Mergui Archipelago - Back to the Nature
Explore and enjoy an Eco Resort which offer sustainable vacation back into the nature. Unlike almost all 800 islands of the Mergui Archipelago, which are limestone, Boulder Island (Nga Khin Nyo Gyee Island) is formed by huge granite boulders scattered along the coast, which explains the English name.
Trip Details | |
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Trip Code: | MM-KAW-2002 |
Destination: | Mergui Archipelago |
Duration: | 6 days / 5 nights |
Frequency: | Daily |
Departure: | Mergui Archipelago |
Suitable For: | Family, Seniors, Children, Honeymoon, Solo Traveler |
Trip Theme: | Adventure, Free & easy |
Spend time in a simple eco-resort surrounded by tropical rainforests and situated along Boulder Bay. The resort offers a back-to-nature experience with a sustainable approach, powered entirely by solar energy. It refrains from using power-consuming devices such as air conditioning or hot water boilers. The smartly constructed bungalows, nestled under the trees and facing the sea, benefit from a constant fresh breeze. Each bungalow has a ceiling fan and a stand fan for additional comfort.
The island is serene and secluded, providing a mesmerizing experience that re-establishes your connection with nature. Despite its small size, the island has plenty to offer, including rugged coastlines and tropical forests. Come and recharge in this eco-resort, immersing yourself in the beauty of the surrounding nature. Explore the island and its stunning coral reefs.
Itinerary: The following itinerary is a sample. The package can be tailored to include more days or be shortened to a 5-day/4-night stay. It can also be combined with a cruise around the archipelago before the island stays. Please get in touch with us to customize your package.
Day One – Arrival Day (-/L/D):
Early in the morning (between 8:30 and 9:00), you will be transferred from your hotel in Kawthaung, Myanmar, or your hotel in Ranong, Thailand, or your early morning flight at Ranong / Kawthaung Airport. You will then embark on a comfortable Motorboat for a relaxing 5–6-hour cruise along the island to Nga Khin Nyo Gyee Island (Boulder Island). During the cruise, you can enjoy cold drinks, tea, or coffee, with lunch served onboard. Upon arrival at the island, you will be transferred from the boat to the beach/resort. After a welcome briefing from the resort manager, you can check into your bungalow. Take the time to explore the resort or take a refreshing swim in the sea. Dinner will be served around 7:00 pm, followed by an overview of the available activities for the following day from our tour guide. Overnight stay at the resort.
Subsequent Days on the Island (B/L/D):
Breakfast is served from 8:00 am to 10:00 am every morning. Enjoy escorted hiking tours, exploring the bays with a kayak, or simply relaxing on the beautiful beaches. The island offers a variety of activities, so make the most of your time there. Lunch and dinner will be served at the resort.
Last Day – Departure Day (B/-/-):
An early morning wake-up call prepares you to embark on the shuttle boat around 6:00 am for your cruise back to the mainland. Breakfast will be served on the boat. Upon arrival at the Kawthaung pier, our team will escort you to your next destination, whether it's a hotel or the airport in Kawthaung or Ranong.
Facility:
The Resort has 20 nature bungalows within 3 different categories:
- 12 standard (garden view),
- 7 superior (beachfront) and
- 1 family suite (beachfront and double bed and 1-3 single bed)
All bungalows are equipped with either a Twin or Double bed, bed lights, desk, ceiling and stand fan, rank, and ensuite Bathroom with cold water shower; some bungalows do have an outside Shower.
Amenities
- complimentary biodegradable soap, shower gel, and shampoo in each bungalow
- a multi-use aluminum water bottle
- Drink water station to refill your bottle around the resort
- free use of snorkeling mask/snorkel and open-heel fins
- complimentary use of sea kayaks
- guided excursion by local and very experienced tour guides
Resort Facility
- community building with a bar and free basic Wifi (perfect for a digital detox time)
- board games and a little library
- Scuba Diving option for certified divers (additional costs)
- more than 10 km of Tropical Treks around the island
- six magical bays with picturesque beaches
- amazing coral reefs around the island
Above prices include:
- Land transfer from the Airport or hotel in Kawthaung/ Myanmar or the Airport or hotel in Ranong/Thailand to the pier in Kawthaung on your arrival and departure day. Please read carefully the note below.
