Myanmar’s coastline is a dream come true for worshippers of sun, sea and sand. Kilometres of unspoilt white sand beaches fringed with coconut groves invite travellers who love to swim, sunbathe, snorkel or stroll along the water’s-edge.

Ngapali Beach in the Bay of Bengal is Myanmar’s premier seaside resort. It can be reached by a short flight from Yangon, Bagan or Heho. According to the season, flights from Sittwe may also be available.  

Far away from tourist crowds, Ngapali Beach is still a truly undiscovered paradise. There are no high rises, no noisy roads, no noisy beach bars, no discos, no jet-skis and no rows of suntan-oiled bodies baking in the sun. The 10 kilometre long beach is dotted with charming boutique style resorts built in local materials. The resorts’ architecture blends harmoniously with the natural surroundings. White sand, the natural scenic beauty of the blue sea, swaying palm trees and privacy are guaranteed ingredients of a holiday in Ngapali Beach.

All hotels offer a choice of restaurants including Western and Asian cuisine. There are also several local restaurants within walking distance of the hotels where local dishes, in particular fresh fish and sea food, are served. In short, all the creature comforts of home are on offer, but in an environment of tranquillity as is rarely encountered in the modern world.

Many of the hotels offer beach activities including sailing and snorkelling. Active visitors can choose from visiting the colourful local market in Thandwe (Sandoway), hiring a boat to go fishing or to simply enjoy the scenic views along the coast against a backdrop of Rakhine hills. An early morning’s bicycle ride to the nearby fishing villages, where hoards of small fishing boats return home from the night’s catch with baskets full of fish, ready for the women to spread on the beach for drying in the sun, will provide an insight into the local life and ample opportunities for photography. For the curious visitor there is a small village, 16 miles out of Thandwe, which is the home of a late Buddhist monk whose dead body has continued to defy nature for over a decade. As the sun drops below the horizon, out over the waters, picturesque sunsets in Ngapali Beach are a pleasure to watch with a cocktail or two at the hotel’s beach bar.