The best stretch of sand in South East Asia. A bold claim – but one we are confident in making. The pristine beach and rustling palm trees are punctuated by little more than a few high-end, bungalow-style resorts…for now. Surely Ngapali is a secret that can’t be kept forever?!

Said to have been named after the Bay of Naples by a homesick Italian, this uninterrupted 2 mile stretch of heaven is quiet, but for a few ‘in the know’ travellers and pottering fishermen. Its just pure, soft, white, empty sand and tranquil waters which are good for swimming.

Ngapali isn’t totally untouched by tourism, there is just enough development to make it comfortable.

There’s great snorkelling, a reasonable golf course, boat trips to uninhabited islands or just for fishing at nearby reefs and a lovely variety of great ultra-fresh seafood restaurants, too, both in the resorts along the shoreline & along the road.

Nearby Thandwe is a small town but definitely worth a ramble; it has 3 modest stupas which all offer fantastic views across the town. Its thriving market is held in what used to be a British jail and sells all manner of regional produce, clothes, fabric and even some locally produced souvenirs.

Ngapali is only open for business during the dry season from October through May – the resorts closes down out of season. It is easily reachable via daily flights from Yangon, Mandalay, Heho (Inle Lake) and Bagan.

The gorgeous beach is about 4 miles south from Thandwe airport.