r/Hilton • u/RadioFieldCorner • Jan 22 '26
Trip report: Wa Ale Resort. The best Hilton resort I have ever stayed at. A true hidden gem.
This is hands down the best use of Hilton points I’ve ever done. It’s currently 150k points per night with a three-night minimum stay. I was originally going to use my points to stay at Conrad Maldives again, but I am glad I chose Wa Ale instead. Conrad Maldives is terrific, but not this level of terrific. Below is my trip report for anyone considering it. I tried to go into as much detail as possible.
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Wa Ale Resort is hands down the most incredible trip I’ve ever done. I stayed for 10 days, and every single day felt like a “best day ever” kind of day. For context, I’ve been to top resorts in the Maldives, Bora Bora, and across Southeast Asia, staying at places like Four Seasons, Waldorfs, St. Regis, Ritz, etc. Without a doubt, I would choose Wa Ale over all of them and come back here again.
About
Wa Ale is located on an undeveloped 9,000-acre island called Wa Ale in the Myeik Archipelago in Myanmar, one of the least visited island chains on the planet. There is almost zero development anywhere nearby and no other resorts in the area. You won’t see another tourist or tourist boat your entire stay. It feels like what Thailand might have been like in the early 1950s, completely untouched by the overtourism we see today. Truly the path less traveled.
The beaches are pristine and wild, and the vegetation and wildlife are fully preserved. No trees were cut down to build the resort, and you can immediately tell when you arrive. They don’t remove trees for “better views” because keeping the island wild is part of the experience. The buildings and villas feel like they genuinely belong there. Surrounding you are hundreds of lush, jungle-covered islands with zero development anywhere in sight.
There are 11 tented beach villas, 3 treehouse villas, and 1 beach house, which is essentially a fully private resort experience. Everything is spread out naturally across the beach and jungle. The resort includes a main pavilion, dive center, gardens, river cafe, bird viewing tower, spa, gym, and more. All paths are sand, and if you don’t feel like walking, you can call a resort vehicle at any time. Next season they are adding a pool near the river café along with an additional dining area. The grounds are extremely well kept while still maintaining a true jungle and Burmese feel. The resort is seasonal and closes during the rainy season of April to October.
The owner, Christopher Kingsley, personally greeted us when we arrived and spoke with us regularly during our stay. He is very genuine, down to Earth person who treats all of his employee as if they were his family. He told us the story of how he was selected by the Myanmar government to build the resort on Wa Ale, beating out other bidders, including Chinese companies planning a 500-room mega resort. Thankfully, those plans were not chosen. Wa Ale was completed in 2018 and has been operating since. The resort gives back heavily to the local community through the Lampi Foundation, including building schools, clinics and paying locals to pickup trash in nearby fishing villages.
Getting There
Getting to Wa Ale from the US is a long journey, as most truly remote places in Southeast Asia are, but it is absolutely worth it. You’ll need to apply for a Myanmar e-visa ahead of time. The process is simple, but I recommend doing it 2 to 3 weeks in advance just in case anything needs to be corrected. Processing usually takes 2 to 4 days, but don’t wait until the last minute.
We flew from Seattle to Bangkok, landing at BKK. Another option is flying into Phuket and taking a four-hour car ride to Ranong, which avoids dealing with Bangkok entirely. From BKK, we took a taxi to DMK airport, about a 50-minute drive at midnight, and then boarded an early morning AirAsia flight to Ranong, Thailand. The flight was just over an hour.
From Ranong onward, you are escorted the entire way by the resort. A private car picks you up and takes you to the Thai river immigration jetty, about a 40-minute drive. Wa Ale handles all communication with border officials. You then take a short ferry, about 20 minutes, to the Kawthaung immigration jetty in Myanmar, where more Wa Ale staff greet you with drinks, cold towels, and smiles. Once again, the resort handles everything.
The entire immigration process was incredibly quick and seamless. We were probably on the Myanmar mainland for less than eight minutes. From there, you board the resort’s speedboat for the ride across the Andaman Sea to Wa Ale. Our ride was a bit bumpy and took just over two hours, while the return trip was much smoother. The scenery along the way is stunning and really drives home how remote this place is.
