MV Faah Yai Liveaboard
Go to Flickr Slide Show of Faah Yai
What's Included?
Faah Yai is under new Swedish management and is based at Koh Phayam south of Ranong. We are happy to book you there, or at another hotel on the island should you choose to join Faah Yai. All trips on Faah Yai depart from Ranong or her base at Koh Phayam. As of November 1, 2007, Air Asia is offering flights from Bangkok to Ranong. The flights are three times per week and this should solve a lot of the headache which surrounded Burma-only trips before.
Personal diving gear is not included in the price. Cruise price is per person, and includes hotel transfer, accommodation on board, all meals, drinking water, coffee, tea, divemaster services, tanks, weights, and belts.
Please remember that all Burma itineraries depart from Thailand since there are virtually no services in the southern area of the Myanmar. You cannot leave from the capital of Burma, Yangon. (Rangoon is the old British name.) You check out of Thailand and return to Thailand via the port of Ranong, Thailand, and not Yangon, Myanmar. Please do not confuse the two cities even though they sound similar. Your entry permit to the Mergui Archipelago does not require a Burmese visa, nor is the permit the authorities issue a Burmese visa. If you are visiting the country for non diving tourism, please contact the nearest Embassy of Myanmar.
Currently, the diving fee for entering Burma is $200 US. This is payable in cash only, USD only, upon departure, on the boat. You will also need two copies of the front page of your passport, and four passport pictures (instant pictures are fine from any shop here).
Thai National Park fees apply to both the Similan Islands and Surin Islands (including Richelieu Rock). These are were imposed in November, 2001 and currently 400 THB per person per entry and 200 THB per day for divers. This means a charge of 1600 THB for divers and 800 THB for non divers on a four-day itinerary.
For information on what to do in Ranong and where to stay, there are lots and lots of good guesthouses, but not many good hotels. The Royal Princess Ranong is the best value for the money if you want more of a resort hotel. The other hotels are run down and dirty. The Guesthouses are good, though, and Ranong is an interesting town. Old South Thailand for sure.
For information on the sites around Ranong, and there are many, especially the beautiful town of Fah Chi and the Isthmus Kra Road to Chumphon (not to be missed), visit this site.
Note: We can take no responsibility for scheduling or itinerary changes due to changing weather, political situations, natural disasters or other events beyond our control. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for any kind of trip you do anywhere in the world. We also recommend that you have DAN or other diving accident insurance up to date and current in case of an unanticipated evacuation or other treatment that may not be covered by your regular insurance.
Faah Yai's Home: Phayam Lodge
Go to Flickr Slide Show of Phayam Lodge
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