Bay of Bengal & the Andaman Sea: India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore
Sorry. There are no scheduled departures for this expedition.
Below please find the day-by-day itinerary for this expedition. Unless otherwise noted, daily excursion options are included in the cost of the trip. We do our best to adhere to the scheduled itinerary, but in the spirit of our expeditionary style of travel we may deviate slightly to take full advantage of encounters with the destination and its people, culture, and wildlife.
An itinerary from a previous expedition is displayed below.
Day 1 Depart USA
Independent departure from USA to Chennai.
Day 2 En Route
Day lost due to crossing the International Date Line.
Day 3 Chennai, India
Transfer to our hotel and enjoy the morning at leisure. After lunch we embark on an introductory tour of this bustling metropolis. Return to the hotel for a welcome dinner and overnight.
Day 4 Chennai / Embark Clipper Odyssey
Chennai is historically ancient and boasts a rich cultural heritage. Today we continue our explorations with a tour that incorporates both colonial history and the dynamic energy of modern life. We visit the National Art Gallery and Museum, San Thome Cathedral, the South Indian Temple, and Fort St. George Museum. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at a local restaurant before a scenic drive along Marina Beach. This evening we embark the Clipper Odyssey and begin our voyage through the Bay of Bengal.
Day 5-6 At Sea
We sail eastward today as our lecturers enlighten us on India’s Andaman Islands and lend insight into this fascinating corner of the world.
Day 7-8 Andaman Islands
Flung across a velvet blue-green sea, the 572 Andaman- and Nicobar-Island Archipelago is a mountainous wonderland of dense forest and exotic flora, wrapped in ribbons of white sand. During our two days here we have the opportunity to truly savor the landscape, the marine environment, and the historical perspective. In Port Blair we visit the Anthropological Museum, where exhibits spotlight local history and archaeology. The Cellular Jail, its 698 jail cells built by the British in the early 1900s, is a reminder of the dark days of forced labor endured by India’s freedom fighters against colonial rule. And the Aberdeen Bazaar gives us a glimpse into daily island life. Beach walkers enjoy the unspoiled beaches, while snorkelers investigate the surrounding waters and coral reefs that are home to a variety of tropical fish. Birders watch for several endemic species, including the Andaman woodpecker and Andaman serpent eagle.
Day 9 Cruising the Andaman Sea
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as our lecture series continues.
Day 10 Yangon, Myanmar
This morning we arrive at Myanmar’s capital city, Yangon. Here we visit the 2,000-year-old Sule Pagoda whose gold dome houses a single hair of Buddha; the impressive Chauk Htat Gyi, a colossal reclining Buddha; and we wander through the amazing Bogyoke Aung San Market with its vast selection of local crafts. At one of Yangon’s monasteries we are honored to participate in a Food Donation Ceremony; Buddhist monks eat twice daily and rely solely on the generosity of the community. A tour of the monastery gives us the chance to witness the rituals of the monks’ daily lives. As twilight softly descends upon the city we explore the magical, massive Shwedagon Pagoda—the region’s most sacred Buddhist pagoda—whose glittering stupa soars above the city. This evening we attend a special performance and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Return to the ship for overnight alongside.
Day 11 Bagan
After an early breakfast we fly to the ancient capital of Bagan, its 2,000 pagodas, temples, and monasteries make this one of the world’s most enchanting places. We begin our exploration with a stunning view over the city from one of the temples, then visit the lively Nyaung Oo daily produce market. The Shwezigon Pagoda, Bagan’s largest and most venerated reliquary shrine, is distinguished by its huge, gold bell-shaped stupa. After lunch we visit a workshop for a lacquer ware demonstration. Our temple exploration continues at the Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture. We also visit Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple covered with superb frescoes, before flying back to Yangon to reboard our ship.
Day 12 Yangon / At Sea
Time and tides permitting, we continue our exploration of Yangon this morning before setting sail for the remote Mergui Archipelago.
Day 13 At Sea
Lecturers recap our experiences in Myanmar and prepare us for the natural wonders ahead.
Day 14-15 Mergui Archipelago
The Mergui Archipelago is comprised of over 800 emerald islands bathed by the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea. In the company of our naturalists, explore lush islands draped with tropical foliage as we seek out exotic flora and fauna. Snorkel or dive in the warm, inviting waters and step ashore on isolated shores where we beachcomb along pristine white-sand beaches.
Day 16 Koh Rawi, Thailand
Endowed with legendary scenic beauty, our time in Thailand is spent exploring the rich marine ecosystems surrounding idyllic Koh Rawi.
Day 17 Langkawi, Malaysia
The large mountainous island of Langkawi, (also the name of the archipelago) is a wildlife sanctuary teeming with indigenous bird species. In 2007, UNESCO declared the island a Geopark. Explore the network of mangroves and walk through lush forest to dazzling waterfalls. Birders seek Oriental pied hornbills, black drongos, and Asian fairy bluebirds. This afternoon we explore the watery passageways and some of the islands that make up the Langkawi archipelago.
Day 18 Pulau Penang
This morning we arrive at Pulau Penang, the site of the East India Trading Company and the first British trading post in the Far East. Choose one of three half-day tours. Enjoy an in-depth exploration of Georgetown, also a World Heritage Site. A tour along “the road of harmony” highlights many houses of worship. We visit the indigo-blue Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion Hotel—its impeccable restoration made it a winner of UNESCO’s Asia Pacific Heritage Award; tour the majestic Khoo Clan Ancestral House, featuring ornate wood and granite carvings; and the brightly-painted Wat Chayamangkalaram to marvel at the 108-foot long Buddha, reputed to be the fourth largest in the world. Or, immerse yourself in a tropical spice garden to learn about various spices and their functional and medicinal uses. Here, attend a cooking demonstration where we learn traditional techniques for grinding dried spices and secrets on how to draw out the flavor and aroma. We also sample piping hot dishes straight from the pan. A third tour option visits a lovely 120-year-old botanical garden set amidst the foothills and showcasing a wide variety of tropical trees and plants.
Day 19 Malacca
We go ashore at Malacca, a World Heritage Site, for a full-day exploration of this 14th-century port city ruled by Malaysian princes, the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese—a tumultuous history brilliantly illustrated at the Ethnographic Museum. Visit the former official residence of the Dutch Governor, the impressive Christ Church, and the Portuguese fortress, known as A’Famosa, built in the 16th century. The Baba Nyonya Museum showcases the traditions and lifestyle of the Chinese social elite, who once entertained the colonial leaders.
Day 20 Singapore / Disembark / USA
Arrive in Singapore and transfer to the airport for your independent flight homeward arriving in the USA on the same day.