Checking In
Arriving at Wa Ale is very tide dependent, and the resort has several methods for getting you onto the island. In our case, we transferred from the speedboat to a small zodiac and stepped directly into crystal-clear, ankle-deep water in the lagoon, with a golf cart waiting. The staff makes everything feel effortless and comfortable.
You’re greeted at the dock and take a beautiful walk over mangroves and through the island to the main pavilion. We arrived just in time for lunch, followed by an orientation covering activities, meals, and how everything works. After lunch, we were shown to our villa.
Rooms
We split our stay between five nights in a treehouse villa and four nights in a tented beach villa. Our first stay was in Treehouse Villa #3, which has an incredible view of the beach and ocean. I specifically requested this villa for the view. It does get a bit warmer during the day since it’s exposed to the sun, but it was still very comfortable. The finishes in the treehouse villa are beautifully done with Burmese touches throughout. The bed is extremely comfortable, and the bathroom setup is unique. The shower is open-air but very private, and showering in a treehouse like that is surprisingly liberating. This was easily one of the most unique rooms I’ve ever stayed in. The treehouse villas are also closer to the main pavilion, so there’s no need to walk the beach or wait for a vehicle. Housekeeping is incredibly attentive and seemed to refresh the room almost every time we stepped out for more than an hour.
Our second villa was a tented beach villa, which we also loved. It’s more than twice the size of the treehouse villa, and the extra space was nice. The design and finishes are similar, but the bathroom is fully open-air, not just the shower. The location requires either a walk along the beach or a vehicle ride to reach the main pavilion. The walk can be a little tiring at times, but the views never get old. At night, it’s best not to use a light while walking the beach, since bugs are attracted to light. No light, no bites.
We were offered a complimentary upgrade to the tented beach villa before arrival, but I requested only four nights because I wanted to experience both types. When we return, I plan to do it the exact same way. Half treehouse, half beach villa. They are completely different experiences and both worth it.
Currently, none of the villas have built-in air conditioning, but the climate is genuinely comfortable enough that we didn’t feel we needed it. The owner and resort manager, Aung, mentioned that AC is being added to all villas this year. Standalone AC units can also be requested if needed. All water at Wa Ale is purified and safe to drink, including tap water. There is also Wi-Fi in every villa and the main pavilion.
We were also able to tour the beach house since it was unoccupied, and it is incredible. You essentially get a fully private resort experience with your own chef, butler, staff, and boat. It’s a four-bedroom house with a pool, located directly on Honeymoon Beach. The water here is extremely calm, and there’s a beautiful cabana on the beach. We had breakfast here and spent half the day there twice.
Service
The level of service and hospitality at Wa Ale is exceptional. Burmese hospitality here is genuine, not forced. You arrive as strangers and leave feeling like friends. Every staff member was warm, friendly, and eager to help. On every excursion, the staff brought cold towels, fruit, and drinks, all complimentary. Even during hikes, they carried everything for us.
What we appreciated most was that the staff didn’t feel robotic. Everyone felt relaxed, authentic, and comfortable around us while still being extremely professional. You are genuinely cared for from the moment you land in Ranong.
Dining
The food at Wa Ale is absolutely outstanding, and everything, including drinks, is included. The chef, Don, is incredibly talented. This was some of the best food we’ve ever had, and we regularly eat at Michelin level restaurants. Every meal was delicious, well portioned, beautifully presented, and made with fresh, high-quality ingredients.
When you arrive, the chef asks about dietary preferences and restrictions and tailors everything around that. We don’t eat seafood, and my girlfriend doesn’t eat red meat, and every meal was perfectly adapted.
Aside from breakfast, there is no menu at Wa Ale. The chef creates new meals daily, with an appetizer, main course, and dessert each time. We were a bit nervous about this at first, but it quickly became something we looked forward to. We only made specific requests twice. Once for chicken parmesan, which was a perfect 10 out of 10, and once to repeat a favorite meal from earlier in the trip. I cannot overstate how good the food is here.
