Asia sailing cruises

Thailand is very close to the equator but outside the cyclone zone of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which means calm waters and idyllic sailing almost all year round.

The dry season (November to April) is generally the best choice: there’s less chance of monsoonal rain and the balmy 30-degree days make for some wonderfully refreshing swims off the back of the boat.

During the wet season (May to October), winds are better for sailing, but heavy rains can often blow in unpredictably. 

When cruising the waters of the Andaman Sea, a twin-hulled catamaran is our vessel of choice. The size of the yacht may vary depending on the group, but the boat will usually have four twin-share cabins, 1-4 shared bathrooms, hot water showers, and flushable toilets. Most meals, including lunches and dinners, are included on our Asia sailing trips, prepared by our resident chef on board. Life on the yacht is designed to be flexible: take a turn as a skipper or kick back with a mai tai and an island sunset – it’s up to you.

You don’t have to lift a finger if you don’t want to (unless you need to turn the page of your novel or eat a grape). But if you’d like to learn the ropes, that’s fine too. Your expert skipper can teach you everything you’d like to know – from tying knots to unfurling the sails.

There’s about a 30/70 split between land-based and water-based activities on our Asia sailing trips. However, much of this depends on the weather conditions. There are usually at least a few hours each day spent exploring ports, trekking the surrounding areas or relaxing on beaches. Of course, depending on location, there will always be the chance to wine and dine at the local hot spots. 

Travellers from most nationalities need a visa to enter Thailand. Travellers with passports from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States are exempt from a tourist visa if they are travelling for 30 days or less. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry to Thailand.

If you plan on staying longer as a tourist or travelling for a reason such as study or business, you may need a visa. For more information, please visit the government of Thailand's website or the Essential Trip Information.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.

You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.

No vaccines are required in order to enter Thailand but some are recommended for protection against disease. Visit your doctor or travel clinic for advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance

When cruising the waters of the Andaman Sea, a twin-hulled catamaran is our vessel of choice. The yacht has two quad share cabins and, three twin/double cabins, five shared bathrooms with hot water showers and flushable toilets. Most meals, including lunches and dinners, are included on our Asia sailing trips, prepared by our resident chef on board. Life on the boat is designed to be flexible: take a turn as skipper or kick back with a mai tai and an island sunset – it’s up to you.