Where can you go on a Phuket yacht charter? Itinerary from Phuket, Thailand to Phi Phi, Phang Nga, Racha and the Similans

Phuket Rating editorsPublished: 17 September 2026Updated: 30 October 202615 min read

A yacht charter from Phuket, Thailand, goes one of two ways in the Andaman Sea: short southern runs from Chalong Pier to Coral Island, Racha and Koh Maithon, and northern runs from Ao Po Grand Marina into Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao and Krabi, and Horizon Cruises Phuket, the company ranked first of 22 in the Phuket Rating ranking of the best yacht charter companies in Phuket (92.6 of 100), charters private boats with crew on all of them. Phi Phi sits about 47 km east of Chalong and is a full day even by speedboat, while the Similan Islands are a separate expedition with a park season limited to mid-October to mid-May.

The company’s destination pages cover Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, Racha Yai and Racha Noi, Coral Island, Maiton, Koh Yao, Krabi and the Similans. Of the three yachts under the company’s management, Technema 89 Say Yes and Ferretti 80 Sofia leave from Chalong Pier and Beluga 88 from Ao Po Grand Marina. The others are partner boats in its catalogue, departing mainly from Chalong Pier, Ao Po Grand Marina, Boat Lagoon and Royal Phuket Marina, a few from Coco Pier and Phuket Yacht Haven. Other companies are in the full ranking, scored under the published methodology. Below: distances, times by boat type, which routes charge park fees, best months and a typical itinerary for each route.

How are distances and times worked out for a Phuket yacht charter?

Distances are great-circle estimates between the departure pier and the main anchorage, rounded; real tracks add 5 to 15 percent. Times are one way at 25 to 30 knots for a speedboat, 15 to 18 for a power catamaran, 10 to 12 for a motor yacht and 6 to 8 for a sailing catamaran, before boarding, snorkel stops and park queues. The park column shows whether a route enters a national park that charges a per-person fee set by the Department of National Parks (DNP); the current rate is confirmed with the quote. Every time assumes a crewed charter, a boat with its captain and crew; the luxury yacht page of Horizon Cruises Phuket says there are no bareboat options in its luxury fleet.

Which marina: Chalong Pier or Ao Po Grand Marina?

Chalong Pier on the south-east coast is the busiest pier on the island and the start for Coral Island, Racha, Koh Maithon and Phi Phi. Ao Po Grand Marina on the north-east coast sits at the mouth of Phang Nga Bay with 230 berths and no tidal restriction, and serves James Bond Island, Koh Hong, Koh Panyee, Koh Yao and Krabi. All piers are compared in the Phuket marinas and piers guide.

Which islands can a yacht charter in Phuket reach, route by route?

Coral Island (Koh Hey)

About 8 km (4.5 nm) from Chalong: 9 to 11 minutes by speedboat, under half an hour by motor yacht. The shortest route and the standard half day; Long Beach and Banana Beach are its sandy beaches. No park fee. Flattest from November to April.

Racha Yai and Racha Noi

Racha Yai is 24 km (13 nm) south of Chalong, about 30 minutes by speedboat and 1 h 05 to 1 h 20 by motor yacht. Racha Noi lies at 35 km (19 nm): 40 to 46 minutes by speedboat, up to two hours by motor yacht. Racha Yai alone is a half day by fast boat; both together are a full day. No park fee. Both are open to south-west swell; November to April is the reliable window.

Koh Maithon

A private island 14 km (7.5 nm) east of Chalong: 15 to 18 minutes by speedboat, about 40 minutes by motor yacht. Half day, often paired with Coral Island. No park fee; landing depends on the island’s rules.

Phi Phi: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island

Tonsai Bay on Koh Phi Phi Don and Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh are about 47 km (25.5 nm) east of Chalong, Bamboo Island 48 km (26 nm). Speedboat 50 to 60 minutes, power catamaran about 1.5 hours, motor yacht 2 h 10 to 2 h 35, sailing catamaran 3 to 4 hours: a full day for motor boats, an overnight under sail.

The Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park fee is charged per person, half for children; the date-stamped ticket covers Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island.

Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, together with Loh Samah Bay and Lo Kor Bay, so boats cannot use the back entrance either. In the open months boats moor at Loh Samah on the south side of Phi Phi Leh, visitors walk in by boardwalk, groups get about one hour, the beach is capped at 375 people at a time, and swimming is banned; wading is allowed to knee depth. Best months: November to April; the crossing is open sea.

Phang Nga Bay: James Bond Island, Koh Hong, Panak and Panyee

From Ao Po Grand Marina: Koh Panak 14 km (7.6 nm), Koh Hong 17 km (9 nm), James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) 24 km (13 nm), Koh Panyee 30 km (16.5 nm). James Bond Island is about 30 minutes by speedboat and 1 h 05 to 1 h 20 by motor yacht.

The Ao Phang Nga National Park fee is charged per person, half for children; rangers ask visitors to keep the receipt. The full loop with lunch at Panyee is a full day; Panak plus Hong by speedboat is a half day.

