On a single day at sea, you want it all: a beautiful passage, a swim off an island, lunch on deck and time to simply lie in the shade. How that day turns out depends a lot on where you set off.
Our private charters have two main starting points: Chalong Pier and Ao Po Grand Marina. Chalong is the convenient start for Phuket's southern islands. Ao Po opens the way into Phang Nga Bay, with its limestone cliffs and sea caves. Here is how to choose between them, based on your route, your time and where you are staying.
First, Picture Your Day at Sea
The easiest place to start is with the experiences you are booking the yacht for.
If you want plenty of swimming, looking at fish through a mask and stepping onto a sandy beach, look at routes from Chalong. If your list includes tall cliffs, a canoe trip and James Bond Island, Ao Po is the better start.
| What you want from the trip | Departure point to consider |
|---|---|
| Racha Yai, swimming and snorkelling | Chalong |
| Coral Island and beach time | Chalong |
| A sea trip to Maiton | Chalong |
| Cliffs and caves of Phang Nga Bay | Ao Po Grand |
| James Bond Island | Ao Po Grand |
| A short trip to the Naka islands | Ao Po Grand |
| Phi Phi | Choose together with the yacht type and charter length |
After that, you can choose a specific yacht and work out the drive from your hotel. Doing it in this order helps leave enough time for the reason you are going to sea.
Chalong: A Day Around the Southern Islands
Chalong Pier is on the south-east coast of Phuket. Our trips to Racha Yai, Coral Island and Maiton start here.
The southern routes suit people who like to spend most of each stop in the water. Approach the island, put on a mask, come back aboard for lunch and swim again afterwards: the day easily takes shape around the sea.
Racha Yai and Coral Island
For a full day, consider Racha Yai with a stop at Coral Island. People go to Racha for snorkelling and for bays where you want to linger. Coral Island adds the option of time on the beach.
It is best to choose the number of stops to suit your group's mood. If you want to swim for longer and have a relaxed lunch, two places are quite enough. The captain decides the specific bays and their order based on the conditions.
Sample plan: Chalong → Racha Yai → Coral Island → Chalong.
If You Only Have Half a Day
For a short charter from Chalong, Coral Island is worth a look. Because it is close, there is time left for the stop itself, for swimming and for relaxing on the yacht.
Instead of a long list of islands, you get one clear plan: head out to sea, spend a few hours off the shore and return at the agreed time. Going ashore and beach services are discussed separately.
Which Yacht
Our Lagoon 42 Silver Moon is based in Chalong. On board there is a saloon, a shaded cockpit and outdoor lounging areas. At anchor, you can alternate swimming with lunch and time on deck.
If you have already chosen the southern islands, Silver Moon is one of the options to start your charter search with.
Ao Po: Cliffs, Caves and Phang Nga Bay
Ao Po Grand Marina is on the north-east coast of Phuket, by Phang Nga Bay. Its location is convenient for trips to the islands of Panak and Hong and to James Bond Island.
Here you can spend a long time looking around while still under way. Limestone islands rise from the water, the next channel opens up behind a cliff, and at each stop you will want to switch to a canoe and see the shore up close.
How a Full Day Goes
The plan can be built around James Bond Island and one or more stops around Panak and Hong. Between passages there is time for lunch and rest on board.
Visiting the caves and inner lagoons may require local canoes with a guide. We agree in advance whether to include them; access also depends on the tide. The yacht itself stays outside, at a suitable anchorage.
This plan refers to Hong Island in Phang Nga Bay. Hong Island near Krabi is a different destination, and its route is planned separately.
What Snorkellers Should Know
The highlights of Phang Nga are the cliffs, the caves and the views from the water. If your priority is looking at reefs through a mask, say so when you book: we will compare this option with the southern islands.
That makes it easier to choose a day that matches your expectations before you even step aboard.
If You Want a Short Trip
From Ao Po, you can consider a trip to the nearest islands, such as Naka. This format suits time on board, a stop at an island and evening photos.
We plan a trip to James Bond Island on our sailing catamaran as a full day. For a four-hour trip, we choose a closer destination.
Which Yacht
Our Bali Catspace Siva sails from Ao Po Grand. She has a flybridge and a lounge area on the bow, so you can change places on board and see the islands from different angles.
Siva suits both day trips and overnight journeys. We choose the length and the plan together with you.
How Much Your Hotel Location Matters
The drive to the yacht is worth considering together with the route on the water.
For guests staying in Kata, Karon, Rawai or Nai Harn, Chalong is usually the convenient location. If you are staying in Bang Tao or Laguna and want to see Phang Nga Bay, consider Ao Po.
From Kamala and Patong, we compare both options based on your specific hotel and departure time. These resort areas are on the west coast, while both departure points are on the east side of the island.
We recommend sending the name of your hotel or villa in advance. That way we can plan a transfer and allow time for boarding. The drive depends on traffic; there is no single travel time for all hotels in one area.
If your dream is Racha Yai, choose a start that suits Racha. If you want to go to James Bond Island, plan around a route through the bay. The distance from your hotel helps fine-tune how the day is organised.
How Boarding Differs
At Ao Po Grand, yachts are moored at pontoons. You walk through the marina to the boarding point, so it is important to get the meeting point with our team in advance.
In Chalong, some yachts are moored out in the bay. Boarding may include a ride on a tender, a small boat that takes guests to the yacht. We confirm the meeting and boarding plan for your charter.
If you have small children with you, or someone finds it hard to step from one boat to another, let us know in advance. These details help us choose a comfortable option at the booking stage.
What If You Want to Go to Phi Phi?
For Phi Phi, the yacht's speed and the time at the islands matter most. Choosing between Chalong and Ao Po is not enough on its own.
For a day trip, we recommend considering a motor yacht or a power catamaran. A trip on a sailing catamaran is better planned with an overnight stay: the long passages then become part of the journey, and more time is left for the islands themselves.
If Phi Phi is your main wish, start your request with it. We will suggest a suitable yacht, departure point and length. Ideas for longer trips are collected in our article on 3-4 day routes from Phuket.
How to Choose Your Option
Picture the moment of the trip you are looking forward to most: a swim at Racha, the beach on Coral Island, a canoe trip among the cliffs or a few hours on deck with the people closest to you.
Add your date, the number of guests, the length you would like and the name of your hotel. If you are travelling with children, tell us their ages. That is enough to start choosing a yacht and a route.
At Star Sailing Club, we organise private charters for your group. We will help you combine your island wishes, a comfortable yacht and a convenient departure point.
