India coastline stretches more than 7,500 kilometres from Gujarat in the north-west to the Andaman Islands in the far east, offering charter waters ranging from the backwaters of Kerala to the colonial harbours of Goa and the world-class diving of the Lakshadweep archipelago. A motor yacht provides the flexibility to work this varied geography efficiently, moving between anchorages along the Malabar and Coromandel coasts and reaching the outer island groups inaccessible to fly-and-dive operators. Five motor yachts are available for Indian coastal charters, most based in Goa or the Andaman Islands.
Charter rates for motor yachts in Indian waters typically run from around 50,000 to 150,000 euros per week before the advance provisioning allowance, which covers fuel, provisions and port fees at the various harbours along the route. The most active season runs from October through March, when the south-west monsoon has passed and north-east winds give reliable conditions on the exposed coasts. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are available from November through April, with Lakshadweep peaking around the same period.
Goa is the most common departure point for motor yacht charters along the Indian west coast, with itineraries heading north to Mumbai or south to the Kerala backwaters at Kochi and Alleppey. The Lakshadweep Islands, around 400 kilometres offshore, require a separate permit and carry strict visitor quotas, making advance planning essential. The Andaman Islands, with their remarkable diving, wreck sites and the heritage of Port Blair, operate under their own permit system and attract guests seeking Indian Ocean wilderness beyond the standard resort circuit.
