What this guide is all about…
It is about visiting Boulder Island, nestled in the westernmost reaches of the Myeik Archipelago, which is a beacon of untouched beauty and serenity. The archipelago is a tropical paradise cloaked in mysterious mist, populated by sea gipsies navigating secret realms through a maze of jungle vines and hundreds of islands. The remote location of Boulder Island far west of mainland Myanmar and Thailand, is what makes it a treasure trove for nature enthusiasts. The Boulder Bay Eco Resort, the island’s only accommodation, offers a spacious thatched-roof community centre, a fully equipped dive centre, and eco-friendly bungalows, all designed with the island’s ecology in mind. Here are no shops, no roads, no noisy boats, no masses of tourists. Just the tranquillity that you deserve!
I have recently (late 2023 and early 2024) spent 8 weeks on this idyllic island, and it blew me away! This part of Myanmar is perfectly safe — both the gateway town of Kawtaung and the islands in this entire region. There has been no violence and no military crackdowns at all.
I hope to convince others to go and enjoy this beautiful part of the world while it is still so unspoiled. Here is my practical guide to visiting this island.
DISCLAIMER: These guidelines are purely based on my experiences and my knowledge, and have not been reviewed and approved by the management of Boulder Island Eco Resort. I have not been commissioned by the resort to write this blog post. Contact the resort by EMAIL if you have any questions or want to confirm anything.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to the Myeik Archipelago and Boulder Island.
- Safety and Being “Politically Correct”.
- A Brief Overview of Boulder Bay Eco Resort.
- Why Should You Visit Boulder Island?
- Planning Your Trip.
- Essential Things To Know Before You Go.
- Resources and How To Connect.
1. Introduction to the Myeik Archipelago and Boulder Island.
- The Myeik Archipelago is an immense area with more than 800 islands stretching for 400 km (248 mi) along the long narrow southern region of Myanmar. Further south are the beautiful Thai islands of Surin and Similan.
- Located in the westernmost reaches of the archipelago, about 85 kilometres (53 mi) west of mainland Myanmar and Thailand, Boulder Island is remote and pristine, earning its name from the gigantic rounded boulders scattered along its shores, some stacked into gravity-defying formations like immense stone sculptures.
- Beyond its bizarre rocky landscapes, Boulder Island’s interior harbours lush jungles. With no villages or roads, Boulder Island remains virtually untouched by civilisation.
- Its isolation and lack of development means clear waters and intact coral, making Boulder Island one of the archipelago’s finest snorkelling and diving destinations.
- Jungle trails connect all eight beaches—your escape routes to a hidden paradise of beauty and solitude.
- Each beach reveals new surprises from gravity-defying boulder formations to secluded snorkelling spots and beautiful shells. They share soft white sands and crystal clear turquoise waters, tucked into protected coves scattered along the coast. The trails also lead to lookout points for panoramic views over the island.
- The Boulder Bay Eco Resort located right on Boulder Beach is cosy, environmentally friendly, and relies entirely on solar power. As guardians of this beautiful island, the friendly Burmese staff make sure to keep the beaches free of drifting trash so you can enjoy the clear turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. A little paradise to treasure!
