Awei Pila, an exclusive resort set on a remote tropical island in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, will open its doors in December.

Owned by the Yangon-based Memories Group, the newly constructed property on the island of Pila will feature 24 air-conditioned tented villas fronting a white-sand beach, open-air restaurant and spa.

A two-hour speedboat ride from the mainland, Pila is nestled among a labyrinth of some 800 islands, atolls and coral reefs, which were until recently a haven only to wayward mariners, pirates and a handful of indigenous Moken or ‘sea gypsy’ fishing families.

The island has a single source of fresh water, 10 as yet unexplored sandy beaches, a host of birds including hornbills and coves alive with fish, dugongs and turtles. The local village boasts a rickety wooden pier, a Buddhist temple and a single beach-shack bar with a pool table.

General Manager Jon Bourbaud describes the resort as “barefoot luxury at its finest”, and says it is his team’s primary aim to create minimum impact on the idyllic environment.

www.aweipila.com