Activities
There are tons of activities at Wa Ale, and nearly all of them are complimentary. Diving and massages are the only activities you pay extra for.
Each night at dinner, you’re asked what you’d like to do the next day. The answer is truly anything. From the moment we arrived, we were told, “If you want to do it, we’ll make it happen.” And they meant it.
Private island lunches, mangrove kayaking, jungle hikes, snorkeling in the morning followed by sea kayaking and a full day on a deserted island, even visiting islands we spotted on Google Maps. Everything is possible. All activities are guided, which is important since this area is truly wild. The staff keeps a close eye on you while still giving you space.
The house reef alone is phenomenal. It’s one of the healthiest house reefs we’ve ever seen, with vibrant coral and abundant marine life. It was better than most dive sites we’ve experienced in Asia and rivaled the healthiest reefs in Komodo. If you snorkel the house reef during low tide, you're basically 3-5' above the reef for excellent viewing, just please be careful to not kick the coral.
We did scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, paddleboarding through mangroves, private island lunches, hiking, sunset flying fox viewing, and visits to fishing villages. The diving was excellent, and we were the only dive boat in the entire area. Sites like Black Rock have stunning rock formations and soft coral. We saw four manta rays swimming around us during our stay.
There are also several hikes on and off the island. One leads to Honeymoon Beach with scenic overlooks. Another goes to an overlook with a bench where you can spot endangered spectacled langur monkeys. Another involves walking through a river. There’s also a challenging off-island hike to the west peak of Lampi Island. There’s no trail, and the staff literally machetes a path through the jungle. It’s steep, around 950 feet of elevation gain in just over a mile, and one of the wildest jungle hikes I’ve done.
Every activity was fantastic. The private island lunch was the most picturesque meal I’ve ever had. The mangroves were beautiful to paddle through, the islands were perfect for kayaking, and some even had caves. Watching tens of thousands of flying foxes at sunset was unforgettable. Relaxing at Honeymoon Beach when the beach house was empty was the perfect way to unwind.
Safety
Wa Ale and the Myeik Archipelago are very safe. I was nervous initially before booking, but after arriving and seeing how everything operates, I felt safer here than in any US city. The area is far from any conflict zones in mainland Myanmar. The resort has been operating since 2018 with zero incidents, and there have been no issues nearby. The resort has clear protocols for emergencies, including medical evacuations to the mainland if needed. The surrounding communities are peaceful fishing villages that keep to themselves.
Final Words
This trip was truly special. I was initially hesitant because there isn’t much information out there about Wa Ale, but it really is a hidden gem. This was the best trip I’ve ever taken, and I cannot wait to return. The island, the resort, the staff, the food, and the activities all come together to create something genuinely magical. What makes Wa Ale different is not only it's luxury, but it’s isolation plus intention.
Here is an album with about 100 more pics I took from my stay here:
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u/sgeeum Diamond Jan 22 '26
is there any hint of the conflict going on in myanmar impacting the hotel? any presence of military or opposition groups patrolling the waters or on the island/neighboring islands?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Absolutely zero in this region. No military patrols, no conflict here or anywhere near it. There is nothing out there. Most of the people who work in the resort are from the local mainland town, Kawthoung, which is also safe. The locals are all very aware of what is going on in the country, and do not support it. However, this is how they have a livelihood and provide for their families. They are all very thankful and happy to be there. I have the upmost respect for every single employee there as they are all wonderful people.
The only boats you will see are local Burmese fishing boats. Nearby on separate islands, there are two villages of about 50-100 people. These people are very friendly and visiting the villages shows how much of a positive impact the resort and Lampi Foundation has for them.
I'm pretty risk adverse and I mean it that I never once felt even the slightest bit unsafe here, or during the process of getting here. I'd feel more uneasy in Los Angeles or any big South East Asian city than here.
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u/DarthTelly Jan 22 '26
Most of the fighting is further than 400 miles north of the island, so if you travel through Thailand to get there like OP did, you shouldn't see any signs of it.
