{"id":12907,"date":"2018-06-01T12:16:12","date_gmt":"2018-06-01T11:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/?p=12907"},"modified":"2022-08-12T14:50:53","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T13:50:53","slug":"the-myanmar-you-didnt-know-stepping-away-from-the-everyday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/the-myanmar-you-didnt-know-stepping-away-from-the-everyday\/","title":{"rendered":"The Myanmar you didn’t know: Wa Ale Island Resort"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1527777699159{padding-top: 60% !important;background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/33837615_1456183431154427_111477186132705280_o.jpg?id=12908) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-9 vc_col-lg-3 vc_hidden-md vc_col-sm-offset-4 vc_hidden-sm vc_col-xs-offset-3 vc_col-xs-6 vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1527851308571{padding-top: 24px !important;padding-right: 24px !important;padding-bottom: 24px !important;padding-left: 24px !important;background-color: rgba(0,48,83,0.7) !important;*background-color: rgb(0,48,83) !important;}”]<\/p>\n

The other lost world<\/span><\/h2>\n

Wa Ale Island Resort, Myanmar<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1515677389520{background-color: #003053 !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size:contain !important;}”][vc_column width=”5\/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-3 vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-10 vc_col-sm-offset-1 vc_col-xs-12″ css=”.vc_custom_1515677437883{padding-top: 10% !important;padding-bottom: 10% !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

TRAVEL CURIOUS<\/span><\/h2>\n

The way in which we all experience\u00a0travel is evolving. ETG travellers are increasingly seeking out the authentic stories that lie behind the glossy brochure images, and which, we like to say, reveal the fabric of a destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” full_height=”yes” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_single_image image=”12910″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515682996367{padding-top: 5% !important;padding-right: 5% !important;padding-bottom: 5% !important;padding-left: 5% !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_column_text]When I was younger I was obsessed with Jurassic Park. It terrified me as well,\u00a0but I went on to do geology at university so something must have clicked. When I was travelling on my gap year in 2004 I went to Singapore Zoo where they\u2019ve got one of those electric cars that takes you around at night. In true Asian style, it was absolutely bucketing down\u00a0and there was incredible thunder and lightening all around us. It was the closest I thought I would\u00a0ever come to a true\u00a0Jurassic Park\u00a0encounter….<\/span><\/p>\n

And then I went to Wa Ale Island resort.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to explain exactly\u00a0why it made me think of Jurassic Park, but it has something to do with being super remote, on an\u00a0epic scale\u00a0and pushing the frontiers of tourism. There are just no other hotels in this area and you could go days without seeing\u00a0another soul\u00a0if you wanted to. You might even see a velociraptor.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1515593851408{background-color: #faeee7 !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-3 vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-xs-12″ css=”.vc_custom_1515683270935{margin-top: 10% !important;margin-bottom: 10% !important;}”][vc_column_text]Just to note, I don\u2019t want to brush over the current political climate\u00a0in Myanmar. The ‘other co-founder’\u00a0Sam Clark has written an article about it here<\/a> – please read this for our company’s take on the situation.<\/p>\n

Wa Ale Island Resort has been on the periphery at ETG for a while and, since it\u2019s finally nearing\u00a0completion, I jumped at the chance to be one of the first ever guests (along with\u00a0ETG’s co-founder Tom Armstrong). We didn\u2019t really know what to expect, but I\u2019d heard dreamy things about the Mergui\u2019s in Myanmar and I couldn\u2019t wait to see it for myself (you can, too, on one of our In-Depth Myanmar holidays<\/a>).<\/p>\n

We crossed over to Myanmar from Thailand at a fun border crossing near Ranong\/Kawthaung. There we spent the night\u00a0at a pleasant hotel before boarding\u00a0the 3-hour luxury yacht up to the island the next day. The weather was kind and I sipped a cool glass of wine,\u00a0sunbathed on deck and accepted that my job is all-round amazing sometimes (sorry).[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” full_height=”yes” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_single_image image=”12927″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515683085349{padding-top: 5% !important;padding-right: 5% !important;padding-bottom: 5% !important;padding-left: 5% !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_column_text]We were greeted by the owner, Chris, the amazing Alyssa who makes it\u00a0all happen\u00a0front\u00a0of house and Ray, the incredible chef. Chris just couldn\u2019t wait for us to see everything and explore this little patch of untouched beauty. It was clear we were going to have an epic 3 days.<\/p>\n

I am so lucky in my travels and I can\u2019t count the amount of times I\u2019ve been to Asia in the last 7 years, but Wa Ale Island Resort is something special. On the first\u00a0morning we took the 11.5m custom built rib (this thing can literally fly) to one of the 800 islands in the archipelago for a spot of snorkelling. Chris was saying we might actually be the first people to ever snorkel here…\u00a0incredible! This is the travel dream;\u00a0I have to admit I couldn\u2019t fault it and got completely\u00a0swept up. This is just a rare piece of paradise in Asia and it\u2019s raring to go.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1515676545726{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1515676642847{margin-top: -35px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”12912″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1527777937315{margin-bottom: -35px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1515594637830{background-color: #faeee7 !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size:cover !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-3 vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-xs-12″ css=”.vc_custom_1515683290351{margin-top: 10% !important;margin-bottom: 10% !important;}”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]<\/p>\n

