5 Days - 4 Nights - Myeik's Ports - Islands and Hinterland

ITINERARY IN BRIEF

Day 01 - City Tour of Myeik with everything what the fishing industry needs as well as old colonial architecture
Day 02 - Explore Mergui Archipelago - Day trip to Dome Nyaung Mine Sea Gypsy Village and beautiful beaches with snorkeling possibilities
Day 03 - Ancient Tanintharyi town via private boat from Tagu Village – Learn about the local agriculture
Day 04 - Understand Mergui Archipelago - Local Life on the islands and Beach Relaxing
Day 05 - Departure

DAY 1: Myeik City Tour (-/L/-)

Pick up from Myeik airport and transfer to your hotel. Afterwards we start to explore Myeik is one of the biggest fishing towns in Myanmar.

“Beik” as the locals call it there hometown produces everything for the fishing industry what is needed. Have you ask yourself where all the ice comes from to keep the seafood fresh? We visit a ship dock yard where they still build the wooden boats like in the old days. One of the export products are soft shell crabs. We will explain you on a farm how the crabs take off their shells.

Myeik’s dry fish area might not be for everybody, but it has not change for decades. We will take you for a wander and explain what fishes been tried in the sun to preserve them for later.

For lunch we take you to a traditional fried rice noodle shop, where Myeiks all-time favorite food Kyi Kite is made.

Another industry widely used industry in Myeik is the harvesting of bird nest. We take you to one of the bird hotels and let you know what it is good for. As many nations came together the local cuisine became a mix of Burmese, Thai, Malaysian and Indian. We can have a taste of it at the local snack market of the specialties.

The pearl industry is another of Myeik’s local specialties. How difficult it is to cultivate them will be explained at the Pearl Trading Shop, which is run by the same family for over a hundred years.

After a long day and many impressions it is time to spend a quite sunset with a 180 panoramic view over Myeik and the islands either from the Thein Daw Gyi Pagoda or a roof top bar. We leave this decision up to you.

Dinner is to your own account.

Meals: Lunch - Famous Myeik Noodles (seafood or vegetarian)
Overnight stay: Hotel in Myeik

DAY 2: Explore Mergui - Dome and Smart Island (B/L/-)

We make an early start from Myeik’s Seik Nge Jetty. It's a one and a half hour cruise to Dome Island. Feel the fresh sea breeze as we pass beautiful mangrove forests. Here and there tiny villages line the shore. The people who live here catch fish, crabs, mussels and oysters.

Our first stop will be Dome Waterfall, which cascades down from high above right into the ocean. You are able to climb up and a have a refreshing bath. Please be careful walking around on the slippery rocks and respect the fishing boat, which might refill their fresh water supplies.

Later on we arrive to Dome Nyaung Mine Village. The fishermen share their place with sea gypsies, which are called Moken in the local language. Their lifestyle reminds us of a simpler time before bank accounts and life insurance. Many spend their life permanently at sea during the dry season, only seeking the shelter of land when the heavy rains come. We will have seafood and vegetarian lunch in the authentic village.

After lunch we cruise on to Smart Island for swimming and snorkeling in pristine waters. The shapes of the island with one long beach and three smaller one is one of its kin. The long and the small beaches are within 5-10 minutes walking distance. Enjoy you afternoon relaxing, swimming, playing, sunbathing and whatever else you would like to do. And then with the last rays of sunshine dancing on the sea we return to Myeik.

This day tour is designed for people who would like to explore the most of the Archipelago in one day and don’t mind spending a few hours on a speedboat. The rewards will one of the most beautiful beaches you have seen.

Please note: The Mergui Archipelago will be a joint tour with other customers. The program may change depending on tie and weather conditions. Participants need to submit their personal details. We do not recommend pregnant customers and customers with back ache to join the trip.

Meals:  Breakfast at your hotel, Lunch at the beach
Overnight stay: Hotel in Myeik

DAY 3: Tagu Village and Tanintharyi Town (B/L/-)

We leave Myeik behind us in the mist of the morning. For those who want to have a local breakfast along the way, we can stop at a traditional tea house and have some local dishes (not included).

Our first stop we be the local rubber plantation. How these white sheets are made you will get to know when the local farmers show you the process. We pass by a brick factory (seasonal). How long it takes to make a brick and how much human man power is needed you get to know at this factory.

