This page contains affiliate and referral links. If you charter, book, or buy through them we earn a referral fee, paid by the broker or platform, at no cost to you. We have not adjusted our rankings for the referral rate. Full breakdown on our how-we-make-money page.
A 30 to 40m yacht Phuket and the Andaman Sea in the 2026 November-to-April northeast-monsoon dry season prices at $72,000 to $115,000 per week, plus a 25 to 30 percent APA, takes 8 to 12 guests, and bases out of Yacht Haven Marina (Laem Phrao on the northern tip of Phuket), Ao Po Grand Marina (the eastern coast), or Royal Phuket Marina at Koh Kaew. The bracket inventory at peak is 8 to 14 yachts, the deepest in Southeast Asia outside of the Indonesian phinisi-and-explorer-yacht fleet, and the programme covers Phang Nga Bay (north of Phuket), the Phi Phi and Krabi area (east), the Similan and Surin Islands (northwest), and the Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar, the northern extension). The Thai charter calendar runs 1 November to 30 April, the peak is mid-December through mid-March, and the booking lead time is 6 to 12 months.
Why Phuket at this bracket
Phuket is Asia's most established yacht-charter base. The infrastructure (three full-service marinas, a ship-management cluster, the Phuket Boat Lagoon refit yard, and the in-country charter brokerage bench) supports the bracket better than any other Asian destination. The Thai 30 to 40m inventory mixes locally-owned motor yachts, sailing catamarans of 24 to 30m on the smaller end, and a regular winter overlay of Mediterranean yachts that reposition east in October.
The bracket sits at the sweet spot for the Phang Nga and Similan rotations. The cruising legs are short (Yacht Haven to Phang Nga 25nm, Phang Nga to Phi Phi 30nm, Phuket to Similan 60nm, Similan to Surin 80nm) and the anchorages all open up: the Phang Nga limestone-karst basin, Maya Bay (post-2022 limited-vessel re-opening), the Surin and Similan reef-protected coves, and the deeper Mergui anchorages for the cross-border itinerary. Below 30m the bracket leans into the bareboat and crewed-cat market; above 40m the Similan and Mergui anchorages tighten but the cross-border range opens up.
Phuket International (HKT) handles direct flights from Bangkok (multiple daily), Hong Kong, Singapore, Doha, Dubai, Munich, and Sydney. The HKT-to-Yacht-Haven drive is 35 minutes; the HKT-to-Ao-Po drive is 25 minutes; the HKT-to-Royal-Phuket-Marina drive is 30 minutes.
What the Andaman cruising area offers
Phang Nga Bay. North of Phuket, accessed from Yacht Haven or Ao Po. The limestone-karst basin with James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan), Koh Hong, Koh Panyee (the stilt-village), and Koh Yao Noi (the low-density anchorage centre). The marquee Thailand cruising region.
Phi Phi and Krabi. Southeast of Phuket. Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh (Maya Bay's limited-vessel re-opening under the 2022 Department of National Parks framework, advance permits required), Koh Hong Krabi, and the Railay-Tonsai limestone coast. Day-traffic from the Phuket and Krabi tour fleet is dense from 0930 to 1530 and the bracket's programme runs the anchorages on the bookends of the day.
Similan Islands. 60 to 80 kilometres northwest of Phuket. National park with limited-vessel mooring permits (the moorings are buoyed and the anchoring-on-coral prohibition is enforced). Christmas Point, Donald Duck Bay, and Honeymoon Bay are the marquee. The diving and snorkelling marquee.
Surin Islands. Further north, near the Myanmar maritime boundary. The Moken sea-gypsy village at Koh Surin and the marine biodiversity (manta-ray and whale-shark window February through April). Lower density than the Similans.
Mergui Archipelago. Myanmar. The 800-island cross-border extension. Requires Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism cruising permit, advance application, and a Myanmar liaison officer on board. The yacht works Mergui as a 10-night or 14-night extension from Phuket. Operationally heavier than the Thai-only week but the destination is among the most remote in Southeast Asia.
Krabi and Trang. Southeast. The bracket extends here as a 10-night-plus rotation; the Koh Lanta and Koh Rok-Koh Haa diving anchorages are the centres. Quieter than the Phi Phi-Phang Nga corridor.
Weekly rates from Phuket in 2026 season
Ranges below are for the peak window (mid-December through mid-March) before APA at 25 to 30 percent (Thai APA is moderate; Thailand-paid fuel is competitive, provisioning is strong, and the on-shore tax-free duty on charter operations keeps the spread efficient) and gratuity at 10 to 15 percent.
