Holidays in Burma by the sea. Myanmar - beach holiday. Journey to Silver Water

One of Myanmar's closest neighbors, Thailand, has long been popular among Russian tourists as a beach holiday area. This industry is also developing rapidly in Vietnam.

But beach holidays in Burma are still in their infancy, although the country has excellent prospects in this regard.

Prospects for a beach holiday

Beach holidays in Burma have a great future, primarily for natural reasons. The country owns almost 2,000 km of coastal zone on the Andaman Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean.

Beach strips can stretch for many kilometers. Most of them are covered with light sand, and the sea is calm enough for comfortable swimming.

Often, patches of jungle approach the very beaches, and relaxation at sea can be combined with exploring the sights of tropical nature.

Excellent prospects also open up for those tourists who go for a picnic on the coastal islands (and there are a lot of them off the Burmese coast).

Additional benefits

An additional opportunity is to get to know in practice the most important sector of the local economy, which is fishing. Very often, local residents go about their business, not paying attention to vacationing foreigners.

You can go fishing yourself - this is not prohibited, but it is better to get permission and find out from local experts where to catch what. Then it may be possible to catch very exotic specimens with a fishing rod.

Burma has hot weather, but there is frequent rain in summer and autumn. You can find sections of the coast with both waves and calm ones. In the Bay of Bengal in the summer, you can observe the phenomenon of phosphorescence at night - the water glows due to the presence of special small organisms in it.

Tourists in Burma consider it especially exotic to swim in the luminous sea. The swimmer here is practically not threatened by dangerous animals, and you can get into the water and on the wild beach without special precautions.

Beach holiday in Burma

Reviews about beach holidays in Burma note significant differences in conditions in different regions of the country. The most prestigious beaches are located near the town of Ngapali.

Here along the coastline there are prestigious hotels lined up, the star rating of which is quite consistent with generally accepted standards. Holiday prices here are quite high by local standards, but the conditions correspond to European ideas of comfort.

Ngapali beaches have several kilometers of clean light sand and many water activities, including sailing trips to the nearest islands.

Nearby are also the extensive beaches of Ngwe Saung, where conditions are more modest. Some sections of this beach (it is very long - about 15 km) remain completely wild.

There is little luxury here, but lovers of silence will like Ngwe Saung more than Ngapali, since there are practically no nightclubs, discos and other noisy entertainment venues. Such things are found only in certain hotels.

Vast areas of the coastline in Myanmar are occupied by wild beaches, which will appeal to lovers of nature, tropical exoticism and solitude. There are such beaches near Dawei, as well as on the coast of the Andaman Sea.

Thanks to the friendliness of the local population, tourists in Burma should not be afraid of sparsely populated corners, so the country’s wild beaches may turn out to be even more attractive for many than the “cultivated” ones.

Myanmar is a heavenly place on earth, where once you find yourself, you understand where dreams can lead. Velvety and warm air, saturated with the rays of a truly divine sun, will easily immerse you in heavenly nirvana, making you forget about the bustle and idleness of everyday problems. After all, we all want, at least for a few days a year, all our worries to be pushed to the farthest plane, and truly gorgeous landscapes appear before our eyes, capable of reminding us what a picturesque planet we live on. Perhaps there is no better place for this than the shore of a warm sea, blown by a fantastic breeze. And I will not be mistaken if I say that the real pearl of the world is the beaches of Myanmar, the total length of which is close to two thousand kilometers. Just think how many unforgettable moments and pleasant discoveries can be hidden in travel along the expanses of the coastline.

The most popular beach among tourists is Ngapali Beach. And this is not surprising. Anyone who has had the opportunity to wander through these places will for a long time remember the azure of the sea depths, the warmth of the snow-white sand and the soft sound of the wind in the leaves of palm trees. These beaches will take their place of honor on the shelf of your brightest and most colorful memories, to warm you up on rainy autumn days and gloomy winter evenings. The abundance and availability of fruits is facilitated by local residents, who, for a small fee, will allow you not only to see heaven on earth, but also to taste it. Having become tired of contemplating utopian views, you can briefly return to reality by doing, for example, fishing or diving. This will add variety to your vacation, and will also allow the even tan that you will manage to acquire while visiting the beaches of Myanmar to subside.


