Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
seafood, then Ngapali Beach is your kind
of place. Unfortunately the cost of
accommodation has spiralled in recent
years, plus to get to Ngapali from Yangon
requires either a fifty-minute flight or a
gruelling eighteen-hour bus journey.
Most of the hotels are strung out
between Lintha village in the north and
Jade Taw further south, with Myabin
village lying in between. Several places on
the beach offer massages from K7000
per hour, while if you're feeling more
active then you can rent a bicycle in
Lintha (K3000 per day) and ride down
to Gyeikthaw fishing village - the market
is best around 6.30am. You can also
arrange snorkelling through hotels,
although to get to the best sites you need
to take a day-trip (K40,000 including
barbecue lunch).
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
The nearest town is Thandwe, located 7km northeast of
the beach. Hire of a tuk-tuk between them costs around
K7000. Caravan travel agent at Ngapali Junction ( T 043
42404; K400 from the beach by tuk-tuk) sells plane and
boat tickets.
By plane Thandwe airport - which has a currency
exchange counter - is 6km north of Ngapali Beach; most
accommodation will pick you up from the airport by
prior arrangement.
Destinations Sittwe (1-2 daily; 40min); Yangon (5 daily;
40-55min).
By bus Hotels on Ngapali Beach sell bus tickets, and also
act as drop-off and pick-up points.
Destinations Pyay (2 daily; 10hr); Yangon (daily; 17hr).
By boat Buses (frequent until 3pm; 4hr) make the 80km
journey from Thandwe to Taunggok, where you can get a
boat to Sittwe (Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat; 9hr).
The four cheapest rooms here are set back from the beach,
and are fan-cooled with electricity from 5pm-7am. You
can get sea views and a nicer room for $5 extra. Either
way yo u ca n use the loungers on a deck overlooking the
beach. $35
EATING AND DRINKING
There are a few shacks on the beach, close to Myabin,
typically open from breakfast until 9pm (happy hour
usually 4-6pm).
Htay Htay's Kitchen Main road, near Lintha. Customers
at this welcoming, family-run restaurant rave about the
great seafood - crab curry (K4000) is a favourite - and
cocktails (rum sour K1500). Daily 7am-11pm.
Pleasant View Islet On a causeway in the sea, near
Jade Taw village. The great location is the immediate draw,
but the food here is good and the service is attentive.
Daily lunch and dinner.
7
SITTWE
Located at the picturesque point where
the Kaladan River meets the Bay of
Bengal, Sittwe is the main transport hub
for visiting Mrauk U (see p.542). he
city was off-limits for much of 2012-13
and, although open to tourists again, it
has been profoundly changed as
Rohingya Muslims - who once formed
close to half of the city's population
- have almost all been driven into
refugee camps.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
he town centre is built on a grid pattern,
with three main north-south roads: from
east to west they are Minbargyi Rd,
Main Rd and Strand Rd (along the
shore). Most shops and travel agents are
located on Main Rd, as are the rather dry
Cultural Museum (Tues-Sun 9.30am-
4.30pm; K2000) and the more
interesting small museum further north
at Maka Kuthala Kyaungtawgyi monastery
(daily 6am-6pm).
he most rewarding place for a walk
is Strand Rd , which has a fish market
(daily 6am-5pm) at the junction with
Merchant St. It's at its best early in the
morning. Around 3km south of here,
K2000 return by trishaw, is the View
Point - a great place to appreciate Sittwe's
location on the Bay of Bengal, with a café
open from 6am-9pm.
ACCOMMODATION
Most of the accommodation in Ngapali is startlingly
overpriced, so it's essential to book ahead. There's internet
access at Bayview and Sandoway resorts, or more cheaply
at an internet café in Jade Taw.
Laguna Lodge Between Myabin and Jade Taw T 043
42312, W lagunalodge-myanmar.com. Although the
standard rooms here start at $50, they also have a couple
of “backpacker rooms” which lack sea views. The
management and staff here have created the most
backpacker-friendly atmosphere in Nga pali, and arrange
mountain-biking trips from K8000. $35
Memento Between Lintha and Myabin T 043 42441 or
T 09 851 5190, E ngapalimementoresort@gmail.com.
 
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