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht and motor-sailor (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 33m | $72K to $85K per week | $58K to $76K per week |
| 33 to 36m | $82K to $98K per week | $68K to $90K per week |
| 36 to 40m | $95K to $115K per week | $80K to $108K per week |
Christmas and New Year weeks run a 15 to 20 percent premium and book out 12 to 14 months ahead. The November and April shoulders trim 12 to 18 percent and pair with the cleanest weather windows (early November after the monsoon and late April before the southwest-monsoon onset). The Mergui Myanmar extension runs an additional $8K to $15K per charter for permits, liaison officer fee, and the customs-and-clearance overhead.
What this bracket does in Thailand
Quay berths. Yacht Haven, Ao Po, and Royal Phuket Marina all handle the bracket up to 40m on captain-coordinated bookings. The fuel and water on the marinas are reliable and the duty-free fuel programme for foreign-flagged yachts is the operational margin (apply at marina office).
Tenders. Two tenders is standard. The Phang Nga limestone-karst-rotation runs heavy tender traffic and a single-tender programme creates bottlenecks. A jet-sled, kayak set, and paddleboard set are the typical add-on packages.
At-anchor stabilizers. Useful but not critical. The Andaman is protected by the northeast monsoon during the season; the open-water swell on the Similan and Surin run is the rare exception. The Mergui anchorages are protected.
Provisioning. Excellent. Phuket carries full Asian dry stores, imported French and Italian wine and provisions, seafood from the Rassada landing, and the daily pickup at the Phuket Town fresh market. The Mergui leg should over-cater on dry stores; no significant Myanmar resupply outside Kawthaung.
Diving. Phuket and the Andaman are a marquee diving destination. The bracket runs on-board dive compressors as a standard spec; specify in the charter contract. The Similan dive sites (Christmas Point, Elephant Head Rock, Richelieu Rock) are the marquee.
Trip shapes that work
The 7-night Phuket round-trip (Phang Nga, Phi Phi, Similan). Embark Yacht Haven, two nights Phang Nga (Koh Hong, James Bond Island, Koh Panyee evening), two nights Phi Phi (Maya Bay under permit, Phi Phi Leh anchorages), two nights Similan (snorkel-and-dive concentration), return Yacht Haven. The standard Thailand charter week.
The 10-night Phuket and Mergui one-way. Embark Yacht Haven, full Phang Nga and Similan northbound rotation, cross-border at Kawthaung with Myanmar liaison officer joining, three nights Mergui (115 Island, Lampi Island, Pearl-Farm Island), return southbound or one-way disembark Kawthaung with charter helicopter back to Phuket. The deeper Andaman charter and the booking we recommend with the time and budget.
The 14-night Phuket and Trang one-way. Embark Yacht Haven, full northern rotation, return south through Phi Phi, work the Koh Lanta and Trang archipelago, finish at Krabi with disembark. The under-trafficked Thai-coast extension and the booking for the experienced Phuket-charter client.
Where this bracket falls short in Thailand
The pure-cultural-immersion week. The destination is yacht-and-dive-led, the cultural centre is Bangkok rather than the Andaman coast, and the Andaman-side cultural texture is light (Phuket Old Town and Koh Panyee are the stops). Charter clients who want a culture-led week should book Bangkok hotels and the Chiang Mai land combination rather than the bracket.
The May-to-October week. The southwest-monsoon window from May to October is wet and the Andaman-side anchorages are exposed. The Thai charter calendar is firm; we do not book the bracket November-departing on the wrong side of October.
The fully-deserted-anchorage Andaman week. The Phi Phi and Phang Nga day-traffic is real. Charter clients seeking solitude should weight the itinerary toward Mergui or push to Indonesia (Raja Ampat or Komodo) for the lower-density week.
What we passed on
Yachts without on-board dive compressors for any diving-led booking. Yachts running single-tender programmes for the Phang Nga corridor. Captains with no prior Andaman seasons; the limestone-karst pilotage rewards local-water experience.
Our pick
For two couples, seven nights in mid-January: a 33m motor yacht with 4 cabins and on-board dive compressor, embark Yacht Haven, Phang Nga and Similan rotation with the Maya Bay permit day and a Similan dive-day as the centrepieces. Budget $88K plus 28 percent APA, all-in roughly $128K. Booking lead time: 8 months.
For a family of 10, ten nights in mid-February: a 38m motor yacht with 5 cabins, on-board dive compressor, embark Yacht Haven, Mergui one-way with the Moken sea-gypsy day at Koh Surin on the northbound leg and the manta-ray window at the Surin moorings. Budget $145K plus 30 percent APA plus Mergui permit and liaison overhead, all-in roughly $220K. Booking lead time: 11 months.
What sits next to this page
The neighbouring siblings are 30-40m Raja Ampat, 30-40m Komodo, 30-40m Maldives, and 30-40m Seychelles. For destination editorial see Charter Maldives and Best expedition yachts 2026. For the planning logic see Plan charter itinerary and Yacht charter cost by size.
Land-side context is on VillasForKings Phuket and HotelsForKings Phuket.