I spent over ten years in Asia before I made first my trip to Myanmar. I had already visited most of the areas I wanted to around the continent, and Myanmar, formerly Burma, was one of the last places I had not visited. I had some unexpected vacation time last year, and decided to explore a country left off many must-see lists for travelers when visiting Asia.

Whenever I visit a new country, I always search for the best beach locations. In Myanmar, the four best beaches are Ngapali, the most famous and picturesque beach in the country. Chuang Tha, a beach close to Yangon, which caters to middle-class Burmese people. Kanthaya beach, which is the least developed of the four and Ngwe Saung, the beach I visited.

Why did I choose Ngwe Saung? Well, the answer is two-fold. Ngapali and Ngwe Saung are generally considered the two best beach spots in Myanmar. Initially, my first choice was Ngapali because I read it had the best beaches in the country. However, it is a 45-minute flight from Yangon, the city I flew into, and I did not want to be bothered to take another trip within the country. My second reason for going to Ngwe Saung was the laid-back atmosphere of the village I read about online. After arriving there, it lived up to the billing of being a less developed and chill version of Ngapali.

Ngwe Saung is about a 7-hour bus ride from Yangon. Buses typically leave from Yangon Bus Station at 6:30 am and 9:30 pm. Frankly speaking, the bus trip was pretty rough. There was only one stop during the journey; there were numerous winding roads and many dead spots where cellphone reception was non-existent. I believe this is the main reason why not many people have visited this hidden gem. With all that being said, after finally arriving at this secluded oasis, I felt it was well worth the trek.

Ngwe Saung was one of the most isolated, scenic, untouched places I have ever visited. The village shuts down when it gets dark, and there is one small street to go shopping. The only bars are on the few resorts that are sparsely littered along the Bay of Bengal, so this is definitely not the place to party. Ngwe Saung is the place for people who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and relax in a tranquil paradise. The white sand beaches seem to stretch for miles, and the sunsets were some of the most breathtaking I have ever seen. During the day, the beaches are virtually empty, so if you have never laid on a stunning white sand beach alone, this is the place to visit.

I only stayed in Ngwe Saung for four days, and that seemed like just enough time for me to unwind. This is not the place for excitement in Asia, but if you are ever in need to get away from it all, this is the place to come to and recharge. Have you been to Ngwe Saung? What’s your opinion? Leave a comment below.