MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO ADVENTURE

6-Day Mergui Archipelago Adventure Cruise Including Diving Experience

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The Mergui Archipelago comprises of over eight hundred tropical islands scattered over an area of some ten thousand square miles, in the Andaman Sea, off the South West coast of Myanmar. It has been closed to foreigners for over 50 years, until 1997.

Due to the area’s isolation, the islands remain as pristine as they have done for the past 100 years. The islands and surrounding seas are alive with amazing diversity of wildlife, flora and fauna. They undoubtedly take their place amongst the world’s greatest and most spectacular wilderness destinations.
The only human inhabitants are the sea gypsies, a nomadic sea-faring race whose lifestyle has changed very little over the years. The ‘sea gypsies’ Salone people still practice the same fishing and boat building techniques as used for generations.

This Eco-adventure besides cruising and exploring remote tropical islands, offers a combination of other activities. The activities offered include, kayaking sea and mangrove rivers, diving, snorkelling, island trekking, beach combing and much more. The variety of activities makes this cruise suitable for all ages and is especially exciting for children. Naturally you can be as active as you wish.

DAY 01          YANGON / RANONG - KAWTHAUNG

From Ranong, Meet on arrival at Ranong Airport, Transfer to Ranong Immigration for Thai check-out, then continue to the jetty to board a long tail boat for the Pakchan river crossing to Kawthaung. After completing Myanmar entry formalities, depart for sightseeing tour in this interesting Myanmar border trading town, formerly known as Victoria Point, before boarding the boat.
From Yangon, Meet at Kawthaung Airport and transfer to Jetty for boarding the boat.
Depart from Kawthaung at approximately 17.00 hour for the islands of the Mergui Archipelago.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 02          CRESCENT BAY,LAVIAUNG & NALA ISLANDS

Enjoy breakfast on board. The morning is reserved for relaxing and snorkelling at Crescent Bay (a cluster of islands grouped together to form a beautiful bay) with white beaches in every direction. Afternoon set sail north to Laviaung Island. Explore this beautiful island’s deserted beaches and swim in the crystal clear waters. After lunch travel north to Nala Island and visit a Salone (sea gypsy) village. Evening at anchor, in this vicinity.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 03          LAMPI, TAYU & KUBO ISLANDS

Breakfast on board. Sail to Lampi island in the morning. Explore the southern-most of the island’s mangrove rivers, using inflatable dinghy and kayaks. Lunch on board. In the afternoon sail north along the western coast of Lampi visiting Tayu Island. Anchor overnight by the Kubo Island.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 04          LAMPI ISLAND, KUBO ISLAND, SALET GALET

Breakfast on board. Morning visit to the northern-most river on Lampi island, tide permitting. Afternoon spent sailing and exploring Kubo Island. The evening is spent at Salet Galet, a secluded ‘S’ shaped channel which guarantees a calm, secluded anchorage. This is a good place for bird spotting, including hornbills. Crab-eating monkeys can be seen here on the shoreline feasting on oysters.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 05          WA-ALE KYUN & GT. SWINTON ISLANDS

Breakfast on board. Early morning cruise around Wa-Ale Kyun enjoy sunbathing and a lunch on a beautiful beach. This day is reserved for snorkelling, swimming, diving and relaxing on Wa-Ale before an evening cruise to the overnight anchorage in a bay off the Gt. Swinton Islands.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 06          GT. SWINTON, MC CARTHY, STEWARD & CAVERN ISLANDS

Breakfast on board. An early morning dive at the site known as ‘In through the Outdoor’, an exciting cave dive, tide permitting. You can alternatively enjoy relaxing at the yacht, sunbathe and swim.
Continue cruising south past Pu Pankyup, spending some time exploring Cavern, McCarthy and Stewart Islands, opportunity here for another dive in this vicinity.
Late afternoon, set sail for return to Kawthaung, arriving late evening.
Overnight stay in Pyin Oo Lwin.

DAY 07          PYIN OO LWIN (MAYMYO) – LASHIO

After breakfast, a scenic (190 km - 6 hours) drive will take you to Lashio, located at 855 meters altitude in a mountain basin. En route, visit the deep Buddha-filled caves of PEIK KHYIN MYAUNG, caves almost as old as the land itself. Upon Arrival in Lashio, transfer to your hotel.
After lunch, for the energetic, possibility to visit a typical village of the Palaung ethnic minority. Drive to the outskirts of Lashio from where continue on foot about 4 km slight up-hill (1 hour walk per way) on an unpaved path to get to the Nam Kyan village. You will have an opportunity to get an insight to the culture of the Palaung people and learn more of their life style and society.
Dinner and overnight stay on board.

DAY 08          DEPART KAWTHAUNG

Disembark Kawthaung at 9.00 am, local transfer to Kawthaung Airport to Yangon or Ranong Airport to Bangkok.

Note : This is a guide lining itinerary for this tropical islands adventure. The itinerary may need to be re-arranged to suit tide requirements and other factors.

DIVING : This cruise is suitable for divers as well as non-divers, the itinerary provides up to 6 guided dives during the 5 days of adventure. Of which some is exceptional open water diving. (gear rental is not included)

EXTEND YOUR VISIT: For guests wishing to extent their stay in the archipelago before or after the cruise, we recommend additional beach days at the ‘Myanmar Andaman Resort’ located on Kayin Kwa (Macleod) Island. For more details, please contact us.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Visa

Guests joining from Ranong do not need to apply for Myanmar visas at Myanmar Embassies. They will be issued with Myanmar Entry Permits in Kawthaung which are valid for the duration of their selected program (no prior arrangements are necessary). Guests must enter and exit at Kawthaung and cannot extend their stay in Myanmar.
Guests who in addition wish to travel to other areas in Myanmar need to apply for a Myanmar Visa at a Myanmar Embassy.

Permission

A special permit is required for all nationalities in order to be allowed to enter Mergui Archipelago and to cross the border. Asian Tour will obtain such permits at the discretion of the Myanmar government. We require all client passport details as well as occupation latest 30 days prior to arrival.

How To Get There

1. Phuket Airlines operate daily return flights from Bangkok to Ranong early afternoon time. Then, cross the border to Kawthaung. You can either depart to Yangon or depart back to Ranong.

2. Air Bagan operates flights from Yangon to Kawthaung three days a week Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. You can fly back to Yangon or depart from Kawthaung to Ranaung by crossing the border.

Force Majeure

If, before the start of the cruise, Acts of God, political incident, perils of sea, force majeure or heavy weather covering the cruise route or ports of call should render sailing inadvisable or dangerous to the life or health of the passengers or to the vessel, the vessel captain, with or without consultation, shall have the right to delay the cruise. Likewise, in the course of the execution of the cruise, should heavy weather or force majeure events occur to make it inadvisable for passengers to land, or for the vessel to enter a port, the vessel captain shall have the right to delay or postpone sailing until conditions permit the parties to make adjustments to the itinerary including cancellation of certain landfalls or the re-sequencing of island visits.