Click here for more information.
We offer luxury sailing adventures, island hopping adventure cruises, live aboard diving cruises and also private chartered yachts and boats in Mergui Archipelago.
Mergui Archipelago
Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago, an enormous area features more than 800 pristine islands dotted through out the Andaman Sea of the coast between Myeik (Mergui) and Kawthaung (Victoria Point). Due to its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an amazing diversity of flora and fauna and very beautiful underwater scenes and marine life. Mergui Archipelago is famous as a destination for activities such as diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, fishing and nature research. There are not many islands left in the world that pristine are as of islands in the Mergui Archipelago. It is possible to visit islands in the Archipelago and find no signs of human habitation.
Myanmar Andaman and Mergui Archipelago are situated in the southern province of Myanmar. The vast, pristine and extremely beautiful archipelago covering a 10,000 square miles area along Myanmar cost line between Myeik and Kawthaung (Victoria Point) consists over 800 tropical islands with amazingly diverse marine life, wildlife, flora and fauna. Mergui Archipelago was listed as one of the destination on “The National Geographic Best Trips 2015”.
“Forbidden Islands” sounds like something from a fairy tale, and stories about Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago do seem like a fantasy: hundreds of undiscovered white-sand beaches, dense unexplored jungles, and clans of the mysterious Moken sea gypsies. Klaus Reisinger, who co-directed a documentary titled Burma’s Forbidden Islands about the island chain, calls the area “one of the last paradises left on Earth.” The National Geographic Best Trips 2015
There are not many such pristine, untouched and wild tropical islands left in the world nowadays.The local population live there are mainly Salone (the Mokans or the Sea Gypsies), a nomadic sea-faring race whose lifestyle has changed very little over the years. Some Bahmar (Burmese) and Pashu tribes also live in the area.
All the tour operated in this area including the resort and the cruises takes a great care to provide services to guests to explore the nature without disturbing or upsetting the ecosystem. All tour operations in Mergui Archipelago are orientated towards environmentally friendliness, conservation of the nature and ethical tourism practise to maintain the balance of nature and tourism and to avoid the zone from becoming a mass tourism destination. Tour operators also work together with the locals, and their conservation activities include educating the locals to stop dynamite fishing practised in some area which is now effectively illegal.
Salone (Mokan), Sea Gypsies of the Andaman Sea
Salone, the local term for the nomadic Morken people lives in Mergui Archipelago in southern province of Myanmar. Salone are the minority groups of the northern branch of Austronesian people with a distinctive cultural identity. They live on boats most of the year, live on land during rainy season where they do some cultivation. Their main livelihood is diving for pearl, fishing, collecting shells and other valuale resources from the sea. Desptie being forced into settlements, they maintain their traditional way of living, fishing and boat building techniques used for generations.
“The Moken are born, live, and die on their boats, and the umbilical cords of their children plunge into the sea.”
Bill Fink, @finktravels
Images of Mergui Archipelago, Mokan (Salone) people and marine life
Climate and weather
Temperature is moderate all year round. However the sea is rough during the raining season and not suitable for sailing. The air temperature during the day time is about 28-32°C and the water temperature will be about 26-29°C.
October to April: best time for sailing and cruises.
October to February: 20°C to 24°C, cool and pleasantMarch to May: 30°C to 35°C, hot and dry
Getting to Mergui Archipelago
Kawthaung (Victoria point) on the southern tip of Myanmar is the main gateway to Mergui Archipelago. Almost all sailing yachts, cruises and transfer to two resorts in Mergui Archipelago starts from Myoma Jetty in Kawthaung. There are several options to reach to Kawthaung.
Myeik is another town in Mergui Archipelago, a few hours’ drive up north of Kawthaung. If you are arriving from within Myanmar, you can fly directly to Myeik Airport, which is connected to various domestic airports and served by several local airlines including Myanmar Airway International and KBZ (airfares: approximately US$ 138 per person each way, subject to changes by the airlines). One of our adventure cruises starts from Myeik and another one ends in Myeik. We can assist with booking domestic flights and arrange pre and post tour transportation to and from Myeik.
