Yacht Charters on Phuket's Holiday Dates

Three dates a year put Phuket's celebrations on the water: New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year and Loy Krathong. On each of them a private yacht is the best seat there is — and on each of them the boats go early. The price is the same as any other day of that season. What changes is availability.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day — 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027

Fireworks go up along the west coast at midnight, and the biggest display is over Patong. From the water you see all of it at once: the whole bay lit, without the crowd on the beach. A New Year's Eve charter is an evening one — departure late afternoon, dinner aboard, anchored off Patong for midnight, back after one.

New Year's Day is the quietest day on the water in the whole peak season: everyone else is asleep. A full-day charter on 1 January reaches anchorages that are crowded every other day of the holidays.

Both dates fall inside the peak season, which starts on 20 December and ends between 10 and 20 January depending on the boat. Peak rates apply; there is no additional New Year premium.

Dinner aboard on New Year's Eve is arranged on our own yachts, priced on request per menu.

Chinese New Year — 6 February 2027

Phuket has a large Thai-Chinese community and the town celebrates for several days: lion dances, red lanterns, temple ceremonies. Chinese New Year 2027 begins on Saturday 6 February and opens the Year of the Goat. On the water it is a high-demand week — families and groups from across Asia travel for it — and February is also the middle of the settled season, with the flattest water of the year.

Charters on these dates are ordinary full-day or half-day charters at high-season rates. Book several weeks ahead; the larger yachts are the first to go.

Loy Krathong — 25 November 2026

On the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, Thailand floats krathong — small baskets of banana leaf, flowers and a candle — on rivers and the sea, to let the year's troubles drift away. On Phuket the beaches and piers fill after dark. In 2026 Loy Krathong falls on Wednesday 25 November.

From a yacht it is a different festival: you float your own krathong from the swimming platform in a bay away from the crowd, and watch the lights on the shore from the water. It is an evening charter, like New Year — departure at sunset, anchored for the ceremony, back late. November is high season and rates are high-season rates.

Krathong for every guest are made aboard — you do not need to bring anything.

Where do you anchor for the fireworks?

Off Patong, in the bay, far enough out to be clear of the tour boats and close enough that the display fills the sky rather than the horizon. The captain chooses the exact spot on the night by wind and by how many boats are already there — leaving Chalong around 19:00 puts you in position with two hours to spare. From Ao Po the run around the island is longer, which is why for New Year's Eve the two Chalong yachts are the natural choice and Beluga 88 is the one for a quieter New Year's Day in Phang Nga Bay.

How to plan the week around the date

The holiday charter is one evening or one day. The rest of the stay is ordinary high-season sea, and the anchorages that are packed on the holiday itself are empty two days later. A pattern that works: the celebration charter on the date, a full day to the islands two or three days after, when the crowds have gone home. Book both together — the boat you like is easier to hold for two dates than to find twice.

What does a holiday charter cost?

The same as any charter of that boat in that season. December 31 and January 1 are peak dates; Chinese New Year and Loy Krathong are high-season dates. From the fleet: speedboats from ฿21,000, motor yachts from ฿33,900, luxury yachts from ฿214,000 per day. Our own yachts on a peak-season full day: Ferretti 80 Sofia from ฿180,000, Technema 89 Say Yes from ฿180,000, Beluga 88 from ฿299,600. Full tables by boat and season.

How do I book a holiday date?

Early. For New Year's Eve the boats are typically gone by October; for Chinese New Year and Loy Krathong, weeks ahead. A 50 % deposit confirms the booking, the balance is paid on the day — the same terms as any other date. Cancellation 30 days or more before: full refund of the deposit; 29 days or less: not refunded. If the Thai Marine Department closes the port on the day, a full refund or a new date, your choice.

Which yachts?

For a New Year's Eve evening with dinner and a view of the fireworks, our own three: Technema 89 Say Yes for up to 30, Ferretti 80 Sofia for up to 25, both from Chalong on the west side of the fireworks; Beluga 88 for up to 22 from Ao Po. For a full day on 1 January or a Chinese New Year island day, anything in the catalogue that is still free. Celebrations on a yacht covers what can be arranged aboard.