Your 2024 Year in Yachting

January
Australia

February
Thailand

March
Caribbean

April
French Polynesia

May
French Riviera

June
Balearics

July
Baltic Sea

August
Italy

September
Turkey & Greece

October
Indonesia

November
United Arab Emirates

December
Antarctica

January – Australia

There’s nowhere better to bring in the new year than Sydney, with its famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display illuminating this sprawling city. Watch the illuminations from the sundeck of your superyacht; attend one of the many glitzy events on offer, rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite; or celebrate with a dip in the bath-like waters.

Yacht charter season in Australia offers the perfect chance to dive the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef and a true natural wonder. Here you will find a dazzling array of marine life; with more than 3,000 individual reef systems and coral cays, you will be awed at the colours and shapes of the sea life you find down under.

There is nothing quite like sailing the Whitsundays, an idyllic string of 74 tropical islands that are made for leisurely exploration. With so many secluded coves to explore, you’ll be in paradise – have your crew set up a beach BBQ and spend your days soaking up the sun.

February – Thailand

Continue to chase the sun in Thailand, stopping in famous Phuket and indulging at one of the many world-class wellness retreats. This popular time of year has the perfect weather, just before things start to really heat up in March and beyond. A Thai massage should lower your stress levels, relieve tension and generally make you feel incredible.

Then cruise onto the Phi Phi Islands, the star of so many Thai postcards with its stunning and diverse landscape. As you approach the islands, cliffs tower overhead, giving way to reveal a beach-fronted jungle where life moves at a delightfully slow pace.

Muay Thai boxing is the country’s national sport, and so what better way to immerse yourself into the culture than to learn this close combat. Dreamlike Krabi is the perfect place to do it, with plenty of training centres lying beyond its white-sand beaches.

March – Caribbean

Yacht charter season in the Caribbean runs from December (right after hurricane seasons ends in November) to April, but March is the perfect time to visit, offering average highs of a balmy 28°C. First, head to St Lucia, where sunken shipwrecks host a treasure trove of secrets for those brave enough to head into the great unknown.

Then in St Barts, dance until dawn surrounded by beautiful people and an even more beautiful setting – take your pick between relaxed beach bars or opulent clubs where DJs spin dancey beats all night long.

Take it down a notch in the Bahamas, where world-class fishing awaits. With seas filled with prize marlin, bonefish, and many other rare species, everyone from novice fishers to experienced anglers will enjoy testing the waters here. Popular destinations in North America are also close nearby if you want to extend your sailing experience even further.

April – French Polynesia

French Polynesia is pure bliss as a yacht destination. In Tahiti, waterfalls are abundant and adventure-lovers will enjoy trekking through jungle landscapes to discover all of its secrets.

Bora Bora’s paradisiacal reputation precedes it, and with so many crystal-clear lagoons and white-sand beaches, this is somewhere to completely unwind. Take a book and have your crew set up a lounger on a remote stretch, soaking up the sun in peace.

Then, in Raiatea, the rich scent of vanilla fills the air, with plantations scattered throughout. When you’re not sampling vanilla in all its glorious forms, snorkel the crystal-clear waters and be awestruck by the beautiful, brightly-coloured sea life.

May – French Riviera

As yacht sailing season in Europe starts to heat up there’s only one place to head; the French Riviera, wherein St Tropez some of the world’s chicest bars open their doors, inviting swathes of glamorous people in. From beach bars such as Club 55 to nightspots like GAÏO, the excitement in the air is palpable – there’s a reason this is one of the most popular sailing destinations.

Meanwhile, in Cannes, May sees A-Listers from the world over flying in to celebrate the Cannes Film Festival. This is the perfect time to charter a yacht here, allowing you to throw the most lavish after-parties!

Likewise, at the Monaco Grand Prix, everyone knows that the best view is from the aft deck of a luxury superyacht. Why not hop over to Port Hercules and prepare for some truly edge-of-your-seat racing?

June – Balearics

In the Balearics, everyone knows Ibiza for its superclubs, but we recommend looking a little deeper – this famous party capital and yachting destination also hosts an array of best-kept-secret spots, from stunning walking paths to charming family-run eateries.

Mallorca hosts over 200 beaches to enjoy, but for an electric atmosphere combined with exquisite, golden-sand stretches, there is nowhere better than Palma.

