Ngapali Beach, Coastal resort in Rakhine State, Myanmar
Ngapali Beach is a coastal destination in Rakhine State featuring a long white-sand shoreline divided into three distinct bays and bordered by palm groves. Hotels and resorts line the water's edge, while traditional fishing villages dot the coast along the Bay of Bengal.
British colonists named the place after noticing similarities with Naples, Italy, and later developed it as a seaside resort during their rule. This European connection shaped its early growth as a popular destination.
Local fishermen work according to time-honored methods, departing in wooden boats to cast their nets and returning each evening with fresh catches for beachfront restaurants.
The airport at Thandwe connects the area with daily flights to Yangon, making arrival straightforward for visitors. Most beach hotels and resorts operate during the dry season from October through April, so plan visits accordingly.
An 18-hole golf course sits between the beach resorts and the airport, offering views of the Bay of Bengal and mountains in the distance. Few visitors realize this sporting facility exists at a tropical beach destination.
Location: Ngapali
Elevation above the sea: 11 m
GPS coordinates: 18.44497,94.31457
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:44
Myanmar offers photographers an exceptional range of subjects, from ancient temple complexes to natural landscapes. The archaeological zone of Bagan, with more than 2,000 pagodas and temples spread across 40 square miles (104 square kilometers), ranks among Southeast Asia's most significant historical sites. The golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, its central stupa rising 325 feet (99 meters), dominates the skyline of the former capital. At Inle Lake, photographers document the daily life of locals who propel their boats with a distinctive leg-rowing technique, along with floating gardens and villages built on stilts. The country's temple architecture appears in various forms: the white Ananda Temple in Bagan from the 11th century, the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay with its 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist texts, or the 2,478 stupas at Kakku in Shan State. U Bein Bridge near Amarapura, a 0.75-mile (1.2-kilometer) teak bridge built in 1850, draws photographers especially at sunrise and sunset. Natural formations such as the limestone caves at Pindaya containing thousands of Buddha statues, or the Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo appearing to balance on a cliff edge, expand the photographic possibilities. Beyond the well-known sites, other compelling subjects emerge: the colonial character of Mawlamyaing, the limestone mountains around Hpa-an, the 2,417-foot (737-meter) Mount Popa with its monastery atop a volcanic plug, or Gokteik Viaduct, a 2,260-foot (689-meter) railway bridge from the British colonial period. The 590-foot (180-meter) reclining Buddha statue Win Sein Taw Ya near Mawlamyaing and the monumental Buddha statues at Monywa demonstrate the scale of religious art in the country. The beaches at Ngapali on the west coast provide contrast to the cultural and historical sites in the interior.
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