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| Areas & Islands |
With hundreds of islands, the surroundings of Phuket are tremendously attractive for sailing.
The area is safe, big enough to have the choice of destinations, wether to cruise just few days or longer. It is so amazing that once you start sailing around, you want to come back and explore more islands, beaches, more lagoons, corals etc...
Latitude 8 yachts’ team can assist in formulating some different itineraries according to the number of days, the season, and the crew members (children are welcome in this area), the experience of the skipper etc... |
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all maps from Andaman Sea Pilot by the courtesy of Image Asia
South of Phuket
Sailing a few miles from Chalong Bay to Koh Haew, known as Coral Island that has two nice beaches with a restaurant and a nice snorkelling area.
Further South is the famous Racha Island, well known from divers with a variety of dive spots, also ideal for snorkelling.
Racha Yai offers a secluded bay with moorings and easy access to the main beach.
The uninhabited Racha Noi is ideal for a picnic on the beach to play the Robinson. |
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East coast of Phuket
The East coast of Phuket is easy to reach and ideal for a short stays. Within a few miles, the white sandy beaches of Koh Rang and Koh Naka are ideal starting points to familiarize you with this tropical paradise.
Koh Kai Nok is a famous destination for snorkelling. It is close to the biggest island of the Bay, Koh Yao Yai that is still maintains their traditional fishing villages.
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PhangNga Bay
This bay is as famous as the Halong one in Vietnam. Its limestone rocks emerging from the sea like a swimming dragon are a fantastic playground for sailers and nature lovers. Most of the islands are uninhabited, apart from sea eagles and hornbills, macaques and other wild life.
At the north of the bay, where the famous James Bond Island is located, the sea is rather shallow so sailing on a catamaran is particularly appreciated while visiting the floating Muslim village, Koh Panyi, the mangroves and anchorage next to deserted beaches.
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Around PhiPhi Islands
This group of Islands is worth to spend few days exploring. The busy PhiPhi Don with hundreds of tourists a day is still attractive with shops, restaurants, discos and some beautiful beaches as well. On the North West side, Monkey beach offers a quiet mooring and... monkeys.
Bamboo Island is a round island with... pine trees and a forest of corals.
PhiPhi Le is the famous spot where the movie "the Beach" had been made. No sharks but a nice spot for snorkellling and a white sandy "Maya Beach".
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Around Krabi
The “Bileh “ group on the eastern part of Koh Yao Noi is worth spending at least one day and one night sailing around: Koh Pak Bia has a white beach between 2 rocks at low tide, Koh Hong Krabi has one of the most beautiful lagoons of the whole area with cliffs and mangroves and is a part of a National Park.
Raileh is on the mainland but accessible only by boat: the peninsula shelters some resorts and restaurants, 3 beautiful beaches, cliffs and caves to explore.
The Koh Dam group has a secure anchorage for a quiet night and a shallow coral reef to snorkel around. |
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Southern Islands
From Koh Lanta to Tarutao, the area covers more than 40 islands and a huge national park. Most of the islands are uninhabited apart from Koh Lanta that has resorts and beaches.
Koh Ha Yai is wonderful for snorkeling, as well as Rok Nok. Koh Muk shelters a secluded lagoon in its heart, accessible with dinghy or swimming through the cave...
Do not miss the Butang group with its astonishing islands and Tarutao, on the way to Malaysia. |
Similan and Surin Islands
The Surin group is the last one before the Burmese border: these islands are very quiet, with a Sea Gypsy village, park rangers and crystal waters with coral reefs.
Koh Tachai located between Surin and Similan is a good day stop.
The Similan Islands are famous world wide for diving with an abundance of corals and fish, including mantas and sharks. Beautiful spots for snorkelling and nice desert beaches. The round rocks are totally different from the landscape of PhangNga Bay. The group is under National Park control and closed during the monsoon season. |
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Vocabulary in Thai: |
Koh means island. It is commonly used to name the islands: eg Koh Racha
Ao is a bay: eg Ao Po
Hong is a room and in that case, means a lagoon
Tham is a cave
Laem is a cape: eg Laem Nang |
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