Luxury Thailand Voyages

Forty-two emerald islands rise sheer from the Gulf of Thailand, and there is no pier here, only anchorages that SeaDream III was built for. Kayak from the swim platform to the hidden Emerald Lagoon, climb to the panoramic viewpoint that inspired the novel The Beach, then snorkel turquoise shallows and picnic on a sandbar all your own. A day of raw natural drama, reachable only by those who arrive by sea. Swimming and non-motorized craft only here; motorized watersports need the local authority's permission. Discover with SeaDream.

From the port, plunge into the glorious chaos of the City of Angels. Watch dawn gild the spires of the Grand Palace and the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, then trade tuk-tuks for a long-tail boat threading the khlongs to the flower and fruit markets. As day falls, a rooftop bar and a private table of som tam, massaman and mango sticky rice await. With overnights aboard, you savor Bangkok's cool evenings without ever repacking a bag.

Thailand's original royal retreat trades big-city buzz for genteel seaside charm. Stroll the palm-lined beach and the atmospheric old fishing-jetty cafes, browse the artful Cicada day market, or tour Monsoon Valley's improbable tropical vineyards with a chilled glass in hand. It is refined, unhurried Thailand, a graceful match for an intimate yacht that favors the roads less travelled. Discover with SeaDream.

Thailand's fourth-largest island has stayed deliberately undeveloped, no high-rise resorts, no real nightlife, just clear water, powder sand and a rainforest interior threaded with waterfalls. Fishing villages built on stilts over the water at Bang Bao give a sense of a slower, more traditional Gulf of Thailand life. About as close to an untouched Thai island as still exists within reach of the mainland.

Samui greets you with swaying coconut palms and the serene golden gaze of the Big Buddha above the bay. Laze on Chaweng's fine sand, browse Fisherman's Village at Bophut where old teak shophouses become a Friday walking street, or retreat to a hilltop spa for a traditional Thai massage. Chase jungle waterfalls inland, then let SeaDream's marina turn the warm Gulf into your private playground.

A tiny island that built its entire reputation on diving, some of the cheapest PADI certification anywhere in the world drew a generation of backpackers here, and the reefs that made it famous are still genuinely excellent. Sail Rock, a submerged pinnacle a short boat ride offshore, remains one of the Gulf of Thailand's best dive sites for spotting whale sharks in season. A laid-back, castaway atmosphere persists even as the island has grown more comfortable. Thailand's diving capital, in miniature.

Thailand's grande dame of the Andaman is best seen from the water. Long-tail past the towering limestone stacks of Phang Nga Bay, kayak into hidden hongs, and dive the coral gardens of the Similans, then dine on fiery tom yum and grilled seafood at a beach shack come dusk. Rather than the crowded main pier, SeaDream anchors off quieter shores and drops the marina so you swim and paddle in bathwater seas before an overnight at anchor.