Coastal Paths: Myanmar to Thailand

📍 Yangon Airport to Yangon city centre (20 km): 30 – 60 mins

Upon arrival, be greeted by the guide and be accompanied on a transfer to the hotel.

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.

After lunch visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a 70-metre long reclining Buddha. A visit to Kyaukhtatgyi provides a great overview of Buddhism with murals depicting the life of Buddha, the feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray.

Continue to a local tea shop for a chance to experience an integral part of Burmese life: drinking tea! Select from an array of snacks and enjoy a coffee or tea while sitting amid businessmen, friends and families who gather at the tea shop to socialise or conduct business.

Next take a guided tour to Kandawgyi Park, one of central Yangon’s greenest spots. Here, you see the glittering Karaweik barge, a replica of the royal barge, and the vast lake with views of Shwedagon in the background. Depending on the day of visit Kandawgyi may be busy with local families who come here on the weekend to relax in the fresh air.

From here, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, the local legend states that the original structure was built 2,500 years ago then renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central stupa is 99 metres tall and gilded with gold leaf and is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas. Listen to the guide while he explains why this temple is so revered. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.  

Overnight in Yangon.

Inclusions:

After breakfast in this morning, visit the colourful Thiri Migalar Market, a massive, bustling produce market set on the banks of the Hlaing River. Open 24 hours, it’s an especially interesting place to visit in the early hours of the morning when the sea of brightly-coloured vegetables, fruit and flowers are stunning under the lights. This market also has a number of 24-hour teas shops and beer stations.

Then transfer to the railway station to take a unique ride on the city’s circular train ride pass through the outskirts of town (20-30 minutes ride). This slow travelling train gives a unique opportunity to observe the lively, colourful lifestyle of the local people. 

Upon arrival to Yangon Railways Station, begin the walking tour of downtown Yangon, an area dense with colonial-era buildings and religious landmarks. The 3 hour walking tour will cover 4-5 kilometres in the central districts of downtown. Many of the buildings visited are on the Yangon City Heritage List.

Some highlights include City Hall, the old railway station and the former Minister’s office where General Aung San was assassinated. There are also many other examples of British architecture and influence throughout the tour. Interspersed in the guided walk are various religious sites such as the St Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1899, and the Buddhist landmarks of Sule Paya and Botataung Pagoda.

By walking through the streets have a chance to witness the lifestyles of the locals- from the busy bus and boat stations to the tea shops and hidden street markets. There are plenty of chances to interact with Yangon residents and learn more about the Burmese culture.

Overnight in Yangon.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

This morning transfer to the Yangon airport for the domestic flight to Kawthaung.

Upon arrival in Kawthaung, be transferred to the hotel.

Spend the remainder of the day at leisure and relax and enjoy the tranquil rhythms of this sleepy fishing town.

There are several small temples and a local market to explore in the town centre or just find a teashop and watch daily life pass by at the waterfront.

Overnight in Kawthaung.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Today the tour starts at 08:00. After breakfast, be transferred to the jetty to start the five night cruise through the Myeik Archipelago, a chain of over 800 unspoiled islands.

Enjoy snorkelling, kayaking, swimming, and visiting local villages along the way. The route and itinerary will change based on the boat booked and weather conditions at the time of sailing. But no matter the route, this exclusive experience will be unforgettable.

After the welcome aboard, the yacht will set sail towards Barwell Island. Have some time to enjoy swimming before sunset cocktails and dinner on board.

Overnight on cruise.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast, sail to Tang La Bo Island for some amazing snorkelling spots and strolling on the pristine beach. In the afternoon, enjoy lunch on board and continue sailing toward Pony Island. Here, enjoy bird watching (toucan, hornbill & sea eagles) or ample swimming time before sunset and dinner.

Anchor and overnight on cruise in one of the bays of Nyaung Wee island.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

This morning, set sail toward Lampi National Park, and according to the tide either visit the mangrove or set out for an excursion to the Moken Village. 

