Mergui Archipelago
About Mergui Archipelago
The Mergui Archipelago lies in the Andaman Sea far south coast of Myanmar (Burma), just across the Thailand border. The Archipelago count over 800 deserted islands that host colourful coral reefs, pristine white beaches and dense jungles. They are composed of limestone and granite and vary in size from tiny islets to islands larger than Singapore.
The Mergui is an incredible wildlife sanctuary for birds, pelagic marine species, mangroves endemic breeds and more. Lampi island, one of the largest islands, is the only national Marine park in Myanmar and home to some of the planet’s oldest mangrove forests. Only few islands are inhabited by seafaring indigenous Moken people, people who live off
and on the sea. Sometimes called the “sea-gipsy” this ethnic minority group leaves a traditional “semi-nomadic” lifestyle, by fishing, diving and bartering. (Although the term of “sea gipsy” covers several ethnic groups in Southeast Asia.)
The Moken used to roam the archipelago in their traditional sailing boats, called “Kabangs”.
In recent years, some families have settled on the islands and fish the surrounding waters from their dugout canoes.
The Mergui archipelago is still a (very) beautiful and remote area, with great sailing conditions from October to May, where one can hardly ever meet tourists and where you can relax far away from mobile phones, internet and other hassles of everyday life. Whether you’re an experienced sailor or aboard ship for the first time, you will love Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, an area so large that you can beach hop for weeks on end and go on multi-day blue-water passages.
Our recommended yacht cruises in Mergui Archipelago
Weather in the Mergui Archipelago
The Mergui Archipelago lies in tropical waters and temperatures are constantly warm and pleasant, with average highs ranging between 28-33°C (84-92°F) and average lows between 20-24°C (69-76°F).
Sailing is possible throughout the year but there are major differences between the seasons. The best time for sailing in the Mergui is between mid-October to Mid-May. Conditions during December to February are perfect, with warm, sunny weather, a steady 20 knots of wind, and calm seas. March and April have less wind, which is why they are the best time for diving and snorkelling with clear water. From May to July there are strong onshore winds and a larger swell. There are occasional hurricanes in the Mergui from May to June. The rainy season is from July to early October.
Even when winds are strong and swells are sizeable, the numerous large islands provide hundreds of protected anchorages for any season, as well as “hurricane holes” for stormy days.
While some areas of the archipelago have not been entirely charted and explored, the region provides safe sailing, with few under-water obstacles or dangerous reefs. The entire island group is replete with good and safe anchorages in sandy or muddy grounds. And in case we encounter days without wind, there is enough to explore in the water and
on land to keep you busy.
History
The Moken claim that the islands, a chain that stretches over 400km, were detached from the mainland after a great mythological flood. The archipelago was first explored by Malaysian Sailors who explore the archipelago from
the south. However, it remained largely uninhabited until the 20th century. Malays and Chinese traders used the inner waters to escape the southwest monsoon. Pirates and slavers also used it as a refuge, because it was almost impossible to control. For this reason, the Moken people found refuge here until the modern world intervened.
The islands began to be accurately charted only after British occupation in 1824. First, Captain Ross surveyed the outer islands in the late 1820s, followed by Captain Lloyd in the inner islands in the late 1830s. Also at that time, between 1838-40, Dr. Johann W. Helfer explored all aspects of the archipelago on behalf of the East India Company.
During the Burmese civil war, after the independence, the region was impacted by violence and has often touched civilians including the massacres of fishermen and some local villages.
The archipelago remains untouched until the late nineties and only opened up to foreigners in 1996 when some diving operators from Thailand started to get interested in diving in the region. Since 2010 the region open slowly to tourism and few hotels have appeared on some of the islands. Until today, only 5 resorts have opened in the region and only a few cruise operators offer to sail in this archipelago.
With only a few of the 800 islands home to a sparse population, and a scarce amount of visitors to the entire region each month, the Mergui Archipelago remains one of the planet’s most unspoilt destinations.
Weather in Mergui Archipelago
June is the hottest month in Havana with an average temperature of 27°C (81°F) and the coldest is January at 21°C (70°F) with the most daily sunshine hours at 11 in July. The wettest month is June with an average of 80mm of rain. The best month to swim in the sea is in August when the average sea temperature is 30°C (86°F).
Check all Statistics in Accuweather
