Journey to the Unknown

Ngapali Beach — sand, sea, tranquility

The premier beach resort in Myanmar — Ngapali Beach offers solitude and tranquility in the Bay of Bengal. Given its name, some say, by an Italian from Naples (Napoli), Ngapali’s isolation means that few people make the long trip to visit the area making it popular among tourists as an untouched and private beach.

Ngapali is not one single beach but in fact a series of beaches interspersed with small fishing villages stretching from Mazin, where the airport is located, to Lontha on Mayo Bay where coastal steamers dock in a sheltered anchorage. The aqua sea serves up a wonderful bounty of some of the best sea food in the country.

Besides the obvious attraction of sunbathing and swimming, trips can be made to nearby traditional fishing villages and local markets to see a way of life that has not changed in decades. Another option is to head off to the magnificent outlying islands, such as Pearl Island.

After resting on the beach, the more energetic traveller has the option of exploring the range of hills behind the Strand Beach Hotel. These small hills are the site of a reservoir where you can fish. The area is also home to skilled craftsmen; with Kinmaw village famous for its clay pottery; and Thandwe famous for its hand weaving of the traditional Rakhine longyi. For those seeking more active pursuits, there is an 18-hole golf course about five km from the Ngapali Beach Hotel. Ngapali is accessible by a one-hour flight from Yangon to Thandwe and then onto Ngapali by coach.