Boat tours and experiences in India

Yacht Charter India

India's charter scene centres on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, with smaller scenes on the mainland coast at Goa, Mumbai and Kochi. KaterBlue currently lists 69 active yachts across India, most operating as crewed charters given the country's permit and clearance requirements, and covering everything from short Goa coastal trips to multi-day Andaman island-hopping.

Sailing Regions

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a chain of 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal, are India's premier cruising ground: coral reefs, largely untouched jungle and clear water, based out of Port Blair, the region's main gateway and best-equipped port. On the west coast, Goa offers a natural harbour and Portuguese-influenced heritage towns along the Mandovi and Zuari rivers, Mumbai is home to the historic Royal Bombay Yacht Club and a busy commercial harbour, and Kochi on the Kerala coast has India's first purpose-built international marina, opening up the state's backwaters to charter guests.

Best Time to Sail & Wind

November to May is the recommended charter season, with the calmest, driest conditions typically falling between November and April. Tropical cyclones are more likely from April to June and again from September to December, so charters are generally avoided in those windows, particularly in the Bay of Bengal, where the Andaman charter season runs specifically mid-November to mid-May.

Licence Requirements

Foreign yachts must clear customs and immigration at designated ports of entry, including Port Blair, Panaji (Goa), Kochi and Mumbai, and cruising in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands requires permits arranged through a local agent due to the region's protected status and the presence of indigenous communities. For bareboat charter, a recognised qualification such as an RYA Day Skipper, ASA 104 or ICC is generally required, along with two to three weeks of recent bareboat experience within the last three years; because of the permit process, most guests choose a crewed charter with a local skipper handling clearance and navigation instead.

Sample Itinerary (Andaman Islands, 6-7 days)

Depart Port Blair and sail to Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) for snorkelling at Elephant Beach and a stop at Radhanagar Beach, regularly rated among Asia's best beaches. Continue to Neil Island (Shaheed Dweep) to see its natural rock bridge and Laxmanpur Beach. Sail on to North Button Island for a reef dive, then Cinque Island for kayaking over clear water. Visit Ross Island, the former British administrative headquarters, for its colonial-era ruins and resident deer population, before returning to Port Blair.