Aboard the Sailing Yacht Silolona

We’re in the habit of venturing to far-flung locales, but few are flung as far as the mysterious, long-off-limits Mergui Archipelago, a chain of 800 or so densely forested, mountainous, impenetrably jungly islands off Burma’s Andaman Sea coast. A leisurely, frankly luxurious exploration of these tremendously rare islands aboard the Silolona will be—and we use this somewhat shopworn phrase here, and only here—the adventure of a lifetime.

After boarding the Silolona in meltingpot Mergui Town (or Myeik), about 150 miles and even more centuries southwest of Bangkok, we wend our way south through the archipelago, whose only inhabitants are the Salones, a race of sea nomads, sometimes referred to as Sea Gypsies, who live aboard small traditional boats, moving from island to island. The Merguis are home to many rare species; it’s even thought that Asian rhinoceros might still survive on the larger islands. Birdlife is prolific, and sea eagles, wreathed and great hornbills, black-capped kingfishers, and parrots abound. The islands’ underwater world is fantastically varied, with high-voltage diving in deeper waters around submerged pinnacles and rocky islets teeming with pelagic fish, including whale sharks, and, closer to shore, snorkelers will find lush corals, gigantic sea fans, plentiful schooling fishes, turtles, and manta rays. Sailing island to island, the Silolona will overnight at absolutely private, calm, gorgeous anchorages in sheltered bays graced with exuberant tropical vegetation. We’ll snorkel and scuba dive, comb white sand beaches, be lulled by the sound of birdsong, and revel in a rare encounter with one of the world’s most serenely wild places.

Day 1: arrive in Bangkok, Thailand, fly to Mergui Town, Myanmar • Day 2: Mermaid Passage to Elphinstone Island • Day 3: Western Torres Islands • Day 4: Bentinck Island • Day 5: Dommel Island • Days 5 & 6: The Sisters and Clara Island • Day 8: Salet Galet Channel • Day 9: Lampi Island and Ko Phawt Island • Day 10: Great Swinton Island/Pulau Bada • Day 11: Investigator Channel to Cavern, McCarthy, and Steward Islands • Day 12: Frost Island to Kawthong, onwards to Ranong • Day 13: depart.

Additional Options:
Contact us at (800) 777-8183 for information on additional sailings aboard the Silolona, including Secrets of the Archipelago in Indonesia.

Departures:

• Offered Dec 1- Mar 31. Departure dates for Private Charters available upon request

Trip Length: 13 days

Activity Type: Sailing, Touring

Trip Price:From $250,000 for up to 12 people (double/triple occupancy)

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