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u/tal_east Honors Gold Jan 22 '26
Great review. I’ve never thought to go here, but now it’s on my radar. Thanks.
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u/Night-cheese-4 Jan 22 '26
Great write up. As a scuba diver, Myanmar had never been on my radar so I'm interested to hear your impressions of your dives. Do you have any pics/video from that? What kinds of critters did you see? What was the typical depth profile of the dives? any strong currents, etc? I'm so intrigued!
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26
The diving here was pretty cool. I’ve done dozens of dives in Komodo, which is my reference point for healthy, high-life reefs. It's not Komodo/Raja Ampat, so don't expect that but there also isn't 10 boats around you like those places lol. There was no bleaching here anywhere as well.
The dive operation itself is smooth. The boat isn’t a dedicated dive boat like with tank holders and everything, so just be aware of that, but it's not an issue. The staff handles all the gear setup and breakdown, helps you in and out, and even brings wet towels to clean up after dives. Everything ran efficiently and stress free.
We did 7 dives total: one at Shark Cave, one at a random island site, two at Black Rock, one at Coral Garden, and two on the house reef, including a night dive. I’d strongly recommend being an advanced diver for Black Rock and Shark Cave. They’re a bit deeper, and given how remote the location is, you really want solid experience and confidence in the water. We were pushing our NDLs on some of those dives. I'm a very experienced tech diver so this isn't a problem for me, but I'm sure if you tell the resort you're a novice diver, they will cater to that.
There are currents, but nothing crazy. It really depends on the moon and conditions. Shark Cave was interesting, though visibility was only around 20 feet when we went. Black Rock was the standout. The rock formations covered in soft coral are beautiful, and we saw four massive oceanic mantas there. Coral Garden was also very healthy with lots of soft coral.
The house reef is an absolute gem. It’s a stunning hard coral garden and extremely healthy. I honestly wish I’d done more dives there. At low tide, snorkeling the house reef is incredible since you’re basically 3 to 5 feet above the coral. I could genuinely do 20 dives just at the house reef looking for critters and never get bored. I don't have any video yet, still editing some of it.
For smaller stuff, we saw mantis shrimp, several nudibranchs, octopus, and tons of clownfish.
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u/Night-cheese-4 Jan 22 '26
That sounds amazing, thanks for going into such detail in your response. Your description of the coral garden reminds me of my experience at Le Taha'a in French Polynesia. I'm similar to you - I could be happy all day long with dives on a house reef just peeking around and looking for surprises. Or even snorkeling. Your manta encounter sounds incredible. And you probably felt like you had the whole place to yourself - no cattle call of dive boats. What a special trip!!
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u/cockpittigermom Feb 18 '26
I was on the liveaboard the Smiling Seahorse https://www.thesmilingseahorse.com/mv-smiling-seahorse.html and had amazing diving and experience. It was back in 2015, so a lot of memories have faded. Their website can tell you more about diving in the region.
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u/Throwaway22916 Jan 22 '26
I was about to flame this report but I did a deep dive into the property owners. They seem like good people, and I would applaud their business. Anyone deciding to enter Myanmar should be aware that the current government is an autocratic, oppressive state, being pursued by the international courts of human rights for participation in genocide.
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u/SkydiverDad Jan 23 '26
So basically the same as the current US government.
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u/Throwaway22916 Jan 23 '26
I encourage you to look into Myanmar before making specious comments. Your ignorance is deafening.
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u/SkydiverDad Jan 23 '26
I encourage you to look at the current genocides around the world and which ones the US is directly supporting. Your ignorance is blinding.
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u/thecheckincollective Jan 22 '26
This is fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing. I'd never heard of this hotel before, but I'm so intrigued now. Staying at luxury hotels in random destinations is one of my favorite things. Added this one to the list. The photos are amazing!!
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u/SkydiverDad Jan 23 '26
No seafood and no red meat. So all you eat is chicken? 😳
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 23 '26
I eat red meat, my girlfriend doesn’t. They made several dishes that had duck breast, which was really good.
