Archive for May, 2010

Thailand is one country on almost every traveller’s list. Very few countries offer the exotic combination of scenic tropical beauty found in Thailand’s blue and golden beaches and green and yellow mountains, the mixture of diverse cultures, and the affordability of it all. Thailand, in particular its 3200 km long coastline, is a highly popular tourist destination which offers a mix of adventure and entertainment; solitude and liveliness; fishing village charm and city nightlife, all of which can be wholeheartedly experienced with a yacht charter to Thailand.

Thailand’s coastline is a playground of diverse and exotic species of flora and fauna. It is divided into two parts – the eastern coastline which border the Gulf of Thailand and the western coastline which is defined by the Andaman Sea. The eastern coast is marked by long stretches of sandy beaches and calm waters, perfect for sailing and lounging on the tropical sun-kissed deck of your yacht. In particular the coastline around Phuket is a very popular sailing destination for yachts. As of 2009, Phuket boasts of the ‘best marina in all of Thailand’ – The Ao Po Grand Marina – with over 200 berths for yachts over 80 m in length and world class facilities available around the clock. Starting from here lets you head straight into the Phang Nga Bay, a very popular sailing and sight-seeing destination.

Phang Nga bay is marked by characteristic large green-blue-yellow limestone rocks that cut the water surface, some excellent diving and snorkelling sites, and virtually uninhabited isles, caves and other rock formations waiting to be explored. It is an absolutely heavenly location to be yachting. Phang Nga Bay has some of the most popular as well as secluded islands — Ko Ping-gan, which is popular as the island which saw James Bond brandishing his Golden Gun; or Ko Panyi, where an entire village is built over-water on stilts. If you’re really up for adventure, you can visit the islands of Ko Hong, Ko Khien and Ko Mak. These islands are not on popular tour packages, but then, you have your very own luxury yacht to take you places that others will miss out on!

Continuing the trend of chartering (literally) unchartered territories, you can sail towards the Phi Phi Islands. Phi Phi are the most popular islands in the southern part of the Thailand where sheer beauty meets sheer laziness. The islands have few roads, and even fewer people to walk on them. So it’s just the sun, the sand, the clear blue waters, lush greenery, local people, you and your yacht. You might even be tempted to try out the traditional Thai Long Tail boats for a change. After such relaxation, you might be in the mood to try some diving or snorkelling and the Racha Islands are a splendid location for this. Among these, Racha Nai remains almost untouched by commercial development, whereas Racha Yai has now developed into a resort island.

A yacht charter around Thailand can be quite a rewarding experience, not just because of the beauty of physical surroundings but also because how removed and how different the cultural experience can be from most of the Western world. Most of these islands would be almost inaccessible to tourists living on the mainland, but with a yacht replete with all the comforts you can imagine and a professional crew to cater to all your needs as well as the yacht – no destination is too far away.