Yachting with little ones onboard? The whole family will love taking part in a Pirate Adventure in Menorca, where you can hop from one boat to another to go on a magical journey where pirates rule the Seven Seas. Your buccaneer’s feast awaits!

July – Baltic Sea

By July the Baltic Sea has warmed up enough to make it an exceptional yachting destination, and both Norway and Sweden both promise incredible fashion and design, not to mention beautiful archipelagos hosting charming beaches.

Head over to Copenhagen, where it’s time to shop ‘til you drop with everything from boutique concept stores to high-end designers on offer. Not to mention the delicious artisanal sweet treats, perfect for when you need an energy boost.

In Finland, this is the best time to witness the midnight sun, where 24 hours of sunlight provides the perfect opportunity to party well into the early hours.

August – Italy

Long, lazy summers in Italy are at their peak in August, when this yachting destination is at its most delightfully warm, and you’re still months away from the rainy season. Porto Cervo exudes Italian glamour, with sparkling turquoise waters that will have you floating away on a cloud.

On the Amalfi coast, scenescapes will take your breath away as you cruise between the must-visit destinations. Mountains plunge into the sea, luscious woodlands cascade into the colourscape, and pastel houses prettily decorate the cliffside.

Meanwhile in Sicily, over 1,000km of coastline means there are so many coves to explore, ranging from neat, wide stretches of beach to windswept blacksand bays.

September – Turkey & Greece

Yacht charter season in Turkey and Greece starts from April, but we’d recommend going in September, once the sun has mellowed to a warm but less intense heat. In Göcek, delve deep into fascinating local history with a visit to the ruins of Cleopatra’s sunken hammam.

In Bodrum, continue on your historical adventure – Bodrum was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the Mausoleum of Mausolus. The world’s oldest shipwreck was also discovered off the coast here.

Then, change up the pace in hedonistic Mykonos, where it’s time to live decadently at one of the many beach clubs, world-class restaurants, or bars. Nammas is a celebrity favourite, where the likes of Kendall Jenner come to party and toast the sunset. The Greek Islands also boast some amazing ancient ruins to add a bit of history into your trip – it’s not all just beautiful beaches.

October – Indonesia

An exquisite yachting destination with so much to explore, start on the coral reefs on the Maluku islands. A remote part of Indonesia, these islands offer blissful swathes of white sands and enchanting villages with a million stories to tell.

Surround yourself with nature in Komodo, where the national park offers ancient species and colourful exotic corals, or become a culture vulture in Bali, where temples invite you in to explore and numerous colourful ceremonies are celebrated.

Then, recharge in paradise in Raja Ampat, a dreamlike group of approximately 15,000 tiny islands that house some truly impressive wellness retreats. Wake before dawn one day and take part in sunrise yoga – a truly life-affirming activity.

November – UAE

Yacht charter season in the UAE starts in November (the ideal time, in our opinion) when winter cools the weather down to pleasant average temperature highs of 31°C. With 2,000km of coastline, Oman is the perfect place to start exploring, offering spectacular diving which owes to its plentiful marine diversity.

Head out to the sand dunes to continue your Arabian adventure. The Sahara awaits; ride a camel, stay overnight in traditional Berber tents, enjoy a mouthwatering tagine, and watch the sunset turn into a million twinkling stars.

Abu Dhabi’s bustling heart is fabulous at any time of year, but visiting during the Grand Prix is a completely unique experience. Drawing a 60,000 person crowd containing a high percentage of supermodels and celebrities, this is a place to spray Champagne and revel in the good life.

December – Antarctica

Of course, there are places you can go if you want to catch winter sun in December, but for those who embrace the frozen beauty of winter seasons, there is nowhere better than Antarctica. Charter a yacht with a helipad and chopper over soaring icebergs for the ultimate view – you might even be lucky enough to spot a rare Emperor penguin colony. It’s hard to beat the natural beauty of this region.

Indulge in some rest and recuperation in a steaming hot tub as you look out over the landscape in awe. Look out for the incredible aurora borealis lighting up the sky, and enjoy this real life winter wonderland.

Your crew can even arrange a submarine trip to the depths of the sea, spotting all kinds of fascinating sea life you are unlikely to see anywhere else in the world.

We hope this guide has given you a good idea of the best yachting destinations for each month of the year. If you are interested in chartering in any of these destinations, raise a yacht charter enquiry with our charter team today.