MM · Rakhine State · 18.43°N 94.32°E

ngapali

A long Bay of Bengal beach with fishing boats and coconut palms.

Best time
November to March is the dry season, with calm seas. April and May are hot, and June to September brings heavy monsoon rain and rough water.
How long
3–4 days
Getting there
Fly direct to Yangon (about 2 hours 45 minutes from KL). Visitors used to fly on to Thandwe, about an hour, and drive 15 minutes to the beach, but flights to Thandwe have stopped. Myanmar is 1.5 hours behind KL.
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MM · Rakhine Statengapali18.43°N 94.32°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A long Bay of Bengal beach with fishing boats and coconut palms.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingNgapaliMM, Rakhine State
KLngapali
≈ 1,880 km from KL, as the crow flies
Ngapali, Rakhine State, Myanmar

Photo: Go-Myanmar.com · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Myanmar's best-known beach: a long curve of pale sand on the Bay of Bengal, backed by palms and fishing villages. Since 2024 the area has been held by the Arakan Army, the airport is closed, and military air strikes hit the resort strip in July and August 2026, so for now it's one to save for later.

Makan

  1. Rakhine mont diThin rice noodles in a sour, peppery fish broth, hotter than mohinga.Map ↗
  2. Grilled seafoodPrawns, squid and fish straight from the boats, with chilli and lime.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Ngapali BeachKilometres of soft sand facing west, with sunsets over the Bay of Bengal.Map ↗
  2. Gyeiktaw fishing villageBoats coming in with the morning catch, and fish laid out to dry on the sand.Map ↗
  3. The coast roadPalm-shaded lanes between villages and coves behind the beach.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The whole of Rakhine State is under UK advice against all travel, and fighting around Thandwe is ongoing.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.