Itinerary

This page will give you some insight into each location we plan to sail to and includes notes on considerations for the conditions and the course we may sail between islands. We will work with Moorings to firm up the schedule and course in the weeks prior to the sail, taking into account expected conditions and any changes to the local Covid regulations. It is possible the exact course and schedule may not be set until the chart briefing with Moorings at the charter base, however we do our best to go into the week with a high degree of confidence in our itinerary. Skippers and First Mates will meet daily during the cruise to agree on the float plan for the coming day, to take into consideration any change in conditions or circumstance.

For all ports of call consult the Cruising Guide onboard your yacht for more options to do and see ashore.

The itinerary is subject to change right up to and during the cruise, based on discussion with Skippers and the charter company, the weather and sea conditions expected each day and any changes to local Covid regulations.

Check back here often for updates to the itinerary. All Skippers and First Mates must familiarize themselves with these pilot notes which address approaches, hazards and challenges associated with each of our ports of calls.

This charter guide, provided by Moorings, complements the Chart Briefing video that is linked below and contains a wealth of information about travelling and cruising in Thailand, including notes on currency, renting cars, supermarket shopping, as well as specific information about the various anchorages we will stop at during the Flotilla, guidance on grounding, health and safety when underway and emergency contact information.

Note that there are more locations covered than we have the time to visit so not all places mentioned will be in our itinerary. We will however be sure to stop at all the ‘must see’ spots that our cruising grounds have to offer. Some of the details for our location stops may have been updated since the eGuide was published. We’ll get the latest information during the onsite chart briefing.

Download the Charter Guide and keep it handy on your phone or tablet:

Charter eGuide

All sailors must watch the Chart Briefing video from Moorings to be aware of obstructions, shallow water and other dangers along our sailing route:

Moorings Chart Briefing

Click to open the Chart Briefing in a new window. You will need your Contract Number from your Skipper.

Last updated 09/30/2024. Please regard this itinerary as a work in progress. We may add or delete some items, or move some things around in the weeks leading up to the trip. Casual boat parties are guaranteed during the week and stay tuned for details of the race!

Itinerary outline

Sailors who decide to arrive a day (or more) early are free to explore and make their own dinner arrangements. In the days leading up to the trip you may like to coordinate with other sailors for some fun land adventures on arrival! Please respect and obey any locally enforced requirements for wearing a mask and other hygiene measures a business deems necessary.

Prior to boarding our boats

Saturday February 22nd

Ao Po Grand Marina

Ko Hong Island Group

  • Taxi to Moorings and Sunsail Base at Ao Po Grand Marina

  • Take possession of boats

  • Chart Briefing for Skippers and First Mates

    • We are working with Moorings and Sunsail to try to accomplish the chart and boat briefings early the same day. If we are able to depart the dock by 3pm we have a short sail planned for Saturday evening. If not we will spend the the evening aboard our boats in the marina.

  • Provision boats

  • The area and yacht briefings take up to an hour each and shopping for provisions will take around 3 hours including taxi transfers and stowage.

  • For those not provisioning there are a number of ways to enjoy the day until the boat is ready:

    • Enjoy a leisurely lunch, and a swim in the rim flow pool in The Port of Call restaurant, open until 7pm

    • Take a shore-based tour. Moorings can help organize trips like a visit to the elephant or gibbon sanctuary

    • Visit Bang Pae Waterfall (only 15 minutes by taxi)

    • Check out the gym or the health spa in the Ao Po Marina

  • If we are able to leave the marina before 3pm we will sail approx 10 NM (2 hours) to Ko Hong and anchor there for the night.

    • Yachts must be anchored by 5.30pm

    • Ko Hong has the biggest hong (Thai for “room”) in Phang Nga bay. The hong, which gives the island its name, is a stunningly beautiful, enclosed pool with a large chimney opening to the sky. Once inside, you will find perfect opportunities for photography, relaxing or exploring. The main hong is accessible by dinghy at any state of the tide but is best visited at high tide. Leading from the west side of the main hong is a small tunnel to another two smaller hongs. You can only enter them by sea kayak at mid-tide.

  • Cook aboard if we have departed the marina, eat ashore if we elect to stay in the marina the first night

Sunday February 23rd

Ko Phing Kan (James Bond Island)

  • Depart early and make way for Ko Phing Kan (James Bond Island), best visited before 10.30am to avoid the crowds of tourists but you can take as long as you like on the island

    • Featured in “The Man With The Golden Gun”

    • Stunning lagoon and some interesting rock formations

    • The beach becomes covered with stalls selling tourist gifts.

  • Leave Ko Phing Kam for the approx 10 NM sail to Ko Roi for our overnight anchorage

    • Ashore there are two sandy beaches, no facilities

    • A pretty hong is accessible from the northwest beach by foot at low tide, in the dinghy at mid-tide and by swimming in at all but the highest tides. Strong footwear is recommended

    • This island marks the limit of VHF radio communication with Phuket, before Koh Yao Noi masks it.

  • Cook dinner aboard your boats; this helps with crew bonding and getting to know each other on a deeper level for that ‘team’ feeling.

Monday February 24th

Rai Le Beach and Tham Phra Nang

Princess Cave

Drunken Water Bay, looking across the peninsula towards Rai Le Beach

  • 22 NM sail to Rai Li Beach, Krabi

  • Though busy during the day with noisy long tail traffic, Rai Le is still the perfect anchorage for an overnight stay. Do not miss the sunset from here!

