Koh Tachai snorkeling liveaboard Reggae Queen

Myanmar snorkeling liveaboard

Snorkeling in Myanmar’s Mergui archipelago

Turtle

Myanmar’s Mergui archipelago has almost endless possibilities for exploration and snorkeling. The area is just beginning to open up to tourists. Scuba divers have already discovered some amazing sites but others are still to be found. You can be sure of visiting places that few others visit, getting far from the crowds. You’ll find deserted beaches, Moken villages plus lots of wildlife above and below the water.

These are the planned Myanmar snorkeling trips for the Reggae Queen in 2020-21:

6d 5n south

6 days 5 nights south Mergui

Day One – Thursday

06:00 hrs: Land transfer from the Khao Lak office to Ranong(around 4 hours drive), before embarking on the MV Reggae Queen. Welcome aboard!

Thai immigration formalities to check out of Thailand. Cruise across to Kawthaung for entry into Myanmar.

Once Myanmar immigration is cleared Reggae Queen cruises  to St. Matthew’s Island, the largest island in the southern reaches of the Mergui Archipelago. There is a Myanmar Naval Base on the island, snorkeling the outer reefs of the island is permitted.

Overnight mooring at St. Matthews island.

Day Two – Friday

07:30 hrs: Breakfast is served while the Reggae Queen cruises along the spectacular coast of St. Matthew’s Island to a small, secluded sandy beach. Snorkel stop for approximately 1 hour. Afterwards we will cruise to St. Matthew’s South bay.

13:00 hrs: Lunch is served followed by a short break. Then is it time to explore South Bay’s reef with a snorkel stop for approximately 1 hour. Afterwards we cruise to West bay, an impressively huge bay on the west side of St. Matthew’s Island. Here we will discover untouched coral reefs with large fan corals and countless colourful fish as well as an uninhabited, lonely snow-white sandy beaches. The snorkel time is again around 1 hour.

19:00 hrs: Dinner is served. The Reggae Queen will remain anchored in the bay overnight.

Day Three – Saturday

07:30 hrs: Reggae Queen will stay in West Bay for the morning for two snorkel stops and visit one of the pristine beaches. After lunch cruising south-west to Davis Island. Here we will make our third snorkel stop and visit the beach during the afternoon.

19:00 hrs: Dinner is served. The Reggae Queen will remain anchored to the east of Davis Island so we can enjoy a cozy evening with cool drinks recounting the experiences we have shared so far.

Day Four – Sunday

07:30 hrs: Reggae Queen cruises to the Emerald Heart, an island that resembles a great rock rising vertically out of the water. On the south-west side of the island there is an entrance, only visible at low tide, that leads to a hidden lagoon within the island.

We will snorkel along the outer rocky wall of the island and discover beautiful soft corals in the crystal clear waters whilst making our way to the secret lagoon entrance. In the shallow waters of the ‘grotto’ like entrance there are various types of soft corals and fan corals, tropical reef fish and also juvenile black-tip reef sharks.

Once inside the island, we find ourselves in a large, heart-shaped lagoon with steep limestone walls that tower straight up into the sky. The island takes its name from the shape and green waters of the lagoon and is a truly stunning sight. After lunch we will cruise to the most westerly point of our Mergui Archipelago expedition, Shark Cave.

Shark Cave is a rock formation west of St. Matthew’s Island and is characterized by it’s excellent diversity of fish life. As well as countless fish of all sizes there are also huge fan corals in various colours. Our snorkel stop here is approximately 1 hour. Afterwards we will continue on to Horseshoe Island, where we will anchor for the night.

19:00 hrs: Dinner is served and there is another great opportunity to relax and socialize with fellow guests aboard the Reggae Queen.

Day Five – Monday

Reggae Queen will stay at Horseshoe Island for a morning of relaxing, swimming and beach time, in a small bay with a snow-white sand. The island has an idyllic, almost dreamy feeling about it and boasts fabulous flora and fauna.

During lunch we will cruise to our final snorkel stop of the tour before we make our way back to Kawthaung, which is approximately 4 hours away.

After dinner on board the Reggae Queen we head ashore to experience the hustle and bustle of the city’s small harbour area by night.

Day Six – Tuesday

07:30 hrs: Breakfast is served aboard the Reggae Queen. Whilst Myanmar Immigration complete the formalities for our departure there is time to further explore Kawthaung, with it’s shops, local market and temples. The Reggae Queen then sets out for Thailand. After Thai immigration formalities and lunch we disembark the Reggae Queen for the return transfer to Khao Lak, which will take around 4 hours.

*Itineraries are always subject to change.

Myanmar snorkeling tour

6d 5n north

6 days 5 nights north Mergui

Day One – Thursday

06:00 hrs: Land transfer from the Khao Lak office to Ranong(around 4 hours drive), before embarking on the MV Reggae Queen. Welcome aboard!

Thai immigration formalities to check out of Thailand. Cruise across to Kawthaung for entry into Myanmar.

Once Myanmar immigration is cleared Reggae Queen cruises to at the 115 Island Group. The journey takes around 6 hours passing by breathtaking island landscapes, spectacular bays and lagoons of the Mergui Archipelago.

19:00 hrs: Dinner is served. The Reggae Queen will remain anchored at the 115 Island group overnight.