Fortunately, there are more than enough opportunities for creating interesting leisure activities in these places. For lovers of nightlife, the mysterious phenomenon of glowing sea water will be a pleasant surprise. Imagine as if millions of small underwater spotlights light up in the depths of the sea, after the sunset of the main celestial body, to once again remind us that beauty is nearby. Believe me, this is incomparable.


When you visit Chang Ta Beach, you will be surprised not only by the branchy palm trees scattered everywhere, but also by the exquisitely prepared seafood food, which you can easily buy from the commercial locals. Agree, it would be unforgivable for us not to taste the gifts of local cuisine. Indeed, in order to understand even better the philosophy of the local people, sometimes it is enough just to taste their national dishes.


An even more fabulous corner of this area is the beaches of Ngwe Saung Beach and Kantaya. There is an opinion that the water in these parts is even clearer, the sound of the surf is more melodious, and the tan is more velvety. However, having visited different beaches in Myanmar, you understand that you cannot draw the boundaries of paradise, because the atmosphere of calm, tranquility and bliss reigns everywhere here. And a well-developed infrastructure, cozy and comfortable hotels only contribute to the prosperity of paradise on earth.

Beaches in Myanmar are a true dream for a person who wants to relax and unwind, feel the velvety touch of the rays of the caressing sun on his skin, breathe in the most delicate air intoxicating with its unique freshness and feel how the lightest breeze brings long-awaited freshness. The most picturesque places and pristine nature will greet you and give you an unforgettable experience of relaxing in the lap of virgin nature, because this true miracle will be provided to you only in this corner of paradise.

One of the most famous beaches in Myanmar is Ngapali, even in the “cold” season the temperature on it does not drop below 30 degrees. This splendor is located only seven kilometers from the town of Sandowai. This beach, remarkable in its beauty, is also the cleanest beach in the whole world with its beautiful scenery and wonderful climate, delightfully suitable for a relaxing holiday.

The beaches of Myanmar are also famous for their magical pagodas, looking at them in the setting rays of the sun, you feel as if you are plunging into a fairy tale and seeing the golden shimmer of magic on their domes. This is a fabulous place where men wear skirts and girls glow with goodwill and happiness, where you can feel truly happy and will keep a piece of this world within you all your life. In this wonderful place, you can finally throw off the shackles of “civilization” and feel like a “real” person who doesn’t need to think about hateful work, future well-being or making deals or any problems, but just be yourself, do only what what you want, not what you need, and rest your soul and body.


For every visitor on the beaches of Myanmar there is his own outlet that will bring him pleasure, and some tourists who are tired of their crazy race through life, in order to somehow feel like not even a guest, but a resident of this wonderful place, wear longis, something like skirts, worn by men in Myanmar. Local residents treat such tourists with understanding and sympathy and, as best they can, help them feel in the role they choose, to feel like a Myanmarese. For lovers of the exotic, this is a wonderfully unique place; almost all of the transport consists of pickup trucks, in which people ride, clinging with their feet or hands while you yourself are hanging in the air, feeling the sensation of flying during the trip, although it is quite safe , but the feeling is amazing. If you are hungry, on almost every corner you will be offered to sit on a low stool and taste the local food of all the inhabitants - “mohinga” fish soup with a delicious rice cake and, for the second, fried rice with pieces of chicken.


Local women in Myanmar do not use cosmetics; they apply a special paste to their faces, which, in addition to its remarkable sun protection properties, also has a cosmetic effect. Many residents have been chewing the local herbal drug betel nut almost all their lives and, walking down the street, you can see someone spitting bloody clots onto the sidewalk, stripes of which can be seen on many roads. And everyone who uses it, their teeth become like coals, they become so black, which leads to an unimaginable external effect.


