Page 116 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

114 The DelTa anD wesTern MyanMar Ngapali aNd arouNd
FLOATING ABOVE NGAPALI
From sea level Ngapali looks beautiful, but see it from above and it will take your breath
away. oriental Ballooning offer hour-long sunrise hot air-balloon flights ($380 per person;
T043 42166, Worientalballooning.com), which will have you drifting with the breeze above
the mist-dappled rivers, forests and pagoda-topped hills of the countryside. although it’s not
as iconic a place to take to the skies as Bagan, the scenery is just as good – and as there are far
fewer people choosing to balloon here, there’s every chance you’ll have the basket virtually to
2 yourself. oriental Ballooning have a booking office in Ngapali.

arrIVal anD DeParTUre nGaPalI
By plane Domestic flights arrive at Thandwe Airport at (see p.118) if you’re approaching by bus, from where it’s a
the northern end of Ngapali’s beach. The hotels stretch short ride by tuk-tuk (around K7000) or pick-up (K500) to
from just outside the airport all the way down the coast Ngapali. There are services direct to Ngapali from Yangon
to the Pleasant View Resort, around 10km south, and via Pyay and there’s also a nightly one (12hr) from Pyay to
most provide free airport transfers – check when you Thandwe – these pick up and drop off passengers at hotels
book. There are regular flights to Thandwe Airport with along the beach, and some hotels also sell bus tickets.
FMI, Golden Myanmar, KBZ, Yangon Air, Air Mandalay, There are sometimes additional services to Yangon,
Mann Yadanarpon and Myanmar Airlines. Most stop at travelling down the coast via Gwa, which can be slightly
Thandwe as part of longer circular routes, including quicker depending on the latest road conditions.
Yangon–Thandwe–Sittwe and Nyaung U–Heho– Destinations Pyay (daily; 12hr); Sittwe (daily; 12hr);
Thandwe, meaning that although you can fly direct from Yangon via Pyay (daily; 18hr); Yangon via Gwa (daily; 16hr).
Yangon to Thandwe (for example), travelling from By boat Boats run from Sittwe (see p.123) to the small
Sittwe to Thandwe you might have to go all the way back town of Taunggok, around 80km north of Thandwe, from
to Yangon. Many flights cease running in the rainy where pick-ups (4hr) run on to Thandwe. You’ll most likely
season. You can buy plane tickets from most hotels and have to either spend the night in Taunggok (as pick-ups
travel agencies in Ngapali. tend to run in the mornings) or splash out on a taxi to
Destinations Bagan (daily; 1hr 20min); Sittwe (3 daily; Ngapali, assuming you can find one. There are a couple of
40min); Yangon (12 daily; 40min). basic guesthouses in Taunggok – the Khant Guesthouse is
By bus You might end up in the nearby town of Thandwe probably preferable to the Royal.
GeTTInG arOUnD
Ngapali is very spread out, and transport is in short supply. Occasional tuk-tuks and pick-up trucks ply the main road, but
it’s probably easiest to arrange something through your accommodation. Bicycles (from K500p/h or K3000p/d) are
a popular way to get about, and there are many places (hotels, restaurants and travel agencies) that rent them along the
main road running behind the beach.
aCCOMMODaTIOn
AROUND THE AIRPORT LIN THAR VILLAGE
★ Amara Ocean Resort 3km north of airport T01 Bay View Beach Resort Main Rd, south of the village
556117, Wamaragroup.net. Well away from the hoi T043 42299, Wbayview-myanmar.com. One of
polloi, this is one of Ngapali’s more exclusive addresses, Ngapali’s better-value options, with accommodation in
with just 24 luxurious bungalows scattered discreetly spacious bungalows crisply furnished in a cool,
around a stretch of drop-dead gorgeous beach. The cool, contemporary style. The real attraction is the gorgeously
dark-wood architecture is very easy on the eye (as is the styled gardens, filled with flowers and vines dangling
superb infinity pool), and there are ample opportunities for down from the room balconies. Facilities include the
boating, hiking, biking and birdwatching in the unlikely in-house Catch restaurant and the attractive (but
event that you fancy venturing outside. $290 expensive) Sunset Bar on the beach. There’s also a big pool,
Amazing Ngapali 1km south of the airport T043 plenty of loungers on the beach, plus a spa and a billiards
42011, Wamazingngapaliresort.com. This place is not as and darts room. Guests also get free access to bikes, and
designer-perfect as some others in Ngapali, but it scores kayaking and catamaran trips can be arranged. $199
highly for its fine stretch of beach, ultra-attentive staff and ★ Kipling’s Bay Aye Pyar Ye Lan T09 250 756 636,
reasonable rates. Accommodation is in rather chintzy villas Epaivi.lehtiranta@gmail.com. Utterly different to
and facilities include the usual pool and spa. $180 anything else in Ngapali, the Finnish-owned, ten-room

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