Private Junk Cruise in Thailand – Sailing the Andaman Sea aboard the Dauw Talae
Experience the Andaman Sea on a private junk cruise departing from Krabi, Phuket or Phi Phi Island – exclusive, relaxed and authentic. The traditional junk DAUW TALAE II offers unforgettable sailing cruises through one of Thailand’s most stunning island regions.
Your Exclusive Sailing Cruise on the Dauw Talae
The Dauw Talae was personally designed and built by the German-Thai captain and is family-run together with his wife. Since 1997, families, couples, and private groups have enjoyed one of the last authentic junk cruises in Southeast Asia between November and April.
- Ideal for: 8–12 guests
- Trip duration: 2 to 7 nights – flexible booking
- Experience: Over 400 successful tours & 3,500 guests since 1997
Island Hopping from Krabi – Discover Natural Paradises
Sail past dramatic limestone cliffs, to white sandy beaches and uninhabited islands with crystal-clear waters.
Island hopping without the rush – explore nature away from the crowds at the most beautiful and peaceful times of day.
- Untouched islands with coral beaches
- Limestone caves & grottos
- Sunrises, starry skies & relaxed sunsets
Comfort & Indulgence at Sea
The Dauw Talae combines rustic charm with modern comfort:
- 2 tiled bathrooms with shower cabins & Western-style toilets (hotel standard)
- 2 “honeymoon cabins” on the upper deck
- 1 air-conditioned dormitory cabin & 1 air-conditioned VIP cabin with private bathroom (optional)
- 2 additional outdoor showers
- 5-star onboard cuisine – Thai & international
- Full board & soft drinks included
- Snorkeling equipment provided free of charge
- Optional: Scuba tanks (for certified divers), deep sea fishing
A Ship with Soul – “Dauw Talae” means Star of the Sea
The Dauw Talae is more than just a boat – it’s a floating home. Personal service, decades of experience, and a family-run atmosphere make every journey a unique and memorable experience.
✅ Request Your Private Junk Cruise in Thailand Now
Glamping at sea – exclusive, safe and close to nature. Perfect for families, friends or couples looking for a special escape.
👉 Secure your dates now – send a non-binding inquiry
Calculate your charter price with our pricing calculator:
Sample Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Krabi Town to Chicken Island
Light lunch – Coffee break and dinner on board. After departing from Krabi, we’ll cruise past the bizarre cliffs of Phra Nang Princess Bay. There, we’ll anchor for our first swim, a beach excursion, and our coffee break. Late in the afternoon, we’ll continue to Poda Island and explore the beaches of Krabi’s most beautiful islands. You’ll have ample time to swim, relax, and enjoy beach excursions. If the water level (tide) allows, we can visit the Talae Waeg sandbank either that evening or early the next morning. As the sun sets, we’ll indulge you with a delicious 4-5 course Thai dinner. Overnight stay at Poda Island or Chicken Island in Krabi National Park.
Day 2: Chicken Island to Phi Phi Island – Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee Break, and Dinner on board.
Junk Cruise Day 2: Early in the morning, we’ll go snorkeling or take a beach walk. Afterward, we’ll sail for about 2 hours (wind permitting) to a coral island with an impressive underwater world. Here, we’ll have ample time for swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the various beaches of the two Phi Phi Islands. The entire day will be filled with water activities, beach excursions, or simply relaxing on the ship. Typically, we’ll set sail again around 5 pm and reach the coastline of Phi Phi Island. At sunset, we’ll enter Monkey Bay. A “sundowner” can help pass the time until dinner, which will surpass your expectations from the previous day. We will anchor overnight in the Phi Phi Islands National Park.
Day 3: Phi Phi Islands – Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee Break, and Dinner on board.
Junk Cruise Day 3: In the morning, we’ll almost have Monkey Bay to ourselves. We can swim and snorkel until the first excursion boats arrive. Afterwards, we’ll have brunch and set sail again for a new snorkeling spot and quiet beaches on the back side of Phi Phi Don Island. Around noon, we’ll anchor in front of a gigantic rock face and can explore the underwater world once more. We might spend the night at Maya Bay, famous from the movie “The Beach”.