- Boat transfers: Kawthaung—Boulder Island—Kawthaung. Departure from Kawthaung jetty is at 10 a.m., and from Boulder Island, it is around 6 a.m. So, you will arrive at the Kawthaung pier around 12 Noon. Please read carefully the note below.
- Accommodation at the Garden Bungalows (double or single occupancy) Upgrade to Beachfront Bungalow is possible, and a family bungalow for 2 adults and 2 children (under 12 years) is available. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us,
- Full board while on the island (3 meals). Lunch and dinner with a minimum of 3-4 dishes per meal
- Drinking water, Tea, and Coffee at the resort
- English-speaking Resort - and Guest Relation Manager,
- Free use of sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment,
- All activities on the island, such as guided trekking tours, etc.
- Life Jacket during boat trips
- Free WiFi at the community building area
- Access to our research and water sports center floating platform in Boulder Bay
- All taxes, port
The above rates do not include the following:
- Any international or domestic airfare, any Hotels / Resort / Villas, and any transportation (Bus, Train, Taxi) outside the mentioned program / before or after your excursion with us
- Snacks & meals outside the above-mentioned program
- Boat transfer outside of regular schedules to and from Boulder Island
- Myanmar Visa Fees and Visa application fees (please see below note)
- Medical- and other personal travel insurance
- Scuba dives for certified divers (please see below note)
- Soft drinks and Alcoholic beverages (Please note that we will charge a corkage fee for brought drinks (1 US$ per beer can and 10US$ per bottle of wine or any alcoholic spirit) and soft drinks
- Any services not mentioned above,
- Expenditures of any personal nature
- Tips/gratuity to bellboys, Captain, crew, drivers, and/or guide
- Bank- or payment transfer fees
- Myanmar Royalty Fee (see *)
- Myanmar Visas and Visa Application Fees (see **)
- Travel- & Medical Insurance (Please note that private travel insurance is mandatory on all our packages/excursions/tours)
Boat Transfer between Kawthaung and Boulder Island
Join in transfers from Kawthaung to Boulder Island:
- The big, comfortable cruising vessel will depart daily at 10.00 am sharp from the jetty in Kawthaung. The departure time can be changed because of Tide or when all guests are already in the area. It is very important that you reconfirm directly with our operation manager in Kawthaung a day before (contact details are on your voucher). Please ensure you are available at the pier a minimum of 30 minutes before departure for the immigration/harbor check-out procedure. The 5 - 6 hours trip between Kawthaung and Boulder is great with nice views in a comfortable boat with comfortable seating, 2 Gazebos for resting or reading a book, coffee, tea & cookies, etc on board, and a proper toilet facility. Please ensure you are on time in Kawthaung so you do not miss our boat's departure to the island.
- Arrival via Airport in Ranong: Thai domestic airlines are much more reliable, so the morning flights from Bangkok to Ranong will be on time. Please calculate 1,5 hrs—2 hours for the transfer to and from the Airport in Ranong, meaning your flight should arrive before 08.00 (8 am) Thai time. Please check your flights, in 2023 Nok Air stopped their service to fly from Bangkok to Ranong. At the moment only Thai Air Asia offers flights from Bangkok to Ranong, sadly the flight at the moment arriving around lunch time, meaning you are not able to reach the boat in Kawthaung by time, in this case we strongly recommend to plan one night in Ranong. We will organize the transfer from your hotel on the departure day, either from Ranong or Kawthaung. If you want hotels in Ranong, please check out www.agoda.com. You also have the opportunity to book directly online.
- Arrival via Airport Kawthaung: Domestic airlines from Yangon are not very reliable these days, and they usually arrive with delays. We strongly recommend arriving one day before departure; we will organize the transfer from your hotel on the departure day, either from Ranong or Kawthaung. If you want hotels in Kawthaung, please check out www.agoda.com.
Join in transfers from Boulder Island to Kawthaung:
- We have transfers daily from Boulder Island back to Kawthaung on board a comfortable motor vessel. Departure time from the Island is around 06.00 am, and we will arrive back in Kawthaung around 12 noon. Please make sure that your connection flights are not too early that day.
- Transfer to Kawthaung Airport: Please plan one hour to get from the pier to the Airport. Your plan should not leave before 14.00 (2pm) as you have to be one hour before departure at the airport.
