7 Days of sailing: Thailand

Day 1 — Phuket Sailing Charter Departure → Koh Nakha Yai

We board at Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket and get settled before casting off into the Andaman Sea. By evening we're anchored off Koh Nakha Yai, a quiet island with a coconut-fringed beach and almost no one else on it. First night on the water — the trip officially begins.

Day 2 — Phang Nga Bay Sailing

Phang Nga Bay is one of the most dramatic sailing destinations in Southeast Asia, and arriving by yacht is the only way to do it justice. We spend the day weaving through hundreds of limestone karst islands, ducking into sea caves, and exploring mangrove channels by kayak. There's nothing quite like it.

Day 3 — James Bond Island · Koh Panyee Floating Village

We sail to Ko Tapu — the iconic limestone pinnacle made famous by The Man with the Golden Gun — before heading to Koh Panyee for lunch. The entire village is built on stilts over the water and has been for generations. It's one of those places that doesn't feel real until you're standing in it.

Day 4 — Koh Hong Sea Kayaking · Ao Phang-nga National Park

We dinghy through a narrow sea tunnel that opens into a completely hidden lagoon at Koh Hong. The national park mooring here means no facilities, no day trippers, and no noise — just the kind of anchorage that reminds you why you came sailing in the first place.

Day 5 — Krabi Sailing · Railay Beach by Boat

Railay Beach is surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs on every side, which means the only way in is by water. We drop anchor and go ashore the right way — no water taxis, no crowds, just a short ride from the yacht to one of Thailand's most beautiful stretches of sand.

Day 6 — Phi Phi Islands · Maya Bay Snorkeling

We reach Maya Bay early, well before the day boats, and anchor in calm clear water for a morning snorkel over the coral reefs at Phi Phi Don. The bay was made famous by The Beach, and when it's quiet at first light, it's easy to see why. Afternoons here are hard to beat.

Day 7 — Koh Racha Yai Diving → Phuket

We make one last stop at Koh Racha Yai for a morning dive — the visibility and reef health here rank it among the best dive sites in the Phuket region. Then we point the bow north and sail back to base. Check out, debrief, decompression beers.