Myanmar beaches

Located on the Indian Ocean 7 km (4 mi) from the town of Thandwe in Rakhine State, Ngapali Beach is the best-known beach in Myanmar. Due to its reputation as a tourist destination (there are several flights daily from most of Myanmar’s major cities), the resorts and hotels along this 3 km (2 mi) stretch of paradise tend to be on the high end—especially when compared to accommodations elsewhere in the country. One consequence of its exclusivity, however, is that Ngapali still maintains its unspoiled beauty and mythical allure. Activities include snorkeling, kayaking, cycling and even golfing at a nearby resort; although most visitors prefer to lie back and watch the local fishermen slide their skiffs into the sea in search of the day’s catch.

Those looking for a truly isolated experience should head for Ngwe Saung (Silver Beach), located in the Rakhine mountain range of western Myanmar. Although remote (it’s five hours by car from Yangon), this hidden treasure features 14 km (9 mi) of pristine white sand beaches against a backdrop of spectacular jade-hued tropical forests. There are few tourists and, therefore, accommodations are typically less expensive than those in Ngapali. One of the resorts even caters to scuba divers. Travelers should look for the nearby elephant camp as well.

To the north of Ngwesaung lies the equally distant—but seemingly less remote—beach at Chaungtha. That’s because Chaungtha is a favorite of Burmese locals and backpackers alike. On the weekends, visitors will usually find scores of laughing and smiling Burmese families gleefully playing in the azure surf, modestly clad in t-shirts and long trousers. Visitors to Myanmar’s beaches will not only avoid the swarms of bikini-clad tourists and partying university students found at most other beach destinations in Southeast Asia, they may imagine they’ve been transported to another era entirely.

ISLANDS OF MYANMAR: AN OVERVIEW

Myanmar (Burma) is growing in popularity as a tourist destination, but it is still one of the least-visited countries in Southeast Asia. This is a big part of the appeal: it’s unspoiled, exotic, and unique, and if you think the mainland looks out of this world, you should see the islands…
The sparkling Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea contain some of the most incredible islands in the world. Ranging from the rugged and mountainous to the classically idyllic, some of these places have only been made accessible in recent years, so they truly feel like new discoveries.

MERGUI ARCHIPELAGO

Upwards of 800 separate islands are scattered like jewels in the Andaman Sea. Their tropical interiors and coral reefs play host to untold natural riches, including some of the most rare flora and fauna on the planet. Now that the Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago is open to visitors, they islands are becoming one of the world’s premium diving destinations. Boat trips from Kawthaung (Victoria Point) on the southernmost tip of Myanmar’s mainland include tours of the archipelago. So unchartered is this territory that some of the islands are virtually unexplored.

ISLANDS IN THE BAY OF BENGAL

The coastal fringes of Rakhine State are where you’ll find some of Myanmar’s biggest islands. Cheduba, Myingun and Ramree are all close to the mainland here; they’re populated and characterized by flat, forested terrain. They can be easily accessed from the mainland, meaning visitors can stop by for a taste of island life.

ANDAMAN ISLANDS

The Coco Islands and their northerly neighbor Preparis are the Burmese representatives in the predominantly Indian group of Andaman Islands, scattered between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Officially part of Yangon Region, the three islands that make up the Cocos have a combined population of about 1,000 people, whereas Preparis is densely forested and uninhabited. All of the islands in this group are arrestingly beautiful and their isolation lends them a particular sense of adventure.

SOUTHERN MYANMAR’S COASTAL ISLANDS

A number of offshore idylls line Myanmar’s southerly coast. Many of these are clustered in the shallow waters at the mouth of Ye River in Mon State. Kalegauk, Kokunye, Wa Kyun and Kyungyi are all small, undulating, densely forested lumps of land no more than 10 km (6 miles) from the shore. The Moscos Islands are further south in Tanintharyi Region; their similarly thick vegetation is known to be inhabited by a variety of rare birds, and sea turtles use the beaches as breeding grounds. The whole chain has been declared a wildlife sanctuary.