The people of Myanmar take religion very seriously, although they understand it with its own characteristics that are unique to them. They worship the great Buddha, but this does not prevent them from worshiping local spirits as well, and this attitude often confuses the theological dead end of those who try to understand local religious preferences. But one of the general rules applies to everyone - all residents believe that no one has the right to enter a home or building with shoes on and strictly monitors the execution of this ritual, so you may not be allowed to enter a shop or temple until you take off your shoes, because it will be considered desecration. Maybe that’s why, but most local residents walk down the street barefoot, not bothering to wear shoes.


For lovers of sights, Myanmar will be a great find; there are thousands of temples and pagodas on its territory. Pagodas of all sizes, colors and shapes attract attention and delight with their sophistication and beauty, the variety of materials used and the crazy imagination of the builders, thanks to which these structures turn into real masterpieces of art. The largest and most incredible pagoda in its magnificence is located in the capital, in the very center of Rangoon and is called Shwedagon. An insane amount of gold and precious wood was spent on the construction of this pagoda, and now, looking at this monumental structure, you experience an incomparable feeling of delight, splendor and probably even pride that such a structure was built by ordinary people, but who invested a piece of their soul into the construction and perpetuated its existence for centuries.


Manyana, like every country, has its own national dress that has developed over the centuries due to the conditions of their climate, nationalism and beliefs. Clothing highlights each Manyan, identifying him with his occupation, religious beliefs and craft. Buying national clothes or any of its attributes is not difficult, you just need to find it at the local market, but there are trays with goods on it in an orderly manner that is understandable only to the local residents, inaccessible to an ordinary tourist, which gives the local exoticism even greater individuality and flavor .


One of the favorite pastimes of both the local population and visitors is watching the sunset in several especially picturesque places in this paradise of our vast planet. Bagan Temple - Bupaya, is one of the oldest temples in Manyana. The appearance of the gilded slopes of this masterpiece of antiquity amazes with its splendor and luxury, and many people, wearing their best clothes, come out in the evenings to sit and watch how the rays of the setting sun will shimmer on its domes and reflect from the ancient structure. Gathered near the temple, local residents take great pleasure in looking at tourists in their exotic, by Magnan standards, clothes and showing hospitality to visitors, because they really have something to be proud of. They also like to watch the sunset by looking at the ruins, and if you suddenly want to climb to the top of the Mingalazedi Temple, then you will not be disappointed - the view of the many pagodas resting in front of you will make an indelible impression on you, but watching the sunset on this peak cannot be described at all no words.

And of course, no tourist will be left without souvenirs in memory of this beautiful place with its wonderful pagodas and Manyana beaches, because they can be bought at the foot of almost every pagoda. The time spent in Magnana will be the best vacation thanks to the service of local hotels, because this includes excellent service and wonderful rooms with delicious breakfasts on the terraces.


In this exotic country there are not only beaches and pagodas, everyone also has the opportunity to ride a boat and visit various monasteries, such as are not found anywhere else, and if you want, you can climb the mountains. The Monastery of Jumping Cats, as the name suggests, is where friendly monks actually live and raise cats that jump through rings and perform many tricks that you can see if you are lucky enough to visit it. If you want to swim along the river, looking at the sights and enjoying the clean and transparent flow of water, you need to go to Nyaung Shwe, where almost all passers-by will offer you a wonderful trip, you just have to choose what you want to see. Another one of the most famous Mahamuni pagodas, which houses a golden statue of Buddha and gathers pilgrims who pray from early morning until late at night to the hat of the great Buddha, crowned with huge precious stones comparable in value to the income of an average city for several years. The statue of Mahamuni was sacred even at the time when it was taken from the ancient city of Arakan, many historical legends or epics are associated with it, when different people at different times worshiped and prayed to it, and it was indeed sacred to them.

Ngapali

Located in Ngapali, Kipling's Bay Guesthouse offers a garden, terrace and rooms with a terrace. The beach is a 5-minute walk away. Bicycle rentals are available at an additional cost. I absolutely loved my time at Kipling's! Properties were very clean and comfortable, located within five minutes walk from a beach, some very good restaurants also nearby. Breakfast was super! Highly recommended.

