is home to some stunning beaches, including Banana Beach and Long Beach. It also has some lovely shallow coral reefs, as the name suggests, making it popular with snorkelers as well as sunbathers.
  • Koh Khai Nok - Known as "Egg Island" because of its distinctive shape, Koh Khai Nok is especially famous for its beautiful coral formations. These are home to a huge variety of colourful fish, which will flock around swimmers and snorkelers in search of food in a kaleidoscopic explosion of life.
  • Koh Maiton - Home of a private beach resort, Maiton Island is a famously undisturbed natural paradise, with a fantastic sandy beach edged by clear waters, which are great for fishing in.
  • Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai - Koh Yao Noi is smaller and lies on the north of Koh Yao Noi. Both islands are mostly natural and unspoilt, though it does have some quaint local fisherman villages and a couple of resorts, making it a charming getaway destination and excellent for cycling excursions.
Krabi
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Railay - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

An up-and-coming competitor to Phuket's title as Thailand's most beautiful coastal destination, Krabi has a more natural, local vibe to it, which its wealth of idyllic islands are a big part of. A cruise around the glittering, azure Andaman Sea in this region reveals stunning, isolated lands which are slowing gaining the same sort of fame Phuket and Phi Phi already enjoy, and create fantastic places to go snorkelling, diving, canoeing, swimming or just lazing in.

Popular sites: Railay, Ao Nang, Koh Hong, Koh Poda, Koh Tup and Koh Mor.

Koh Tup - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • Ao Nang - The busiest of the beaches in Krabi, it is the star destination of Krabi, with a fun and lively nightlife and a chilled-out backpacker vibe.
  • Railay - Another of Krabi's more famous offerings, this beach is only accessible by sea. The northern end, in particular, is great for swimming, with soft sand and shallow water. It is especially beautiful around sunset, when the silhouettes of the surrounding cliffs give it an almost supernatural look. Pranang Cave Beach was recently voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it's not hard to see why. The fine white sand, amazing scenery, striking cliffs and clear seas make it really something to behold. Its really unique offering is the restaurant inside the cave.
  • Koh Hong - Taking its name from the Thai word for "room", Koh Hong's shape creates a concealed lagoon. It is a nesting spot for swifts and brave young men can be seen climbing bamboo poles to reach the nests to gather ingredients for Bird's Nest Soup. Outside of the "room", the island has a beautiful sandy shore - Pelay Beach, which boasts fine white sands and stunning views.
  • Koh Poda - A tiny island a short distance from Krabi, Koh Poda is almost entire covered in palm trees, surrounded by irresistible white sand beaches. With stunning coral reefs around it, it is pretty much the cliche of a remote desert island idyll.
  • Chicken Island - Taking its name from the curious shape of the rocks, the island is part steep cliffs and part beautiful beaches, with excellent snorkelling sights available at high tide.
  • Koh Tup and Koh Mor - A sandbar links these two islands, meaning that you can walk along the beautiful white sand between the two at low tide. The especially clear seas around the islands are great for snorkelling as they are full of colourful fish.
Similan Islands
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Similan Islands - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

The Similans are probably the most uniquely beautiful islands in the area of Phuket. A group of nine uninhabited islands about 50 km from the Phang Nga coastline, they are protected by national park status and are famous among the diving community, as well as being idyllic above the waves, too. They can seem a little busy and overcrowded if you visit with a standard tour service, but chartering a boat gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and to your own schedule.

Popular sites: Koh Similan, Koh Ba Ngu, Koh Miang, Koh Hu Yong, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.

Similan Islands - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • Koh Similan - The main island of the group has a long curving bay with a beach of fine white sand. The distinctive rock formations here are among the most famous images of the region thanks to their stunning natural beauty and, with clear paths to the top of some of them, they also offer great views of the area. Beneath the waves, the coral reefs are pristine and home to a colourful array of sea life.
  • Koh Ba Ngu - Mostly popular as a diving destination, this island has fields of underwater grasses and corals, creating a deep valley filled with fish.
  • Koh Miang - This is actually two connected islands, creating the second-largest landmass in the group. This is home to the National Park Office, where it is possible to book a tent to stay overnight.
  • Koh Hu Yong - The longest beach in the Similan Islands is on Koh Hu Yong, and is popular with sea turtles. The come and lay their eggs here from November to February, and their tracks can be clearly seen in the sand.
  • Koh Bon - Another popular spot for divers, Koh Bon is famous for offering close encounters with manta rays, as well as beautiful underwater landscapes.
Koh Lanta & Beyond
Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
Koh Lanta - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations

The islands of the Koh Land Marine National Park are more distant and difficult to reach than any others in the region, which makes them more exclusive and unspoilt. They reward those willing to take a longer boat trip with unrivalled beauty and amazing scenery, as well as stunning snorkelling and diving sites and the remarkable cultural attraction of sea gypsy settlements, with their unique customs and festivals.

Popular sites: Koh Lanta Yai, Koh Rok, Koh Haa, Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and Koh Kradan.

Koh Haa - Phuket Yacht Charter Destinations
  • Koh Lanta Yai - The main Koh Lanta has a mix of fine sandy beaches in the north and more gravelly ones in the rugged, mountainous south. It is home to the Kon Yao Yai sea gypsies, as well as a selection of beautiful resorts.
  • Koh Haa - Among this group of five islands, Haa Yai Island boasts a grassy field on its ridges while other islands have distinctive shapes, lagoons and corals, making them exciting places to explore.
  • Koh Ngai - A diver's paradise, this island has an amazing coral reef right along its eastern shore, with a fine sandy beach nearby.
  • Koh Rok - The beaches towards the southern end of this island are outstanding, with fine sand and beautiful reefs in shallow water nearby. Man Sai Bay and Talu Beach are particularly impressive.
  • Taleng Beng Island - A rugged island of limestone caves and nesting sites for swifts, this island has a few small beaches but is mostly remarkable for its striking scenery.
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