After driving a pictures mountain road up to Tagu we will enjoy a traditional lunch (included).

Take a seat at your boat and cruise down the untouched river. Shortly we will stop on a shady sand back to cool off in the clear waters of the Tagu River. We visit a tiny forest village, where local beetle nut farmers are at home. Another swimming stop before we reach Tanintharyi town.

Tanintharyi is an old harbour town about 4 hours up the river from Myeik. We will take the public fast boat to travel this way like ships did in the times when Myeik and Tanintharyi were under the rule of the Siam. From Tanintharyi all goods had to be transported by land way to the old capital named Ayutthaya in Thailand.

After our arrival in Tanintharyi we take a look around this ancient town. The old wooden long leg houses show that this place is still famous for teak trading. From the viewpoint at the pagoda we can overlook the whole town. In the afternoon we drive back by car. On the way we stop every now and then and will explain how people make a living in the rural country side, among others beetle nut and palm oil plantations.

Arrival in Myeik in the early evening. Dinner is to your own account.

Optional: There is a more active version with kayaking and hiking.

Meals:  Breakfast at your hotel, Traditional Lunch
Overnight stay: Myeik

DAY 4:Understand Mergui (B/L/-)

After breakfast we will cruise towards Mergui Island. On the way in the dense mangrove of the Tanintharyi river delta we can see some domestic shore birds.

After more or less one hour we stop for a local grouper fish, where the reach enormous sizes as well as a lobster farm.

Up on arrival at Mergui Island be amazed by how many people will gather around you, because they haven’t seen much white face visiting their village. Many smaller businesses rely on the fishing industry among others are the net fixers, the shrimp paste makers (nga pi, seasonal) and the boat engine mechanics. We get to know their daily routine.

We walk through some jungle and mangroves to reach a secluded bay on the other site of the island. Enjoy a beach by yourself and cool of in the ocean. In the meantime the villagers have prepare lunch for us in one of the traditional house.

After lunch we take the boat to Thae Tan Gyi Beach. Only 3 families are living on the beach until today. If they need supplies they have to walk over 3 hours to the main village. Otherwise they can take a slow boat for to reach civilization. It has been said that only villagers from Thae Tan Gyi know the way well through the jungle to reach the other side of the islands. In the afternoon we will return to Myeik.

This tour is made for people who like to meet local villagers and learn about the fish farming process. Also the driving time is the shortest on this trip.
After more or less one hour we stop for a local grouper fish, where the reach enormous sizes as well as a lobster farm.
Up on arrival at Mergui Island be amazed by how many people will gather around you, because they haven’t seen much white face visiting their village. Many smaller businesses rely on the fishing industry among others are the net fixers, the shrimp paste makers (nga pi, seasonal) and the boat engine mechanics. We get to know their daily routine.

We walk through some jungle and mangroves to reach a secluded bay on the other site of the island. Enjoy a beach by yourself and cool of in the ocean. In the meantime the villagers have prepare lunch for us in one of the traditional house.

After lunch we take the boat to Thae Tan Gyi Beach. Only 3 families are living on the beach until today. If they need supplies they have to walk over 3 hours to the main village. Otherwise they can take a slow boat for to reach civilization. It has been said that only villagers from Thae Tan Gyi know the way well through the jungle to reach the other side of the islands. In the afternoon we will return to Myeik.

This tour is made for people who like to meet local villagers and learn about the fish farming process. Also the driving time is the shortest on this trip.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, Home cooked lunch
Overnight stay: Hotel in Myeik

DAY 5: Departure (B/-/-)

After breakfast we transfer you to the Airport for your onward flight either to Yangon or Kawthaung.

Meals: Breakfast at your hotel
Overnight stay: none

Continue: Board a live abroad cruise to discover the magnificent Mergui Archipelago
Alternative departure: Flight to Kawthaung, Border crossing into Thailand (30 mins by long tail boat)

Included Services

• Private transfer as specified in the itinerary

• All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary

• English speaking guide

• Accommodation with breakfast on double occupancy (Single supplement varies)

• 2 bottles of water & 2 cooling towels per person / day

• Luggage handling fees at airports

• Private boat trip on Tanintharyi River

• 1x Lunch at a traditional restaurant

• 2x Lunch at the beach

• 1x Lunch in the village

• Life Jacket and Snorkeling mask