Small ship cruising in Myanmar

Myanmar – also known as Burma – has opened up to visitors, but it’s little known as a destination for small ship cruising and sailing. But taking to the water is a treat in this beautiful country. A cruise along its longest river, the Irrawaddy, reveals local village life, picturesque hill landscapes, the Sagaing temples and gold-plated stupas; while in the south, catamarans are the vessel of choice to explore the Mergui – or Myeik – Archipelago. This region boasts 800 mostly uninhabited islands, scattered across 400km of the Andaman Sea. Boarding a boat is not just the best way to explore, it’s the only way! You’ll come across hardly any other tourist vessels, but may meet the nomadic Moken people, who traditionally spend most of their life at sea. A long way from Yangon and even further from beautiful Bagan and Mandalay, the Mergui is a unique corner of Myanmar, currently unspoiled but definitely vulnerable. Now is a good time to go, and sailing on a small yacht with just a few other travelers is the most responsible way to access this mysterious and unique part of the world.

Extraordinary islands

All 800 islands in the Mergui Archipelago are beautiful, but some lend themselves to exploration more than others. Nga Manu, also known as Shark Island because of its shape, is one of the best spots for snorkelling. Lampi boasts a small river that you can paddleboard and kayak up, passing mangrove forests and spotting hornbills and kingfishers as you go. Bo Cho, meanwhile, is home to the village of Ma Kyone Galet where some Moken live. Traditionally, these nomadic people spent months at sea, diving for shellfish and only coming ashore during the monsoon. The government has encouraged them to settle in villages like this one, but most still practice the same ancient fishing techniques. The Moken are shy, but their children less so, following you as you visit the school, Buddhist temple and café here.

On a catamaran, “cosy” is probably the best description – but that’s the point! This isn’t a classic cruise; it’s an authentic adventure on board a real yacht, with twin/double cabins and a bathroom for every four guests. Don’t worry about space, though – you’ll be living outside mostly, cabins are just for crashing out in at the end of the day. Or sleep on deck, if you prefer! If you’re a light sleeper, don’t wait to find out if a fellow traveler is a snorer – pack earplugs.

Small ship sailing in Myanmar brings together people of all ages from around the world and relies on friendly, onboard camaraderie, so it’s brilliant for solo travelers. You’ll have a ready-made friendship circle for the whole trip, just be prepared to share a cabin. There is usually a minimum age, typically 15, which prevents all but senior teens from coming aboard.

Food is excellent on this kind of vacation, with an onboard chef preparing three meals a day for you. Typically, they are Asian dishes, including curries, but fresh fish is on the menu every day, too. The Mergui Archipelago is undeveloped, so popping out to restaurants isn’t an option; a barbecue of freshly caught fish on a white sand beach is though.

The best time for a small ship cruise in Myanmar is during the drier winter months of October to March. In the Mergui Archipelago, October is the start of the cruising season, when the monsoon is over. It’s warm and sunny and seas are calm and teeming with marine life. From October to January expect highs of around 29°C in the region, with temperatures becoming uncomfortably hot during March to May, sometimes hitting 33°C. June to October is the monsoon season, and sailing trips don’t run then, but by September and October the rain is less intense.