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Three Seasons Guest House 1 stars

Three Seasons Guest House is located in Ngapali. This 1-star guest house features a garden and air-conditioned rooms with shared bathroom facilities. Amazing hospitality. The hosts are very polite and friendly, and willing to help with any requests. The location is close to some good restaurants and a short walk from a spectacular beach. Breakfast is also great with some tasty homemade local treats

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Mingalarpar Ngapali Guest House 1 stars

Ngapali

Mingalarpar Ngapali Guest House is located in Ngapali. Free Wi-Fi is provided. Private parking is available for an additional fee. Good location. Close to the beach and next to a wonderful restaurant with delicious food, Ngapali Kitchen. Very friendly staff who tried their best to make your stay more comfortable. Helped with purchasing tickets to Meow.

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WEStay @ Chillax House 2 stars

Ngapali

Westay @ Chillax House B&B is located just a few minutes' walk from Ngapali Beach. It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi and a garden. The staff is always smiling (especially the girl who makes the breakfast!) and helpful! Just a couple of minutes from the beach Comfortable and big bed WITH COTTON BLANKET! AMAZING HOT SHOWER perfect temperature in the room thank to the AC Restaurants are a few minutes away in the main road And a mention also for the guests, I had to extend two more because days of the amazing people I"ve found there! That place Is like a magnet for lovely peoples!!

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May 18 Guest House Ngapali

Ngapali

Offering a garden and free WiFi, May 18 Ngapali Guesthouse is located in Ngapali. A 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange are available. A great place to relax. The staff is friendly, the owners try to fulfill your every wish. It feels like I'm visiting relatives to relax. Everything for a comfortable stay is within walking distance. Cafes, souvenirs, and of course the most important thing. THE SEA! It is also possible to rent a bicycle or E-Bike.

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The villager lodge 2 stars

The villager lodge is located in Ngapali Beach Resort. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are available on site. The hotel is located close to the sea, about 100 meters away. There is a “supermarket” and an excellent restaurant “Queen sea” and a lot of local eateries nearby. The rooms are a bit dark. The mattresses are comfortable, the bed linen is clean and changed frequently. Soap, shampoo, gel, toothbrushes were provided daily, and the room was cleaned. The plumbing is in good working order, there is always hot water. For breakfast they serve an omelet, you can order rice, soup in advance, seasonal fruits, sweets, toast, cheese. The staff is friendly, ready to help and give advice. Wi-Fi is worse the further you get from the reception. There are mosquitoes in the evening. The hotel left a good impression.

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River Top Lodge 3 stars

Ngapali

With a 10 minutes’ drive from Thandwe Airport, River Top Lodge is located in Ngapali. This property features a restaurant and a free airport shuttle service. A hotel with a large area. There are small flower beds near the bungalow. The pool is large and has good lighting in the evening. The hotel is located on the first line from the road, but this does not interfere at all. Across the road 2 minutes to the beach. There is a minimarket next to the hotel. Cafe along the road. The staff will recommend “delicious” places. The interior is in good condition, cleaned twice a day. The cleanliness is perfect. Laundry services are expensive. The buffet is monotonous, but there are some goodies. There were no similar hotels (in appearance) in the immediate radius. The staff at the reception is always friendly, not a single request was left unattended. Free transfer to the airport is a nice bonus from the hotel.

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Amata Resort & Spa, Ngapali Beach 4 stars

Amata Resort & Spa, Ngapali Beach is located on Ngapali Beach. It features an outdoor swimming pool and a spa and wellness centre. Free WiFi is available throughout the property. I've been to this hotel before and gladly came again. Excellent location and good beach, no stones. Comfortable rooms. The staff is friendly, the managers at the reception were very attentive to my wishes and found an excellent room, and also helped resolve minor issues during my stay, for example, a street lamp was shining in my eye and it was turned off :-). I'll definitely stop by again! There is something relaxing about this hotel, surrounded by greenery, a pleasant atmosphere, despite the fact that it is certainly a bit old. But numerous advantages outweigh these disadvantages...

In this article I will talk about the country of Myanmar (Burma). In Myanmar, beach holidays are not yet particularly popular among Russian tourists, but I think that this situation will change in the future. In Myanmar, there are attractions at literally every turn, and the beaches of Myanmar are some of the most beautiful in the world. I will also tell you in detail about my flight Moscow - Myanmar, how we got to the city of Yangon in Myanmar.

