Boulder Bay Eco Resort - Nga Khin Nyo Gyee Island

Boulder Bay Island is a spectacular little island and the nearly all-inclusive resort (drinks and diving are extra) is a quite comfortable Robinson Crusoe experience. It is a private island and reminds us of LaDigue in the Seychelles but without any crowds. The multiple white sand beaches are studded with large granite boulders and there are trails through the rainforest-like jungle that crisscross the island. The Boulder Bay staff were very helpful in helping arrange our transfer from the Ranong, Thailand airport through the Ranong port immigration, short boat transfer across to the Kawthaung, Myanmar immigration where they also helped get us processed through. The boat trip from Kawthaung to Boulder Bay Eco Resort is normally done on the Sea Gipsy (actual spelling), a wooden live-aboard that is very comfortable and stable even if the wind comes up and makes the waves choppy. The Sea Gipsy trip takes about 6 hours and if you take the speed boat it takes 2-3 hours depending on the wind and waves. We were pleasantly surprised by the Sea Gipsy ride and would opt to do that again as you have a great opportunity to watch the Burmese fishing boats and other islands go by. The bungalows are 1 bedroom/bathroom with mosquito nets and outside deck. The showers do not have hot water but with the warm days, the cool shower feels good. There is also no AC but each room has an overhead fan and the ocean breezes are wonderful. The meals (set menu) are hearty with a nice variety of seafood, chicken, beef, and pork with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Another couple at the resort were vegan and were very happy with their meals. Our last evening there we were treated to a special barbecue dinner on the beach with a bonfire after dark! Boulder Bay does not pretend to be a luxury experience however the setting and the staff are all 5 star! Mr. Min Tun manages the resort and does a wonderful job of interacting with guests and arranging activities according to guests preferences. We did a lot of hiking across the island to all the different beaches, watching sunrise and sunsets from high points on the island, snorkeling, long beach walks, swimming in the bay, and relaxing. We did not dive so can't speak to that however we hear that they have access to some pristine areas for diving. Boulder Bay is very easy to access from Ranong, Thailand and there are none of the crowds that are typical of most of the places we have experienced in Thailand. For a private island experience this is hard to beat.

We stayed at Boulder Bay Eco Resort for our honeymoon in Feb/March 2024. The resort is the only habitation on the island, and staying there was a wonderful and unique experience. The island itself is stunning, predominantly lush jungle full of bird life, and the bungalows are carefully designed for minimal impact. The reef around the island is beautiful, and the resort also acts as a base for regenerative marine biology projects. We snorkelled, kayaked, and hiked all around the island under the guidance of Kyaw Kyaw, our skilled and knowledgeable guide. The snorkelling and diving options were particularly amazing, and we saw many soft corals, colourful reef fish, baby sharks, starfish, and turtles. We also met a Moken family who moored in the bay in their traditional kabang boat, which was incredibly special. The food served at the resort was delicious, with a large variety of traditional Myanmar dishes. We are so grateful for the hospitality of Min Tun and all the resort staff, who went above and beyond to make our stay a special one. The resort arranged our transfer to and from Ranong and the process was easy. We can’t recommend Boulder Bay Eco Resort enough, it’s a truly magical place and an experience we will never forget.