    • The bay has spectacular stacks of rock forming headlands to the north and south

    • In the shade of the coconut palms fringing the beach, restaurants and bungalows to the north tend to be frequented by educated budget travellers, contributing to the easygoing ambiance

    • The south, right hand beach has more up-market resorts like the Rai Le Bay Resort and Spa

    • A reef, easily seen in the clear waters and a magnet for snorkellers, extends into the bay at the southern end of the beach

    • Walk along the headland at low tide, and find several caves, fissures and spectacular overhangs

  • Just around the corner from the tall stack which forms Koh Nang is the most strikingly attractive palm-fringed bay in the region, Tham Phra Nang

    • Between Koh Nang and the beach is a colorful coral reef, excellent for snorkeling

    • The famous ‘Princess Cave’, with a colorful phallic shrine inside, is at the south end of the beach

    • Lots of rocky overhangs and outcrops make for great exploring

    • Behind the beach there is the chance to splash out on a drink at one of the most luxurious (and expensive) resorts in Thailand, Rayavadee Resort, set in a spectacular coconut-grove and where The Hangover Part 2 was filmed

  • Further around the headland to the east is Ao Nam Mao or Drunken Water Bay (East Rai Le)

    • On the path from Tham Phra Nang to East Rai Lei is the track to the Pool Cave. Although there are ropes to assist with the almost vertical climb, this is not for the faint-hearted or the unfit

  • Roads connect Rai Le Beach and Drunken Water Bay via a mish-mash of supermarkets, restaurants and lively bars making uip the middle ground between the bays

  • Re-provision food stocks here if needed

  • Eat dinner ashore

Tuesday February 25th

Kantiang Bay

Fire dancing show at Why Not bar

  • Boats that need to refill water tanks should depart early for the Krabi Boat Lagoon, to replenish water before continuing on to Ko Lanta

    • Essential to enter the Boat Lagoon at high tide only (9.36am)

  • Make way for an approx 35 NM sail to Kantiang Bay, Ko Lanta. Widely regarded as one of Thailand’s best beach’s

    • Ashore at the south end of the bay is the 5 star Pimalai Resort and Spa. You can dine in the excellent restaurant but hotel guests will have priority

    • At the northern end of the bay is the popular “Why Not” bar which has live music, and you can order ice. A firm favorite with locals and visitors alike, the helpful staff here offer great service with a smile. Without doubt the best venue on this beach

    • A bit further north, at the very end of the beach, is a tidal creek running to a small waterfall. Also at the northern end is the Baan Lanta Resort and Spa which has a good restaurant with nightly fresh seafood BBQ. There is also a tour agent who can organize elephant treks and the Scubafish Dive Center to organize dive trips.

  • Cook aboard or eat ashore

  • Enjoy a fire dancing show after dinner, right on the beach at Why Not bar

Wednesday February 26th

Ko Phi Phi Don, with Ton Sai Bay on the left

  • 23 NM sail to Ton Sai Bay, Ko Phi Phi Don

  • We will spend two nights at this location. The  tourist town of Ton Sai has everything you could ever want

    • There are a few quiet bars and restaurants on the south side

    • For live  music, head into the center of town to the Rolling Stone Bar

    • Re-provisioning is best done early in the morning from the well-stocked market next to the ice factory, after a quick breakfast in one of the  bakeries.

    • Option to refill water tanks at the ‘water pontoon’

  • Eat ashore or cook aboard

  • Boat Party! (Theme TBD)

Thursday February 27th

Ko Phi Phi Le, with Ko Phi Phi Don in the background

Maya Bay

  • Play day in the Phi Phi islands!

    • Go early if shopping at the market (be done by 10am or there’ll be nothing left)

    • Relax on a beach

    • Explore the town

    • Great snorkeling at the back of Yongkasem beach, where lush foliage provides shade for picnics, and is home to a large tribe of crab-eating macaques

    • Ao Lohdalum also has excellent snorkelling and a wonderful swim-through cave on the west headland

    • Organize a scuba diving trip

    • Take a Long Tail boat trip to Phi Phi Le and visit the must see Maya Bay, made famous in the movie, ‘The Beach’

    • Also on Phi Phi Le lies the spectacular coral filled Hong Pileh, on the east side of the island. Again, best visited by Long Tail excursion from Ton Sai as it is extremely difficult to anchor here.

  • Skipper Appreciation Dinner and After Party (location TBD)

Friday February 28th

Ko Rang Yai beach and floating pearl farm

  • 26 NM sail to the west side of Ko Rang Yai, a remarkably beautiful anchorage with a lovely beach

    • Visit the floating pearl farm just off the sandy beach

    • Ashore is a recreational center with several activities and outdoor showers

      • Canoes, mountain bikes and trails, mini golf and snorkeling gear for hire

    • The restaurant is open for lunch only

  • Last-night cocktail party on the beach

  • Cook dinner aboard to use up provisions

Saturday March 1st

Ao Po Grand Marina

  • 8 NM sail back to Moorings Base at Ao Po Grand Marina. Must return by 9am latest

    • Depart Rose Island by 7am

    • Empty all holding tanks and bilges before returning to base

    • Use VHF channel 72 to call Moorings base from the outer waypoint to get instructions and head towards the fuel dock. A Moorings captain will meet your yacht there and drive the yacht in to the dock after refueling.

    • Must be off boats by 10am latest

  • Crew with flights head to the airport

  • Crew with onward travel plans follow their own schedule