Phuket, Thailand Yacht Charter & Sailing Vacation

Phuket is an island off of the South West of Thailand, attached to the mainland by a bridge and one of Thailand’s larger islands – bustling with life without compromising the serenity you find on their beaches. 

There is no shortage of things to do in Phuket: known for its temples, beaches, Muay Thai, and yoga retreats and can be the perfect place for a variety of sailing holiday types – if you know where to look.

For Families

Phuket is a wonderful destination for families to visit. The locals are friendly and there are a plethora of activities to do – from exploring the Big Buddha and other temples to building sandcastles and paddling on spectacular beaches (we recommend Kamala beach). 

There are excursions stopping at free-roaming monkey temples – perfect for your own little monkeys to explore – and elephant sanctuaries such as the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket – which offer the experience of a lifetime bonding with these gentle giants. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is a true rescue center, with dedicated volunteers working toward the liberation and safe housing of circus/ex-performance elephants and mistreated logging/worker elephants. We encourage you to please, check the ethics of any wildlife centre before visiting.

Other family favorites include longtail boat experiences – these large, canoe-shaped vessels are part of Thailand’s tourism image and are used for tourists, ferries, carrying cargo, and more. These boats are often used in excursions to Koh Panyee – the famous ‘floating village’ in Phang Nga Bay – another family favorite. On the floating village, you will find families, schools, restaurants, and markets, and learn all about this unique culture and way of life. 

Phuket Old Town is bustling and provides many experiences for families with young children, as does the highly commercialized town of PaTong. 

This neon-lit, beachside town is bustling with plenty of watersports and beach activities to do – as well as a shopping paradise complex and other shops throughout the town. With this being said, the area is famed for its wild nightlife (especially on Bangla Road, which acts more like a “party strip”). We recommend avoiding Bangla Road when traveling with young teens and children.

For Couples

Phuket is full of activities for couples – from wellness activities such as sunset yoga and on-the-beach massages, to trail hiking or night markets (we love Chivilla Road for a more romantic location, with live music, incredible offerings of fresh food and an atmosphere that’s hard to beat).

Or, head to the south of Phuket toward Karon beach – the largest beach in Phuket, with shallow waves rolling in – Kata Noi is Karon’s quaint, more intimate neighbor. Between the two beaches lies Kata beach, which is slightly quieter than Karon, but a little larger, and with more on its doorstep than Kata Noi.  

For a tranquil romantic experience, we recommend mooring at Tonsai Bay, Ko Phi Phi Don (part of the Phi Phi Islands). Discover Maya Bay Tours (the actual beach where Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘The Beach’ was filmed) and the cozy – and quite breathtaking- Nui Beach cove, snorkel the pristine waters surrounding each of the Phi Phi Islands or simply grab a beach towel, hat, swimwear and sun cream – and head to any of the spectacular, soft sand beaches – for some blissful relaxation time. 

If you’re looking to enhance your Thailand yacht charter experience, we recommend hiring a sea kayak or paddleboard – perfect for viewing caves and coastlines together and make for a wonderful partner activity. 

For First-Time Sailors

Phuket is a level 2 sailing experience with Sunsail, meaning you need to have 10 days or 200 miles as a skipper on an equivalent-size yacht. 

If your family or yacht-mates are new to sailing, there may be some choppy tides but overall it is a good place to start. 

Ao Po Grand Marina and Ko Naka Noi make for easy sailing, however, we recommend checking the weather forecast regularly – especially when heading between Phuket and islands such as PhiPhi and Ko Racha Yai.

For Large Groups

Phuket has no end of exciting things for all group sizes, starting with our phenomenal fleet of yachts, which includes the Sunsail 454L catamaran. This yacht is our largest offering in Thailand, with 4 cabins housing up to 11 people, and with plenty of deck space, to boot! If you after after multiple yachts, or want to make up your own flotilla (for particularly large groups), we recommend getting in touch with one of our holiday planners.

Hen and Stag Do’s have the infamous party strip – Bangla Road – to explore, drink and dance the night away if they so wish. Many Restaurants in the Pa Tong area are big enough to seat large parties (although we recommend booking in advance, where possible). 

The same can be said for Phuket Old Town; with its beautiful, bright-colored buildings, often painted with murals and street art. The Old Town offers visitors the chance to experience walking tours, road markets, open shrines and stunning architecture. 

Other experiences for large groups, outside of the cities and large towns, include zip lining and jungle adventures such as Hanuman World, or exploring Cave Shrines such as Wat Suwan Huka (the Buddha Cave, or Suwan Khuha Temple) which is north of Phuket – just over a 1-hour drive from Ao Po Grand Marina.

There are a variety of things to do in Phuket, from experiencing Thailand’s incredible scuba diving spots, magical wildlife, and animals to see to scouring the most delightful dining experiences and best beaches for switching off – we have you covered. 

