Kanthaya is a small area in Rakkhine State, Myanmar, about 125 miles from Yangon and is home to a beautiful beach. The surrounding villages are full of welcoming locals who specialize in farming and fishing, and visitors are invited to see the handicrafts and small mills that produce coconut oil.
The Kanthaya region is great for nature lovers as the area is full of tropical birds, including wild flocks of parrots that fly around the giant casuarina trees and coconut palms. The flowers are bright and colorful and the beach is quiet and secluded. The restaurants that line the back of the beach serve local fresh seafood dishes and the whole place is full of natural beauty.
The local huts and houses are made from timber and the walls are made from intricately woven mats. There is only one hotel on the beach and tourists can walk along this stretch of sand and visit the local fishing villages, creeks and bays that surround the coast. There are good opportunities to go climbing and Kanthaya is great for relaxing and getting back to nature.
Getting There & Away
The best way to get to Kanthaya is by car from Yangon on a 6-hour journey that covers 125 miles of bridges and roads that wind through rice paddies, rivers, hills, forests, lakes and beaches. Yangon is home to the closest airport, which has services that fly to Thandwe, where you can hire a car and drive for 4 hours along the pretty coastline to Kanthaya.
Things to Do
Kanthaya Attractions
- Kanthaya Beach
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Also known as ‘pleasant beach’ due to its tranquility.
- Be-Inn Kyun
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Half a mile from the shore is this pretty island that is surrounded by reefs. there are a handful of other islands that the local people will be happy to take you to in a small fishing boat.