Summer in the Mediterranean has come to an end, and it is the perfect moment to look further afield for your next escape. Winter opens the door to an entirely different side of the world — new settings, distinct cultures, and a slower rhythm of life at sea. This season, our Charter Brokers have carefully selected the most exceptional winter destinations and curated experiences that capture the essence of each. The Bahamas, with its crystalline waters and famous swimming pigs; Thailand, known for its remarkable cuisine and tropical landscapes; and Indonesia, best explored aboard a traditional phinisi yacht to connect with the true spirit of its islands. Here is why these destinations are ideal this winter — and what makes them unforgettable to explore.
THE BAHAMAS – CARIBBEAN
Positioned in the Atlantic Ocean just southeast of Florida, the Bahamas stretch across five hundred miles of warm, crystalline sea. With seven hundred islands and more than two thousand cays, most uninhabited, the archipelago is perfectly suited to discovery by superyacht. Each passage reveals new shades of blue, where still water, long sandbars, and sheltered anchorages create a sense of space and serenity that defines winter cruising in the region.
The Exumas form the heart of the Bahamian charter experience. Their turquoise channels and calm anchorages are ideal for relaxed exploration. Staniel Cay grants access to Big Major Cay, home to the famous swimming pigs, and to Thunderball Grotto, a coral cavern where shafts of light cut through the water in shifting beams. Within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Shroud Cay reveals tranquil mangrove creeks best explored by tender or paddleboard. Compass Cay is known for its gentle nurse sharks that circle the marina’s shallows, while Harbour Island captures a more refined rhythm with its pastel colonial architecture, boutique hotels, and signature pink-sand beach. Great Guana Cay and Eleuthera remain beautifully unspoiled, offering quiet stretches of coastline that seem to exist outside of time. (Read our Bahamas Wildlife Guide to discover the marine life you can encounter during your charter).
For a taste of the Bahamas at its most refined, reserve a table at The Landing on Harbour Island. Set within a restored nineteenth-century plantation house overlooking the bay, it offers a menu by chef Madelene Pedican focused on fresh island produce — lobster, stone crab, and conch — complemented by an exceptional wine selection.
INDONESIA – SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Set between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indonesia is a nation of more than seventeen thousand islands — a world of volcanic peaks, coral atolls, and enduring maritime traditions. To charter a phinisi, the handcrafted two-masted yacht built by Konjo shipwrights in Sulawesi, is to experience the region in its truest form. These vessels, graceful in profile and contemporary in comfort, grant access to remote archipelagos where time seems to have slowed.
Three regions define the ultimate Indonesian charter: Raja Ampat, Komodo National Park, and the Spice Islands. Raja Ampat, within the Coral Triangle, possesses the highest marine biodiversity on Earth. Diving reveals coral walls pulsing with colour, manta rays drifting through deep channels, and lagoons so clear they mirror the sky. Komodo National Park blends natural grandeur with rare wildlife, its pink-sand beaches and volcanic ridges home to the world’s last Komodo dragons. The Spice Islands, further east, remain largely untouched by modern tourism, offering calm anchorages, still lagoons, and a serenity that feels absolute. Days unfold with effortless rhythm — tender rides through Wayag’s limestone islets, summit climbs with panoramic views, snorkelling or diving in Misool, and evenings spent anchored in solitude as the volcanic skyline fades into night.
No charter through Indonesia feels complete without exploring its culinary traditions. In Raja Ampat, freshly caught reef fish and coconut-based curries; around Komodo, dishes are bolder — grilled lobster or reef fish with lime and chilli, ripe tropical fruit, and fragrant spiced rice. Further east, in the Spice Islands, the scent of clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon still defines daily cooking, a living reminder of the trade routes that once linked these remote shores to the world. Each flavour tells part of Indonesia’s story — distinctive, diverse, and inseparable from its sense of place.
THAILAND – SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Stretching between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, Southeast Asia offers two distinct cruising worlds. The Andaman coast is the preferred route for superyachts, unfolding between Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands, the Similan Islands, and Phang Nga Bay. It is a landscape of cinematic beauty, where limestone cliffs rise from jade-green water and each anchorage feels like a secret discovered.
Thailand’s coastal regions balance natural splendour with cultural depth. Off the coast of Phuket lies Koh Panyee, a village built entirely on stilts, home to a community of sea gypsies who have lived there for generations. Nearby, Wat Tham Suwan Khuha — the Cave Temple — houses a reclining golden Buddha beneath a dramatic limestone vault. The Similan Islands Marine National Park, a collection of nine uninhabited islands protected for their biodiversity, ranks among the world’s premier diving destinations, home to manta rays, whale sharks, and vast coral gardens. Cruising through Phang Nga Bay brings a change in mood: hidden lagoons and karst formations are accessible only by tender at low tide, revealing tranquil pools framed by sheer rock walls.
The finest dining experience in the region is PRU at Trisara in Phuket, Thailand’s first and only Michelin Green Star restaurant. Each dish reflects the surrounding environment, crafted from ingredients sourced within a thirty-kilometre radius and presented with understated precision.
BOOK YOUR WINTER YACHT CHARTER WITH PHOENIX
Each destination offers a distinct charter experience shaped by its geography and character. In the Bahamas, short cruising distances and calm anchorages create an easy rhythm of exploration between idyllic islands and sandbars. Thailand brings cultural depth and natural drama, where limestone formations, hidden lagoons, and local markets enrich every stop. Indonesia remains one of the world’s last frontiers for yachting — remote, diverse, and vast, with routes that lead through coral gardens, volcanic peaks, and untouched anchorages. Phoenix’s Charter Brokers will guide you in selecting the most suitable yacht and crafting an itinerary that reflects your pace and interests. Every detail, from onboard service to shore arrangements, is handled with precision to ensure a charter experience that feels entirely your own.