Sheltered by the mainland and the Koh Yao islands, it runs every month; the park itself reports the calmest water and best visibility under the north-east monsoon, so November to April is still best for photographs and kayaking.

Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai

Koh Yao Noi is about 17 km (9 nm) from Ao Po and Koh Yao Yai’s west coast about 15 km (8 nm): roughly 20 minutes by speedboat, 45 to 55 minutes by motor yacht. No park fee at the beaches; islets inside Ao Phang Nga National Park trigger the park fee. Half day from Ao Po.

The Khai islands

Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Khai Nui are 16 km (8.7 nm) from Ao Po and 24 km (13 nm) from Chalong: 17 to 21 minutes by speedboat from Ao Po, 44 to 52 minutes by motor yacht. Half day or a snorkel stop en route to Phi Phi. No park fee.

Similan Islands

The usual departure point is Thap Lamu pier near Khao Lak. Koh Miang, the headquarters island, is 65 km (35 nm) away. Speedboat 1 h 10 to 1 h 25, motor yacht 3 to 3.5 hours. From Chalong the sea route around Phuket’s south tip is roughly 125 km (67 nm), so Phuket-based yachts go overnight, and Phuket speedboat day trips start with a road transfer to Thap Lamu.

Mu Ko Similan National Park opens only from 15 October to 15 May. The 2026 DNP order closed Mu Ko Similan and Mu Ko Surin from 15 May to 15 October; the previous season opened on 15 October 2025. The park fee is charged per person, half for children, entries are capped at 3,325 a day, landing hours 08:00 to 16:00.

Krabi: Hong Island and Railay

Hong Island Krabi, inside Than Bok Khorani National Park, is 26 km (14 nm) from Ao Po: 28 to 34 minutes by speedboat, 1 h 10 to 1 h 24 by motor yacht. Railay and Ao Nang are 44 km (23.5 nm) from Ao Po. The park fee is charged per person, half for children, valid for Hong, Lading and Pakbia the same day. The Hong Island page of Horizon Cruises Phuket describes swimming, snorkelling and kayaking there. Full day, best November to April.

Longer routes south: Koh Lanta, Koh Ha, Koh Kradan and Koh Muk

For three nights or more, the destinations article of Horizon Cruises Phuket suggests the Similans or Surin in season, or a southbound route towards Koh Lanta. Koh Ha and Koh Rok lie in the Andaman Sea inside Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park. Among day boats, one speedboat in the catalogue, Nimbus T11, lists Koh Haa and Koh Kradan with Koh Mook (Koh Muk) among its destinations; its page says almost nothing else in the fleet attempts Koh Kradan and Koh Mook as a day trip.

How do Koh Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and the other routes compare?

What does a typical itinerary look like on each route?

Most private charters from Phuket are a full day of eight or nine hours with two or three stops and lunch on board at anchor; a half day of four or five hours covers one island. The timetables below are the ones Horizon Cruises Phuket publishes on its destination pages; the captain adjusts them to the tide, the weather and the group.

Phang Nga Bay: James Bond Island, Koh Hong and Panyee

Yachts do not enter the Koh Hong lagoon: it takes inflatable canoes hired on the spot, two guests and a local paddler, and only at mid tide, a window that moves about fifty minutes a day. Koh Panyee, a fishing village on stilts, is the usual lunch stop when the group eats ashore. The prices of this route are in the guide to Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island.

Phi Phi Islands: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo

Most groups leave Chalong Pier between nine and ten. A standard day is three or four stops among Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach and the quieter sand at Nui and Bamboo Island, with lunch in a quiet bay and Khai Nok often the last stop on the way home. Snorkelling is easier at Bamboo, where the water is shallower and calmer; the Hin Klang reef between Phi Phi Don and Bamboo runs about 500 metres from the shore. Prices are in the guide to Phi Phi by private yacht.

Racha Yai and Racha Noi

Racha Yai, also called Raya Island, has Siam Bay with white sand and snorkelling straight off the beach, and Bungalow Bay for the reef. Prices are in the guide to Racha and Coral Island.

Coral Island and Maiton

A half day out of Chalong, Coral Island or Maiton first depending on the slot. Coral Island has white sand, beach activity and shallow coral reefs close to shore where beginners and children can snorkel near the boat; Maiton is quieter, and people snorkel straight off the boat. Half a day is enough to swim, snorkel and be back; a full day covers both islands without hurrying.

When is the season to sail and cruise each route?

Thailand’s south-west monsoon runs from mid-May to mid-October and the north-east monsoon from mid-October to mid-February; the far south often keeps heavy showers into December. For yachts that means a prime window from November to April and a green season from May to October when Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao and Phuket’s east side still work while Racha, Phi Phi and the west coast depend on the forecast. Month-by-month detail: Phuket yacht season by month.

What does a national park ticket in Thailand buy?

One park, one date, one person: a Phi Phi day and a Phang Nga day mean two fees. On some boats the fee is included in the rate; on others it is collected on the day at the rate confirmed with the quote. Children aged 3 to 14 pay half, under-threes go free. See what is included in a yacht charter.