Burma, or Myanmar, is a country located in southeast Asia, and the Mergui Archipelago in the southern part is a group of islands that are over 800 in number in the Andaman Sea.
These islands were closed to the outside world for a long time, and even today, free access to these islands is impossible as one has to take prior permission and can go there only in a group. The Merges’ island is also the dwelling place of the Mokens—the sea people, also referred to as the sea gypsies, who have lived and fished in the sea waters of the archipelago for generations.
Due to its sandy beaches, clear water, and diversity of marine life, traveling in the Mergui Archipelago is a distinct adventure. Most of these islands are still unoccupied, and several of them have not been researched in detail.
It may be most explored by water since tourists are in a position to move through the different islands and enjoy the coral gardens, as well as sleep on the sand beaches. The Mergui Archipelago is still considered one of the last touristic unspoiled sites of Southeast Asia, and that is why it attracts travelers who seek to enjoy the closeness with nature without meeting fellow travelers.
The islands and the seas the Salons call their home are beautiful. More than 800 islands dot this area. Many of the islands are bigger than some island nations in some parts of the world, but some are just jutting rocks barely above the lashing waves. Most are uninhabited, but there are also islands where quite a large community of squid fishermen and others have established themselves.
The common thread of these villages is the availability of fresh water, for although the islands are all surrounded by water, the sea water is unfit to drink. One of the most important of these is the Ma Gyun Galet Salon (Moken) village situated on Bo Cho Island, opposite the Lumpi Marine National Park.
The islands in the Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago are accessible by air from Yangon via Kawthaung. Another option is to arrive from Ranong in Thailand to Kawthaung by boat.The visitors then transfer at Kawthaung Jetty to the prearranged live aboard dive boats or to hotels situated on some of these islands.
There are currently two hotels catering to international visitors: one is the Andaman Club Hotel at Thahtay Gyun just opposite Kawthaung, and the other is the Myanmar Andaman Resort on Khayingwa Kyun, some 40+ miles offshore.
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