- Transfer to Ranong Airport: Myanmar is half an hour before Thailand, so if you plan to leave via Ranong, please consider the different time zones. Please calculate 1.5 hrs—2 hours for the transfer to and from the Airport in Ranong, meaning your flight should not depart before 15.00 pm (Thai Time), as you also have to be one hour before departure at the airport.
Additional Transfer option outside our above-mentioned transfers: Daily transportation (depending on availability) from Kawthaung - Boulder Bay Eco Resort - Kawthaung is possible (additional costs) by our MV UHR or an outside speedboat one-way transfer from Kawthaung to Boulder Island or Boulder Island to Kawthaung
- by comfortable motor vessel (UHR 1) (up to 10 passengers) will take 5-6 hours the additional costs will be 600 US$ per way for the whole boat
- by standard speedboat will take 2 hours only for $1.200 - $1.500 depending on the size of group/boat per way for the whole boat,
Children Policy:
- Maximum of one Child up to 5yrs, sharing a bed with both parents is free of charge
- Children (6-11.99yrs) in extra bed or sharing a bed with both parents are for 120 US$ / per night
- Children (12 yrs and above) in extra bed 200 US$ / per night
Additional service:
- Upgrade to Beachfront Bungalow or Family Suite is possible on request
- Extra bed: 200 US$ per night per person above 18 years.
- Additional day: on request
Scuba Diving Prices / Packages
Scuba diving for certified divers is available on the island. Just let us know in advance what you'd like to do so we can make sure we have the right equipment. Our diving instructor will make payment and all details about each dive directly.
Prices per dive around the island are available from our Watersport platform or longtail as listed below:
- Dives from our watersport platform – 40 US$ per person/dive
- Longtail dive – 50 US$ per person/dive
- Night dive from our watersport platform = 50 US$ per person/dive
- Refresher Course for certified divers who have less than 30 dives and/or have not dived for at least 2 years: 60 US$ per person from our watersport platform
- Dive Package: 6 dives long tail boat dives, night- and day dives from the watersports platform, and the refresher course – 270 US$ per person (any additional dive = 40 US$ per person/dive)
All the above dives are:
- incl Divemaster, Tank (int), and weight belt and weights
- Rental diving Equipment: only Full Set available (BCD, Reg, Shorty) = 20 US$ per set/dive
- Torch for night dives: 10 US$ per person/dive
Diving Insurance and your own private Dive Computer are mandatory
* Mergui Archipelago Royalty Fee
The total (payable on board) is US$50 per person. The Myanmar Government sets the above Fee, and it is subject to change without notice.
**Myanmar Visa:
All visitors to Myanmar must apply for a 28day tourist visa. You can get your Myanmar visa either at your Myanmar Embassy in your country or since 1 September 2016 everybody can apply for e-visa to enter through all parts of Myanmar including Kawthaung and then travel freely in Myanmar. The price for such visas is 50 US$. Please note: The Visa on Arrival (Tourist) will be issued only to those arriving by air through the Entry points of Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International airports.
Travel- & Medical Insurance
Travel insurance, including medical repatriation coverage, is mandatory for all of our trips. We strongly recommend that our guests purchase a suitable insurance package that covers a range of travel-related issues, such as lost or delayed luggage and airline or tour cancellations and provides coverage for the entire duration of their trip. While our tours include local accident insurance through the operator, it may not always meet European standards. It's important to ensure that the insurance covers all the activities you plan to undertake during your trip, such as rafting, scuba diving, cycling, cruises, and trekking. Many "free" insurances that come with banking packages or credit cards often provide insufficient coverage, so it's essential to carefully review the policy before traveling. Upon arrival, you must provide a copy of your insurance policy to your tour leader. Without proper insurance, you may not be allowed to join the tour as we would be unable to respond adequately in case of an emergency. Additionally, it's important to consult your doctor to make necessary preparations, including immunizations, for your chosen travel destination.
For those still in need of Travel, Medical, and Scuba Diving Insurance with global coverage, please visit our different Insurance Packages.
No matter which country you are in, follow the above link to get your insurance package. You can buy, extend, and claim online from anywhere in the world, even while you are away from home and already on your way.
Note: Private travel insurance is mandatory for all our packages/excursions/tours.