Sail Phuket.

Phuket is the practical gateway to the Andaman Sea. From the marinas on the island's north-east coast you're a short hop from Phang Nga Bay's limestone karsts, the reefs off the Racha islands, and the longer run down to Ko Phi Phi. The water runs jade-green in the shallows and deep blue past the drop-offs. Mornings are quiet — the longtails start their engines around seven — and the sailing is mostly flat-water reaching between islands you can see from the cockpit. This is not a place for serious distance sailing. It's a place for short passages, good anchorages, and getting off the boat to snorkel or walk a beach before the day-tripper boats arrive.

Most charters work three areas. Phang Nga Bay, to the north-east, is the headline: sheer limestone towers rising straight out of shallow water, hidden lagoons (hongs) you reach through sea caves at the right tide, and calm, protected anchorages. It's busy with tour boats by mid-morning, so anchor early and move on. The southern islands — Racha Yai, Racha Noi, and Ko Hae (Coral Island) — sit an hour or two south of Phuket and offer clearer water and better snorkelling than the bay. Ko Phi Phi and beyond is the longer game: Maya Bay, the Phi Phi group, and on to Ko Lanta or the Trang islands if you have the time. Distances are modest — you're rarely more than 20 to 30 nautical miles between anchorages.

We base boats at four marinas on Phuket's east coast: Yacht Haven and Ao Po Grand up in the north-east near the Phang Nga entrance, and Royal Phuket Marina further south. Ao Po and Yacht Haven put you closest to the bay, which shaves an hour off day one. All three have fuel, water, and provisioning within reach, and airport transfers run 30 to 50 minutes depending on which marina you start from. Once you're out cruising, anchoring is the norm — there are few marinas among the islands, so you'll be on the hook most nights, often in company with a handful of other boats rather than alone.

The sailing season runs November to April, the north-east monsoon. Expect light-to-moderate winds, flat seas, and long stretches of settled weather — good for first-timers and families. December to February is the driest and most reliable. From May the south-west monsoon brings rain, swell on the west coast, and stronger, gustier conditions; many charters pause or move to the sheltered east side. If you want dependable sun and calm water, book inside the December-to-March window. Wind is usually a bonus rather than the point here — plan on some motoring between islands on the quiet days, and enjoy the reaching when it fills in.

We run both bareboat and crewed charters out of Phuket. Bareboat suits skippers with the relevant sailing qualifications and some warm-water, tidal-anchoring experience — the grounds are forgiving, but tides in Phang Nga matter for the hongs. If you'd rather not skipper, we can arrange a skipper-only hire or a fully crewed boat with a cook. Crewed charters are the easy choice for families, groups new to sailing, or anyone who wants the local knowledge that saves you from arriving at Maya Bay behind 40 tour boats. Monohulls and catamarans are both available; catamarans are popular here for the shallow draft and deck space at anchor.

Charter prices swing with boat size, age, catamaran versus monohull, and season — peak (December to February) runs higher than the shoulder months. As a rough guide, a week's bareboat sits in the low-to-mid four-figure EUR range for a mid-size monohull and climbs from there for larger catamarans; crewed charters add crew and provisioning on top. Budget separately for fuel, marina fees at either end, the national-park entry fees for Phang Nga and Phi Phi, and food if you're self-catering. Rather than quote a figure that goes stale, we'll send a proper price for your dates and boat on request — message us on WhatsApp with your week and party size.

Day 1 — Board at Ao Po or Yacht Haven, provision, short sail to an anchorage inside Phang Nga Bay. Day 2 — Explore the hongs by dinghy or kayak at the right tide; anchor early before the tour boats. Day 3 — Work south toward the Racha islands; snorkel the clearer water off Racha Yai. Day 4 — Long-ish run to Ko Phi Phi; time your Maya Bay visit for late afternoon when the crowds thin. Day 5 — Quiet anchorage in the Phi Phi group, swim and walk ashore. Day 6 — Sail back north, stopping at Ko Hae for a last snorkel. Day 7 — Return to the marina, refuel, hand back. Adjust freely — the beauty of these grounds is short hops and plenty of choice.

Fly into Phuket International (HKT), well served by direct and one-stop routes from Europe, the Gulf, and across Asia. Transfers to the north-east marinas take 30 to 50 minutes by road. Most nationalities get a visa exemption or visa-on-arrival for tourist stays — check your own rules before you travel, as they change. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash vest for the midday sun, and cash for the small island stops and park fees. Right for first charterers, families, and anyone who wants warm-water cruising with easy passages; less right for sailors chasing wind and long offshore legs.