2. Safety and Being “Politically Correct“
- Safety:
Since the Myanmar military seized control in early 2021 and detained the democratically elected, and much-loved Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (locally referred to as “Daw Suu” or “Amay Suu” meaning Mother Suu), violence has erupted and a curfew imposed in many parts of this beautiful country. While violence continues in some parts, I was told by several locals in Kawthaung, Myanmar’s southernmost town and gateway to the southern part of the Myeik Archipelago (including Boulder Island), that they have not experienced any violence, crackdowns or curfews since the military seizure. While I can’t make future predictions and take responsibility for your safety, since the military take-over I have been to Kawthaung in September and December 2023 and again end of January 2024, and found the town peaceful and safe. I had no problem walking anywhere at any time of the day. Anyhow, you likely will only sleep one night in Kawthaung before you board the resort’s boat to Boulder Island, which has no village—only a few super-friendly resort staff to take care of the resort and its guests. While Kawthaung is an interesting town to explore, if you prefer not to sleep here, you can cross from Thailand (Ranong) into Myanmar as soon as the Thai immigration opens in the early morning and you can still be in time to board the boat to Boulder Island. Once your longtail boat arrives at the Kawthaung pier, English-speaking staff of the resort will be waiting for you to guide you through immigration and then either to your hotel or the resort’s boat. - Being Politically Correct:
I understand that many of us don’t want to support the oppressive military junta of Myanmar. However, to visit Myanmar we certainly don’t go there to support the government. We go there to see first-hand what the people are going through, support these friendly people, and appreciate their beautiful country, culture, and food. Once you arrive in Myanmar, you won’t be met by masses of suffering people. While the people are not rich and need to work hard to support their families, the vast majority are happy regardless of the political situation. When you visit Boulder Island, only a small fraction of your expenses will go towards the government such as the cost of the visa (about US$50), and any taxes which the resort has to pay. The visa fee will most likely entirely go to cover the cost of the visa office staff, and not end up in the hands of the military junta. The majority of the money you spend will go towards employing the resort staff who will take care of you, and their salaries will take care of their families living in Kawthaung or elsewhere in Myanmar. In late January 2024, I was invited by a resort staff member to his apartment in Kawthaung where his wife prepared a sumptuous meal for us. I also had the opportunity to meet their 10-year-old son. What an experience. Unquestionably, these people need tourism to help support them as work is very scarce in this part of the world. For many, tourism is their hope to provide for their families. So go and spend money and feel good about supporting these lovely people! I have been to 122 countries and for me, the Burmese people are just the most friendly!
3. A Brief Overview of Boulder Bay Eco Resort
The island’s only accommodation is the privately owned solar-powered Boulder Bay Eco Resort tucked behind the lush fish poison trees and screw pines of Boulder Beach. This small, cosy resort was built to sustainably integrate into the island’s ecology. The resort offers eight eco-friendly seafront bungalows with another twelve amongst the trees. Constructed in the traditional Burmese style with wooden frames and walls, and local palm-leaf roofs, none of the building materials other than bamboo have been harvested from the island.
The ample supply of fresh water is pumped from a well and meticulously filtered to ensure it is clean and safe to drink. Close to the adjacent beach is the large Yoga Centre, a versatile space for yoga, meditation, meetings, and any other events. Make use of the resort’s fully equipped dive centre—with a qualified dive instructor, kayaks and snorkelling equipment to explore the surrounding and nearby reefs. The resort’s restaurant serves up three sumptuous meals a day — you sure won’t go hungry!
4. Why Should You Visit Boulder Island?
- Safe Environment: The island is safe to explore, with no dangerous animals or insects identified. Even the resident monitor lizards and reticulated pythons are harmless. There is no political violence here as the island is only home to a few resort staff and their guests.
- Remote and Pristine: Boulder Island is located in the westernmost reaches of the Myeik Archipelago, offering a sense of remoteness and untouched nature. Come here to experience the tranquillity and solitude of a virtually untouched island that may have inspired the mythical Neverland in Peter Pan. No mass tourism, no road, no shops, and no man-made noises here!
- Unique Landscapes: The island is home to gigantic boulders scattered along its shores, creating gravity-defying formations that resemble stone sculptures.
- Superior Snorkeling and Diving: Due to its isolation and lack of development, the waters around Boulder Island are clear, and the vibrant coral reefs are mostly intact, making it an excellent destination for snorkelling and diving. The resort has a fully equipped dive centre with a qualified dive instructor, as well as kayaks for exploring the island’s reefs.
- Diverse Wildlife: The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including sea otters, reef sharks, and many species of fish. Birdwatchers can spot white-bellied sea eagles, Brahminy kites, Nicobar pigeons and many more.
- Sustainable Accommodation: The Boulder Bay Eco Resort is solar-powered and built to integrate sustainably into the island’s ecology, offering a comfortable and environmentally friendly stay. The resort offers cosy bungalows, a community centre, a yoga centre, and a dive centre. The seafront bungalows of traditional Burmese architecture, offer sea views.
