Explorer Yachts

The Pelorus Explorer Yacht Collection

Explorer yachts for charter, chosen for the itineraries they make possible.

The Pelorus Explorer Yacht Collection brings together five long-range explorer yachts selected for one reason: the ability to go further, and to make the most of it when you get there. Explorer yachts occupy a specific position in the charter market. Built for range, shallow draft and active itineraries, they reach the anchorages that standard superyachts cannot.

The outer islands of Indonesia, the fjords of Greenland, the less-visited coasts of the Caribbean, the remote stretches of the Indian Ocean. Without the industrial profile of a polar expedition yacht, and without sacrificing the design standard you would expect. Each yacht in this collection has been selected by the Pelorus team for its comfort, aesthetic and ability to support the kind of itinerary we design.

Plan Your Explorer Yacht Charter

What an Explorer Yacht Makes Possible

  • Access shallow bays, hidden coves and smaller islands unreachable for large expedition yachts
  • Extended cruising across the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Indian Ocean, without frequent port calls
  • Faster cruising speeds for efficient repositioning between remote anchorages
  • Flexible deck spaces designed for tenders, toys and aircraft operations
  • Large, multifunctional helidecks on select explorer yachts
  • Stable platforms ideal for diving, water sports, aerial exploration and beach landings
  • All the comfort and refinement of a superyacht, tailored for adventure
  • The range and access of an expedition yacht, without the industrial profile.
Luxury yacht interior design deck of KING BENJI

BOLD

A GROUNDBREAKING HIGH-SPEED EXPLORER YACHT FOR GLOBAL ADVENTURE

BOLD was the world's fastest explorer yacht at launch. Her 23-knot cruising speed and 2.8-metre draft together open up anchorages unavailable to any comparable yacht. The shallow bays of the Maldives, the less-visited coasts of the Red Sea, the outer islands of Indonesia, places that reward a yacht built for access rather than scale.

Her 400m² aft deck is the operational heart of the yacht. It runs as a certified helideck with flush lighting for after-dark operations, converts to a tender and toy launch area via a 6-tonne crane, and opens as an alfresco lounge when the bulwarks are lowered. A 5,000-nautical-mile range means the itinerary is never shaped by where the next fuel stop is.

Inside, a loft-style skylounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and an all-weather Wintergarden give guests space between days on the water. BOLD is among the most capable explorer yachts currently available for charter.


EXPLORE Bold



KIng benji

A NEXT-GENERATION EXPLORER YACHT FOR MEDITERRANEAN AND CARIBBEAN ADVENTURE

King Benji 47m superyacht built by Dunya Yachts breakfast with a view

Designed from new with range and lifestyle given equal weight, KING BENJI is one of the few explorer yachts on the charter market to have been built this way from the outset. Delivered by Dunya Yachts in 2024, she is not a conversion or a refit. She was purpose-built for this.

She accommodates 10 guests across five cabins, with a full-beam owner's suite and private balcony. Her 4,000-nautical-mile range supports extended cruising without frequent port calls across the Mediterranean and Caribbean, while her equipment reflects a preference for active time on and in the water: a 10-tonne crane for toy deployment, a Teppanyaki grill on the bridge deck, a crow's nest for elevated viewing and a hot and cold plunge pool.

The interior uses natural, textural materials throughout, creating a calm atmosphere that contrasts well with the days outside. For anyone looking for a newer-build explorer yacht with strong onboard character, KING BENJI is the yacht for your next adventure.


Explore King benji



ASTERIA

A CLASSIC LONG-RANGE EXPLORER YACHT FOR REMOTE, WILDERNESS-LED CHARTERS

A 10,000-nautical-mile range puts ASTERIA in a different category from most explorer yachts on the charter market. Greenland, Svalbard, Patagonia, Antarctica, these are not theoretical itineraries for her. They are the routes she was built for.

Originally constructed in 1970 as a salvage tug and converted to a luxury yacht in 2002, with a major refit in 2019, her hull and seakeeping carry that working heritage. She goes where conditions are difficult because she was designed for exactly that. Her experienced expedition crew knows these waters.

She accommodates 12 guests across seven cabins, including a full-beam owner's suite and an adjoining children's cabin, a layout that works well for family expeditions to remote latitudes. Warm timber interiors, panoramic windows and enclosed dining areas sit alongside expansive outdoor decks and a Jacuzzi. The tender and dive kit is broad.


EXPLORE ASTERIA


Arctic

AN 88-METRE EXPLORER YACHT WITH A 16,000-NAUTICAL-MILE RANGE

At 88 metres and with a 16,000-nautical-mile range, ARCTIC operates at a scale no other explorer yacht in this collection can match. Originally built as an ice-class salvage tug and one of the first yachts to demonstrate that exploration and genuine comfort could share the same hull, she was relaunched in 2025 following a full refit that extended her capability considerably.

