# True cost of a week's yacht or catamaran charter in Thailand

> Thailand: all-in cost of a week's catamaran charter for 4, 6 or 8 people, cheapest vs peak month, skipper, fuel, marina, taxes, deposit. Sourced.

URL: https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/thailand/
Last updated: 2026-10-28
Author: Catamaran Index editorial team

12 Knots' average weekly catamaran price in Thailand runs from €4,996 in August to €10,235 in January, which with food at €20–40 a day comes to €973–1,113 per person for 6 people in August (our arithmetic). Fuel, marina fees, mandatory extras and a Thailand-specific skipper rate are not verified, so the real total is higher; Similan national park entry is THB 500 per foreign adult (secondary source).

*Checked 28 Oct 2026. Charter prices are 12 Knots' asking prices (mix of bareboat and crewed, all sizes); extras are The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures; taxes and fees are labelled official, secondary or not verified ([how to read the labels](#labels)). Totals are our arithmetic and exclude flights, drinks and the refundable deposit.*

## How much does a week's charter in Thailand really cost?

| People | August total | Per person | January total | Per person |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---:|
| 4 people, bareboat | €5,556–6,116 | €1,389–1,529 | €10,795–11,355 | €2,699–2,839 |
| 6 people, bareboat | €5,836–6,676 | €973–1,113 | €11,075–11,915 | €1,846–1,986 |
| 8 people, bareboat | €6,116–7,236 | €765–905 | €11,355–12,475 | €1,419–1,559 |

Range = food at €20 to €40 per person per day. Our arithmetic; inputs below.

**Partial total:** fuel, marina fees, mandatory extras, skipper rate (destination-specific) not verified for Thailand, so not included.

## Every cost line

| Cost line | Amount | In the total? | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter fee, cheapest month (August) | €4,996 per week | Yes | secondary | [12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/) |
| Charter fee, priciest month (January) | €10,235 per week | Yes | secondary | [12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/) |
| Skipper | €150–300 per day (general range, not destination-specific) *(General range; we compute no skippered total for this destination.)* | Skippered totals only | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Cook or hostess | not verified *(We found no usable published day rate.)* | No | not verified | – |
| Fuel | not verified | No (not verified) | not verified | – |
| Marina fees | not verified | No (not verified) | not verified | – |
| Mandatory extras (cleaning, consumables) | not verified | No (not verified) | not verified | – |
| Food (provisioning), excluding drinks | €20–40 per person per day | Yes | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Similan national park entry | THB 500 per person per visit (not converted) *(Travel-site figure for the 2026–27 season; no official Department of National Parks page found.)* | No | secondary | [Tisland (travel site)](https://www.tisland.travel/en/blog/similany-otkryvayutsya-15-oktyabrya-2026) |
| Ao Phang Nga national park entry | not verified *(No official fee page found.)* | No | not verified | – |
| APA (crewed charters only) | 25–35% of the charter fee *(On the Thailand fee that is €1,249–1,749 in the cheapest month and €2,559–3,582 in the priciest (our arithmetic).)* | No | secondary | [Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa) |
| Crew gratuity (crewed charters) | 10–20% of the charter fee | No | secondary | [Worth Avenue Yachts](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/) |
| Security deposit (refundable) | €4,000–10,000 (general range; destination figure not verified) | No | secondary | [The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) |
| Damage waiver (optional) | not verified | No | not verified | – |

The Globe Sailor's table does not state a period for every column: the skipper fee is per day and the port fee per night (read from the article text); fuel per week is our reading.

## Tourist tax, cruising permits and other charges

- **[Secondary source]** Similan national park entry: THB 500 per person per visit (not converted) for Foreign adults (children aged 3–14: THB 250) ([Tisland (travel site)](https://www.tisland.travel/en/blog/similany-otkryvayutsya-15-oktyabrya-2026)). Travel-site figure for the 2026–27 season; no official Department of National Parks page found.
- **[Not verified]** Ao Phang Nga national park entry: not verified. No official fee page found.

## Marina and mooring fees

Marina and port fees for Thailand: **not verified** (The Globe Sailor's table has no row for Thailand), so no marina fee is in the total.

Mooring buoys and anchoring rules: [snorkel and dive guide](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/thailand/#moorings).

## National park and marine park fees

Not in the totals: they depend on your route. If your route goes there:

| Fee | Amount | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Similan entrance fee, foreign adult | 500 THB *(Tour operator blog; it says the rate has applied since 7 June 2022. Children: 250 THB.)* | secondary | [Aster of Asia (tour operator)](https://asterofasia.com/blog/similan-islands-2026-season-opening) |
| Anchoring fees in marine national parks | Not verified *(Thai Marine Guide says rangers can charge anchoring fees set by the department, by yacht size and people on board.)* | not verified | [Thai Marine Guide](https://thaimarineguide.com/info/restricted-areas/) |

More: [park fees and rules in the snorkel and dive guide](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/thailand/#fees).

## Skipper, cook or hostess, APA and tips

The Globe Sailor gives a general range of €150–300 per day for a skipper ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026); its table has no Thailand row, so the Thailand-specific rate is **not verified** and we compute no skippered total.

A cook or hostess's day rate: **not verified**; we found no usable published rate.

On crewed charters an APA (advance provisioning allowance) of 25–35% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and catamarans covers food, drink, fuel and port fees ([Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa), checked 27 Oct 2026); it replaces those lines, so it is not in the bareboat total. A crew gratuity of 10–20% is customary ([Worth Avenue Yachts](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/), checked 27 Oct 2026). We show no crewed total, because 12 Knots' averages mix bareboat and crewed listings.

