Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Futuna is one of the Pacific's most authentically remote island stops — a steep, jungle-covered volcanic island with pristine outer-reef diving, genuine Polynesian hospitality, and the kind of welcome that only a place rarely visited by yachts can offer.
Krabi's vertical limestone karst towers, hidden lagoons, world-famous Railay Beach, and the Phi Phi Islands make it one of the most visually spectacular cruising grounds in Asia — best explored at anchor, away from the day-tripper crowds that thin out after 4pm.
Phuket is Southeast Asia's premier yachting destination — four full-service marinas, superb Andaman Sea cruising, iconic Phang Nga Bay, world-class diving at the Similans, and the legendary King's Cup Regatta combine to make it an essential stop on any Asia circuit.
Ko Lipe is Thailand's southern frontier for yachts — a gateway island in the pristine Tarutao Marine National Park with excellent reef diving, idyllic white-sand beaches, a functioning immigration post for Thailand–Malaysia transits, and Langkawi just 12 nm south over the border.
Ko Samui and the Gulf of Thailand offer an alternative cruising season (June–September) to Phuket's Andaman, with the spectacular Ang Thong Marine National Park, laid-back anchorages, and the legendary Full Moon Party at neighbouring Ko Phangan making it a compelling destination in its own right.
The Mergui Archipelago is Asia's last great yachting frontier — 800 largely uninhabited islands with untouched reefs, Moken sea gypsies, world-class diving, and a wilderness atmosphere achievable only by the few yachts that navigate the permit process and make the journey.
Ha Long Bay is one of the world's great natural spectacles — 1,600 limestone karst islands in the Gulf of Tonkin, UNESCO-listed, with caves, floating villages, and hidden lagoons that reward exploration by a private yacht far beyond what the tourist junks can offer.
Da Nang is Vietnam's central coast hub for visiting yachts — a modern marina on the Han River, international airport, comprehensive provisioning, and the extraordinary Hoi An Ancient Town just 30 km away make it the most practically complete stop between the north and south of the country.
Hoi An is Vietnam's most beautiful and historically rich coastal destination — a glowing UNESCO Old Town, extraordinary food culture, and the nearby Cham Islands marine reserve make it unmissable for yachts cruising the Vietnamese coast. Best approached as a short-stay destination from Da Nang.
Chuuk Lagoon is the greatest wreck diving destination on Earth — over 60 Japanese WWII ships rest on the lagoon floor, now draped in coral and teeming with life. For the sailor-diver it is an unmissable pilgrimage, combining the drama of Pacific history with world-class diving in an enormous and beautiful natural lagoon.
