Coral & Maithon (5 hrs)
Look, five hours doesn't sound like much, but in Thai waters it's genuinely plenty to do something proper. The Tawani gets you to Coral Island / Banana Beach (Koh Hey) fast enough that you're snorkeling instead of sitting in traffic like back home. This Azimut 50ft motor yacht handles the tropical heat brilliantly with full air-con—seriously, you'll want that when the sun's directly overhead.
The coral here genuinely stuns. Reef-safe sunscreen is non-negotiable though; that Thailand sun will absolutely wreck you if you're not careful. The water's warm year-round, but November through February? Absolutely perfect for Thailand conditions. You get calm seas and zero humidity stress. Oh, and Thailand casually adds monsoon season from May onwards—don't be put off. Those brief showers are warm and refreshing, plus you'll see the islands how locals actually experience them.
What makes this charter solid is the half-day length. You're not overdoing it, your crew knows these waters inside-out, and the Tawani's got everything needed—snorkeling gear, shade, cold drinks, the works. Banana Beach itself is genuinely worth the trip; the sand's proper white and the snorkeling's fantastic without the Phi Phi crowds.
You will love these Thai waters, honestly. Island hopping this way beats hiring a speedboat with dodgy safety records and random shouting. Ideal option for exploring Thai islands without committing your whole day.