Ngapali Beach (Myanmar)

Ngapali Beach: 

Ngapali Beach is the absolute cherry on top of our time in Myanmar.  So, what makes a country a perfect 10 in my book?

It has to possess a collection of super cool, relaxed cities to visit.  And, if you are able to throw a superb beach into the mix, that is exactly what earns a country that elusive, perfect score.  Being the dedicated beach bums that we are, our nomadic travel rule always applies: No Beach, No 10. No dice.

Going to Myanmar’s Secret Coast

I didn’t do any real research on Ngapali Beach prior to arrival, nor did I look at a single photo online.  I just knew it was the top beach town in Myanmar, and that was more than enough to land it on our itinerary.  I wanted our visit to be a complete surprise with zero expectations.

Because Ngapali and Myanmar itself are still so rarely visited, I couldn’t get any firsthand scoop on this coast from anyone I knew.  In fact, I would bet money that you couldn’t name a single person in your own circle who has ever stepped foot on Ngapali Beach.

From what I have gathered, there are other small islands and pristine beach areas dotting the Myanmar coastline, but they are currently closed off to tourists because the political situation is still far from perfect.  I am sure once those issues get sorted out down the road, a few more hidden gems will be discovered.

High Season vs. Empty Sands

Ngapali is our fourth stop in Myanmar. The timing was absolutely perfect after being on the move constantly, finally allowing us to just plant our butts in the sand.

What I found most surprising—and a bit disconcerting—was that it was practically impossible to lock down a room at a guesthouse or resort in the area.  We visited the island during Chinese New Year, and the sudden influx of visitors is causing some serious growing pains as the local infrastructure struggles in vain to keep pace.  Hotel rooms can be near impossible to find in high season, and certain hoteliers have absolutely taken advantage by whacking up their prices.  This should change once the new hotels currently under construction finally open their doors.

Yet, despite the booking headache and it being peak high season, the beach itself still appeared shockingly empty.  You rarely get to see such a wide, sweeping beach in Asia that is spotlessly clean—with zero vendors, no frantic flocks of tourists, and crystal-clear blue-green ocean water to top it off.

Honestly, it instantly reminded me of the Hawaiian beaches, particularly Big Beach in South Maui. We’re talking the exact same stunning ocean color and a lush, tropical backdrop.  Now, that is a massive statement coming from me.

Just make sure you stay in the right section of this coast, because the stretches of sand are by no means equal, and a bad location will completely alter your experience.  Also, take note that most places completely close down during the low rainy season, so this beach area is probably best avoided at that time of year.

Flatlining on Grateful Dead and Red Snapper

I would love to elaborate more for this blog post and provide some deep cultural details of our experiences in Ngapali Beach.  However, we basically did absolutely nothing but relax on the sand.

We chilled on the beach, jogged on the beach, stretched on the beach, and even rode bicycles directly on the hard-packed sand.  We watched the sunsets, ate fresh fruit, and devoured freshly caught seafood with our toes in the water.  All the while, we let our minds completely flatline while listening to some Grateful Dead and a bit of Neil Young tunes drifting through the salt air.

🍽️ The Beachside Food Rotation

• Thande Resort Restaurant: Sits on the absolute best stretch of the beach by a mile.

• Silver Full, Royal Beach Hotel, Blue Sea, Saw II: The elite local beachside seafood shacks where you get the real deal.

LOOSE STOOLS INDEX

• Rating: 10 / 10

Absolute perfection. I am feeling like an absolute champ, but I’m staying completely level-headed because the last time I got too cocky, the stool gods came down incredibly hard on my ass.

In this seafood capital of Burma, I have been eating freshly caught snapper twice a day at the casual beachside shacks.  My mother always encouraged me to eat more fish as a kid, and maybe the universe is finally rewarding me with super solid stools for listening.  Who says mothers don’t know best? I  could single-handedly put toilet paper companies out of business if this keeps up.

Thru the Binocs

Southeast Asia has always been my favorite region of the world to visit.  Over the past 25 years, I have made numerous trips out here, and on every single visit, the locals are always quick and very forthcoming in proclaiming their love for their favorite American.

The conversation almost always follows the exact same script, proceeded by a massive smile and a hearty thumbs-up sign: