Recent years have seen a surge for luxury tourism in Myanmar with the arrival of a series of luxury hotels, along with river cruises and bespoke tours. Now, the nation is seeing the opening of the luxury island resort Wa Ale, which is the first of its kind here in the Mergui Archipelago.
Located within a cluster of 800 islands off the western shores of Southern Myanmar, the island has been largely inaccessible to tourists up until now, so when the resort begins welcoming guests in from March 2018, those who come here will be among the first to gain access to this pristine region
The resort will lie alongside a kilometer-long stretch of white sand beach, which is flanked by rocky cliffs, backed by verdant forest and lapped by the warm water of the Andaman Sea. As a part of the Lampi National Marine Park, the water surrounding this 9,000-acre island teems with extraordinary marine life, from whale sharks, dolphins and dugongs to turtles and manta rays.
Ensuring optimum sustainability, the resort will donate 20 percent of annual profits to the Lampi Foundation, while also initiating conservation projects and assisting the local community so that they too benefit from the presence of the resort.
Set to be a particular draw for nature lovers, the island resort will offer a series of activities on land and in the water. Here you will be able to snorkel and dive to see the coral reefs and sea caves of this archipelago, trek the island’s nature trails to seek out its resident monkeys, pangolin, hornbills and fish eagles, and pay a visit to the local Moken fishing community.
Back at the resort, guests can then unwind with a massage using locally made spa products, before dining on Asian-Mediterranean cuisine that showcases locally grown produce along with the island’s fresh seafood.
Arrival is by luxury yacht from Kawthaung in Myanmar. Luxury treetop villas start from $500 per night.