Winter charter destinations

Trade the snow for sand and enjoy winter aboard a luxury yacht. From cruising hidden bays, playing on the water toys, and fishing to enjoying the utmost privacy, incredible food, and five-star service – on this holiday anything is possible and everything is within reach. Aberton Yachts will help you create memories to last a lifetime.

The Caribbean: Antigua

Antigua looks like a scene from «Pirates of the Caribbean» and has the atmosphere of «Treasure island». On the beaches, you can see old anchors, and the two main superyacht marinas of the island — English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour — are filled with memories of the time when the Royal Fleet of Her Majesty the Queen was based there. Antigua has more than 100 km of coastline with sandy beaches and coral reefs full of marine life. On a yacht, you can also visit luxurious resorts with private anchorages like Carlisle Bay and Jumby Bay. It is worth anchoring near Green Island off the Antigua coast as well: here you can find a nice beach and a great spot for snorkeling, then take a tender and go for lunch ashore - to one of the restaurants of Nonsuch bay. There is plenty of entertainment available: kayaking through the mangrove forest, getting immersed in the history of colonial times, or experiencing the lively nightlife. From here you can also take a week-long trip to Saint Martin. On the way, you can visit the rose-colored beaches of Barbuda, luxurious resorts, golf courses, and tropical forests on Saint Kitts and Nevis or dive on shipwrecks. The proximity of Antigua to other Caribbean islands makes this place great for charter. The high season is from December to April (t 24-29°C), in May it gets hotter, and the hurricane season lasts from July to November.

Australia: The Great Barrier Reef

This is a true wonder of the world. Start your journey in Cairns, which is also referred to as “the gate of the Great Barrier Reef”, in Pullman Reef hotel with a casino, a rooftop pool, and an award-winning Tamarind restaurant. You can also visit the Wildlife Dome and take pictures with koalas. Seafood is best in the Prawn Star restaurant on the two trawlers berthed in Marlin Marina. En route from Cairns to Port Douglas, it’s worth visiting Thala Beach Nature Reserve Resort and having lunch on the treetops in Osprey’s restaurant. The Great Barrier Reef stretches 2500 km and consists of nearly 3000 reefs and 900 islands — a lifetime is not long enough to visit all of them. Near Cairns the reef gets the closest to the eastern coast of Australia, so there you can see spectacular marine life, as well as tropical forests, national parks, and luxurious resorts.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas boasts a huge variety of islands and can offer different vacation styles. The wonderful Abaco beaches, the legendary Bimini fishing, the secluded Exuma islands — the Bahamas have it all. Yachting in the Bahamas is an unforgettable experience of unconventional entertainment. Swim with harmless nurse sharks near Compass Key Island, see giant iguanas on Allen Key or set off for a journey to a tiny island Major Key where famous swimming pigs approach the yachts. In the Bahamas you will find luxury, entertainment, and, if you wish, solitude and calm. For that, you may choose to visit the outermost islands with breathtaking starry nights, fantastic beaches, coral canyons, and underwater caves.

Miami and Florida Keys

You can get all sorts of wonderful experiences in the sunniest city in the US, whether it be experiencing the bustling Miami city life or yachting in the quiet lagoons of Florida Keys — a chain of 1700 islands and reefs off the coast of Florida. It boasts more than a thousand km of beaches, national parks, Michelin-star restaurants, and excellent diving spots. You will be better off chartering a yacht there from December to May. Cruising along the coast of Florida allows you to see the legendary Everglades natural reserve with alligators, dugongs, and panthers, as well as the Biscayne national park and the Thousand Islands Park — an array of small islands, perfect for exploring on a yacht. To the north in the Gulf of Mexico are Sanibel and Captiva islands — resorts and natural reserves. And only 30 km south of Miami is the first one of the Florida Keys. Going west along the chain of islands will lead you to stellar diving and snorkeling opportunities, fantastic beaches, golf courses, and exclusive resorts.

The Indian Ocean: the Maldives and Seychelles

The islands of the Indian Ocean are the most coveted yachting destinations, yet all of them are drastically different from each other. The clear water of the Maldives is perfect for diving, especially in the Ari atoll. There the currents bring the plankton necessary for rich marine life on the reefs. Apart from that, surfing in the Maldives is great, and there is a multitude of exclusive resorts nearby that makes charter an even more luxurious experience.

Seychelles boasts a diverse landscape: there are atolls, granite islands, and sandy beaches that are interspersed with impressive cliffs and tropical islands. There are a lot of sights on the shore: national parks, walking trails, and the ocean, aside from relaxing on the beach and diving, there is the best fishing in the world.

Indonesia

Indonesia is not only famous for Bali. It is also the biggest archipelago of 17000 lesser-known and unique islands. The wonderful archipelago Raja Ampat suits yacht chartering year-round, and the best time to visit Komodo island is from July to October. You can travel there from Flores Island where your charter yacht is waiting for you. On the way there you can dive and see the sea turtles or make a stop at the beautiful Sumbawa Island and anchor near Sangeang island, where you should swim in the sparkling water — just like champagne. Near the north side of Komodo, you can find one of the best dive sites on the planet — Castle Rock. On the Komodo island, itself are the famous “dragons” — Komodo lizards that are up to 4 meters in length.

Thailand: the island of Phuket

Phuket has been popular with superyachts and their guests, as well as directors, who have shot multiple movies there. Phuket suits parties, as there are many clubs, bars, and restaurants, and its surroundings suit a holiday out in nature. Yachting at Archipelago Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay is a worthwhile experience. There are still plenty of beautiful quiet destinations out there that an experienced captain will easily find, despite the armadas of tourist boats. One such location is even closer to Phuket than expected. Six Senses Yao Noi is a secluded resort on Phuket with a private pier for yachts, an excellent restaurant, and a spa center that is only 25 km away from the Ao Po grand marina.

French Polynesia

Tahiti and the neighboring islands (Raiatea, Huahine, Moorea, Bora Bora, and others) are “Paradise on earth” as some call it. Superyacht guests may experience comfort and luxury here. In French Polynesia the influence of France is apparent: just take a look at the restaurants with their great service and unbelievable fusion-style cuisine. The most famous are Le Lotus in the InterContinental hotel, Le Carréat in Le Méridien, and Le Coco’s (Tahiti), as well as L’O a la Bouche on Papeete island. Rangiroa atoll is worth seeing, as it is one of the top dive sites in the world and is akin to a natural aquarium. There is also Atoll Fakarava, where you can feed sharks, and Atoll Toau — a near uninhabited and romantic place for anchorage.

Galápagos Islands

As the Galápagos Islands are very remote, there are next to no visitors to them. Charles Darwin was among the most famous visitors who arrived at the islands in 1835 and found the missing link in his theory of evolution. There is also little to no residents or electricity in the Galápagos Islands, so the night sky here is phenomenal, as is the nighttime ocean, thanks to the glowing plankton. Here exists the only penguin colony on the Equator, you can also see swimming iguanas and massive turtles. Animals and birds there do not fear people, because they hardly ever see them. Visiting the Galápagos Islands on a yacht is a rare and unforgettable experience.