Half-Day or Full-Day Charter from Phuket: What Fits in Each

If you are deciding between a half day and a full day on a private boat from Phuket, start with the route. The nearer islands are what a shorter charter can realistically be built around. Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay mean longer crossings, so plan them as a full day, and they are only offered on some boats. Then check what the operator actually sells. The charter service behind this site publishes its prices per day and shows no half-day option at all, so "half day" is something you have to ask for, not something you can pick from a menu.

This guide works through what Blue Andaman publishes about charter durations, what that means for each kind of route, and what to get confirmed in writing.

What operators actually publish about charter length

On 7 November 2026, every starting rate on Blue Andaman's charter prices page was shown per day: from THB 24,900 for a longtail boat, THB 28,900 for a speedboat, THB 29,899 for a catamaran and THB 110,000 for a motor yacht. The page does not list a half-day rate, a number of included hours, or start and return times. It does say that "guest limits, trip duration and route conditions apply", and that "a nearby island trip, a longer crossing and an overnight charter need different arrangements".

The boat listings follow the same pattern. On the fleet page, three speedboats, a large catamaran and a longtail are labelled "Day Charter", and every boat is priced per day. The private day charter page says your booking needs "a confirmed departure pier, meeting time, charter hours and list of inclusions", which tells you the hours are agreed per booking rather than fixed on the website.

Three practical points follow from that:

• There is no published half-day product to compare against. If you only want a few hours on the water, ask whether that is possible for the boat you like and whether the price changes. Do not assume a shorter day costs half.
• "Day" is not a number of hours. Ask how many hours the day rate includes, and what time you leave and must be back at the pier.
• Extra time can cost extra. The prices page lists route changes and additional charter hours among the extra costs to confirm, and tells you to confirm "any additional fuel or overtime charges".

The office hours shown on these pages (Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 18:00 Thai time) are when you can contact the team, not charter times.

Routes that suit a shorter day

The speedboat page describes Coral, Racha Yai, Maiton and Khai as "nearer islands", and the day charter page says these islands "appear across many of our listed day-charter routes". If you want a shorter day, or a full day that feels unhurried, this is where to look.

The planning note on the private day charter page is the key one for this decision: "Longer crossings leave less time for swimming and stops, so a shorter route can be a better fit for a relaxed day." In other words, the hours you book are shared between crossing and stopping. A nearer island leaves more of them for swimming, snorkelling and lunch at anchor.

A shorter day on a near route tends to suit:

• families with young children who tire quickly or nap in the afternoon,
• anyone who is unsure how they will feel at sea,
• a first day on the water before committing to a longer trip,
• an evening flight or other plans on the same day.

Even on a near route, ask how long the crossing is expected to take from the boat's departure pier. Piers differ by boat (the fleet lists Chalong Pier, Ao Por Grand Marina and Nakalay Pier, depending on the vessel), and a pier far from your hotel adds road time on both ends.

Routes that need a full day

Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay are the two farther day-trip destinations named on Blue Andaman's charter pages. Blue Andaman's pages say "selected boats also offer Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay", so the first question is whether the boat you are considering lists that route at all. A catamaran itinerary, for example, "still needs to fit the boat's range and charter hours".

None of the pages gives a crossing time. The speedboat page says plainly that "there is no single time for every boat or departure pier", and that route and crossing time depend on "the boat, departure point and sea conditions". The Phi Phi guide asks you to request the expected crossing time for your itinerary. Do that, and work out how much of the charter is left for stops once you subtract the crossing there and back.

Each destination also has its own limits:

• Phi Phi. The Phi Phi guide notes that Maya Bay has managed access, and that a route past it "is not a promise to swim or land there". Ask what is actually permitted on your date.
• Phang Nga Bay. The Phang Nga Bay charter guide says tide and conditions affect which caves or hongs can be visited, so the order and timing of stops may be set by the tide rather than by your preference.

Add more stops and the day fills up fast. The day charter page says additional destinations or longer hours "need agreement and may affect the cost", and that the crew may change stops for conditions or access restrictions.

When a full day is still not enough

Some places are beyond a day trip. Blue Andaman's FAQ says overnight or multi-day trips reach farther, naming the Similan and Surin islands, and that multi-day voyages are "priced per day plus running costs". The prices page adds that a cabin count "does not by itself confirm overnight availability or sleeping capacity", so ask directly if you are considering staying aboard.

Which boat type suits which length

Boat type and charter length are linked. On Blue Andaman's speedboat page, selected speedboats list Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay or the nearer islands, and the speedboat charter page says the quote should specify "the crew, route, duration, included fuel, refreshments and equipment". Catamarans list the nearer islands on many routes, with Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay on selected boats. Our guide to what a private charter in Phuket costs explains how hours, fuel and extras change the total, and how to compare two quotes for the same day.

Season and park fees

Blue Andaman's FAQ describes the high season as roughly November to April, with calm, clear water and settled weather, and the green season as around May to October. A long crossing is a bigger commitment when the sea may be rough, so outside the high season a shorter, nearer route is worth considering. Either way, the day charter page notes that the crew may change stops for conditions.

National park fees are usually charged separately, according to the same FAQ, and the prices page lists park or island admission fees as extras "unless explicitly included". The fees that apply depend on your route, so a longer route can also mean different fees. Ask for them to be listed in your quote.

Questions to ask before you book

• Do you offer a half-day charter on this boat, and how is it priced?
• How many hours does the day rate include, and what time do we leave and return?
• Which pier does this boat leave from, and when should we arrive?
• What is the expected crossing time to each stop on this route in normal conditions?
• How much time does that leave at each stop?
• What do overtime, extra hours or an added stop cost?
• Is fuel for this route included, or is there a fuel surcharge?
• Which national park or island fees apply to this route, and are they included?
• What happens to the route, and to the booking, if the weather makes it unsafe?