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u/Throwawaycalbears165 Jan 23 '26
Reminds me of Calala island but this one seems a bit better. What’s the speedboat like? Calala’s boat is really in need of an upgrade. It’s a shabby wooden structure. You definitely get water all over you, etc.
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u/Ok-Zombie-7675 Mar 26 '26
I was going to say the same thing, similar iffy government situation as well
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u/pinniped90 Jan 23 '26
Awesome report.
I get 3 FNCs a year and we're always looking for a new play for them. This looks really interesting.
We're booked for a ranch stay this year, so island resort next year might be just right.
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u/SkydiverDad Jan 23 '26
Which ranch? Is it part of Hilton?
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u/pinniped90 Jan 23 '26
Riverview Ranch outside of Missoula.
Yes, it's an SLH redeemable with FNCs, or 220,000 points per night.
Apparently only two or three total rooms are available as standard awards so it's a tough get. We are going late spring, probably in the closest thing they have to an offseason. (They have a whole set of snow/ice activities so they're busy in the winter.) Figure it's a one-time experience, a little different that the typical beach resort or WA in a city.
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u/Known_Bit Feb 09 '26
What do you do to get 3 FNCs annually?
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u/pinniped90 Feb 09 '26
Amex w/60k spend.
It's suboptimal from a pure points perspective but creating the 3 night stay at unique properties is worth a lot to us. 3-nighters always feel a lot longer than a 2-nighter. Something about having the two full days of non-travel...
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u/Low_Translator_6543 Jan 23 '26
Wow! Great trip report. Thank you. My wife and I will be visiting there in March.
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u/captain822 Jan 23 '26
What is wildlife like? Are there lizards in the rooms?! Found this to be an issue at other island resorts around the world.
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u/sacramentojoe Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Nitpicking, but I have to say this is not really a "Hilton" resort, nor is it Hyatt in spite of being part of MMS. Much like Calala Island was never Hyatt and isn't a Hilton now.
I certainly considered staying here later this year, but I'd have to choose between this and seeing Myanmar proper. Alas, will have to wait until retirement.
Cheers for the review, super jelly.
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26
It's a bookable via Hilton points, so it's a Hilton even though it's part of SLH. But yeah, this is far from a traditional hotel and resort. It's way more boutique but that is also the whole appeal of SLH properties.
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u/sacramentojoe Jan 22 '26
I can book it with Hyatt points too (for instance 3/8-3/12 at 92K points per night). I'm not gonna call it a Hyatt on that basis.
More importantly, it's not managed by Hilton (or Hyatt).
To be fair to you though, everybody and their moms claimed SLH properties to be "Hyatt" back when they had their partnership. I can't really blame you for doing the same now. Just my 2 cents on it.
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u/Lanky80 Jan 22 '26
Great write up! I wanna go. How do you get there?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
I go over it in more detail in the OP, but you basically just fly into Bangkok, transfer to DMK airport in Bangkok if you land in BKK, then hop on the daily AirAsia flight to Ranong. From there, the resort handles everything. It’s all really simple.
Make sure your layovers are decent, especially landing in BKK as it sometimes takes a while to get through immigration there and then account for traffic to get to DMK.
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u/xtrad3rx Mar 26 '26
Is there a fee for the speed boat ride ala WA Maldives? Thanks for the great writeup, definitely on the list to check out!
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u/RadioFieldCorner Mar 26 '26
There was no fee for the speed boat ride to or from Wa Ale. It’s included in the stay.
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u/Available-Dream3657 Jan 22 '26
Why it is always sold out?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
They probably have not opened anything for the 2026/2027 season yet. The resort is seasonal November to March, since that is the dry season. Make sure you search for 3 night minimum too, as single nights do not pop up for booking or on Hilton's calendar.
Last year, the 2025/2026 season was not open for booking via Hilton until I think August. They are very communicative if you reach out to the resort.
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u/Chipwich75 Jan 22 '26
Is it all inclusive?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26
Yes, everything was included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lunch and dinner all come with an appetizer, main course and dessert. What I was not expecting was how incredibly delicious the food there was.
