Yangon & Coastal Myanmar

This morning, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight to the coastal city of Sittwe, arriving in the early afternoon. Here you’ll enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour, including a visit to Rakhine State Cultural Museum with its Rakhine-style Buddha statues and relics from the Mrauk U historic period. You’ll also see the stunning Payagyi Temple and tour the city’s various mosques. At sunset, you’ll enjoy the best views in the city at a place called “the point”, a platform overlooking the mouth of the Kaladan River where it merges with the sea. Check into your hotel in Sittwe for the night.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before embarking upon a luxury cruise up Kaladan River to Mrauk U, the exotic one-time capital of the powerful Mrauk U Kingdom. The journey takes a leisurely six hours, and along the way, you’ll pass through quiet scenery and sleepy fishing villages, spotting golden spires piercing the treeline here and there. In Mrauk U, you’ll check into your hotel, and then enjoy a half-day tour of this 15th-century kingdom, visiting the Shittaung Pagoda, the Andaw Pagoda, and the Dukkanthein ordination hall - all remarkable examples of ancient architecture. For sunset vistas, you’ll head to Haritaung Pagoda hill, where you can enjoy amazing views over the city. In Mrauk U, we recommend staying at the Mrauk Oo Princess, a luxurious resort built in traditional Rakhine style.

Today you’ll see more of Mrauk U’s fascinating historic sites, exploring the ruins of Ko Thaung - an ancient palace where the remains of walls and stone carvings can still be seen. You’ll also visit Mahabandola Monastery, home to a collection of bronze and Rakhine-style Buddhas, as well as the “plate pagoda” - Laungbankpyauk Pagoda - so-named after the colorful tiles that line its front wall. Today you’ll also have the chance to visit some local Rakhine villages and see their traditional wooden houses. At sundown, you’ll head to top of Shwetaung Hill - the perfect vantage point for viewing the city as the sun sinks beneath the horizon. Return to your hotel in Mrauk U for the night.

Today you’ll visit a few different Chin villages, a 2.5-hour cruise away along the Lay Myo River. The are some 50 Chin villages in the southern Rakhine region, maintaining a distinct culture and traditional lifestyle. Today, you can meet the infamous tattooed-face Chin ladies and visit local weavers keeping this ancient tradition flourishing. After arriving back in Mrauk U via boat, you have the rest of the day free to spend at your leisure. The city is a trove of architectural relics, and there are plenty of temples, pagodas and even colonial ruins to discover.

Enjoy an early breakfast at your hotel, then travel back to Sittwe by luxury boat. Sit on the deck and watch the scenery change as you draw nearer to the Bay of Bengal. In Sittwe, you have time to explore the main market to watch local fisher families and farmers ply their wares, before making your way to the airport to take the short flight to Thandwe. On the ground, you’ll be transferred to your resort in Ngapali Beach, a long stretch of golden sand fringed by palm trees and clear blue waters. Here, we recommend staying at the Amata Ngapali Beach Resort, the Amazing Resort or the Sandoway Resort, all offering direct beach access.

For the final days of your journey, enjoy free time on the beach. Ngapali Beach offers the type of tranquility that’s becoming increasingly difficult to find in Southeast Asia, and most guests here relish the opportunity to simply relax.

Enjoy more beach leisure time today. Alternatively, for those seeking activity, the Bay of Bengal offers sailing, snorkeling and fishing, you can take a tour of nearby villages with a private guide, there are mangroves to explore, and there’s golf. If desired, we can help organize a romantic dinner on the beach.