DRIFT — Thailand Yacht Charter

Why Thailand?

Limestone karsts erupting from emerald water, hidden lagoons you kayak into through rock tunnels, and long-tail boats ferrying pad thai to your anchorage. Thailand's Andaman Coast offers Southeast Asian sailing at its most dramatic — plus world-class diving, $5 massages, and the warmest hospitality on earth.

Best Season

November through April (northeast monsoon — dry season). Winds 10–20 knots from the northeast. Flat seas, zero rain, 85°F water. May–October brings the southwest monsoon — beautiful but unpredictable.

Perfect For

Adventurers, honeymooners, divers, and anyone who wants a sensory overload in the best way. Thailand delivers jaw-dropping scenery at a fraction of Caribbean or Med prices. A crewed charter with Thai cuisine included is a life-changing food experience.

Must-Visit Spots

Where to drop anchor

Phang Nga Bay

James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) is the famous one, but the real magic is deeper in the bay — hundreds of sheer limestone towers rising from flat green water, with sea caves and hidden lagoons called 'hongs' you can kayak into at the right tide.

Koh Phi Phi Leh — Maya Bay

The beach from 'The Beach' (Leonardo DiCaprio, 2000). After years of closure for reef recovery, it's reopened with strict visitor limits. Arrive by yacht at dawn for the bay to yourself. The snorkeling at Pileh Lagoon next door is even better.

Koh Racha Yai

A quiet island south of Phuket with visibility that hits 30+ meters. The main bay (Ao Tawan Tok) has white sand and excellent reef snorkeling. Far fewer tourists than the Phi Phi islands.

Koh Hong, Krabi

A dramatic island with a hidden interior lagoon connected to the sea by a narrow channel. Kayak through at high tide — inside is a cathedral-like pool surrounded by vertical jungle cliffs.

Similan Islands

A national park 60 miles northwest of Phuket with some of the best diving in the world. Massive granite boulders underwater, manta rays, and whale sharks in season. Worth a 2-day detour.

Sample Itinerary

7 days in Thailand

Day 1: Phuket → Koh Racha Yai

Depart Ao Po Grand Marina. Sail south to Koh Racha Yai — anchor in the main bay. Snorkel the reef, beach lunch, and watch the sunset from the flybridge.

Day 2: Koh Racha Yai → Koh Phi Phi Don

Sail east to Phi Phi Don. Anchor in Ao Ton Sai bay. Explore the island's twin bays on foot, dinner at a beachfront restaurant with fire dancers.

Day 3: Koh Phi Phi Don → Phi Phi Leh → Bamboo Island

Early morning visit to Maya Bay before the crowds. Snorkel Pileh Lagoon's emerald waters. Afternoon at Bamboo Island — a perfect circle of sand and coral.

Day 4: Bamboo Island → Koh Lanta

Sail south to Koh Lanta. Anchor off Kantiang Bay. Koh Lanta is quieter and more authentic — rubber plantations, Muslim fishing villages, and old-town wooden shophouses.

Day 5: Koh Lanta → Koh Rok

Sail to Koh Rok Nai — a national park island with the clearest water in the Andaman Sea. Snorkel the coral gardens, spot monitor lizards on the beach.

Day 6: Koh Rok → Koh Hong → Krabi

Sail north to Koh Hong. Kayak into the secret lagoon. Continue to Railay Beach, Krabi — towering cliffs, rock climbing, and the best pad thai you'll ever eat at a beach shack.

Day 7: Krabi → Phang Nga Bay → Phuket

Day in Phang Nga Bay — kayak sea caves, visit James Bond Island, photograph the karsts. Sail back to Phuket marina for checkout.

Thailand