More: [bareboat vs skippered](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/bareboat-vs-skippered/), [crewed vs bareboat](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/crewed-vs-bareboat-yacht-charter/), [do I need a licence in Thailand?](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/thailand/).

## Security deposit and damage waiver

The Globe Sailor gives a general range of €4,000–10000 for a catamaran deposit ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026); the Thailand figure and the damage waiver are **not verified**.

## Cheapest month vs peak month

| Month | 12 Knots avg per week | Per person, 6 people, bareboat (our arithmetic) |
|---|---:|---:|
| [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/) | €10,235 | €1,846–1,986 |
| [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/) | €9,938 | €1,796–1,936 |
| [March](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/march/) | €9,125 | €1,661–1,801 |
| [April](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/april/) | €8,165 | €1,501–1,641 |
| [May](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/may/) | €5,324 | €1,027–1,167 |
| [June](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/june/) | €5,062 | €984–1,124 |
| [July](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/july/) | €5,073 | €986–1,126 |
| [August](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/august/) | €4,996 | €973–1,113 |
| [September](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/september/) | €5,016 | €976–1,116 |
| [October](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/october/) | €6,671 | €1,252–1,392 |
| [November](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/november/) | €9,397 | €1,706–1,846 |
| [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/) | €10,140 | €1,830–1,970 |

When to go, weighing price against weather: [best time to charter in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/).

## See boats in Thailand

**[See catamarans for rent in Thailand on SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=thailand&pos=truecost)**

Ask the operator for the full extras list (skipper, cleaning, tourist tax, deposit) before you book; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)).

## What we could not verify

- Official national park entry fees (Similan, Ao Phang Nga).
- Fuel for Thailand.
- Marina fees for Thailand.
- Mandatory extras for Thailand.
- Skipper rate (destination-specific) for Thailand.

## How to read the labels

- **[Secondary source]**: From a newspaper, law firm, travel site or charter company; not official.
- **[Not verified]**: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess, and never add it to a total.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, port or park authority, ministry, or an operator's own published tariff.

Charter prices are 12 Knots' asking prices and cost lines are The Globe Sailor's, so most lines are secondary. Totals, per-person figures, APA amounts and ranges are our arithmetic. Amounts in other currencies are shown as published and never converted or added.

## Sources

- [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Thailand](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/southeast-asia/thailand/catamaran-charter/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [The Globe Sailor: What it really costs to charter a yacht](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Helm: What is an APA?](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [Worth Avenue Yachts: Charter terms & conditions](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/) (secondary, not official), checked 27 Oct 2026.
- [Aster of Asia (tour operator): Similan Islands 2026: opening on 15 October](https://asterofasia.com/blog/similan-islands-2026-season-opening) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Thai Marine Guide: Thai Marine Guide – restricted areas](https://thaimarineguide.com/info/restricted-areas/) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- [Tisland (travel site): Similan Islands open on 15 October 2026](https://www.tisland.travel/en/blog/similany-otkryvayutsya-15-oktyabrya-2026) (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.

Method: [methodology](https://catamaranindex.com/methodology/#truecost). Data: [JSON](https://catamaranindex.com/api/true-cost/thailand.json). Run your own numbers: [cost calculator](https://catamaranindex.com/tools/charter-cost-calculator/#calculator).

## More on Thailand

- [True cost of a week's charter, every destination compared](https://catamaranindex.com/true-cost/)
- [Thailand yacht and catamaran charter: prices, season and licence](https://catamaranindex.com/thailand/)
- [Thailand catamaran cost by month, all-in and per person](https://catamaranindex.com/thailand/catamaran/)
- [Best time to charter in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/thailand/)
- [Fishing rules in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/thailand/)
- [Snorkelling and diving in Thailand](https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/thailand/)
- [Do I need a licence to rent a boat in Thailand?](https://catamaranindex.com/licence-by-country/thailand/)
- [Catamaran Index home](https://catamaranindex.com/)

## FAQ

### How much does a week's catamaran charter in Thailand cost per person?

12 Knots' average weekly catamaran price in Thailand runs from €4,996 in August to €10,235 in January, which with food at €20–40 a day comes to €973–1,113 per person for 6 people in August (our arithmetic). Fuel, marina fees, mandatory extras and a Thailand-specific skipper rate are not verified, so the real total is higher; Similan national park entry is THB 500 per foreign adult (secondary source).

### What is not included in a yacht charter price in Thailand?

Not included in the charter price in Thailand: fuel (not verified), marina fees (not verified), mandatory extras such as cleaning (not verified), food (€20–40 per person per day), a skipper (€150–300 per day, general range), tourist taxes and park fees (official national park entry fees (similan, ao phang nga): not verified) and a refundable deposit (€4,000–10000). Amounts from The Globe Sailor, September 2026; the sums are our arithmetic.

### Do you pay tourist tax on a charter in Thailand?

Similan national park entry: THB 500 per person per visit (not converted) (secondary). Ao Phang Nga national park entry: not verified.

### How much is a skipper in Thailand?

The Globe Sailor's general range is €150–300 per day, plus the skipper's meals. A Thailand-specific rate is not verified.

### How much is the security deposit for a catamaran charter in Thailand?

The general range for a catamaran is €4,000–10000 (The Globe Sailor); the Thailand figure is not verified.

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