Across the Bay of Bengal - A Voyage from Sri Lanka to Thailand

Arrive and transfer to the MS Island Sky. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.

Sri Lanka’s commercial capital and largest city dates back over 600 years having been a trading hub for sea merchants and colonial rulers. Buddhist temples, Hindu temples, mosques and churches reflect the various beliefs practised all over the island and the beautiful facades of the old, colonial buildings contrast with the modern but elegant shopping arcades that have been developed inside. There will be a choice of activities today including a cultural tour visiting the Gangaramaya Buddhist Temple, the National Museum and Independence Square. Alternatively, visit the Kelaniya Buddhist Temple, located on the outskirts of the city. It is said that Buddha visited and preached his doctrine to a gathering of serpent-kings. Today worshippers come to lay sprigs of lotus flowers around the great white dagoba, light oil lamps, and sprinkle the base of the Tree of Enlightenment with purifying water. We can see the fine carvings and lovely frescoes, fascinating geometrically patterned ceiling paintings, and three important images of Buddha.

Awake this morning in Galle where we take a walking tour of the impressive Galle Fortress. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the port where the Portuguese first landed in Sri Lanka in the 16th century and was then extensively fortified by the Dutch during the 17th century. Also see the maritime museum, which is housed in an old Dutch house, the lighthouse, mosque, and church before taking a stroll through the narrow streets with its shuttered mansions and cloistered courtyards. Return to the ship for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore Galle further at your own pace or alternatively join a tour to a nearby tea plantation where we will learn about the growing processes and enjoy a tasting.

We have one and a half days in Hambantota from where we will visit some of the region’s highlights. We explore Bundala National Park, a haven for birdwatchers and Sri Lanka’s first declared Ramsar wetland. Located in the deep south of the island, the diversity of the park lies in its landscape, from dry thorny scrubland to sand dunes and salt marshes, to mangroves and lagoons. Take a jeep through the park and discover close to 200 species of bird as well as many species of butterflies, crocodiles, elephants and deer. Also known as Ruhunu, Yala National Park was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and is now home to 44 varieties of mammals and 215 bird species. This vast region of arid scrub interspersed with pockets of dense forest and open patches of grassland hosts one of the highest densities of leopards in the world. On a Jeep safari we also hope to see sloth bears, jackals, wild boar, and elephants. In addition, there will be a chance to visit Kataragama, one of the three most important religious sites in Sri Lanka and a popular place of pilgrimage for Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and the indigenous Vedda communities of Sri Lanka and South India. According to Buddhists, this was one of the 16 places visited by Buddha during his visits to Sri Lanka. We will explore the religious complex built across the Menik Ganga which contains buildings from all three religions including the mosque, temple, the small archaeological museum, and the principal shrine of the god Kataragama.

Sailing to the northeast coast of Sri Lanka we arrive in Trincomalee, one of the finest deep water harbours of the world. Choose to join a morning excursion of Trincomalee which includes Fort Frederick built by the Portuguese in 1623, a walk to Swami Rock and a visit to Koneswarum Kovil, one of the five most holy Shaivate temples in the country. The afternoon will be free to relax on board or maybe visit one of the nearby beaches. Alternatively join a full day tour to Polonnaruwa. This 5th century ancient city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and is considered to be one of the best planned archaeological sites in the country. The entire landscape of the region is punctuated by high man-made reservoirs, the most famous of which is Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of Parakrama, built during King Parakramabahu’s reign in 1164-1196 AD. The monuments in the ancient city are relatively well preserved and highlights are the Royal Palace complex, including the King’s Palace and Audience Hall and the spectacular Gal Vihare complex of four massive images of the Buddha cut from a single slab of granite.

Spend a relaxing two days at sea as we cross the Bay of Bengal. Maybe join our lecture programme in the lounge or find a spot on deck.

Located 1,000 kilometres off the East Coast of India in the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Islands are an archipelago of approximately 300 islands renowned for their palm lined beaches, mangroves, tropical rainforests and coral reefs that support multiple species of marine life. Our two days of exploration will include Port Blair, the largest town, capital and main entry point of the islands where we will visit the 19th century Cellular Jail, the Naval Marine Museum and the Anthropological Museum which showcases the lives of the aboriginal tribes that populate some of the outer islands. On Ross Island we discover the former capital and administrative centre which was used by the British from 1857 until being abandoned after an earthquake in 1941. Exploring the island by foot we will see the ruins of the Chief Commissioner’s House, church, hospital and former troops barracks surrounded by a protected forest which is a sanctuary to a variety of birds. Also visit the small museum where we can see photographs of the island from its heyday. Meanwhile on Havelock Island we can spend some time relaxing on one of the sandy beaches or swimming in the clear waters.

Enjoy a leisurely day on board cruising across the Andaman Sea towards Thailand.

Arriving in Thailand over breakfast we will have a choice of excursions this morning. An island drive will include Wat Chalong, the largest and most strikingly ornamented of Phuket’s 29 Buddhist temples. Its intriguing history features a monk believed to have formidable healing powers. To this day, Thais from all over the country flock to Wat Chalong to pay homage to the monks and regain their physical and spiritual powers. Later see the Big Buddha Temple located at the top of Nark Kerd mountain. Alternatively, join a local speedboat to visit Phang Nga Bay, renowned for the limestone islands rising dramatically from the sea including the famous backdrop to the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun”. Spend the morning enjoying the scenery in the bay before we visit Koh Panyi, a settlement built over 200 years ago with houses built on stilts above the water.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Itineraries are subject to change.