Guest testimonial: Amazing Charter on a Lagoon 450

In October 2018 I took the opportunity to charter a Lagoon 450 through Simpson Yacht Charter. It was an amazing trip with friends from Singapore, cruising from our charter base in Ao Po Marina, Phuket. Amazingly, after 10 years of sailing in Asia this was the first time doing so in Phuket without being with clients.

As a bareboat charter we crewed the yacht ourselves with the added luxury of a chef on board. A wise decision and one I would highly recommend as the food (and cocktails) were excellent, and it meant we could all relax rather than taking shifts in the galley!

Setting sail from Ao Po we spent a wonderful five days on board, cruising south to Ko Rok where we explored a series of hidden caves, which we had heard about from the charter base manager. Waking at sunrise and kayaking through the cave system at low tide was incredible – upon entering, the sky opens up and you are in your own deserted land. The following day we started to cruise back north, stopping along the way in some beautiful anchorages.

With the yacht’s chef we ate mostly on board, and enjoyed stunning sunsets and long lazy evenings. We ended the cruise anchored off the Six Senses resort in Yao Noi, which was another great location and would make for a perfect weekend getaway whether by yacht or land. The resort is nestled on the edge of the island with direct access to the sea and many small islands to explore nearby.

This charter was by far one of the best holidays I have had in Asia, and the Lagoon 450 is a perfect yacht for a group of friends. We are all looking forward to our next trip which we hope to be around Indonesia’s Komodo Islands.

– Nick Stratton