BLUE ANDAMAN
EXCLUSIVE
Phang Nga Province · Andaman Sea
Similan Islands Yacht Charter
Few places in Thailand reward a private yacht like the Similan Islands. This protected chain of nine granite islands, set far out in the Andaman off Phuket, offers powder-white beaches, water of astonishing clarity and world-class diving, all best savoured on an unhurried overnight voyage. Reach them by charter and you trade the day-tripper's rush for empty bays at sunrise.
Sailing time from Phuket
About 3 to 4 hours from Phuket by motor yacht, best undertaken as an overnight or multi-day voyage.
Best time to visit
The Similans are open only in the high season, roughly mid-October to mid-May, and close entirely for the monsoon. Aim for December to April for the calmest seas and best visibility, with February to April offering the best odds of manta rays and whale sharks.
Recommended vessels
Motor Yacht
What makes the Similans special
The Similans, Mu Ko Similan National Park, are a chain of nine granite islands scattered across the open Andaman roughly 80 kilometres northwest of Phuket. What sets them apart is the clarity of the water, often 20 to 30 metres of visibility, and the sculptural landscape of house-sized boulders tumbling into powder-white silica sand. Below the surface lie some of the healthiest reefs in the region, drawing divers from around the world. The park is strictly protected: several islands are off limits to landing to safeguard nesting turtles and recovering coral, and it closes entirely through the monsoon. Reaching it by private yacht turns a distant, fragile wilderness into an unhurried, deeply personal voyage.
The best anchorages, beaches and coves
Most voyages centre on Island 8, Ko Similan, where Donald Duck Bay shelters a broad crescent of pale sand beneath Sail Rock, the balancing boulder that crowns the island's famous viewpoint. The neighbouring bays offer calm overnight anchorages once the day boats have gone. Island 4, Ko Miang, holds the park headquarters and a pair of quiet beaches linked by a short forest trail. Island 9, Ko Bangu, marks the northern edge and the approach to celebrated dive sites. Because Islands 1, 2 and 3 remain closed to landing, the crowds concentrate on just a few shores, so a flexible yacht can time its stops for the golden early and late hours.
Things to do above and below the water
The Similans reward every kind of day on the water. Snorkellers can drop straight off the transom onto shallow coral gardens at Donald Duck Bay and along the sheltered eastern reefs, often sharing the water with hawksbill turtles and blacktip reef sharks. Divers come for legendary sites such as Elephant Head Rock, East of Eden, Christmas Point and Boulder City, where swim-throughs and drop-offs teem with life and manta rays glide past in season. Ashore, kayak among the granite boulders, walk the forest trail to Sail Rock viewpoint for sunrise, or simply claim an empty beach. Back aboard, your crew serves just-caught seafood and fragrant Thai dishes on deck as the light fades.
Why a private charter beats a crowded group tour
Most visitors see the Similans on a packed speedboat day tour from the mainland: a bouncy ninety-minute crossing, arrival in the mid-morning crush, two or three rushed hours sharing the sand with hundreds of others, then back before the light turns golden. A private yacht rewrites the day entirely. You cruise out from Phuket in comfort, anchor overnight, and wake to find the bays almost empty, the day boats still hours away on the mainland. Your itinerary bends to the conditions and your mood, dive sites are timed for slack water and soft light, and there are no queues for the beach, the viewpoint or lunch. It is the difference between visiting the Similans and truly experiencing them.
Choosing the right vessel and planning ahead
Because the Similans lie in open water three to four hours from Phuket, a motor yacht with genuine range and fuel capacity is the natural choice, cruising out comfortably and holding station on the park's mooring buoys overnight to protect the coral below. The islands sit within a national marine park, so an entrance fee applies per guest and overnight voyages require the correct permits, all of which your operator arranges in advance. There are no shops or fuel stops once you leave the mainland, so provisioning, water and safety planning matter. Blue Andaman Exclusive handles the paperwork, routing and timing so your only decision is which anchorage to wake up in.
Similan Islands highlights
- Nine protected granite islands with some of the Andaman's clearest water
- Powder-white silica beaches beneath Sail Rock and Donald Duck Bay
- World-class dive sites: Elephant Head Rock, East of Eden and Christmas Point
- Crowd-free dawn and dusk once the day boats return to the mainland
- Snorkelling with hawksbill turtles, reef sharks and, in season, manta rays
- Overnight anchorages timed for sunrise on near-empty beaches
- Chef-prepared seafood and Thai dishes served on deck at anchor
A sample day on the water
Depart Phuket in the early afternoon and cruise north across the Andaman, arriving at Island 8 as the last day boats leave and the bay falls quiet. Enjoy sundowners and dinner on deck, then wake at first light to snorkel Donald Duck Bay and hike to Sail Rock viewpoint before anyone else arrives. Spend the morning diving or drifting between the eastern reefs and the boulders off Island 9, with a beach picnic and kayaking through the afternoon. Cruise the northern sites at dusk, enjoy a second night at anchor, then make an unhurried passage back to Phuket the following day. The pace is entirely yours to set.
Yachts for Similan Islands
A selection from our fleet well suited to this route. See the full lineup on our charter fleet page.
Charter options for Similan Islands
Similan Islands charter questions
How long does it take to sail to the Similan Islands from Phuket?
The Similans lie some 80 kilometres northwest of Phuket, roughly three to four hours by motor yacht at a comfortable cruising speed. Because of the distance, and because the islands are at their most beautiful at dawn and dusk, they are best enjoyed as an overnight or multi-day charter rather than a long single day out. A vessel with good range makes the crossing effortless.
When is the best time to charter a yacht to the Similan Islands?
Mu Ko Similan National Park is open only during the high season, approximately mid-October to mid-May, and closes for the monsoon. The finest conditions come from December to April, when the sea is calm and underwater visibility is at its best. Divers hoping to see manta rays and whale sharks should aim for February to April, the prime window for these encounters.
Why choose a private charter over a group speedboat tour?
Group speedboat tours cross from the mainland and arrive in the mid-morning crowd, giving you only a few rushed hours ashore before returning. A private overnight charter lets you reach the quiet bays at dawn and dusk, set your own pace, dive at the best times and enjoy the beaches without the crowds, all in the comfort of your own yacht with a dedicated crew and chef.
Can you stay overnight in the Similan Islands?
Yes. The Similans sit within a national marine park, and private yachts may stay overnight on designated mooring buoys with the correct permits, which your operator arranges in advance. Overnight is really the whole point of a charter here: it gives you the islands at sunrise and sunset, long after the day boats have gone. A national park entrance fee also applies per guest.
What is there to do in the Similan Islands?
The Similans are famous for snorkelling and diving over vivid coral reefs, with sites such as Elephant Head Rock and East of Eden drawing divers worldwide. Above water you can kayak among the granite boulders, hike to Sail Rock viewpoint, laze on silica-sand beaches and watch for turtles and reef sharks. Aboard your yacht, the crew rounds out the day with fresh seafood and Thai cooking.
Ready to charter to Similan Islands?
Tell us your dates and group size and we will craft the perfect private itinerary.