Central Mergui Archipelago

The central Mergui Archipelago is a maze of wooded islands and channels off the Tenasserim coast. Its inlets provide shelter from the open Andaman Sea, though the intricate passages demand close knowledge of the water. The Moken have travelled among the islands in boats, fishing and gathering food along their shores. During the southwest monsoon, families traditionally sought protection in sheltered bays until calmer weather returned.