In Focus

Ngapali Beach is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar for good reason.

The 4km-long beach in Rakhine State is a beautiful spot to unwind and relax overlooking the warm waters of Ngapali Bay in the Bay of Bengal. The beautiful beach is usually reached by flying to Thandwe, which is just 6km from Ngapali Beach.

There are now many places to stay in Ngapali but one that stands out for its privacy, luxury and comfort is theNgapali Bay Villas & Spa, a high-end resort that opened in November 2011.

Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa is rankednumber two on Trip Advisor for accommodation in Ngapali.

As soon as you enter the well-designed woodenlobby of Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa you feel that this is a place where you will find peace and relaxation. A cool, calm atmosphere welcomes guests.

There are 32 villas on the 4.64 acre (1.8 hectare) property and villas are linked with lovely covered walkways.

Each hotel along Ngapali Beach strives to attract guests with their own unique style. Some manage to be extraordinary and Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa is one of them.

  A highly regarded British architect David Wordsworth designed the hotel and Burmese designer U KyawSein took care of the interiors.

Materials for the villas have been carefully selected. The hotel features white marble and teak wood from Mandalay, handmade thick curtains from Pakokku, mosquito net posts and sandstone from Yeizagyo, copper basins, antique and contemporary pottery from TwenTay. Throughout the hotel there are paintings by one of Myanmar’s most famous artists U KhinMaung Yin. They effect is an atmosphere of luxuryand comfort.

Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa has 262 yards (240m) of beachfront and a panoramic view of the bay and the beach. Unlike other hotels and resorts along Ngapali Bay where the villas are close to the beach, the villas at Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa are set back a little offering guests more privacy.  

There are four categories of villas. The four beachfront suite villas have a private gazebo, king size bed, handmade teak bathtub andoutdoor shower. The four deluxe beachfront villas have a private swimming pool and gazebo. There are eight deluxe sea-view villas with private plunge pool and terrace and 16 deluxe sea-view villas with private terrace, king-size and twin-bed rooms.

All villas have their own private sun umbrella and 2 chaise lounges on the beach. One charming aspect of the service offered at the hotel is the ‘Red Flag’ service. When guests are enjoying the beach from their private chaise lounges and they require service from the resort’s restaurant all they need to do is place their red flag in the sand and the waiters quickly respond.

Tamarind Restaurant and Beach Bistro
The patient and generous a manager of Ngapali Bay, says his favourite spot of the resort is the Tamarind Restaurant and Beach Bistro with its superb setting facing the sea - a great place to enjoy an aperitif while watching the setting sun.

The beautiful beach-view restaurant serves breakfast from 7am till 10am, lunch from 11am till 6pm and dinner from 6:30pm till 9:30pm. Beach service is available throughout the day for food and beverages.

Myanmar and European fusion cuisine tantalizes the tastebuds on two a-la-carte menus. Room service is available and with some notice the hotel can organise a beach barbecue or private gazebo dining.

Frangipani Spa
The resort’s spa includes four treatment rooms - two singles, one double and a traditional Myanmar massage room, each with private shower and toilet. The spa is open from 9am until10pm and only 100% natural and certified organic raw materials are used throughout the spa.

Barefoot Frangipani Spa invites guests to try a 10-minute shoulder and head massage as an introduction. Guests are welcome to use that offer on the first day of arrival or the following day.

Other services for excursion – discovery and fun
The resort’s reception team can arrange avariety of tours and excursions in the Ngapali area. Popular excursions the team regularly organizes for guests includeprivate beach barbecues, a fishing trip by boat with island stops, an Arakan tender private boat trip and beach barbecue, bicycletrips to nearby villages or trips to markets, art galleries and pagodas.

Charges can change and depend on the season. For up to date information on Ngapali Bay Villas and Spa, guests can contact the resort at sales@ngapalibay.com or reservation@ngapalibay.com.