Hopefully the photos speak for themselves: the beach was so dramatic and the waves incredible. We were there in May which is the monsoon time, so it wouldn\u2019t be like this in high season (October to April) when you’d see tropical blue seas,\u00a0but we lucked out with the weather.<\/p>\n

Apart from snorkelling, we went paddle-boarding, kayaking in the mangrove areas and explored many of the islands by boat. There are so many experiences to come with trekking routes and they\u2019ve counted 100 or so hornbills nesting on a nearby Island. Wow wow wow!<\/p>\n

In addition, the resort are working in partnership with the Lampi foundation to protect as much of the region as possible and wave the flag for a region of the world which has seen little tourism to this day.\u00a0I think the discoveries here will just be endless.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1515676545726{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column parallax=”content-moving” width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1526050710652{margin-bottom: 5px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”12916″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1527778098346{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”12914″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1527778124562{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” full_height=”yes” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_single_image image=”12919″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515683113612{padding-top: 5% !important;padding-right: 5% !important;padding-bottom: 5% !important;padding-left: 5% !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_column_text]As I mentioned, the resort in its final stages so I don\u2019t have finished photos, but I can tell you the rooms are going to be stunning. There are\u00a0two types: tented and tree top villas. Chris has worked in the\u00a0design and\u00a0furniture trade for years and the outcome is pretty stunning. This is his baby, and the attention to detail is something else.<\/p>\n

I hope that I\u2019ve inspired you\u00a0to go this bold and spectacular region of Asia and please do ask me any questions about it. It really is quite an easy hop in from Thailand,\u00a0although, as with any untouched\u00a0paradise, you’ll need to tap into your inner explorer just a tad.\u00a0I hear they are going to put up chalk board with all the wildlife they spot in the wild frontiers…. Let me know when the\u00a0T-Rex goes up.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_speed_bg=”1.2″ css=”.vc_custom_1515683379061{margin-top: -35px !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size:cover !important;}”][vc_column parallax=”content-moving”][vc_single_image image=”12920″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1527778447341{margin-bottom: -35px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” content_placement=”middle” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1515672380796{padding-top: 10% !important;padding-bottom: 10% !important;background-color: #003053 !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size:cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-3 vc_col-lg-6 vc_col-sm-offset-2 vc_col-xs-offset-1 vc_col-xs-10″][vc_separator color=”white” el_width=”80″ css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515672470022{padding-bottom: 24px !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Curious\u00a0about a holiday to Myanmar<\/a>?<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Show me” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”turquoise” size=”lg” align=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.experiencetravelgroup.com%2Fmyanmar||target:%20_blank|”][vc_separator color=”white” el_width=”80″ css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515672481090{padding-top: 24px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”bottom” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1515674319823{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/17-0069R-_MG_0104a-e1513765138690.jpg?id=11796) !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size:cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”5\/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-3 vc_col-lg-6 vc_hidden-md vc_col-sm-offset-1 vc_hidden-sm vc_col-xs-offset-1 vc_col-xs-10 vc_hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”11636″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1515671078794{padding-top: 10% !important;padding-right: 25% !important;padding-bottom: 10% !important;padding-left: 25% !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515684084547{margin-top: -15px !important;margin-right: -15px !important;margin-bottom: -15px !important;margin-left: -15px !important;padding-top: 48px !important;padding-right: 48px !important;padding-bottom: 48px !important;padding-left: 48px !important;background-color: #003053 !important;}”]We don\u2019t believe in standing still. Watching the world go by through a window. Hearing it through the stories of others. <\/span><\/p>\n

You want to be in it, out there. Asking questions and finding answers. Finding yourself in worlds unknown. Finding the path less trodden. Meeting people with a different story to tell.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just ask why, what, how, who?\u00a0We\u2019ll never stop helping you find the answers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our travellers come home with stories to tell, memories to keep and new ways of seeing their lives around them. That\u2019s what happens when you truly connect with a destination.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1515671203130{padding-top: 48px !important;padding-right: 48px !important;padding-left: 48px !important;background-color: #faeee7 !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515670566021{background-color: #faeee7 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

FREE YOUR CURIOUS SIDE WITH\u00a0<\/strong>EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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0203 393 5381<\/span><\/h5>\n
hello@experiencetravelgroup.com<\/span><\/h5>\n

www.experiencetravelgroup.com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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FREE YOUR CURIOUS SIDE WITH\u00a0<\/strong>EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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0203 393 5381<\/span><\/h5>\n
hello@experiencetravelgroup.com<\/span><\/h5>\n

www.experiencetravelgroup.com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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More posts like this<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I can\u2019t count the number of times I\u2019ve been to Asia in the last 7 years, but Wa Ale Island Resort is something special.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":12912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1394,336],"tags":[1356,1271],"coauthors":[912],"class_list":["post-12907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-luxury-travel","category-myanmar","tag-luxury-hotels","tag-off-the-beaten-track"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":4960,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12907"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12907\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12907"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=12907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}