- Delicious food: The resort’s kitchen prepares Burmese, Thai and Western cuisines three times a day!
- Yoga Centre: The large Yoga Centre offers a versatile space for yoga, meditation, meetings, and other events.
- Jungle Trails: The island’s jungle trails connect all eight beaches, providing easy access to hidden coves, lookout points, and birdwatching spots.
- Panoramic Views: The trails lead to lookout points offering panoramic views over the island, adding to the island’s charm.
- Cultural Encounters: The presence of the Moken people in the region (not on Boulder Island), also known as sea gipsies, adds a cultural dimension to visiting this archipelago.
- Custom-Designed Boat: For a multi-day sea safari, the MV Sea Gipsy offers diving, snorkelling, adventure excursions, and romantic overnight trips, all in a tastefully decorated Burmese-style junk. To fully experience the island, travellers can combine a few days in a bungalow with a few days on board the MV Sea Gipsy, offering a mix of land and sea adventures.
5. Planning your trip:
- Visas and permits: Unless you are from the ASEAN region or a few other selected countries, you will need a Myanmar visa. This can be fairly easily obtained from the Myanmar government website at https://evisa.moip.gov.mm. Alternatively, get a visa at your local Myanmar consulate/embassy. I don’t want to list the requirements here as these may change without me knowing it and changing the details here, so best is to enquire when you need the visa. As a rough guideline, the last time I applied (early January 2024) the online eVisa required proof of purchasing Myanmar Government travel insurance while the visa at the Bangkok consulate did not require travel insurance. I just had to fill out a form, provide my passport with 1 photo, and a hotel and flight booking (which you can get from Boulder Resort). The cost was 1,600 Thai Baht (about US$50) which must be deposited at any branch of Bangkok Bank. I picked up my passport 3 days later. You may be told that you must fly via Yangon and can’t cross by boat at Ranong (Thailand), which is not true. In that case, book a hotel in Yangon and cancel it later. Ask the resort to help with a flight ticket to Yangon which then can be cancelled later. A very easy process!
- Best time to visit: This part of the world gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season which is from around late May to mid-November (June to September are the wettest and windiest). During this time the seas can be too rough for the boats. The resort is open from about early October to the end of April and closed during the monsoon. The best is to write to the resort and ask for exact dates. The best weather is from January to the end of March, though the shoulder months can be just as pleasant.
- Getting there: The resort’s boat leaves from the pier at Kawthaung (pronounced Cowtong), Myanmar’s southernmost town. Get here by flight from Yangon in Myanmar (which could be tricky to book and expensive), or via Ranong in Thailand. The Ranong option is by far the best. Get to Ranong by VIP bus or air from Bangkok (take the pleasant overnight bus from Sai Tai Mai Bus Station – Southern Bus Terminal. Costs about 700 baht and departs around 7pm), or by vehicle from the south, such as Phuket. If needed, stay over one night in Ranong. Accommodation is plentiful.
After going through Thai immigration take a 20 min longtail boat (200 baht) to Kawthaung. The best is to arrive in Kawthaung the day before your resort boat is scheduled to leave for Boulder Island. The boat usually leaves between 8 am and 9 am and takes about 5.5 pleasant hours. Passing many islands!
In Kawthaung, stay in the super nice Victoria Cliff Hotel & Resort about 4km west of Kawthaung. The resort will arrange transport from and back to the pier. Alternatively, stay in the nicely renovated Honey Bear Hotel close to the Kawthaung pier. Kawthaung is safe, and quite interesting if you are a first-time visitor. Lots of photo opportunities as the friendly locals enjoy posing for photos. - Accommodation: Your resort package will include transport by slow boat from and back to the Kawthuang pier. If you prefer to have a speedboat, the resort can arrange that at an extra cost. Your package will most likely include three meals a day and all water activities on the island except for scuba diving which is extra. At the time of booking make sure to confirm what is included and what is not.