Day 4: Poda Island – Breakfast, Coffee Break, and Dinner on board.
Junk Cruise Day 4: Today we will visit various beaches of Phi Phi Don. In the late afternoon, we will sail to Poda Island and spend the night in a sheltered bay.
Day 5: Return to Krabi – Breakfast on board.
At sunrise, we will visit Poda Island. While enjoying breakfast, we will continue to Tham Phranang for one last swim. In the morning, we will then return to Krabi Town. Disembarkation at the marina in Tara Park on the Krabi Town Promenade.
Prices include full board. Transfers are not included! National Park and port fees will be collected on board at the end of the trip in Euros!
50 Euros per person (for 5 days). The trip goes through several national parks. Tip recommendation for the crew: 5-10 Euros per guest/day.
Cancellation Policy:
- up to 90 days before departure: 30% of the contract price
- 90 to 21 days before departure: 50% of the contract price
- 21 to 8 days before departure: 75% of the contract price
- from 7 days before departure: 100% of the contract price
The Story of the Dauw Talae
The History of the Lorcha
In 1843, a new type of ship was born – the Lorcha. It was a cultural hybrid, born out of necessity but shaped by ingenuity. Portuguese sailors in Macau, forced to defend themselves against Chinese pirates, combined the best of two maritime worlds:
- European hull – sturdy, wooden, and seaworthy like the caravels of the Old World.
- Chinese rigging – with legendary junk sails, reinforced by bamboo battens, easy to handle and stable even in strong winds.
This fusion created a marvel of its time: fast, agile, easy to maneuver – perfect for fighting pirates and transporting goods between ports in East and Southeast Asia.
A Dream Awakens: The Dauw Talae 2
In 1994, German engineer Raimund Fehrmann came across a report about this unique type of vessel. Something stirred in him – a dream of tradition, craftsmanship, and tropical horizons. He made the decision to build a new Lorcha, inspired by the “Macau.”
The few existing sketches were brought to the University of Applied Sciences in Münster, where they were transformed into detailed construction plans using cutting-edge 3D software of the time. In 1995, Fehrmann purchased valuable tropical hardwood from Cambodia in Bangkok, brought it to Phuket, and began building a refined descendant of the Macau.
In December 1996, it was completed: the DAUW TALAE 2 – “Star of the Sea” – was launched, majestic and timeless. Since then, she has sailed on expeditions to tropical islands in the Andaman Sea, taking guests to hidden beaches, through emerald waters – and deep into the history of a nearly forgotten type of ship.
Rebirth: The “Macau” (1988)
More than a hundred years later, in 1988, the sound of hammers on wood echoed once again through the Oficinas Navais de Macau. A group of historians, shipbuilders, and sailors dared the impossible: to reconstruct a Lorcha – despite the absence of complete construction plans.
They named her “Macau” – a tribute to their homeland.
- Length: 26.52 meters
- Beam: 6.60 meters
- Draft: 3.00 meters
- Three masts, junk sails, and – adapted to modern times – two Cummins diesel engines
Initially, she served the Portuguese Navy as a training ship, later becoming a floating cultural ambassador. In 2018, after decades of loyal service, she was dismantled in Portugal.
Lorchas in the Fight Against Chaos
In the decades that followed, Lorchas became the backbone of coastal trade. Whether between Canton and Saigon, Manila and Macau – they were everywhere. Some were armed to secure the seas, others transported spices, porcelain, and hope to the most remote corners of Asia.
But time moved on, bringing steamships, new technologies – and eventually, oblivion. Lorchas almost completely disappeared from collective memory.
A Legend Lives On
From stormy pirate hunts in the 18th century to peaceful sunsets in 21st-century Thailand – the story of the Lorcha is more than just a chapter in maritime history. It is a testament to human creativity, cultural fusion, and deep love for the sea.
And as long as the DAUW TALAE sails through the waves, this legend lives on. She is more than a ship – she is a living dragon lady, a bridge through time.