Sail Ko Samui.

Most Thailand charter chatter is about the Andaman side — Phuket, Krabi, the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay. Koh Samui sits on the other coast, in the Gulf of Thailand, and sails a different picture: closer-packed islands, shorter hops between anchorages, and a season that runs opposite the Andaman crowds. From here you're a few hours' sail from Ang Thong's cliffs and Koh Phangan's bays, with Koh Samui itself for provisioning, food and a proper night ashore.

Ang Thong Marine Park is the headline destination — forty-odd limestone islands, a landlocked emerald lake on Mae Koh reached by a steep 20-minute climb, and coves you can have to yourself outside weekend day-trip hours. North of that, Koh Phangan offers Thong Nai Pan Bay for an overnight anchorage and Chaloklum for a fishing-village supper. Push further and Koh Tao and the granite islet of Koh Nang Yuan bring the clearest water in the group, good for snorkelling straight off the boat. None of these legs is long — most days are two to four hours under sail.

Boats sail from here May to September, which is the southwest monsoon window on this coast. Expect wind mostly from the SW at 10-15 knots, building on some afternoons, with squalls that arrive fast and clear fast — not the settled trade-wind sailing you get in the Caribbean or the Aegean. The archipelago gives some shelter, so seas inside Ang Thong and around Koh Phangan stay manageable even when it's blowing outside. Rain showers are common and usually brief. This isn't the calmest season Thailand has to offer, but it's a real sailing season, and the anchorages are quieter for it.

Every boat operating from this base is bareboat — you or a named crew member skipper the yacht yourselves. That means a recognised sailing qualification (an ICC or equivalent competency certificate is the usual ask) and some genuine coastal experience, since squally afternoons here reward boats that reef early. If you don't hold the paperwork, tell us when you enquire and we'll talk through what's realistic. There's no fully-crewed option sailing from Koh Samui at the moment.

Price on request — rates depend on boat size, week, and how far in advance you book, and we'd rather quote against your actual dates than print a number that's wrong by the time you read it. Budget beyond the charter fee for provisioning, fuel, marina or mooring fees at Ang Thong (a small national park fee applies), and a security deposit held against the boat. Ask us on WhatsApp for a quote against specific dates and boat sizes.

Day 1: Board at Koh Samui, provision, short shakedown sail to get the boat's measure before dark. Day 2: Sail north to Ang Thong Marine Park, anchor off Mae Koh, climb to the emerald lake viewpoint. Day 3: Kayak the park's inner lagoons, then a short hop to a quieter Ang Thong anchorage for the night. Day 4: Sail to Koh Phangan, overnight in Thong Nai Pan Bay. Day 5: Round to Chaloklum for grilled seafood ashore, or press on to Koh Tao if the wind's fair. Day 6: Snorkel off Koh Nang Yuan or Koh Tao's northern bays. Day 7: Sail back to Koh Samui, reprovision, last night at anchor off Bophut. Day 8: Hand the boat back. Weather governs all of this more than the plan does — build in slack.

Samui International Airport takes direct flights from Bangkok and a handful of regional hubs; it's a short taxi to the marina from there. The alternative is fly into Surat Thani on the mainland and take the car ferry across — cheaper, slower, and worth it if you're arriving with gear or provisions in bulk. Handover is at the marina in Koh Samui; arrive with time to spare for the boat briefing before you cast off, and check tide and ferry-crossing times the day before if you're coming via Surat Thani.