Buzz
A visit to Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar) truly takes your footsteps into a unique and unfamiliar territory because of its scarcity of visitors. You can swim, dive, kayak, hike, and even fish at night.
Mergui Archipelago: Myanmar's Hidden Gem of Tourism
Images of the world's most beautiful beaches often depict bustling crowds on smooth sandy shores. But is there a dreamlike beach untouched by such scenes?
Traveler Keith Lyons visits Mergui Archipelago and admires the ethereal stretches of sandy coastline on the archipelago. This is a place few tourists know about in Myanmar.
A place without electricity, without Wi-Fi
Visiting the Mergui Archipelago truly transports your footsteps into a unique and mysterious territory. Can you use mobile phones, electricity, Wi-Fi, or air conditioning there?
Where you arrive and sleep lies directly below the 10° North of the Equator, where cool sea breezes blow gently, and you can hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocky shores of the Andaman Sea.
Before the glaring rays of the sun shine upon the canopy of the ancient forests of Barwell Island and its neighboring islets, we paddle kayaks to reach a newly painted vessel in shades of cream, leaf green, and red.
Mergui Archipelago is one of the few places rarely visited by humans, with about 800 large and small islands welcoming visitors from far and wide.
Most come here to conquer some of Asia's top diving spots with stingrays and sharks, as well as diverse coral ecosystems, not to mention the beaches with hazy white sand.
Not only is it challenging to reach Mergui, but it is also quite costly. Only a few coastal bays in the archipelago host some luxury resorts, with most engaged in ecotourism activities.
At Safari Island, indulge in a 5-day/4-night exploration allowing ample time for beach relaxation, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and even nighttime fishing.
You can explore the mangrove forests by kayak or visit the fishing villages of the indigenous Moken 'sea gypsies', known for their modest way of life.
All the beaches we visited share one common trait: no people.
Nestled amidst lush rainforest, Boulder Bay Eco-Resort offers travelers memorable experiences in sustainable tourism activities.
The resort area supports the efforts of marine ecologists from the Manaia Project to research and map coral reefs and marine biodiversity across four beaches.
Coral reefs are regenerating, fish are returning to nest, creating a perfect marine world in the making.
Important Notes
From Bangkok Airport, there are 2 or 3 flights by 2 airlines, NokAir and AirAsia, to the mineral spring city of Ranong, Thailand. From there, you can take a ferry to Kawthaung, Myanmar.
Alternatively, you can also fly to Phuket and then take a taxi or bus for an additional 5-hour journey north to Ranong.
If you fly directly to Myanmar, you can fly from the capital Yangon to Kawthaung (one-way ticket prices range from $160 to $170 USD), but these flights are less frequent.
Accommodation
With the ferry service offering a 5-day/4-night itinerary on the MV Sea Gipsy (islandsafarimergui.com), the cost is $1,110 USD per person (double occupancy); for a 7-day/6-night tour, the cost is $1,530 USD per person.
This price includes accommodation, meals, non-alcoholic beverages, tour guide, kayak usage, and snorkeling equipment.
For a 3-day/2-night vacation at Boulder Island Eco-Resort (boulderasia.com), the all-inclusive cost starts from $480 USD per person (double occupancy) in standard bungalows; for a 7-day/6-night package, the all-inclusive cost is $912 USD per person.
The all-inclusive price covers airport/port transfers, boat transfers to Boulder Island, meals, equipment, and water sports gear.
Most payments are made in US dollars. In the local area of Kawthaung, guests can use two currencies: Myanmar Kyat and Thai Baht.
Foreign currencies such as Euro, USD, and Singapore dollars can be exchanged at banks.
Tipping
When visiting the marine park, entrance fees range from $30 to $120 USD.
Remember to bring your camera, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, swimwear, beach sandals, and hiking shoes.
Source: Thanh Hai/Tuoi Tre
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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour
MytourFebruary 6, 2018
