BAGAN, Myanmar — Bagan Lodge, a highly anticipated luxury lodge by the Apple Tree Group in the heart of historic Bagan, is set for its soft opening on April 15, 2013.
Located near the eastern shore of the legendary Irrawaddy River, the property offers 85 air-conditioned rooms in three classes of accommodation, ranging from 261 square meters for the Courtyard Suite, to 72 square meters for the Deluxe Rooms. The hotel’s design aesthetic melds classic Burmese brick design with contemporary flourishes and stylish, tented roofs.
Its principal restaurant, the Tiffin Box, delivers a range of culinary fare from authentic Burmese to western cuisine. Afternoon tea is served in the Lobby Lounge, and the Pool Bar offers up snacks and cocktails.
Beyond the restaurant, the Lodge features an expansive spa, a 20-meter pool and travel desk for guests to book local excursions and onward flights.
“Bagan is the hottest travel destination in Southeast Asia,” said Kurt Walter, Group General Manager at the Apple Tree Group. "Myanmar culture is on every traveler’s radar screen, and Bagan is going to emerge as the hottest attraction in the country."
Located 700 kilometers north of Yangon, Baganis one of the most rarified collections of temples anywhere in the world not yet designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. National Geographic has hailed the vast temple grounds as "one of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological heritage sites."
"Seeing the ancient Ananda Temple and the gilded Shwezigon Paya today is what it must have been like to visit Angkor more than 20 years ago," said Walter. "There is something very pristine and unadulterated about exploring temples that date back to the 11th and 12th centuries."
Beyond the temples and ruins, the region is renowned for its local artisans and weavers, horse-driven carts that ply the back roads, and small outdoor markets that sell everything from silver to fresh produce.
Daily flights deliver passengers into Yangon from the regional capitals of Hanoi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Taipei, Kunming, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bangkok. Once visitors arrive in Yangon, four private domestic airlines offer daily direct flights to Nyaung U, the airport that serves Bagan.
