Itinerary cruise "Thailand and Malaysia: Islands and Marine Treasures"

Embarking.

A magnificent archipelago north-west of the Malaysian coast in the Melaka delta, the Langkawi Islands and their abundant of wildlife and plants are protected by UNESCO. Prepare for heavenly beaches that even today are almost deserted, oases of greenery in already verdant hills, luxuriant vegetation where jungle and rice fields share the interior, and where legends abound.

A major trading post for the British in the Far East, Penang Island has a unique ambiance blending the East with the West. Once described as ‘’Pearl of the Orient’’ due to a brisk trade in spices, fabrics and tin, Penang today has become a kind of Malaysian Riviera. Fine sandy beaches and spectacular scenery has made Penang one of the most esteemed destinations in Malaysia. The capital Georgetown, the result of an extraordinary intermingling of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and European cultures will take you back over 200 years of history through Buddhist and Hindu temples, ancient mosques and ancestral homes of Chinese clans.

Close to the Malaysian island of Langkawi, the Butang Islands are distinguished by their breathtaking rock formations and exquisite golden sandy beaches. An amazing variety of fauna and flora thrive in the crystal clear water, making this archipelago a paradise for divers or those who simply want to swim.

Koh Lanta: ‘’the land where time has stood still” is how the people of Thailand refer to the island of Koh Lanta, a tropical paradise in the heart of the Andaman Sea and one of Thailand’s last unspoiled treasures.

The Similan Islands are equally well known as the “Nine Islands” and are listed among the world’s top ten diving sites. Accessible only by sea and breathtakingly beautiful, the Similan Islands are an utlimate tropical paradise.

Ko Phi Phi are actually two lovely islands, Phi Phi and Phi Phi Ley, both blessed with emerald green limestone mountains set down on the turquoise water of the Andaman Sea. Sparkling coves, white sandy beaches and superb barrier reefs abound in a place where nature rhymes with the sublime.

A name which conjures up images in the memory of every traveller, this turquoise cove harbours around 40 limestone pitons that seem to appear from nowhere out of the sea like Nature’s own armada. The sight was made famous by that most eminent of secret agents, James Bond, in the film “Man with the Golden Gun”.

Disembarking.