A week from Ao Po: the Similans and Phuket's west coast
The Similan Islands are granite boulders on white sand some forty-odd miles off Phuket, and one of the best places in the Andaman Sea for a mask and snorkel. Getting there is the event of the week: two 44 nm crossings out of sight of land, six to seven hours each. The rest of the loop is short legs along Phuket's west coast with nights at anchor. About 170 nm; a route for a crew that already has some open-sea experience.
Day by day
Ao Po Grand Marina
- Ao Po Grand Marina8.077, 98.435
Take over the yacht after 17:00 at Ao Po Grand Marina on the north-east coast of Phuket, forty minutes from the airport. Provision generously and fill the water tanks to the brim: until you are back on Phuket there are no shops or fuel stations on the route.
Ao Po → Nai Harn
- Nai Harn7.772, 98.304
The first sailing day, south around Cape Panwa and Cape Promthep. A good day to get to know the boat: hoisting and dropping sail, taking in a reef, a man-overboard drill. Spend the night at anchor in Nai Harn bay on the southern tip of the island.
Nai Harn → Bang Tao
- Bang Tao8.000, 98.290
Up the west coast past Kata and Patong. Bang Tao is a long beach and the last stop before the open sea: in the evening check the forecast, plot the course to the Similans and set tomorrow's watches.
Bang Tao → Koh Miang (Similan)
- Koh Miang8.570, 97.640
The crossing of the week: 44 nm north-west out of sight of land, six to seven hours. Leave at dawn so you arrive in daylight, and plot your position every hour. The Similans rise from the sea as granite boulders above white sand; the night is off Koh Miang, where the park's ranger station stands.
The Similan Islands
- Koh Similan8.655, 97.641
- Koh Miang8.570, 97.640
A day inside the park. In the morning, Donald Duck Bay on Koh Similan and the path up to Sail Rock, the archipelago's best-known view. Then the reefs of the neighbouring islands for snorkelling, with turtles over the sand. A second night off Koh Miang.
Koh Miang → Bang Tao
- Bang Tao8.000, 98.290
The return crossing, again from first light, on a course you now know. By late afternoon Phuket rises on the horizon; a last swim and a night at anchor off Bang Tao.
Bang Tao → Ao Po
- Promthep Cape7.758, 98.306
- Ao Po Grand Marina8.077, 98.435
Round the southern tip of Phuket at Promthep Cape: the northern channel is spanned by the Sarasin bridge and closed to a mast. Then up the east coast into Ao Po Grand Marina by evening: fuel and handover. A night aboard in the marina, flight home 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: from November to April the north-east monsoon brings dry weather, a steady breeze and a calm sea off the west coast; the best months are December to March. From mid-May to mid-October the Similan national park is closed, and the south-west monsoon makes the Andaman Sea hard going.
- Weather: go out to the Similans only on a settled forecast. If you don't have one, wait a day on the west coast and go the next morning; at worst the week becomes a loop around Phuket, with Racha Noi and Koh Yao instead of the Similans.
- National park: entry is paid, with a fee for every person on board — ask the base how it is collected. Anchors never go down on coral, fishing inside the park is prohibited and some beaches are closed to landing. Not every fleet lets a bareboat go to the Similans — check the cruising area when you book.
- Logistics: Ao Po Grand Marina is about 30 km from Phuket airport (HKT), forty minutes by taxi. Leave the marina with full fuel and water tanks and all your provisions — there is nowhere to top up in the Similans.
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 — Similan route and where do you stay overnight?
7 days and about 170 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Phuket. Overnight stops in order: Ao Po Grand Marina, Nai Harn, Bang Tao, Koh Miang, Koh Miang, Bang Tao. The longest leg is day 4, 44 nm.
When is the best time to sail the Phuket — Similan 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).