Flying to Kawthaung (Myanmar)
If you are arriving from within Myanmar, you can fly directly to Kawthaung Airport, which is connected to various domestic airports and served by several local airlines including Myanmar Airway International and KBZ (airfares: approximately US$ 140 and US$ 177 per person each way, subject to changes by the airlines). We can assist with booking domestic flights and arrange pre and post tour transportation for our customers, as specified in individual tour/ itinerary.
Below are the places to stay in Kawthaung, please note that the prices are estimates only and subject to changes by the providers.
- Honey Bear Hotel (2 Star), approximately USD 50 per room per night without breakfast
- Kawthaung Motel (2 Star), approximately USD 30 per room per night without breakfast
- Andaman Club Hotel* (5 Star), approximately USD 79 per room per night with breakfast plus US$5 per person each way for the transfer between Myoma Jetty in Kawthaung and Andaman Club Hotel in Thahtaykyun Island.
Flying to Ranong (Thailand)
Another option is to fly to Ranong Airport in Thailand. There are daily flights from Bangkok’s domestic airport by Nok Air and Phuket Air (airfares: approximately Baht 3200 per person each way, subject to changes by the airline). You can get a taxi from the airport to the jetty in Ranong, from there it takes a few minutes ride on the long tail boat across the Pakchan River to Kawthaung on Myanmar side. We organise pre and post tour transportation either from or to Ranong Airport or the jetty, as specified in individual tour/ itinerary.
Below are the places to stay in Ranong, please note that the prices are estimates only and subject to changes by the providers.
- Surat House Guesthouse, Baht 500 per room per night without breakfast (with airconidition, TV & Shower)
- Royal Princess Hotel (4 Star), Baht 1800 per room per night with breakfast
Arriving via Phuket
Phuket International Airport is a convenient and well-connected place to fly to. From there, it’s a scenic 4 hour car journey to Thai border town, Ranong. We assist with pre and post tour transportation for customers who has booked Mergui Archipelago Luxury Sailing Adventure, Mergui Island expeditions and privately chartered luxury yachts.
Visa
Travellers to Myanmar required a visa. A tourist visa which is valid for travel for 28 days can be obtained from any Myanmar Embassy.
Most traveller on Mergui Archipelago tours get visa-on-arrival in Kawthaung (Myanmar) which is pretty hassle free. We can assist the customers on our tour with visa-on-arrival. Your passport must be valid to travel for 6 months beyond your trip in Myanmar. For the visa process, we need your passport details, father’s name, address and occupation in advanced. You also need to bring 4 passport size photos with your passport. Visa fees is approximately US$30 (in crisp notes) subject to changes, payable directly to the immigration officer.
Mergui Archipelago zone entry fees
Zone entry fees ranges from US$80 to 250 per person depending on the destination and the type of tours, details are specified in each itineraries.
Currency
US Dollar and Euro cash are accepted in Myanmar. We recommend you bring crisp currency notes. Old, torn and creased foreign currency notes especially US$ notes are not accepted at most places in Myanmar.
The local currency is the Myanmar Kyat (MMK) with an exchange rate of 1 USD to about 1,000 MMK. Do bring cash as the newly installed ATMs in Kawthaung may not function and as credit cards are not always accepted. For any purchases in the region, you can also use Thai Bhat – the change you will receive will most likely be in Kyat.
Insurance
All customers are responsible to take out a suitable travel insurance before joining our tours. Your insurance should provide a full coverage specifically for the adventure travel activities you are participating as well as personal baggage, accidents and medical (medical evacuation which include helicopter rescue and emergency assistance is highly recommended due to the nature of remoteness in Mergui Archipelago area).
Insurance What to bring?
Bathers, sun screen for face and body, sun hat, sun glasses, camera, prescription medicines, insect repellent, mosquito repellent, antiseptic cream for minor cuts and scratches though there will be first aid equipment on our cruises, towels (towels are provided on luxury yacht sailing adventures), extra pair of prescription glasses, a small flash light and extra passport photos. On board, you won’t need shoes but you can bring flip-flops or reef shoes for beach outings if you want and prescription mask for snorkelling or diving if you use one. You may want to consider bringing anti-malaria tablets.