Ngapali Beach

Ngapali runs for several kilometres of pale sand on the Rakhine coast, backed by palms and a single road, with a scatter of resorts along it and fishing villages at either end. It is undeveloped by the standards of the region: low buildings, no strip, no nightlife to speak of. Fishing is still the local economy, and the boats land in the morning while the drying racks work all day. Flights from Yangon to Thandwe are the practical way in and they run seasonally.

What you actually see

• The beach - several kilometres of pale sand backed by palms, with calm shallow water.
• The fishing villages - boats landing in the morning at Jade Taw and Lone Tha, with drying racks along the sand.
• The seafood - beachfront kitchens cooking what came in that morning.
• The offshore islands - small rocky islands reached by boat for snorkelling.

When to go

November to April is the season and the only one: the southwest monsoon from May to October closes most resorts, and flights are reduced or suspended. December to February is the peak. Sunsets go straight out over the bay.

Honest expectations

The season is genuinely short and arriving outside it means finding most things shut. Flights are limited and cancellations reshape itineraries. There is very little to do beyond the beach, which is either the appeal or the problem.

Nearby

Thandwe town and its airport are inland, and the coast road runs north towards the fishing villages.