About five years ago, my companion and I decided to go to one of the Asian countries for the May holidays. We had 7 days at our disposal, and during this time we wanted to enjoy a beach holiday, gain strength, and also see some sights.

In almost all Asian countries, the weather at this time is very good, and the likelihood of falling into the rainy season is extremely low. On the advice of friends, we chose Myanmar (Burma), since, according to them, the price-quality ratio of a beach holiday in Myanmar is very high. The destination is distinguished by a large number of Buddhist attractions in Myanmar, which foreshadows a rich cultural program.

The beach holiday destination in Myanmar is not popular among Russian tourists, which was extremely attractive to us. But despite this, such a trip may involve additional inconveniences. One of these inconveniences is the flight, because like many other countries in Asia, there were no direct flights in this direction.

The flight on the route Moscow - Myanmar took place with one transfer in . I have previously been to Changi Airport and traveled via Singapore Airlines, so if a connecting flight is needed, this airport has priority.

The flight from Moscow to Changi Airport took place on a large and comfortable Boeing 767. They are often alternated with the 777, but there is no fundamental difference between them. Both aircraft are very large and in the event of turbulence or passing through thick clouds, both aircraft provide maximum comfort during the flight. The flight lasted 10 hours, during which passengers were fed twice, drinks were served throughout, and passengers could keep themselves busy watching entertainment programs and information about the flight.

We had to spend about 4 hours at Changi Airport between connecting flights. The air harbor has a developed infrastructure, a huge number of shops, restaurants and bars. In order to get from Singapore to our next destination, Yangon Airport in Myanmar (Burma), we could resort to the low-cost airline Air Asia, which would significantly reduce the cost of the flight. But, as a rule, we resort to the services of low-cost airlines in cases of extreme necessity, when there is simply no other alternative.

The flight to the capital of Myanmar lasted for 4 hours, after which we landed at the international airport of the capital of this country. After that, we had to make another flight on local airlines to Thandwe airport, which lasted no more than an hour. I would not advise travelers to plan flights in this direction and the logistics between them on their own, but it is best to entrust this procedure to a tour operator.

Moscow — Myanmar

At the Myanmar airport we were met by a hotel representative on a shuttle from the hotel. The airport is not far from where we are staying. And within a radius of 10-15 kilometers there are several similar hotels with well-known franchises. The 4 star hotel we stayed in is called . We were greeted by friendly, smiling staff and offered free mango smoothies. Before this, we heard that in Myanmar hotels are given stars at random and the ratings should not be trusted. In our case, we could easily add another half a star, and all five for the service.

The hotel is not very large, with a main two-story building and several bungalows in the form of terraced houses along the beach, in fact, where we were accommodated. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable, and they were cleaned twice a day. The hotel is located in a tropical garden with many artificial wooden paths around the perimeter. The hotel has a large heated swimming pool with clean water.

The first thing people come here for is, of course, a beach holiday in Myanmar. I was also impressed by the white sand beach of Myanmar (Burma), it is wide and clean. A volleyball net was installed on the beach, where active recreation enthusiasts could keep themselves busy for almost the entire day. Along the beach of Myanmar (Burma) you can ride elephants, and in the evenings they bring tables with white tablecloths and lit candles to the beach and arrange a buffet for guests.

Beach chairs and umbrellas are located close to the hotel. Tall palm trees grow along this entire line, in the shade of which you can hide from the heat, and in front of visitors there is a view of simply a huge expanse of coastline. The service staff in Myanmar (Burma) brings guests freshly squeezed tropical cocktails with ice, so the beach has all the attributes of a tropical paradise.

Myanmar: beach holidays, food in Myanmar (Burma)

Our package included breakfast at the hotel. For breakfast, guests are served a buffet, which, in addition to traditional breakfast ingredients such as scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, contains a huge selection of fruits and olives in various marinades.