Her steel hull and ice-class pedigree put itineraries across Svalbard, Greenland, the Northwest Passage and the remote Pacific firmly within reach. On deck, she carries one of the largest tender fleets on the charter market, including landing craft and high-performance chase boats, alongside a helideck and adaptable expedition zones. Full dive, ROV and submersible support is available on board.

For groups requiring genuine go-anywhere capability at scale, with a crew and systems to match, ARCTIC is the yacht.


EXPLORE arctic



Freya

A TRUE ICE-CLASS EXPEDITION YACHT BUILT FOR DEEP POLAR EXPLORATION

FREYA's 1A ice-class hull is what separates her from every other yacht in this collection. That classification means she can penetrate deep into Arctic pack ice, reaching coastlines and glacial fronts that ice-capable yachts with lighter ratings cannot access. The itinerary is not shaped around what is safe. It is shaped around what is there.

Expert guides travel with the yacht. Daily Zodiac excursions put guests directly onto ice floes, glacial beaches and wildlife shores: polar bear sightings on Svalbard, walrus colonies on Franz Josef Land, humpback feeding grounds off the coast of Greenland. An open-bridge policy means you can stand alongside the captain as the yacht navigates through sea ice. Multi-level observation decks give sightlines across the ice that few platforms can match.

A sauna, hot tub and warm saloon bring the day in at the end of it. If the destination is the high Arctic, FREYA is the yacht.

EXPLORE Freya

 


Understanding Explorer Yachts

An explorer yacht is a long-range vessel engineered to travel far beyond conventional charter routes, offering the capability to reach remote anchorages, shallow bays and off-grid coastlines while maintaining the comfort and design standards of a luxury superyacht. Unlike traditional yachts, explorer yachts prioritise range, storage for tenders and toys, stability in varied sea states and the ability to support activities such as diving, heli-operations and overwater exploration.

Explorer yachts focus on versatility, range and access rather than extreme heavy-ice capability. They are typically faster, more lifestyle-driven and better suited to warm-water or temperate cruising, offering shallow drafts, large multifunctional decks and flexible toy garages. Expedition yachts, by contrast, are built for remote wilderness and polar conditions with reinforced hulls and industrial-grade systems. In short: explorer yachts give you more freedom of movement; expedition yachts give you more protection in severe environments.

Explorer yachts are designed to open up regions that standard superyachts cannot comfortably reach. Depending on the vessel, this includes the Mediterranean’s lesser-visited coves, the Caribbean’s shallows, the fjords of Norway and Greenland, the Red Sea, remote Central American islands or vast Indo-Pacific archipelagos. Larger explorer yachts, such as ARCTIC, can also operate confidently in high-latitude regions, offering safe access to dramatic wilderness areas without compromising comfort.

Key features include long cruising ranges (often 4,000–16,000 nm), efficient hull designs, substantial storage for provisions, enhanced fuel capacity and robust engineering for dependable off-grid operation. Many explorer yachts also carry multiple tenders, landing craft, submersible or ROV support, extensive dive gear and, in some cases, a helideck for scouting or remote transfers. This combination allows guests to move easily between land, sea and air in locations far from infrastructure.

Explorer yachts are designed to maximise access. Multiple tenders, including fast chase boats, rigid inflatables, landing craft and specialist dive tenders, allow guests to reach beaches, reefs, fjords and hidden bays that the mothership cannot. Toy collections are similarly extensive: jet skis, seabobs, e-foils, paddleboards, kayaks, scuba equipment and sometimes even submersibles. This equipment transforms remote destinations into fully immersive playgrounds.

Many of the best explorer yachts do. Vessels such as BOLD feature large, multi-purpose helidecks that support heli-operations for transfers, aerial reconnaissance, or specialist activities such as heli-skiing. These spaces often convert into entertainment areas, outdoor cinemas or lounges, giving explorer yachts far more flexibility than traditional superyachts.

This depends on the yacht, but explorer yachts are designed for extended autonomy. Newer vessels often range from 3,500–5,000 nautical miles, while larger explorer platforms such as ARCTIC deliver extraordinary reach of up to 16,000 nautical miles. This long-range capability enables true ocean-crossing itineraries and access to isolated regions where fuel stops are scarce.

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Explorer Yachts Summit 2025: The Trends Steering Next-Generation Exploration

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Start Planning Your Explorer Yacht Charter


The ultimate yacht adventure aboard a top explorer yacht is determined by where you want to go and what you want to do when you get there. Speak with a Pelorus expedition designer to start building your explorer yacht charter.


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