Andaman Sea

Thailand’s Andaman coast delivers a rare blend of easy line-of-sight cruising, dependable winter trade winds and showpiece anchorages under sheer limestone towers. From the marina hub of Phuket, sailors can fan out into the glassy labyrinth of Phang Nga Bay, push south to the Phi Phi islands and Krabi’s sculpted headlands, or make a bluewater hop northwest to the Similan Islands when the national park opens. Waters are warm year-round, passages are short for most routes, and support ashore is unusually strong for Southeast Asia. This guide sets out the sailing areas, seasonal winds, where to berth and anchor, and how to charter (and what paperwork you’ll need) so you can plan with confidence.