Lunch and dinner in the restaurant are also excellent. Traditional Myanmar cuisine includes all kinds of seafood cooked with a huge amount of spices, a pleasant addition to a beach holiday in Myanmar. As a rule, the side dish is rice, also prepared according to various recipes with many additives. But we practically didn’t take it in order to be able to “lean on” the abundance of seafood more often.
The quality and presentation of the dishes resemble haute cuisine. At the hotel itself, dinner was often exactly the same as on the beach. Although the beach offers the same lobsters, exotic species of fish, shrimp and crabs at ridiculous prices ($10-15 per person).

There are several private open-air cafes on the street next to the hotel. There you can arrange a “belly celebration” for mere pennies and simply in huge quantities. In general, Myanmar cuisine left a storm of positive emotions. If you come back here again, it will be only for the abundance and quality of seafood.

What to see in Myanmar (Burma), attractions of Myanmar

Ananda Temple

Excursions were organized for hotel guests to see the sights of Myanmar, which was extremely interesting for us. In general, it is not recommended to travel alone in Myanmar. Driving may not be entirely safe, trains do not have amenities and can be delayed for an indefinite amount of time, up to several hours, and the intercity bus may not be the safest mode of transport.

We left the hotel in a small, brand new minibus early in the morning at about 6 o'clock. Having picked up several more tourists from nearby hotels, we set off in the direction of the temple near the village of Nyaung Yu. The path was tiring and long, and the quality of the road surface was simply disgusting. Around noon we reached our destination. Before visiting the landmarks of Myanmar, we were invited to sit down for lunch in one of the local cafes. It was not included in the price of the excursion and cost $10.

The temple is a grandiose architectural structure, more than 50 meters high, and is also located on a hill. White carved walls, red roof slopes and gilded domes - all this creates a truly monumental look. On the vast adjacent territory there are many small Buddhist temples, which are part of this entire huge ensemble. If you come with a tourist group, it is better to stay together so as not to get lost in the many corridors and courtyards, or duplicate the meeting time and remember well the place where you will meet. There are many tourists and artists in the area, with great zeal trying to sell their works. A visit to the attraction takes about two hours. We spent an unforgettable time, and the huge structure left us with a storm of emotions.

Dhammayazika Pagoda Temple

Another attraction of Myanmar is the Dhammayazika Pagoda Temple. A visit to this pagoda was an integral part of our excursion and the next stop. Moreover, it is located not far from the place of our previous stop.

In general, there are a huge number of such temples in Myanmar, and for me the most emotional moment was approaching them. As a rule, they are located in very secluded places, in valleys among the mountains. They appear suddenly in sight, so as you approach them you can enjoy the grandeur and grace. The Dhammayazika Pagoda Temple is no exception. A huge monumental structure seemed to suddenly appear not far from us. This is a red stone structure topped with a golden dome and several dozen smaller pagodas. The temple was restored relatively recently, as it was partially destroyed after the earthquake. We watched this whole spectacle from an observation deck not far from it. There is no crowd of tourists and intrusive sellers of drawings and souvenirs.

We also visited Gubyaukgyi Temple, Minnantu village, Shwezigon Pagoda. All of these destinations were part of a grueling one-day sightseeing tour of Myanmar's Bagan province, after which we returned to the hotel late at night. We had the opportunity to visit the Sulamani Gefaya Temple, Shwesano Pagoda and many other attractions in Bagan Province, but this requires more time.

If you are interested in the sights of other provinces, then you can visit Mandalay, Kin Pun and Yangon of Myanmar by domestic flights, but it is almost impossible to see everything in 7 days.

A visit to Myanmar (Burma), in fact, can be called a unique place to combine a beach holiday and sightseeing. The cleanliness of the beaches, high-quality hotel service and unique cuisine give every reason to give this trip 5 stars. If the priority of your vacation is visiting the sights of Myanmar, then you need to go for at least two weeks.

The downside of our holiday in Myanmar (Burma) I would say is the tiring flight with two transfers (so it’s better to fly with a good airline; in Myanmar you’ll still fly with local airlines) and the disgusting infrastructure of local transport in Myanmar (Burma). Traveling on your own is not the best option; it is better to take excursions or hire a driver for $60-80 per day. Otherwise, the beach holiday in Myanmar was just super!