Five-star travel takes to the water in Southeast Asia

Mark Robba, owner of the majestic 51m sailing superyacht Dunia Baru, recalls “one memorable morning in Myanmar last year, we jumped off the yacht onto a big rigid inflatable boat (RIB) and raced out to a fishing boat where we traded two packs of Red Bull and a couple of cartons of cigarettes for two big buckets full of fresh ocean shrimp. “What a treat!”

Robba has endless travel tales to tell, but his joy lies in sharing moments like this with those he invites to charter the boat throughout the year. More owners are jumping on the bandwagon, keen to recoup some of the cost of ownership and driven by a steady rise in demand for charters in Southeast Asia.

The region is fertile ground for those in search of rich traveller tales. While Phuket remains one of the most popular destinations, aided by easy accessibility and Thailand’s loosening of charter regulations, for many, part of the appeal of charter lies in finding more remote spots. There are plenty to choose from. Myanmar and the Mergui Archipelago are up there with Raja Ampat and Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands.

Trend forecasters and industry insiders talk about a “new type of high-net-worth traveller”, tired of identikit luxury at five-star resorts who seek out something with new experience and exploration at its core instead. “Once owners have decided they’ve enjoyed the Med and the Caribbean, they are taking their yachts further afield,” explains Tom Debuse, director of charter management at Y.Co. “As a result there are more yachts available and a growing market.”

There are charter brokers galore in the region now, all touting superyachts to the world’s fussiest clients. So how do these experience-hungry travellers choose which one to set sail on? “If you’re working with a good broker, they’ll be able to match a yacht to your needs,” Debuse says. Those needs, though, can vary greatly – from families seeking smaller yachts with intimate lounge spaces, to gourmet travellers who might want a Michelin-starred chef on board, to party people, whose priorities might include a good speaker system and enough deck space to dance freely under the stars. One must-have, regardless of the customer, seems to be a well-stocked toy garage.