Myanmar Beaches – Where to Find The Best Beaches in Myanmar
If you are looking for the best beaches in Myanmar, check out our ultimate guide to where to find the most beautiful Myanmar beaches and how to get there! Check out some of the most popular Myanmar beaches to real hidden gems. If you’re looking for crystal clear water and white sandy beach, you’ve come to the right place!
Once upon a time, Myanmar used to be the hidden gem of Southeast Asia, but this beautiful country is not so hidden anymore. In recent years, flocks of tourists have been drawn to the unique treasures of Myanmar. From the ancient temples of Bagan (which was officially inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019) to the floating gardens of Inle Lake, the colorful markets of Mandalay and the unique minority tribes that are found all over Myanmar. Despite the growing influx of tourists, Myanmar is still not a famous beach destination. Not many tourists bother to visit any of Myanmar’s beaches; they’d rather go to Thailand or the Philippines for that. However, Myanmar beaches are gorgeous, and they are not overrun by tourists or ruined by industrialization like some other coastlines in Southeast Asia. So when planning your Myanmar vacation, make sure to check out some of the best beaches in Myanmar!
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Table of Content
Where to Find the Best Beaches in Myanmar
Myanmar has a very long coastline of approximately 3,000 km extending along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Across Myanmar, you can find several large estuarine, delta systems, and islands, where you’ll discover diverse coastal habitats: sandy beaches, coral reefs and mangroves. Most of the popular Myanmar beaches are situated closer to Yangon, but if you want to discover some secluded beaches that are true hidden gems, we suggest going south.
Picture by: Daria from The Discovery Nut
Ngapali Beach - Rakhine State, West Coast of Myanmar
Ngapali Beach (Pronounced Na-pa-li) is one of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, and yet, it has been quietly flying under the radar even after Myanmar has opened up to tourism. Legend has it that the beach was named after Naples by an Italian who missed his homeland.
Located in the south of Rakhine State, Ngapali Beach is not easy to access. Unlike other popular places in Myanmar, such as Bagan or Inle Lake, it is not served by a direct bus route. Most travelers take a flight to Ngapali Beach’s Thandwe Airport and spend a few days enjoying some of the most pristine coastlines in Southeast Asia.
In Ngapali Beach, visitors can rent a scooter, a kayak, go for snorkeling/scuba diving with a boat tour around nearby islands or enjoy the quiet coastline that is surprisingly uncrowded for such a beautiful place. Unlike some other popular destinations in the region, Ngapali Beach doesn’t offer a big nightlife scene, and you won’t find loud clubs packed with tourists here.
Instead, visitors get to enjoy a 7-km stretch of the scenic coastline lined with palm trees where you can try local dishes or buy a fresh coconut from a local vendor. This place offers tranquillity and unspoiled scenery that make it a perfect place to relax after touring the country and end your Myanmar trip.
Recommended by Daria from The Discovery Nut
Ngapali Beach – Practical Information
ATM: There are several ATMs along the main roads and at some of the hotels.
Best Season to Visit Ngapali Beach: The best season to visit Ngapali is from November to March
How to Get to Ngapali Beach: By Plane: Take a flight to Ngapali Beach’s Thandwe Airport. You can catch a plane from several places in Myanmar such as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Heho (closest airport to Inle Lake) and Sittwe but note that the flights from Yangon and Sittwe are the only ones that run year-round while the flights from other locations are sometimes canceled, especially during the rainy season. By Bus: You can catch a bus from Yangon to Ngapali Beach. It should take you about 12 hours, and in some places, the infrastructure is lacking.
Where to Stay in Ngapali Beach: If you’re looking for a luxury resort in one of Myanmar beaches, Ngapali has the best resorts. There are some choices for mid-range and budget accommodation but generally speaking, the prices here are higher than in the other Myanmar beaches. Here are some recommended places to stay at Ngapali Beach:
Luxury: Amazing Ngapali Resort | Bayview – The Beach Resort | Sandoway Resort | Hilton Ngapali Resort and Spa | Art of Sand Resort
Mid-Range: Ngapali Win Hotel | River Top Lodge
Budget: Mingalarpar Ngapali Guest House | Kipling’s Bay Guesthouse
Check out the prices for additional hotels in Ngapali Beach here
Picture by: Amandine from Les Berlinettes
Ngwe Saung Beach - Ayeyarwady Region, West Coast of Myanmar
After our 14 days on the road, we decided to finish our Myanmar itinerary at the beach. We were looking for something not too far from Yangon so we won’t lose too much traveling time. We talked with locals, and they advised us on Ngapali or Ngwe Saung Beach.
