Sail Phuket to Ko Phi Phi (Original)

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Phuket, arguably Thailand’s best known island and certainly its largest. Phuket is an island of modern pizzazz mixed with sunshine exotica. It has excellent beaches and a huge array of restaurants, hotels, bars and shopping, so consider arriving a couple of days early to check it out. Be ready to board and meet your skipper and other group members at 1pm then, after an orientation of the yacht, begin your journey across the Andaman Sea with a sail towards Koh Rang Yai Island. This the perfect place to ease into life on board. The boat will drop anchor in front of a private beach and there'll be plenty of time for a dip in the water, a relaxing dinner on board and a beautiful sunset.

Enjoy breakfast onboard then begin your exploration by cruising into the famous Phang Nga Bay, the stunning backdrop to many a film and perhaps one of Thailand's most recognisable gems, a landscape of sheer limestone karsts that jut dramatically out of the green water. Explore the remote islands that dot the sea and enjoy lunch in Koh Roi, then head to Koh Phanak and grab a kayak to paddle through the bays and canyons, discovering inlets, caves, hidden lagoons and the local wildlife. Next up is an opportunity to explore the underwater world as you snorkel off the beach at Koh Pak Bia, then cruise through to an isolated spot in the bay's north-east between Koh Klui and Koh Chang. Spend the evening slumped in a bean bag surrounded by turquoise blue water, and take a break from reading, eating and drinking to watch the sun dip beneath the waves.

Halfway between the island of Koh Yao Noi and Krabi, Koh Hong is a true desert island destination, uninhabited except for gibbons, birds, and lizards, where two powdery white sand beaches line twin bays. The name translates to ‘Room’, and this might refer to the tranquil lagoon hidden inside the island. Here you’ll take out the dinghy or a kayak and explore the sea caves before stopping on the quintessential image of a tropical beach for swimming and snorkelling. Strap on a mask and mingle with a wealth of curious marine life, or perhaps chill out on deck with a good book and a bowl of fresh fruit. Your sailing day ends beachside in Railay, a paradise with sheer-sided limestone mountains around the beach. Take in a stunning sunset then have dinner ashore amid the cluster of lively restaurants and bars. Back on the boat you can choose to spend the final night of this fabulously relaxing Thailand sailing adventure sleeping out on the deck under the stars.

Spend an early morning on Railay Beach (before everyone arrives), then sail through the Chicken Islands group to the most talked about place in Thailand – Koh Phi Phi. For many, this is the iconic image of the country – two islands connected by a great arc of pure white sand, striking limestone cliffs, and unbelievably inviting water. Travellers are drawn to the island thanks to its colourful marine life, shops, bars, restaurants and fire spectacles on the beach. Try to spot schools of brightly coloured fish off the coast of Phi Phi before sailing on to Phi Phi Don, where you’ll dock by approximately 12 noon. This is where this Andaman seafaring odyssey comes to an end, and afterwards you're free to explore all that Phi Phi has to offer or to continue your onward journey. **Got extra time? For a more encompassing sailing experience why not consider our 7 day Phuket Sailing Adventure? For more information enter trip code TSSZC**