From Thailand to Malaysia: Phuket — Koh Rok — Koh Lipe — Langkawi
A week in which the boat sails the whole Thai south of the Andaman Sea and crosses a border. From Yacht Haven marina in the north-east of Phuket, via Phi Phi and Koh Lanta to the national-park islands of Koh Rok and Tarutao, then to Koh Lipe, where you clear out of Thailand, and a last leg into Malaysia, to Langkawi. About 180 nm one way, including one day of 47 nm on open sea. A route for an experienced crew that is ready to spend half a day on border paperwork.
Day by day
Yacht Haven marina
- Phuket (Yacht Haven)8.171, 98.341
Boat handover at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina on the north-east coast of Phuket, fifteen minutes from the airport. At check-in make sure the fleet has given you everything for the border: ship's papers, crew list and written permission to hand the boat back in Malaysia. Provision generously — the next big shop is on Koh Lanta.
Yacht Haven → Koh Naka Noi
- Koh Naka Noi8.031, 98.455
A short first day south along the east coast of Phuket, on the edge of Phang Nga Bay. Anchor off the west beach of Koh Naka Noi; take the dinghy to the island's pearl farm, then swim and check the boat over before the open sea.
Koh Naka Noi → Phi Phi Don
- Phi Phi Don7.733, 98.770
Four hours south-east over open sea past the southern tip of Koh Yao Yai. Phi Phi Don is two bays separated by a sandy isthmus with a village on it; night on a buoy or at anchor off Tonsai, and at sunset the climb to the viewpoint above the isthmus.
Phi Phi Don → Phi Phi Leh → Koh Lanta
- Phi Phi Leh7.678, 98.766
- Koh Lanta (Kantiang)7.500, 99.062
- Saladan (Koh Lanta)town quay7.652, 99.035
Be at Phi Phi Leh by seven, before the day boats: Maya Bay from the sea and the Pileh lagoon. Then three hours south-east to Koh Lanta and Kantiang Bay at its southern end: in the north-east monsoon the west coast of the island is in the lee.
Koh Lanta → Koh Rok
- Koh Rok7.214, 99.068
South to Koh Rok, two uninhabited islands in a marine national park with the clearest water in the area. Park buoys in the channel between the islands, snorkelling straight off the boat, and a ranger station and beach on Koh Rok Nai.
Koh Rok → Tarutao
- Tarutao (Ao Pante)6.700, 99.640
- Koh Bulon Lemooring buoys6.836, 99.533
The longest day: 47 nm south-east over open sea, seven to eight hours under way, so leave at first light. Night at anchor in Ao Pante bay by the Tarutao park headquarters: by dinghy up the creek to Crocodile Cave, on foot up Toe Boo cliff for the sunset.
Tarutao → Koh Lipe
- Koh Lipe6.482, 99.303
- Koh Adangmooring buoys6.505, 99.295
West to Koh Lipe, a small white-sand island in the middle of Tarutao park. Anchor off Pattaya Beach on the south side; the office where you clear out of Thailand is right there. Dinner on the walking street in the evening, and snorkelling by dinghy at neighbouring Koh Adang and Koh Rawi.
Koh Lipe → Langkawi
- Langkawi (Telaga Harbour)6.367, 99.684
- Rebak Island Marinamarina6.296, 99.698
The last leg runs south-east past the southern tip of Tarutao and across the sea border to the north-west coast of Langkawi. At Telaga Harbour marina you clear into Malaysia and hand the boat back; night in the marina, fly out the next day.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Season: sail from November to April, in the north-east monsoon — dry, 10–15 knots of wind and calm water in the lee of the islands' west coasts. From May the south-west monsoon brings rain, westerly swell and squalls, and the Koh Rok and Tarutao parks are usually closed to visitors from mid-May to mid-October.
- Border: you clear out of Thailand on Koh Lipe, at the office by Pattaya Beach, which handles yachts only in the high season, roughly mid-October to mid-May; at other times it is Satun, a tidal port with a tricky approach. You clear into Malaysia on Langkawi: immigration and customs are in Telaga marina itself, the harbour master is in Kuah, and the marina can do it all for you as agent. Keep copies of every paper: park patrol boats do check.
- National parks: Koh Rok (Mu Koh Lanta park), Tarutao and the islands around Koh Lipe are marine national parks. A fee is paid per person to the rangers — keep the receipts. Never anchor on coral; use the park buoys or sand. Fishing is banned in the parks.
- One way: not every fleet allows the boat to be returned in another country, and it always costs extra, to cover bringing the boat back to Phuket; ask about the fee and the border papers when you book. Langkawi airport (LGK) is fifteen minutes by taxi from Telaga, with flights of about an hour to Kuala Lumpur and connections worldwide.
- Logistics: there are no marinas between Phuket and Langkawi, and every night is at anchor or on a buoy. Leave with full water and fuel; you can top up at the Saladan pier at the north end of Koh Lanta. From Phuket airport to Yacht Haven is about 12 km, 15–20 minutes by taxi.
How to get to the marina
- Phuket Yacht Haven Marina
- Phuket (HKT) — 12 km, 15 min by carKrabi (KBV) — 150 km, 2.5 h by car
15–30 min · €12–22 per car
The official taxi counter in arrivals, or Grab and Bolt from the Grab Pick-Up zone by Exit 8. The marina is in the north-east of the island; the road runs north past the airport to Laem Phrao.
15–30 min · €20–40 per car
A charter-company or marina driver with a sign in arrivals; a van takes up to eight people with luggage and drops you at the base office. Book it with the charter.
2–2.5 h · €60–90 per car
From Krabi, a pre-booked car via Phang Nga and the Sarasin Bridge; worth it when flights into Phuket are dear or badly timed.
You fly home from Langkawi (LGK), not Phuket: the airport is 10 km from Telaga marina, with several flights a day to Kuala Lumpur.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
When to go and what it costs in Thailand
Median € per berth per week from the agent's latest check, monohulls; each month's page has both boat types, a chart and boats departing that month.
Discounted boats in Thailand
All boats in Thailand
How long is the Phuket — Langkawi route and where do you stay overnight?
8 days and about 180 nautical miles one way, starting in Phuket and handing the boat back in Langkawi. Overnight stops in order: Phuket (Yacht Haven), Koh Naka Noi, Phi Phi Don, Koh Lanta (Kantiang), Koh Rok, Tarutao (Ao Pante), Koh Lipe. The longest leg is day 6, 47 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Phuket — Langkawi route?
The route starts and finishes at Phuket Yacht Haven Marina. The nearest airport is Phuket (HKT), 12 km away. Fastest: taxi, 15–30 min, €12–22 per car.
When is the best time to sail the Phuket — Langkawi route?
In Phuket and the Andaman Sea the season runs November to April, with the best weather December to February. May to October brings the south-west monsoon: rain and swell, cheaper boats. Samui is the reverse: dry in summer, wet in November–December. By the agent's latest checks (monohulls), the cheapest month is October: a median of €408 per berth per week. The most expensive is January, at €595. The most boats with 20% off or more are in October: 15%. The agent checks the current month and the next five; each month has its own page with the numbers.
How much does a yacht for this route cost?
A whole boat in Thailand for a week starts from €9,599 in the agent's current selection: the cheapest discounted week departing in the next three months. Prices per berth by month are higher up the page; the boats are under “All boats in Thailand”.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