Ngapali is very crowded and a bit expensive from what we’ve heard, so we decided to go to Ngwe Saung Beach, aka the Silver Beach which is located south of Ngapali and closer to Yangon. It is a 14 km long beach boarded by palm trees and golden sand. It was very quiet when we were there (Christmas time), and there are good options for food. What you can’t find by the beach, like internet cafés or bars, you can find at Ngwe Saung village. From there you can book several day trips to the nearby attractions such as the Sinma fishermen village or even a snorkeling tour to Bird Island. Bird Island is located not far from Ngwe Saung Beach, and it is a great spot in the Bengale Golf to look for colorful fish and watch the crabs running on the beach. In terms of accommodation, you can find all types, we slept on a bungalow by the beach, and it cost us around $ 50 a night.
Recommended by Amandine from Les Berlinettes
Ngwe Saung Beach – Practical Information
ATM: There are a number of ATMs in Ngwe Saung village.
Best season to visit Ngwe Saung Beach: the best time to visit Ngwe Saung Beach is from November to February
How to Get to Ngwe Saung Beach: By Plane: The nearest airport is Yangon’s airport By Bus: You can catch a bus from Yangon to Ngwe Saung Beach. It should take you about 6 hours to get there. During the rainy season (June-October) there are fewer buses.
Where to Stay in Ngwe Saung Beach: Ngwe Saung Beach has a range of accommodation from luxury hotels to budget options. Generally speaking, the prices here are more budget-friendly than in Ngapali Beach and the hotels are a bit more modest. Here are some options to choose from:
Luxury: Ngwe Saung Yacht Club & Resort | Eskala Hotels and Resorts
Mid-Range: @The Sea | Center Point Ngwe Saung Beach Resort | Ocean Front Campgrounds
Budget: Ngwe Saung Garden Guest House | Soe Ko Ko Beach House & Restaurant | The Cabins Guest House
Check out the prices for additional hotels in Ngwe Saung Beach here
Myanmar Beaches - the Dawei Peninsula - Tanintharyi Region
The Dawei peninsula is located in the south-west of Myanmar and if you are looking for pristine beaches with white or golden soft sand and without the herds of tourists, this might be the beach destination for you. The main town is Dawei, the capital of the Tanintharyi Region, and it has a variety of accommodation options and some ATMs. However, this is not the ideal location for anyone who is looking for posh resorts. The charm of the Dawei peninsula lies in its simplicity and authenticity. Here are the top Dawei beaches, some of which are considered to be the most beautiful beaches in Myanmar.
Maungamgan Beach
Maungamgan Beach (also spelled Maung Ma Gan or Maung Ma Kan) is probably the most popular beach around the Dawei peninsula thanks to its proximity to Dawei, the main town in the area. Many locals visit this lovely Myanmar beach, but you’ll also find here some facilities for tourists.
If you’re considering visiting Maungamgan Beach, note that on the weekends and public holidays, the beach can get pretty crowded. However, unlike some of the other beaches around the Dawei peninsula, you’ll find many shaded spots, local seafood restaurants, and beer huts along the shore, so it’s a great place to eat lunch with a view or watch the sunset with an ice-cold beer.
The beach itself is quite long, so prepare to take long walks along the shoreline during which you will have many opportunities to photograph the daily lives of the villagers and fishermen of the area. Though Maungamgan Beach has many advantages, it can get dirty at times, and the water is not as crystal-clear as in other places around the Dawei peninsula.
Maungamgan Beach – Practical Information
ATM: At the time of our visit, the only ATMs were at Dawei town.
When to Visit Maungamgan Beach: The best time to visit the area is from November to February during the dry season.
How to Get to Maungamgan Beach: By plane: You can catch a direct flight to Dawei from Yangon, Myeik or Kawthaung in Myanmar. From there, catch a car/motorbike/tuk tuk to the beach itself. By bus: You can catch a direct bus to Dawei from Yangon and a couple of cities in the Tanintharyi Region. From Dawei, catch a car/motorbike/tuk tuk to get to Maungamgan Beach.
Where to Stay in Maungamgan Beach: You’ll find a couple of simple accommodation choices in Maungmagan Beach. You can check their prices here. You can also choose to stay at Dawei and go beach hopping around the Dawei peninsula.
Tizit Beach (Teyzit Beach)
Tizit Beach or Teyzit Beach is located further south, and it’s defiantly one of the best beaches in Myanmar. In fact, it is one of the best hidden gems in Myanmar with its soft sand, crystal clear water, and lack of tourists. Along the beach, you’ll find some shaded spots thanks to the nearby trees, and if you’re lucky, you’ll encounter some of the local children from the nearby fishing village who will be happy to play ball or just show you around.
There are two islands just in front of the beach, and you might be able to convince one of the local fishermen to take you for a ride to visit one of them. The scenery is beautiful, and the further south you walk, away from the fishing boats, the scenery is even more stunning and tranquil.
Tizit Beach – Practical Information
ATM: At the time of our visit the only ATMs were at Dawei town.
When to Visit Tizit Beach: The best time to visit the area is from November to February during the dry season.
How to Get to Tizit Beach: Check out our Dawei Beach Guide for instructions on how to get Tizit Beach from Dawei town.
Where to Stay in Tizit Beach: At the time of our visit, there were no accommodation options nearby. You can either stay at Dawei town or further south at one of the southern beaches.
