Aureum Palace Hotel Bagan

Arrival at Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort Bagan is a passage through the Bagan Archaeological Preservation Zone, with pagodas from the 11th and 12th centuries visible beyond the tree line. The resort itself is a spread of 11 hectares of tropical garden holding 114 rooms and villas, a scale unusual for the area. Rooms are furnished in dark teak, with antiques and local artwork placed throughout to mark the connection to Bagan's history. The Island Villa stands apart, set on its own island with a private butler and a guest list said to include royalty and heads of state. The Palm Tree Villa is a two-bedroom, split-level layout with views over the garden and the Bagan viewing tower nearby. Lotus and garden view villas share the same split-level form and teak detailing, built for longer stays. Bathrooms come with spa baths. The Xanadu Restaurant, at 650 m², serves Continental, Asian and Myanmar dishes across breakfast, lunch and dinner, with views towards the pagodas from its tables. Hero's Private Club & Bar mixes a Mandalay rum sour, and the Manisanda poolside bar keeps to daylight hours. Guests have a gym, a spa, an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi throughout. Check-in runs from 2pm. It is a quiet, self-contained base for exploring one of Southeast Asia's densest concentrations of temples, on the plains beside the Ayeyawaddy River.