10 Best Facts about Ngapali Beach

Ngapali Beach. Photo by Chris H Munro. Wikimedia Commons

10 Best Facts about Ngapali Beach

Ngapali Beach is a beach marked by an idyllic stretch of white sand and palm tree-lined coast along the Indian Ocean. It is located about 7 kilometers from Thandwe town near Lin Thar Village in Myanmar.

Several high-end resorts and hotels are located in Ngapali Beach such as the government owned Anawa, Bayview Ngapali, Amata Resort and Amazing Ngapali among others.

Promoted as a major tourist destination, Ngapali Beach is served by Thandwe Airport which enables tourists to get to the beach easily.

Boasting of a nearby golf course, villages around Ngapali and Thandwe derive their income from the hotels and the associated tourist industry.

The 10 Best Facts about Ngapali Beach include the following.

1. Ngapali Beach Is an Ideal Site for Bird Watchers

Tourists as well as locals who want to watch birds find Ngapali Beach an ideal site for bird watching. Ngapali Beach is an ideal site to check out birds that migrate to the area as well as a wide range of local birds which frequent the beach.

As many as 30 species of birds are expected to be seen at Hget Pyaw Chaung Lake bird watching site as it is the best place to see birds.

Most bird species come to the Hget Pyaw Chaung Lake to drink and bathe in the morning and evening. Bird watchers are advised to visit the lake during those times to see the most birds.

2. The Main Waterway Through Ngapali Beach Is Thandwe River

Kayaking. Photo by Hillebrand Steve, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wikimedia Commons

Thandwe river is the main waterway through Ngapali Beach. Taking a scenic boat trip upriver is the best way to explore the river.

Visitors can watch locals as they go about their daily activities and also check out the lush vegetation growing around the river banks as they ride upstream in a boat.

 The beach has a number of operators who offer boat services along the scenic Thandwe River. Visitors to the beach can also hire a kayak and go kayaking along the idyllic river if they feel active enough.

3. Zalun Monastery is One of The Main Attractions in Ngapali Beach

 Still containing the mummified body of a Buddhist monk, the famous Zalun Monastery is one the best-known attractions in Ngapali Beach.  The monk died of a prolonged period of mediation in 1984 and ever since his body has been housed in the monastery.

Visitors can admire the traditional Burmese architecture on show in the rest of the monastery as well as view the remains of the monk which is preserved in a glass case. 

Visitors are also mesmerized by quaint Rakhine villages and the gorgeous jade paddy fields as they travel to the monastery.

4. Visitors to Ngapali Beach Can Visit the Delightful Kinmaw Village

Kinmall, Myanmar. Photo by mohigan. Wikimedia Commons

Located in the outskirts of Ngapali Beach, Kinmaw Village is ideal for visitors wanting to learn about Myanmar’s traditional arts and crafts.

Traditional arts and crafts including drinking vessels, pots and bowls which are products of clay pottery have particularly made the village famous.

These pieces which make perfect gifts and souvenirs can be bought at the village. Visitors can watch as artisans work on making the pieces of traditional arts and crafts.

Some of the funds obtained from selling the arts and crafts are channeled to funding local projects within the community.

5. Visitors Can Visit the Pretty Thandwe Market

Thandwe Market. Photo by mohigan. Wikimedia Commons

Thandwe town located about four miles outside of Ngapali Beach proper is one of the prettiest in the area. Visitors can check out the local market especially during morning hours when it is mostly active.

Fruits, vegetables, dried snacks and textiles are some of the most common commodities displayed in the market.

Visitors can also enjoy delicious simple breakfast dishes such as bowls of bubbling noodles as well as spot and pick local street food snacks.

 Visitors can also learn how traditional Burmese sarongs are made from the longyi-weaving factory located in the village.

6. Ngapali Beach Is in Close Proximity to Nandaw and Sandaw Pagodas

The charmingly named Nandaw and Sandaw pagodas are located on hills on the outskirts of Thandwe village. The Nandaw and Sandaw Pagodas essentially consist of three pretty golden pagodas.

Known as important places of pilgrimage for Buddhist worshippers, the pagodas are scattered on the hills in the Thandwe region in close proximity to Ngapali Beach.

Nandaw Paya is said to be the home of a section of one of the ribs of the Buddha and is tallest and most famous pagoda in Thandwe. 

7. Ngapali Beach Has One of The Most Important Buddhist Sites

Amata Mountain in Ngapali Beach is one of the most important Buddhist sites.  Located in the outskirts of Jade Taw Fishing Village, the mountain contains a large and dominating statue of a standing Buddha.

The mountain is also an ideal site for taking in scenic views of Rakhine State.  Around sunset is the best time to view the standing Buddha and take in the vistas across the country side.

8. Scenic Views of Ngapali Beach Can Be Enjoyed in A Hot Air Balloon

Visitors to the Ngapali Beach can enjoy the scenic views of the beach by taking a ride on a hot air balloon. 

Visitors can check out the sun, sea and sand for which Ngapali Beach is famous for from the sky on a hot air balloon. 

Companies such as Oriental Ballooning have entered the market to offer the service to tourists at a fee.

9. Visitors Can Visit Various Islands from Ngapali Beach

Bay of Bengal. Photo by iMahesh. Wikimedia Commons

Visitors can take a boat ride from Ngapali Beach and visit the Bay of Bengal which the beach looks out over. A huge number of idyllic tropical islands can be visited by a one day boat tour from the beach.

 Visitors can take a boat tour of the islands and hop from one island to the next for a whole day.

Visitors also get an opportunity to do some fishing while on the boats and also have their catch prepared for them for dinner.

 The tour guides make the necessary arrangements at the beach to ensure visitors enjoy their catch during dinner.

10. Ngapali Beach Is Known for Its Delicious Sea Food

Most restaurant menus in Ngapali Beach feature sea food since the beach is located along the sea.

The beach restaurants are known for their delicious fish and other sea food delicacies.  Some of the delicacies that can be found in the restaurants include crab, squid and even lobster.

Most of the sea food is served with rice or a number of side dishes after grilling.