OFF-GRID ESCAPE
For those dreaming of a truly off-grid escape, consider Myanmar’s uncharted Mergui Archipelago, an undiscovered gem blessed with incredibly clear waters, untouched jungles and fascinating indigenous communities.
A cluster of islands lying undisturbed off Myanmar’s southern coast, the Mergui (or Myeik) Archipelago remains one of the most beautiful, unspoilt destinations in Southeast Asia. Off-limits to foreign travellers until 1997, this still rarely-visited archipelago encompasses some 800 largely deserted islands – each a small natural paradise swathed in thick rainforest and fringed by dazzlingly white sands leading out to pristine coral reefs.
The traditional inhabitants of the Mergui Archipelago are the seafaring Moken. An ethnic minority group sometimes referred to as ‘sea gypsies’, they live a semi-nomadic lifestyle dominated by bartering, free diving and fishing in handmade dugout canoes. Visits to their stilt fishing villages offer a unique insight into their ancient way of life.
Otherwise, days on the Mergui Archipelago can be spent swimming in the azure Andaman Sea and snorkelling among manta rays and vibrantly coloured reef fish. Hiking through lush valleys, kayaking through enchanting mangrove forests and lounging on empty beaches. The islands teem with wildlife, so keep an eye out for gibbons, huge monitor lizards, sea turtles, wild pigs and an array of beautiful birds.
To learn more about this undiscovered gem, get in touch with one of our Myanmar experts today.
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