You now have the chance to experience a sailing cruise in what we think
is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Mergui Archipelago
was opened by the Burmese authorities for a few foreign yachts in
1997. Sailing Burma can offer you the trip of a lifetime. You will never
forget the breathtaking scenery, you'll see pristine rainforests,
encounter rare animals and you can snorkel and dive on reefs that
have never been explored before. We have always made a point of continuing
to explore the area and have thus found some places so special,
that we'd rather not describe them here.
During the entire cruise you will be unlikely to see any other
yachts. The only humans you'll encounter are the Moken Sea
Gypsies who roam the area in their small boats, largely the way
their ancestors have done for centuries. They are very friendly
and like to visit for a chat or to barter some fish.
India
Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands
420 miles NW of Phuket
Large Archipelago, which is Indian Territory. Almost untouched by
western civilization, certainly outside the capital Port Blair.
The over 500 islands and islets are all in a pristine state and
offer endless opportunities for exploring. The waters are teeming
with fish and are first class for snorkeling and diving. Several
of the tribes that make up the population totally shun any contact
with the outside world and continue to live in the way their forebears
have done for centuries.
Some tribal settlements can be visited under de guidance of an
officially appointed guide. The Indian government and the local
authorities make a praiseworthy effort not to surrender this beautiful
piece of cultural-and natural heritage to mass tourism but to preserve
the islands and their cultures in their present state. Unfortunately
this means that large area’s of the Andamans and the Nicobars
in their totality are out of bounds to the foreign visitor. The
accessible area’s however, are by no means less interesting
and certainly not overrun by tourists.
When one is contemplating trips to areas such as the Andamans one
should realize that these trips carry a somewhat expeditionary character.
The considerable distances, various weatherpatterns and above all
the mindboggling Indian bureaucracy contribute to making it impossible
to make a set, guaranteed itinerary. A flexible attitude and a bit
of patience is often needed. The reward is a truly unforgettable
insight in a world so different from ours.
Malaysia
Langkawi Island and Surroundings
This island, part of an archipelago of 99 is a duty free area and
is partly very developed with hotels, restaurants, resorts etc.
Thankfully there is a lot more to it, there are deserted anchorages,
many caves to explore, hiking trails in the dense rainforest and
there are streams and waterfalls. The tourist developments are all
in the vicinity of the capital Kuah, the rest of the Island and
the archipelago is still very much worth visiting.
Penang Island
Very interesting place, not so much for it’s natural beauty,
but for the historically interesting capital Georgetown. Unlike
many SE Asian towns where historical buildings and narrow alleys
have largely given way to concrete towers and motorways, this town
of 400.000 inhabitants is still very much the Chinatown that Singapore
once was, time seems to be 50 years behind. Georgetown is renowned
for it’s excellent Chinese and Indian restaurants, public transport
is largely by rickshaw.