Day Two – Friday

07:30 hrs: Breakfast is served after which we will hold a short introduction about the Mergui Archipelago and some of the special areas we will be snorkeling during the trip. After a briefing and instructions on how to use the snorkel equipment it is time to hit the water for our first snorkel stop which will last approximately 1 hour.

The 115 Island Group has beautiful sandy beaches which invite you to linger here for longer. After lunch the Reggae Queen will cruise to Pony Island for our next snorkel stop. The northern part of the reef at Pony Island has countless coral species and fish of all sizes and shapes, a real highlight for the avid snorkeler. Snorkeling here may extend to 90 minutes.

Afterwards we will cruise for approximately 3.5 hours to Lampi Island, the largest islands in the northern part of the Mergui Archipelago. The Reggae Queen will anchor between Lampi Island and Kubo Island which lies in the flight path of Great Hornbill birds. With a little luck we might be able to observe one or more of these rare specimens.

There is an optional visit to a small Moken village followed by dinner at around 19:00 hrs.

Day Three – Saturday

07:30 hrs: Breakfast is served whilst the Reggae Queen cruises to the western point of Lampi Island. Here we find a completely untouched underwater scene with one of the most beautiful reefs we have ever snorkeled. There are Soft corals, hard corals and stag horn corals in an indescribable splendor of different hues and colours in the crystal clear shallow waters. Our snorkel stop here is for approximately 90 minutes.

The Reggae Queen then cruises for around 45 minutes to our next destination, Nine Pin Island located on the eastern side of Lampi Island. We will snorkel here, again for approximately 90 minutes, among the impressive flora and fauna found in the turquoise, shallow waters. Reggae Queen will then cruise on to Great Swinton Island, dinner is served on the way .

Day Four – Sunday

All day at Great Swinton Island. The shallow water reefs along the southern length of Great Swinton are all only a few minutes apart. We will spend the day exploring, snorkeling the different reefs.

The highlight of the day is White Rock, a small limestone rock formation with beautiful corals and plenty of colourful fish life. Opposite Great Swinton there is a beautiful uninhabited island which begs further exploration. A small freshwater waterfall, which is surprisingly cold, flows directly into the sea and provides welcomed refreshment during the hot afternoon.

Later the Reggae Queen will anchor off a large bay to the east of Great Swinton Island. Whilst the cook prepares dinner there is the opportunity to visit a small fishing village located here. Though small the village boasts an impressive temple complex and the small houses and shops offer a rare insight into the daily lives of the islanders.

Day Five – Monday

07:30 hrs: Breakfast is served whilst the Reggae Queen returns to the south of Great Swinton Island. Our first snorkel spot is at a beautiful, untouched coral reef where you can encounter lionfish, boxfish and many more exotic species of tropical fish.
Snorkeling here will be for approximately 90 minutes.

Afterwards we cruise to Nga Mann Island for our final snorkel spot of the day and for the tour. Nga Mann Island is an uninhabited island with a 1 km long, snowy-white sandy beach and a small fringing reef. This is a true paradise that will make you feel like Robinson Crusoe.

Around noon we weigh anchor for our cruise back to Kawthaung, arriving there in the early evening. After dinner on board the Reggae Queen we head ashore to experience the hustle and bustle of the city’s small harbour area by night.

Day Six – Tuesday

07:30 hrs: Breakfast is served aboard the Reggae Queen. Whilst Myanmar Immigration complete the formalities for our departure there is time to further explore Kawthaung, with it’s shops, local market and temples. The Reggae Queen then sets out for Thailand. After Thai immigration formalities and lunch we disembark the Reggae Queen for the return transfer to Khao Lak, which will take around 4 hours.

*Itineraries are always subject to change.

Myanmar liveaboard

Prices

Prices

Twin cabin: — baht per adult, — baht per child (5-11 years)

Master cabin surcharge: — baht per person

Single supplement: — baht

Burma entry fees: US$– per person

Price includes: food, fruits, water, soft drinks, quality snorkeling gear, kayaks.

Not included: Alcoholic drinks (available for purchase on board), hotel transfers (can be arranged on request), towels, Mergui/Myanmar entrance fees.

Note: This tour is not suitable for children younger than 5 or adults over 75 years old.

Cabins

Cabins

Sawan liveaboard takes a maximum of 18 guests in comfort. There are 8 twin (bunk) cabins accommodating 16 guests plus one master cabin with a double bed for two guests. There are five shared bathrooms.

Cabins are fan cooled.

Cabins have limited storage space. Reggae Queen does not have space for big bags. You can store luggage at the office in Khao Lak.

Sawan twin cabin
twin cabin
Sawan master cabin
master cabin

How to book

How to book

Please contact us to confirm availability.

    snorkeler

    dolphin snorkeling at night

    Reggae Queen specifications

    Name: MV Sawan
    LOA: 21m
    Beam: 4.3m
    Engines: 2 x Hino diesel
    Cruising speed: 12 knots
    Max guests: 18
    Guest cabins: 9
    Bathrooms: 5
    Crew: Captain, Engineer, 2 deck hands, tourleader/guide
    Dinghy: 4.7m with 30hp Yamaha outboard
    Safety: Lifejackets, MFA kit, emergency O2, Fire Extinguishers, VHF radio, mobile phone.

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