Mergui Archipelago yacht charter
Exclusive, unspoilt, and truly magical, the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar is a spectacular place on Earth that's perfect for yacht charter holidays unlike any other. Only opened to foreign tourists in 1997, it was a well-kept tropical paradise of Myanmar, with spectacular rainforests, a world of exciting flora and fauna, and immaculate white sand beaches with no infrastructure in sight. A true tropical heaven, a yacht charter in Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago is truly an unforgettable experience you shouldn't miss.
5 days yacht charter holiday in Mergui Archipelago
A 5-day Myanmar yacht charter can introduce you to a world of tranquil and secluded bays, Sea Gypsy villages, and untouched coral reefs worthy of several days of diving and exploration. You can start your yacht charter in Myanmar by taking a flight to Ranong, a town in Thailand which serves as the gateway to the Mergui Archipelago.
Day 1: Palu Beda
Start your charter by heading your way to Palu Beda. This group of islands offer plenty of hidden beaches to explore. In fact, there are over 50 that are just waiting for you to discover. Choose one or two and spend your day swimming, snorkelling, fishing, or kayaking on any of the islands. The perfect way to start your Myanmar yacht charter, the Palu Beda island group offers plenty of water activities on the Andaman Sea.
Day 2: Lampi Island
This island is a designated National Park and home to the Moken or Sea Gypsies. With an outstanding natural beauty, Lampi Island is the quintessential Mergui island, where peace and quiet offer the rest and relaxation that you need. You can visit the Moken people and witness their culture and the way they live, or you can see the oldest mangroves on the planet, with some having grown to over 25 meters high. End your day cruising along Hornbill Bay, as you watch the most beautiful sunset you have ever witnessed.
Day 3: Galet Salet
A narrow channel between Lampi Island and Wa Ale Kyun, this perfectly protected shelter passage offers spectacular views of the islands all around you. With pristine jungles and rainforests, it's like taking a trip back in time when no human settlements were found on the islands. If you're up for the challenge, trek up the West Peak, which is 385 meters high, and marvel at the breathtaking views of the islands from the top. Jungle walks, bird watching, and wildlife sightings are also some of the exciting activities that you can enjoy in Galet Salet.
Day 4: Great Swinton Island
Great Swinton Island offers a sheltered bay, making it an idyllic anchorage spot. From here, you can explore the Three Islets, which offer the best marine life in the Mergui archipelago. This is the place where scuba divers can have the time of their lives, witnessing harlequin shrimps, anemones, starfishes, massive schools of fusilier, and silversides.
Day 5: Macleod Island
Macleod Island is the home of the only resort in the Mergui Archipelago, which is The Andaman Resort. The island features a sheltered bay offering the perfect spot for water-based activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming. Hop onshore and enjoy a hike to the 300-meter peak, offering panoramic views of the island. On your 6th day, head back to Ranong as you say goodbye to the remarkable wonders of the beautiful Mergui Archipelago.
7 days yacht charter holiday in Mergui Archipelago
If you're up for a more extended yacht charter in Myanmar, then an entire week of cruising the Mergui Archipelago is the holiday for you. Get to add more islands to your itinerary, and truly immerse yourself in its beauty. Your first five days can consist of the itinerary mentioned above, with two new additions for two more days of exploring the islands.
Day 6: Cock Comb Island
Cock Comb is a small island and one of the most popular in the Mergui Archipelago because of its hidden lagoon. You won't see the lagoon from the waters, and you won't reach it with your yacht. You'll have to snorkel your way through or ride an inflatable kayak to get through a tiny opening on the eastern side of the island. If you have a drone, the pictures will enchant you with this fantastic secret blue-watered lagoon inside the island. The lagoon itself is quite the natural sight, but it's also teeming with marine life and colorful corals, making it perfect for snorkelers or scuba divers to explore. Before you end your day, your yacht can cruise to Horseshoe Island, which is a small limestone archipelago with towering cliffs rising above the waters.
Day 7: Zadetkalay Islands
Enjoy your last day here, where white-sand beaches provide the perfect spot for some sunbathing, swimming, beach picnic, snorkelling, as well as diving. On your 8th day, sail back to Ranong to end your one-week yacht charter in Myanmar.
10 days yacht charter holiday in Mergui Archipelago
You can begin your Mergui Archipelago yacht charter holiday from Phuket and include a couple of Thai islands on your itinerary. It would be a shame if you embark from Phuket and don't drop anchor in these islands before and after you visit the Mergui Archipelago. You can have the 7-day itinerary mentioned above, but starting your charter in Phuket.
Day 1: Phuket to Similan Islands
The Similan National Park offers world-class dive sites that are a true scuba diver's paradise. With huge boulders and abundant marine life, there's an entire world underwater that's just waiting to be experienced. Spend a day in the Similan Islands before beginning your yacht charter in Myanmar at the Mergui Archipelago.
Day 2 - 8 : Central Mergui Archipelago
Spend a day exploring each of the seven islands of Palu Beda, Lampi Island, Galet Salet, Great Swinton Island, Macleod Island, Cock Comb Island, and tropical paradise in Zadetkalay Island.
Day 9: Surin Islands
Before making your way back to Phuket, visit the island group of Surin, which consists of 5 islands, located 60km from the mainland. Surrounded by coral reefs and beautiful rainforest, you can either choose to spend your day out on the waters, on the beaches or inland, where hiking nature trails and visiting Moken villages are some of the exciting activities.
Day 10: Phuket
Make your way back to Phuket on your 10th day, stopping by smaller islands to snorkel or swim in hidden coves, or thoroughly enjoying the limestone cliffs and the breathtaking views that surround the Andaman Sea.
When is the best time to visit Mergui Archipelago?
The best time to visit the Mergui Archipelago is from October to May. Because Myanmar has a tropical climate, a yacht charter in Myanmar is best enjoyed during these months as the weather is warmer, the waters are calmer, and chances of rain is very minimal, as compared to the wet monsoon season of June to September. A cruise along the Mergui Archipelago defines a yacht charter in Myanmar.
There's so much to discover in these serene and pristine waters that it's simply a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that you shouldn't miss. With heavy tourist restrictions and being accessible only by boat or pirate yacht charters, it's a true tropical paradise visited only by a select few.