- Currency exchange and budget: As most, if not all, your expenses on the island will be included in your package, you won’t need any cash unless you want to leave a tip to the staff. In Kawthaung, the Thai Baht is widely accepted, so it is unnecessary to change into Myanmar money (Kyatt) for which you will need USD bills in perfect condition, or Thai baht. On the island are no stores or outside restaurants to spend your money. Make sure to take with you some snacks if you want. A limited variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available at the resort, at an extra charge. Note that credit cards are generally not accepted in Myanmar due to sanctions. So pay in cash, or you can arrange with the resort to pay via their Thailand bank account. Ask when booking your trip.
6. Essential Things to Know Before You Go:
- Language and communication: The resort staff who will welcome you at the Kawthaung pier and service you on the island, generally speak good English, so there won’t be a language problem, but be patient. The scuba instructor speaks English very well.
- Cultural etiquette and customs: You will find that the Burmese people are very friendly, but be as sensitive to cultural differences as you would be when travelling anywhere in Asia, or anywhere in the world.
- Health and safety: While Myanmar is still going through political violence in some parts of the country, the far south has been free of any violence, I was recently assured by the locals. While you will likely spend at least one night in Kawthaung, take advantage of your time there and explore the small town’s markets, temples, and other places of interest. You will find the locals to be very curious and friendly. Beer and wine are much cheaper than in Thailand. The island’s fresh water is pumped from a well and meticulously filtered for safety and cleanliness, so please don’t take bottles of water in plastic bottles. Be environmentally friendly and avoid taking any over-packaged items with you. Do as I do — I bring back every bit of plastic I took to the island and dispose of it in Kawthaung upon my return. Make sure to take a first aid kit with you and any medicines you may need. Once on the island, there are no pharmacies or any shops to buy anything you need.
- Packing essentials: A good idea to take some wet tissues with you (baby’s wet-ones), and anything you will need when on a remote island.
- Garbage: Sadly our planet and our oceans are filled with garbage. Even the most remote islands have a garbage problem. While the closest village is 85 kilometres away from Boulder Island, on some days (depending on the wind and currents) garbage washes up on the beaches. They originate from all over the region, and likely from all over the planet. The resort staff constantly clean up the garbage from the beaches but don’t be afraid to pitch in. If you see any garbage on the beach, please pick it up and drop it in the bins provided along all of the beaches. Sometimes drifting glass bottles hit the rocks, break apart, and then wash up on the beaches, so please be careful. It is not a common occurrence so don’t fear, just always be alert for sharp items on the beach, as you should be on any beach anywhere in the world. I highly recommend that whenever you swim in the sea, anywhere in the world, wear swim-shoes. This will not only protect you from the odd broken bottle but also from sharp corals and shells.
7. Resources and How to Connect
- Blogpost: Remote Boulder Island: Gem of the Andaman Sea
- Blogpost: What you didn’t know about Myeik Archipelago of Myanmar
- Blogpost: Scuba Diving Myanmar’s Myeik Archipelago
- Video: Boulder Island—The Gem of the Myeik Archipelago
Check out the website of Boulder Bay Eco Resort for more information and contact them to book an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, make contact via email at info@boulderbayecoresort.com. An even better way to enjoy these islands is to combine a stay at the resort on Boulder Island, with a few nights cruising around the islands with their boat, the Sea Gipsy. For more information, check the website of the island safaris or write to them at info@islandsafarimergui.com.
Also, if you are interested in traveling to other parts of Myanmar (where permitted), check out my complete guide to the beaches of Myanmar and my list of Myanmar’s 10 best beaches.
Have a wonderful time. This is one holiday you won’t easily forget, and I bet you will be back next season! Why not — we only live once. It is tough these days to find such unspoiled beaches at affordable rates!
DISCLAIMER
I have been to Boulder Island twice so these guidelines are purely based on my experiences, and have not been reviewed and approved by the management of Boulder Island Eco Resort. To be safe, send an EMAIL to the resort to check the latest facts, and also check with the Myanmar eVisa WEBSITE or your local MYANMAR CONSULATE for the visa application requirements. While I took great care to offer accurate facts, I take no responsibility for any possible errors in this blog post. All opinions in this blog post are mine and do not necessarily represent those of the resort. I have not been commissioned by the resort to write this blog post.
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.