Relaxing

• Hit the beaches and relax; our top 5 on the mainland for relaxation are: Surin Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Kamala Beach, Nai Harn Beach, and Freedom Beach. 
• Explore nearby islands such as Koh Kao Yai and Ko Yao Noi (discover Sandbank Beach and Ao Sai Beach whilst there), Coconut Island, Ko Phi Phi, Koh Racha Yai, and Ko He (where you will find the famous Banana Beach) or the further-afield Ko Lanta (worth sailing to for exquisite dining, snorkeling and diving, rainforests and quiet beaches).
• Attend a wellness spa or yoga class – there is no shortage of them on the island!
• Swim and Snorkel (non-scuba diving) Experiences.
• Get a massage on the beach (we recommend Let’s Relax on Karon Beach). Although more expensive than at a parlor, the experience is serene and still far less expensive than the cost of a massage in the UK. 

Exploring

• Discover the many temples and shrines on Phuket – including the Big Buddha, Chaithararam Temple – Wat Chalong, or Phra Thong Temple.
• Hike up waterfalls: Bang Pae Waterfall, Ton Sai Waterfall, Kathu Waterfall
• Meet the *Local Wildlife: including the rescue of Elephants at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket, Monkeys of the Temple in Wat Suwan Kuha and spectacular birds at Phuket Bird Park.
• Do day excursions that take you to James Bond Island, Koh Panyee floating village and kayaking through tiny island caves.
• Spend a day pumping adrenaline on a Zip Line and ATV experience.

Nightlife and Partying

• Discover Full Moon Parties on Paradise Beach. 
• Explore the infamous Bangla Road, for a buzzing strip with nightclubs, bars, go-go clubs, music venues and, more.
• Superclubs – Tiger Nightclub, Sugar Club Phuket and, Illuzion are all epic nightclubs for those looking to dance until dawn.
• Beach Bars – some of the best are found on Bang Tao beach (Nomad Beach Club, Carpe Diem, Catch Beach Club and, Xana) and Kamala Beach (Pine Beach Club – which has incredible sundown parties – and Cafe Del Mar – which made its name in Ibiza and now has a Phuket location), and PaTong Beach (Kudo Beach Club, Fuga and, G Beach Club).

Eating and Drinking

• Learn to cook authentic Thai meals at one of the many cooking schools in Phuket.
• Explore Day and Night Markets for street food, homemade meals and, fresh foods to take back to the yacht with you. 
• Experience the bliss of waterside dining, our fave places for dinner with a view include: The Beach Cuisine (Choeng Thale, near Bangtao beach), Malika Sky Bar By Kalima Resort (PaTong), The Beach Restaurant by The Surin (Surin Beach). 

Underwater Adventures

• Swim and snorkel amongst turtles, corals, tropical fish and oysters on Ko Naka Noi – which is also known as Pearl Island.
• Discover mahi mahi, sailfish, giant trevally and even sharks off the coast of Ko Racha Yai – the perfect location in Phuket for scuba diving enthusiasts.
• For more gentle swimming and paddling, we suggest Tonsai Bay in Ko Phi Phi Don or Karon Beach. 

Discover manta rays, turtles and even whale sharks at home in the clear water of Ko Lanta.

Although warm year-round, the best time to visit Phuket is during the dry season – between November and April, this is when the air is less humid and the average temperatures range between 24°C – 34°C.

The surrounding ocean is at its calmest and most optimum for sailing conditions during this season.

The sailing conditions in Phuket change dramatically with the seasons – the dry season being much more gentle at sea than the rainy season. At Sunsail, we require you to meet our level 1 sailing experiences to charter a bareboat yacht in Phuket. You may hire a skipper, if you are not qualified or wish to have someone sail the yacht for you.

Complete our sailing CV to discover whether your current sailing experiences meet our requirements for a bareboat charter in Phuket. If you want to improve your sailing experience before setting off, we recommend looking at our Sailing School options.

As with any holiday, the cost of a yacht charter in Phuket ranges depending on the holiday length, time of year, itineraries and more. 

Our Phuket sailing holidays start at £1,947 for a 7 day charter during the off-peak season. Whilst, peak season yacht charters start at £3,600 for 7 day charter. 

This does not include flights or spending. 

It is possible to explore Thailand on a budget – swapping upscale dining for food markets and local eateries is a sure-fire way to save money, without compromising on food taste and experience, 
To get a better idea, fill out our holiday quote details.

THB 200 per person per night when cruising in national park areas. THB 400 per person per night, plus THB 400 per yacht per night when visiting the Similan or Surin Islands National Park which are accessible only from November to April.

Overnight stops need to be at anchor as the mooring buoys are not well maintained.
For more information please check our Phuket Essential Information page.