Emphasizing support and human contact
Secrets d'Escales, founded by Christophe and Mathieu, stands out for its personalized approach to yacht charter. Drawing on over 15 years' experience in the field, the partners decided to return to the fundamentals of the business, emphasizing advice, customized support and the selection of partner charter companies worldwide.
In contrast to 100% digital trends, Secrets d'Escales favors direct contact with its customers, offering permanent availability even during voyages. Their expertise enables them to offer private sailing cruises, with or without crew, from the best charter bases around the planet. They support their customers in choosing the right boat to charter, while advising on the itinerary and offering recommendations on places to visit. What's more, the company is committed to offering premium service while maintaining a human touch, in a world of constant digitalization.
Cruises in the Mediterranean and more exotic destinations
Secrets d'Escales offers a wide range of destinations in the Mediterranean, including Greece, Croatia and Italy, as well as more exotic destinations such as the Caribbean, Polynesia, the Seychelles and Thailand, which we invite you to explore through two sailing basins.
Start your vacation with a trip ashore to discover Thailand
Thailand is a destination where the cost of living is still affordable. Rentals remain more expensive, due to a smaller fleet and a relatively short season. Today, air fares, which soared after the Covid, have returned to a reasonable level, similar to that of a flight to the Caribbean. To get the most out of his cruise, Mathieu advises accompanying it with a trip ashore. On arrival in Bangkok, two or three days on land will allow you to soak up the atmosphere of this exuberant city. From the Thai capital, you can also take advantage of the airport or train to explore other regions, such as Laos and the town of Luang Pra Bang, or Chiang Mai, located in the mountains to the north of Thailand.
Two distinct sailing areas, Phuket and Koh Chang
5 professional operators share the yacht charter market, offering a fleet of around fifty catamarans and ten monohulls. Prices are fairly high, and cruising should be planned as far in advance as possible. The period from December to May is ideal for sailing in the Gulf of Thailand, with a very high season in February and March.
Thailand offers two quite different sailing areas, starting from Phuket in south-west Thailand and the island of Koh Chang, one of Thailand's largest islands, in the south-east, close to Cambodia. With its vast expanse of water, Phuket is best suited to ten-day to three-week cruises. For sailors looking for a change of scenery over a shorter period, from one week to ten days, Koh Chang is ideal.
Phuket, a vast stretch of water for a long, exclusive cruise
Phuket offers two beautiful marinas close to large resorts, where superyachts rub shoulders with a few pleasure sailboats. Tourism here is more of a mass affair, with speedboats carrying loads of tourists from island to island for the day. By renting a catamaran - which you choose to be fully equipped and self-sufficient in water - you can avoid mass tourism and enjoy an exclusive experience. Each boat can be booked with skipper and hostess. To avoid visitors, we recommend sailing during the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - when the Speedboats are in operation - and visiting or anchoring on the islands in the morning and at the end of the day.
From Phuket, you can discover the mythical islands of Koh Phi Phi or Koh Lanta, as well as the wilder islands to the north, with their many fishing villages. The anchorages are well protected and dinghies can be moored on pontoons. All the islands to the south of the zone offer beach restaurants and scooter rentals. It's all so easy to just enjoy and let yourself go.
Koh Chang, the island of the elephant
Koh Chang is a mountainous island located southeast of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand. A real Secrets d'Escales favorite, this small archipelago is relatively uncrowded. Known as Elephant Island, Koh Chang was originally an island for backpackers, offering deserted beaches and bungalows. Today, luxury hotels can also be found here. The other islands, Koh Mak and Koh Kood, are within easy reach.
Access to the base is by plane, via Trat airport, or directly by cab from Bangkok. If access to the island has to be earned, it's because the archipelago is well worth the detour. The destination will suit novice sailors as well as families with children who don't want to sail a lot every day.
This small body of water is ideal for coastal sailing and island hopping. As a National Park, the wild islands are protected by rangers and moored on buoys to preserve the coral. The archipelago is a paradise for snorkeling and discovering the seabed, but also for enjoying unspoiled wilderness far from mass tourism. Koh Chang has a timeless feel and presents a very authentic Thailand.
The islands of Koh Mak and Koh Kood also offer luxury hotels with restaurants and infinity pools where you can have lunch and spend the day. While Koh Chang remains an island that welcomes tourists from all over the world, the two islands further south offer exclusive tourism and anchorages where you are often alone.
