Itinerary7 DAY MYANMAR, MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO

HIGHLIGHTS• Sail the beautiful clear waters of the untouched, Mergui archipelago.

• Visit local Sea Gypsy communities

• Enjoy spectacular untouched scenery including white sand beaches, protected bays and an incredible enclosed lagoon – all perfect for watersports!

• Dive or snorkel an enormous variety of sites with fringing reefs and seamounts and marvel at the incredible underwater biodiversity they attract.

THE MERGUI ARCHIPELAGOThere are very few places in this world that feel truly undiscovered; completely isolated and peaceful. Mergui Archipelago, in southern Myanmar, is one of those places.

There are more than 800 rugged islands in this isolated archipelago. Most of them are completely unspoilt: the diversity of flora and fauna on the islands is staggering, and marine life is prolific. Many islands are covered in thick tropical rainforests, while the coral systems here are thriving. The only people who live in the area are the Moken, fishing and free-diving sea gypsies who spend most of their life on water.

Underwater, the best conditions in the archipelago for diving are from November until April; whale sharks and manta rays are usually in the area from February until May. Other marine life includes frogfish, grey reef sharks, ribbon eels, cowries, mobula rays, lobsters, ghost pipefish and nurse sharks.

For the longest time Mergui, which is in the Andaman Sea off the western shore of the Malay Peninsula, has been closed to tourists. It was opened up in 1997 but even now there are very restricted (and unreliable) flights to the area, so the archipelago is still a beautiful, well-kept secret.

V I E W V I D E O

M YA N M A R

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PASSAGE PLAN Distance 160 NM

Day 1 Palu BedaDay 2 Lampi IslandDay 3 Galet Salet Day 4 Great Swinton IslandDay 5 MacLeod Island Day 6 Cock Comb IslandDay 7 Kawthaung

ACTIVITIES• Diving/Snorkeling• Fishing• Watersports• Beach & Relaxation• Coastal Exploration• Hiking

OPTIONSBegin or end in Thailand with stops in Surin and/or Similan Islands

M YA N M A R

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KAWTHAUNG TO PALU BEDAThe crew will meet you at the airport in Kawthaung (Myanmar) and you’ll be on board in no time. After a boat orientation and safety briefing, relax on deck with a welcome drink as you set sail into the Mergui Archipelago. You will spend the rest of the day enjoying the beautiful beaches of Palu Beda – a group of many nameless small islands and an idyllic anchorage.

ABOUTThese jungle-laden and mountainous islands that make up this group have over 50 white sand beaches and beautiful fringing coral reef. This is a great place for kayaking, snorkeling, fishing or just relaxing and enjoying the birdsong from the jungle. Guests are free to explore the beauties of the virgin island at leisure.

DAY O N E

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LAMPI ISLANDLampi is an island of outstanding natural beauty and has been made designated as a National Park by the government. There are endless white sandy beaches along its coast, some of which stretch for two kilometers or more. Some of the Moken or Salon people, commonly known as Sea Gypsies have settled down here.

ACTIVITIESRib exploration in the morning to see ‘Sea gypsies’ using traditional methods to collect fresh water from the condensation on rocks ashore.

Explore by tender some of the oldest mangroves on the planet with some of the trees standing 25-35 metres tall. The mangroves stretech over 1nm inland.

Enjoy the white sand beach at the entrance of the mangroves - Paddle boarding, kayaking, beaching.

Take in the sunset at ‘Hornbill Bay’ and see numerous exotic birds including Kingfisher, Pacific Reef Egret, White Breasted Sea Eagle, Heron and of course the Hornbill.

DAY T W O

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GALET SALET & THREE ISLETSDepart before breakfast headed for “Selat Galet”, a hidden passage between two islands. This narrow channel between Lampi island and Wa Ale Kyunn forms a perfectly protected anchorage surrounded by pristine jungle.

Guests often encounter the nomadic “Moken” tribe in this area who still live a hunter-gatherer existence in this remote wilderness.

• Early am visit to fishing village

This is a great area for jungle walks, kayaking and wildlife viewing. For the energetic, one can take a trek up the West Peak - 385 meter high) enjoy the natural view of the Island.

• Enjoy water sports, swimming, and Snorkeling near the island.

Soak up the sun on one of the many great beaches before we set sail again in the afternoon to relocate to a special place for a bonfire and beach BBQ in the evening.

DAY T H R E E

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GREAT SWINTON ISLAND & THREE ISLETSGreat Swinton Island provides another idyllic anchorage with a sparkling white beach with plush rainforest in the background. It’s rumoured that people have seen lizards here that are so large they first thought they were alligators!

Spend the morning at the beach, relax enjoy a gentle walk around the area, swim and enjoy the watersports equipment.

In the early afternoon, your vessel will move to Three Islets for diving and snorkeling.

This is an extraordinary dive site. Three rocks rise out of the sea from 40 metres below harboring some of the best marine life in the archipelago. Huge schools of fusilier and silversides surround you upon entering the water. The sandy base of the islands reveals unusual anemones and starfish, while the walls are covered with orange cup corals, whip corals, and green tubastrea coral. It is one of the better areas to see harlequin shrimp and harlequin ghost pipe fish.

Later in the afternoon, set sails again to reach Macleod Island before night fall, which is home to the only bungalow resort in the entire Archipelago.

DAY F O U R

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MACLEOD ISLANDThe Andaman Resort is beautiful a Burmese classic style building resort which is built on this island. currently the only accommodation in the Mergui Archipelago.

The resort, which is an Eco-lodge is based on a large bay in the south of the island where beautiful coral life, white sandy beaches, thick tropical rain forest and a number of birds and wild life are found.

Its sheltered bay presents opportunity for a variety of water-based activities; in addition, walking tracks are formed on the island and it is possible to hike to the top of the hills behind the bay to a 300-meter high panoramic view of the surrounding area – a great spot for group photos! The lodge also offers traditional Burmese massages – a must try!

DAY F I V E

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COCK COMB ISLAND, WESTERN ROCK & HORSESHOE ISLANDS An early start for a day of island hopping and exploring.

As the boat gets under way, divers will depart for diving at Western Rock, one of the diving highlights of the region - rock with underwater caves going from one side to the other.

Divers will later catch up with the boat at Cock Comb Island - a small rugged island, in the middle of which is a large heart-shaped lagoon only accessible through a small opening on its eastern side. You enter the lagoon by snorkeling, taking an inflatable or kayak to the inside, which is the size of a football field. It’s filled with teems of fish life and has an abundance of colorful corals. Cocks Comb island is one of the “must-do” excursions in the Archipelago!

In the afternoon, the boat will move to Horseshoe Island, a small limestone archipelago with steep limestone rocks sticking out of the water.

ACTIVITIESVisit the lagoon at low tide to enter with small rib otherwise entering with kayak, paddle board and snorkeling - snorkeling or diving along the wall outside

Tour with large rib around the islands and finish with the boat at small island with a beautiful lagoon.

Also in the area is a very nice beach to spend time on with small settlement for bird nest chaser.

DAY S I X

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KAWTHAUNGEarly morning passage to Kawthaung. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast aboard as we travel toward the harbor and say goodbye before ourcrew brings you to the airport for your onward journey.

DAY S E V E N

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L Y A C H T C H A R T E R