South East Asia

South East Asia offers charter guests the full spectrum of life-changing experiences at exceptional value: from deserted white sandy beaches to bustling and sophisticated cities.

The unique advantage of discovering each of the cruising grounds by charter yacht is that it allows unrivalled access to pockets of unexplored territories, some navigable only by boat, including areas that have been closed to foreign visitors for half a century or more that exist as if preserved in time.

Southeast Asia includes some of the most exotic and mysterious countries on earth. Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar (Burma) offer a myriad of charter yacht itineraries and options. For the real adventurers, Cambodia and Vietnam in the South China Sea are also starting to open up to charter yachts.

When to Go

The best time to visit countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and the Philippines largely depends upon dodging the crowds and avoiding the hottest, most humid weather.

The time period from November through February is generally the best one to visit Southeast Asia when drier, cooler weather prevails. Generally speaking, hot, humid weather characterizes Southeast Asia, which lies within the Tropics close to the equator, says Frommer's. Average temperatures for the region hover around 80 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The hottest time of year is March to June, with temperatures skyrocketing to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Wet monsoon rains fall from June to October in most countries, making it difficult to dive, surf, hike or sunbathe. There are exceptions, however; Malaysia and Indonesia experience their dry seasons from April to October.

Although relatively compact, Southeast Asia has a dizzying range of climates to match its varied mountains, beaches, rainforests and cities. Weather patterns vary wildly even within the same country. in Thailand, for instance, when it's the sunny dry season in Phuket, it's time for monsoons just 300km away on the island of Koh Samui.

Whether planning a week-long beach holiday or a three-month trek around the region, it's useful to know what weather to expect. The charter experts at Luxury Charter Group can assist with planning your perfect charter vacation in Asia, from matching you with the best yacht selection to suit your requirements to recommending the itinerary that satisfies your interests.

Getting to Southeast Asia
International flights from the US, Europe and Australia will come into the main airport hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong. There will also be direct flights from Europe to Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand, and Kuala Lumpar in Malaysia.

Within the region, there are dozens of national and regional airlines to choose from. Global leaders in aviation, including Emirates, Singapore Air and Qantas all fly into the area, while over the last few years, budget airlines have also grown tremendously, including Tiger Airways, Jetstar and Air Asia.

Most of the established tourist destinations will issue tourist visas on arrival. Some of the newer sailing regions such as Cambodia might require a visa application in advance.