Overnight anchor near the quiet bay of Pulo Bunai Island where there is often a chance to watch bioluminescent plankton at night.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast, cruise toward Nga Namm Island for snorkelling, kayaking and the best fishing spot in the islands. Lunch on board and sail to Kyun Pila.

If time permits, enjoy swimming before bonfire and sunset cocktails on the beach. (Option: Scuba diving available at Pila Island on request).

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast on board, set sail to 115 Island and spend the morning by trekking in the jungle followed by lunch aboard.

Sail and make a quick stop to Taung La Bo Island or Kyun Pya Gui Island according to the wind and tide.

Tonight, indulge in a special Captain’s farewell dinner around Hasting Bay.

Overnight on cruise.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Ranong – Kuraburi (approx. 195 km): approx. 2.51 hr

This morning there will be some time for the last swim before heading back to Kawthaung. Enjoy casual brunch before departure around noon.

Then transfer to the jetty to cross the Pakchan River to Ranong in Thailand.

After clearing immigration at Myanmar – Thailand border, meet with a local representative for a transfer to the hotel in Kuraburi.

Overnight in Kuraburi.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Kuraburi – Anurak Community Lodge (129 km): 2 hr

In the morning, pick up from hotels in Phuket, Khao Lak, Krabi, and Surat Thani, and then transfer to one of Thailand’s largest rainforests, Khao Sok National Park. Head towards Anurak Community Lodge, a natural accommodation hidden in lush jungle of Khao Sok.

Upon arrival, begin the morning program with the Elephant Bathing and Feeding Experience. Get the opportunity to get close to these beautiful and gentle giants Spend one magical hour feeding and bathing an elephant. This is the least harmful experience for the elephant, and the best way to interact with these majestic animals. By offering this ‘low’ impact experience, support the elephants and contribute to their ethical upkeep. 

In the afternoon, be taken to a small creek and get into a canoe. With a guide doing all the paddling work, sit back and relax with a camera ready.

The creek meanders through a mangrove forest, the tangled roots of mangrove trees are almost everywhere, but the real attraction are the 100+ years old Bayans whose massive roots turned into new parts of the trees. Also the huge ferns on both sides on the narrow creek increase the jungly feeling. With only the occasional splash of the guide’s paddle and the birds singing as background music slowly ‘glide’ through an almost prehistoric world.

With some luck, spot some snakes, monkeys, birds and monitor lizards! It’s only a trip of about one hour but feels much longer due to the fairytale like scenery.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Khao Sok.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

Breakfast at the lodge.

The morning tour starts with a drive to Khao Sok National Park entrance and headquarters. After a short briefing, start hiking up and down the main dirt track in Khao Sok. This track winds through enormous bamboo forest, old growth trees and strangler figs. With a bit of luck, see dusky langurs, long-tail macaques, hornbills, small lizards and more.

Then hike at a leisurely pace with a short break from time to time so that anyone reasonably fit can enjoy this hike. From time to time, get off the main track and go down across hiking trails towards the Sok River, if there’s enough water, go in for a refreshing dip. Keep in mind that the trails are very basic, be prepared to climb occasionally across rocks and tree trunks! At the ranger station at Bang Hua Red, stop for a cold drink if preferred. After this relaxing break, we follow the main dirt track back to the park headquarters.

Return to Anurak Community Lodge between 12:30 and 13:30 for lunch.

After lunch, be picked up at 15:00 for a relaxing cruise down Sok River with majestic sceneries on offer. The journey starts a few kilometres upstream taking you past the towering cliffs of Khao Sok! Half way down the trip have a chance to stop for swimming and a coffee break (depending on the season)!

On the way, the expert guide will point out brightly coloured birds, monkeys, monitor lizards or even a snake or two resting high up in the tree canopies.

The guides come from the local villages and although their English language skills may be limited, they more than make up for that with their infectious enthusiasm for the unique natural environment and their desire to share their knowledge

Overnight in Khao Sok.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Khao Sok – Phuket (184 km): 2.40 hr

After breakfast, spend the morning at leisure before the transfer to Phuket.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast