Published 18 June 2021
Dropping anchor in Saint-Tropez is idyllic, but when the wilderness calls it is the more unlikely cruising grounds that deliver… It's time to chart a course to the little-known cruising grounds waiting to be discovered.
Jungle trekking, diving into local culture, meeting orca whales or discovering a halo of sandy beaches lapped by clear warm waters – these experiences will transform an unusual charter destination into a yacht vacation of a lifetime.
Indonesia is a country where old meets new - superyachts cruise alongside majestic Bugis Pinisi sailing schooners and scuba dive sites reveal ancient shipwrecks. Barefoot exploration is the only way on the car-free Gili Islands, and many anchorages are only found by yacht.
This is a land where soaring volcanic peaks fill the skyline and tropical islands are scattered far and wide. Where the flora and fauna are as diverse as the native tribal cultures, and accessing the 17,000 islands is only possible by yacht.
Only on the island of Sumatra will guests witness the sapphire lakes of Danau Toba resting high among the volcanic peaks. The Komodo National Park, founded to protect its namesake Komodo dragon – the world’s largest lizard – is an unmissable seventh wonder of the world.
Cruising is year-round, with high season occurring from April to November. Bali, Lombok, Raja Ampat and Java are the prime areas to begin an itinerary within Indonesia, while a charter can also be picked up from Singapore or the Philippines.
PAPA brings luxury to the shores of Indonesia, with a Teppanyaki bar on the sun deck to enjoy freshly caught wahoo, an enviable toy list and starlit family film nights viewed in the stunning outdoor cinema.
On the edge of the world’s largest archipelago, Thailand is awash with hidden coves, sandy inlets and jungle-trekking adventure. Head for the virgin rainforest on Surin Island, which is low on day-trippers and also provides vibrant coral reefs in every bay.
From the southerly Butang Island group on the west coast to the limestone karst coast of Krabi in the south, a luxury yacht charter in Thailand means snorkelling with white spotted eagle rays, pristine dive sites and fresh-produce markets that float on water.
Kayak ashore to Koh Surin Tai on the Similan Islands, home to Thailand’s indigenous Moken sea nomads - famed for their free-diving and stilt-villages. In contrast, make Chiang Rai’s vibrant Buddhist temples, specifically the all-white façade of Wat Rong Khun, ports of call.
Phuket provides year-round cruising without the choppy waters of the Caribbean, though optimum months are from December to April. Fly direct by private jet or pick up the yacht in Langkawi, Malaysia – both offer end-to-end luxury from tarmac to teak deck.
Famed for its world-class sailing, mystical Lord of The Rings landscape, and the finest Sauvignon Blanc around, New Zealand is one of the charter destinations in the world that never disappoints.
Few places marry ancient glaciers with soft pristine beaches. Dine on green-lipped mussels and bluff oysters while cruising the Bay of Islands’ 144 subtropical islands. Paddleboard around Tapeka Point alive with penguins and dolphins in an unusual yacht destination like no other.
It’s a wildlife paradise on Tiritiri Matangi Island where tui, fantails, bellbirds and numerous butterflies thrive. But by night, nowhere in the world beats Great Barrier Island – a designated Dark Sky Sanctuary - for stargazing on the aft deck.
Set off from Auckland to explore the Hauraki Gulf’s 50 islands or hop by air across New Zealand’s land masses. Auckland is a popular start to an itinerary, but exploration is on the doorstep wherever you meet the yacht.
LADY E offers a high tech watersports programme for guests keen to push the adrenaline boat out in New Zealand’s balmy climate, while a brand-new beach club at sea level is ready when you need to wind down apres waterski.
Venture into chilly waters to transform a luxury yacht charter into a winter playground heaving with elephant seals and Adélie penguins. From skating icy tundra to scaling new glacial heights, Antarctica serves up ice-cold bucket loads of extremes.
Welcome to the home of ice breaker vessels, where calving glaciers and whale song are the only sounds heard amid the silent and eternal summer daylight. Become acquainted with playful orcas, dare to take a polar plunge and drink in every shade of blue on the spectrum.
Head to Mount Erebus to witness the southernmost active volcano in the world and its fields of molten lava cradled among ice sheets. Head to the Ross Sea, a deep bay of the Southern Ocean, to see colonies of emperor penguins in all their waddling glory.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the definition of wilderness and the highest continent on Earth. Fly in to King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, to meet the yacht.
An expedition yacht with a difference, SURI has a 7,400 nautical mile range for discovery cruising and a helipad to heli-ski Antarctica’s virgin powder snow.
Golden eagles soar above guests teeing off in the midnight-sun months amid waterfalls and black shale cliffs at Valley of the Eagles Golf Links in Haines. Pair it with Alaska’s impressive brown bears and salmon rivers for a spectacular charter.
Cruise the Chukchi Sea in the summer months where polar bears are abundant around the edge of the pack ice. Fill your stomach with succulent king crab and immerse in the heritage-rich Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian tribal cultures for a dynamic itinerary.
Bathe in Juneau’s natural hot springs before joining the yacht by the Mendenhall Glacier or Hobart Bay. Camping in the North Slope of Alaska’s Brooks Range in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a dreamy way to end the journey.
Fresh from a 2019 refit, DOUBLE DOWN combines striking artwork with a sumptuous cinema-cum-massage suite for an ideal charter to a land roamed by wolves and grizzlies.
Discover one of these little-known cruise destinations to explore a bright new world and let our Burgess team of expert brokers curate the charter experience of a lifetime for you.
To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.
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