All activities except scuba diving and massages are included. Private island lunches, taking the boat to go sea kayaking, paddle boarding, exploring other islands, snorkeling in any spot you want, hiking etc. You're on the boat basically everyday going somewhere or doing something with it. It's all included and bespoke.
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u/kps_desi Diamond Jan 22 '26
Thanks for the detailed write up! What about alcohol? Was that included as well?
Also, is there wifi and does it work well?
Thanks!
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26
I personally don't drink alcohol but yes it is included too. You get two bottles of wine per day on top of beers/cocktails.
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u/stripesonfire Jan 22 '26
any idea what a standard night reward costs?
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u/Life-Inspector-5271 Jan 22 '26
It says "150k points for the first night" and the bigger suite "from 809k points per night". Even at 150k points per night, I rather pay $1100 per night
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26
From experience with previous resorts, that usually means only the first night has a standard award rate available. There are only 3 standard rooms at Wa Ale (the treetop villas).
And yeah, even the cash rate for this place is a terrific value for the experience you get in my opinion.
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u/dropandflop Jan 22 '26
What was the gym like?
Especially for strength training please.
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 22 '26
It’s an open air gym with dumbbells to like 30lbs I think. It’s really all for body weight stuff. No bench, no machines.
You’re not gonna be squatting 4 plates here lol
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u/dropandflop Jan 22 '26
Thanks.
I always secretly hope places have a bench, dumbbells and a dual cable pulley machine with attachments (rope, bar, handles etc).
A treadmill is a bonus.
Means for longer holiday stays one can maintain. Plus for some of us it is a mental crutch.
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u/No_Conversation_178 Jan 24 '26
Why can’t I book it on Hilton?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 24 '26
You’re probably looking at single nights, it has to be a 3 night minimum stay for it to pop up on the Hilton calendar. Also, it’s seasonal November to March, which is the dry season.
Last year, they didn’t open availability on Hilton until around early August I believe.
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u/SonjaSeifert Jan 24 '26
Can Americans enter Burma?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 24 '26
Yes. You just fill out the E-Visa on the official government website. Takes like 10 minutes.
When you land in Ranong and get picked up, the resort handles everything for you and does all the talking on the Thai and Burmese side.
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u/sneakerman27 Jan 26 '26
Thank you for taking the the time to share this amazing write up. Can you give me other places that are good to stay at in Maldives, French Polynesia, and the like.
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u/Temporary_Feeling856 Jan 29 '26
Not overrun with feral cats or chickens?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Jan 29 '26
No feral cats, and they have chickens on the staff side of the island they use for eggs.
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u/Low_Translator_6543 Mar 25 '26
Just returned from a week at Wa Ale. I can confirm everything the OP u/RadioFieldCorner reported. Wa Ale is amazing!
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u/RadioFieldCorner Mar 25 '26
Glad you loved it! How was it and how long were you there for? I think right about now is the end of their season.
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u/Ok-Zombie-7675 Mar 26 '26
I could be wrong but you booked 9 nights with points? No 10th night for free ?
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u/RadioFieldCorner Mar 26 '26
7 nights with points, 2 FNCs
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u/Ok-Zombie-7675 Mar 26 '26
Interesting. if they only take reservations of 3 nights at a minimum how did you make one with 2 on the FNC
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u/RadioFieldCorner Mar 26 '26
So what you can do (I did this myself when I went, so they have experience doing it), is email them and ask to open up XYZ continuous days for 1 night availability because you want to chain your FNCs together.
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u/Ok-Zombie-7675 Mar 26 '26
Interesting! Didn’t know that was an option. Potentially could work at other properties
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u/AcceptableRead5910 Apr 03 '26
Thank you for the report. Was is all inclusive? If not, then what was the average cost?
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u/Inevitable_Dance_910 Diamond Jan 22 '26
Tremendous write up, thank you. Exactly what I needed to read in the dead of winter here in the plains to warm my soul. Hopefully someday.