Grandfather Beach (Po Po Kyauk Beach)
Grandfather Beach is another dreamy beach you’ll find around the Dawei peninsula. Grandfather Beach is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches of the Dawei peninsula; some say it’s the most beautiful beach in Myanmar. Usually, there are a few local food stalls at the entrance to the beach, but make sure to continue walking along this 5-kilometers stretch of white sandy beach till you get to the gorgeous lagoon that can be used as an amazing natural swimming pool. Jump into the crystal clear water, enjoy a fresh coconut (you bought at the entrance to the beach), and admire the natural scenery and lack of tourists.
Grandfather Beach – Practical Information
ATM: At the time of our visit the only ATMs were at Dawei town.
When to Visit Grandfather Beach: The best time to visit the area is from November to February during the dry season.
How to Get to Grandfather Beach: Check out our Dawei Beach Guide for instructions on how to get Grandfather Beach from Dawei town.
Where to Stay in Grandfather Beach: At the time of our visit, there were no accommodation options at the beach itself. You can either stay at Dawei town or at the beach bungalows at the nearby Sin Htauk Beach or Paradise Beach.
Most Beautiful and Secluded Myanmar Beaches
Sin Htauk Beach and Paradise Beach
Sin Htauk Beach and Paradise Beach are probably two of the most beautiful beaches in Myanmar. White and golden sand, crystal clear water in various shades of blue, and they are the only beaches in Dawei (other than Maungamgan Beach) that have accommodation right on the beach. You can spend a few nights in either of them and enjoy the view of the Andaman Sea straight for your bungalow, have a delicious meal at the hotel’s restaurant and relax on the beach.
However, getting to these dreamy Myanmar beaches can be very tricky. Both are very secluded and hard to get to, but once you get there, you will understand why both of them are on the list of the most beautiful beaches in Myanmar.
Sin Htauk Beach and Paradise Beach – Practical Information
ATM: At the time of our visit the only ATMs were at Dawei town.
When to Visit Sin Htauk Beach and Paradise Beach: The best time to visit the area is from November to February during the dry season.
How to Get to Sin Htauk Beach and Paradise Beach: Check out our Dawei Beach Guide for detailed instructions.
Where to Stay in Sin Htauk Beach and Paradise Beach: You can stay at Paradise Beach Bungalows at Paradise Beach or at Sin Htauk Beach Bungalows or Sea View Beach Bungalows at Sin Htauk Beach.
Looking for Beaches in Myanmar's Dawei Peninsula?
Nabule Beach, San Maria Beach, Pa Nyit Beach & Horseshoe Bay
There are many smaller and less famous beaches around the Dawei peninsula. You can read all about them in our Dawei Peninsula Beach Guide.
As you can see, though Myanmar is not your typical beach destination, there are some beautiful beaches in Myanmar, and what’s so great about them is that they still feel a bit more authentic and not so touristy as some other beaches around Southeast Asia. So on your next trip to Myanmar, be sure to include a few nights at one of the best beaches in Myanmar!
We hope you enjoyed our Myanmar Beach Guide. If you’ve been to any of these beaches or you have another beach to add to the list, make sure to leave us a comment below.
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I visited Myanmar in January and I loooved it! Unfortunately I didn’t have the time to visit the beaches. Maybe one day I will be able to go back to see what I have missed 😉
Myanmar is wonderful and so big! We’ve only seen a small fraction and would also love to continue exploring it oe day!
I had the chance to visit Myanmar many years ago and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately during that time it was not very easy to travel to the beaches in Myanmar, it took a long time to travel there. I’ve always wanted to go back to visit those amazingly stunning beaches. I’ve put it back on my bucket list thanks to your post.
Some of the beaches are still kind of hard to get to but there are some with an adjacent airport so there was definitely some improvement. Glad we had a chance to contribute to your bucket list 🙂 Ours is also getting longer and longer and Myanmar is still there for parts we haven’t visited yet!
Myanmar looks so beautiful! It is in fact my number one bucket list SEA destination for when I return. All of these beaches look so beautiful! 🙂
Myanmar is one of the most facinating countries in SEA for sure and there are parts that feel truely authentic which is aways a plus!
Beautiful beaches! They seem so quiet, away from the touristy areas.
Exactly why we love the beaches in Myanmar 🙂
That’s a thorough guide for these beautiful beaches! Thanks for sharing 🙂 This will surely come in handy for my big trip around SEA!
So glad you like it! SEA is amazing, the beaches, the culture, the food, you’d love it!
Soooo beautiful! Was so sad I didn’t make it there when I spent months in Asia the other year, but one day, I will go!
I am sure you will. We are always glad to go back to Asia and Myanmar 🙂
These look so gorgeous – I so want to go to Myanmar, but they don’t like my job so I just have to look at pictures until I retire!!!!
Oh my, now we’re curious about your job 😉 good thing the world is so big so you have plenty of places to see till you retire!