#TRUSTED MYANMAR TRAVEL ADVISOR

While it is not a renowned beach country, Myanmar’s idyllic stretches of palm-tree lined beaches are the perfect setting for the most relaxing vacation ever. Ngapali Beach, with its immaculate white sands, the clear blue waters, and a lot of classy accommodation, is Myanmar’s best beach destination. Sittwe is where you can frolic to your heart’s content with the locals on the beaches, watch the sun as it sets over the Bay of Bengal or cycle around the villages. More accessible from Yangon, Ngwe Saung Beach and Chaung Tha Beach are easy to reach. The Myeik Islands in Myanmar’s southern regions is the most obscure of all the beaches in Myanmar but is definitely worth the trip. 

 

 

Ngapali Beach

Ngapali Beach is a remote and upscale beach destination in Myanmar. The beach is 7 km of soft white sand bounded by coconut palms, crystal clear calm waters and natural and unspotted beauty. As the most famous beach in Myanmar, it is an ideal location for relaxation, sunbathing as well as recreational activities such as scuba-diving, fishing, strolling, kayaking, cycling or play a round of golf. 

 

It is also fascinating to take a stroll on Ngapali Beach. You will find tiny red crabs along the quieter side of the beach, digging holes. (It's a fascinating sight for us city people.) And closer to noon, fishing boats will arrive at the beach with their catch. And groups of women will be sitting under the shade, waiting for the fishermen to bring in the fishing nets so they can pick out the fishes and crabs stuck to the nets. 

 

Travellers flock to Ngapali during the peak season between November to February. Accommodation is pricey during this period but the weather will be perfect to hit the beach. If you are not willing to splurge on expensive accommodation, we would recommend visiting Ngapali during the off-peak season, between mid September to October, when the season is in transition from the intense monsoon to the pleasant and calm winter. There will be occasional showers during the day or if you are lucky, consecutive days of sunny and warm weather. Just cross your fingers and wish for sunny days! Joking aside, as a precaution, we would suggest calling up the hotel or resort in Ngapali before booking your trip. The advantages of visiting Ngapali during the off peak season is that you get to enjoy attractive accommodation rates in high end resorts, full attention from the hotel staff (as there won't be many travellers during this period) and peace and quiet. In one of the memorable moments during our trip to Ngapali in September 2014, we visited the local seafood wholesalers and came back to the resort we were staying in with 3 lobsters, 1 kg of tiger prawns and 9 flower crabs for under US$50. The kitchen staff in the resort were nice enough to prepare the seafood and serve them for us for dinner at their beach front restaurant with minimal charge. If you prefer to dine outside, there are plenty of foreigner-friendly restaurants along the main strip. 

 

There are a few ways to get to Ngapali. Currently Golden Myanmar Airways, Air Mandalay, Air Bagan and Yangon Airways operate flights to Ngapali. The journey by flight takes about 45 minutes. If you have time to kill and are up for an adventure, you can also hire a driver or get on a bus to get there on pretty rough road. Bus journey can get you there in 16 hours and private vehicle can get you there slightly quicker, approximately 10 hours. On the way to Ngapali you will get to enjoy the beautiful Rakhine State mountain range and meet villagers going around their daily lives. Bring some chocolates and candies if you opt for the road-trip. There are many kids from the mountain villages who would appreciate a little treat. And if you are lucky you will get to encounter wild animals i.e. elephants. 

 

 

Ngwe Saung Beach (Silver Beach)

Located in the Ayeyarwady Region, Ngwe Saung Beach boasts 15 kilometers of sandy beaches, clear blue waters of the Bay of Bengal and unspoiled natural surroundings. Currently Ngwe Saung is only accessible by land transport. There are buses that goes to Ngwe Saung. Many travellers also rent a private van to get there. 

 

Similar to Ngapali, Ngwe Saung can be considered upscale as one can tell by the number of 4 and 5 Stars resorts that has sprouted in recent year. And accommodation rates parallel those in Ngapali. This beach attracts mid to high level income locals as well as travellers and expats. Night life is almost non-existant here but if you are staying in one of the upscale resorts, you should be well taken care of. 

 

 

Chaung Tha Beach

Located about 5 hours on land from Yangon, Chaung Tha is a busy with long and wide golden sand beach. Accommodation is a lot more affordable in Chaung Tha compared to Ngapali and Ngwe Saung, making it a popular beach destination with the locals during the weekend and public holidays from October to April. The downside of Chaung Tha is that it is under-maintained and litters can be found everywhere on the beach and its surrounding. If you are looking for a fun time and want to get to know more about the local, this is the place to go. You can find many water related activities here so there is no time to be bored.