Our Trips » Andaman Sea
Andaman Sea
ASIA'S PREMIERE YACHT CHARTER PLAYGROUND
The Andaman Sea is one of the planet's most sought after holiday destination and Asia's leading maritime playground. Renowned for its beauty, marine bio-diversity, and its perfect weather conditions during the dry season, there are several quite distinct regions within the Andaman Sea that provide everything required for the perfect yacht charter holiday.
Langkawi & Malaysia’s West Coast
Only a day sail from Phuket, on the northwest coast of Malaysia, Langkawi is a serene yacht charter destination with 99 islands, pristine beaches and lush rainforest-covered mountains.
With an international airport and 3 marinas, and boasting duty free status, Langkawi is a well established yachting haven and is ideal for nature lovers: Hopping between islands one can visit lakes and caves, see long tailed macaques, the spectacular Langkawi sea eagles, hairy nosed sea otters, monitor lizards, kingfishers and the beautiful, but shy, spectacled languor. In the evenings here we can anchor the yacht in a tranquil bay so our guests can go ashore and dine in gourmet restaurants perched high in the hillsides.
Butang Islands
A yacht charter holiday starting from Langkawi can also take you northward to the Butang islands and the delights of Thailand's Phang Nga Bay. Part of the Koh Tarutao National Park, the Butang islands are wild and largely uninhabited and offers some of the best diving in the region, as well as secluded beaches and coves that are great for exploring by kayak. On Koh Lipee there is a stunning anchorage with a crescent-shaped white sand beach, at night dotted with the candlelights of beach bars. Read more about the scuba diving in the Butangs at Dive The World.
Colonial Penang
A yacht charter holiday from Langkawi can also take you south to the island of Penang a bustling & multicultural island which features 2 marinas, and has a rich history full of British colonial heritage. The capital, Georgetown, was established as the first British trading post in the Far East in 1776. Certain sections of Penang present a quaint picture from the past where narrow side streets, trishaws, temples and traders plying their goods, seem to belong to a forgotten era.
Phuket & Phang Nga Bay
Phuket & Phang Nga Bay are the most well established yacht charter destinations in Asia. This area could be described as the yachting hub of Asia. Phuket itself has an international airport, 4 marinas, a multitude of five-star resorts, restaurants, villas and shopping centres, making it an ideal base for yachts in Asia. Phang Nga Bay, sheltered on 3 sides by Phuket and the province of Krabi on the Thai mainland, is dotted with 1000's of islands and is also notable for its excellent anchorages and near flat calm seas during the dry season.
By any measure Phang Nga Bay is a magical sailing and yacht charter destination. The spectacular island geography varies from low, gently sloping mountains to the steep karst (limestone) outcrops that rise vertically from crystal seas, with palm fringed beaches and hidden lagoons. The Thai mainland surrounding Phang Nga Bay offers nature lovers an unspoiled landscape of beaches, hills, mountains, forested valleys, mangroves and estuaries.
For the sporty types there is a seemingly limitless number of activities on offer – scuba adventures, snorkeling, kayaking, waterfalls, rock climbing, elephant treks, regattas, waterskiing, fishing, helicopter sightseeing, visiting temples and cultural villages, golfing, bungy jumping, beach parties and fine dining.
Similan & Surin
Only 30 miles northwest of Phuket and Phang Nga Bay are the Similan and Surin Islands which have a deserved reputation for having the best scuba diving in Thailand. Whale sharks, Manta rays and Leopard sharks are common sightings in a dramatic boulder-covered underwater world. In the Similan and Surin, Nine Marine National Park islands offer not just a diver’s paradise, but above water the beautiful landscapes harbour a balanced and untouched tropical ecosystem.
Andaman Islands
"The Next Yacht Charter Destination" is how we would describe the Andaman Islands, part of the union territories of India.
Made up of over 550 islands, islets and rocks, situated in the Bay of Bengal (Indian Ocean), approximately 400 nautical miles northwest of Phuket, the Andaman islands are notable for stunningly beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, virgin forests teeming with nature, world class diving, and India’s only active volcano.
Some 36 islands in the archipelago are totally uninhabited, others are rich in aboriginal culture, such as the out-of-bounds North Sentinel where indigenous inhabitants are among the last people on earth to remain virtually untouched by modern civilization. These Islands are the paragon of pristine beauty.
In Port Blair, the capital, our guests can explore the remnants of the British Raj Headquarters, and visit the Cellular Jail, where Indian freedom fighters were held in the 18th Century during British colonial times - now preserved as a reminder to future generations of the Indian struggle for freedom.
The Andaman Islands are also a scuba diver's paradise characterised by fan corals very good underwater visibility, deep vertical wall dives, pinnacles, and coral gardens with huge barrel sponges and. This is also a good place to see whale sharks, manta rays, and dugong.
In April and May southern ocean swells begin to pulse through the Indian Ocean bringing surf to the west-facing Andaman coastline. First featured in Jack Johnson’s surf documentary Thicker Than Water the Andaman Islands are now a recognised world-class surfing destination with perfect, mostly empty waves.
For yacht charter in the Andaman Islands please enquire well in advance due to repositioning distance from Raja Laut's home base in Langkawi, Malaysia. For more details please Contact Us.
Mergui
Located to the north of Phuket, the Mergui Archipelago is one of the newest yacht charter destinations on earth having only been accessible to visiting yachts since 1995! Dense mountainous rainforests, white silica sand beaches and perfect natural bays providing ideal shelter for visiting yachts, characterize an archipelago of some 800 virtually uninhabited islands.
On the beaches macaques and monitor lizards can be seen feeding on crabs at low tide. Hornbills and sea eagles fly from the rainforest canopy, and the dense jungle is home to an amazing diversity of flora & fauna. Tracks have been found of the rare Asian rhinoceros and crocodiles have also been seen.
Underwater, the Mergui offers abundant coral reefs, fascinating topography and prolific fish and invertebrate life, including many unusual species, some of which are rarely encountered in Thai waters just 100 miles south.
For more information on South East Asia's various yacht charter destinations please visit our Maps page or Contact Us.
See our gallery for a selection of images from the Andaman Sea.