Hiking in Shan Country

Highlights of tour:

We offer a unique circuit and a great diversity as discovering landscapes, local populations and how to approach the different regions we will be visiting. More than the attractions of the wonderful Yangon, we suggest memorable trekking to meet the Burmese people and more especially minorities from Chin and Shan States; you will meet people very welcoming.

Day 1: : Arrival in Yangon (D)

Upon arrival at airport, welcome by our guide and he will be held on placard with your name on it. And then transfer to hotel for check-in. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is still a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating and authentic capitals of South-East Asia. Dinner and stay overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon – Heho – Kalaw (B,L,D)

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for flight to Heho. Upon arrival in Heho, proceed to Kalaw, a charming hill station that is a marketing center for hill-tribe folk from surrounding regions. Transfer to the hotel and refreshment. Overnight in Kalaw.

Day 3: Kalaw – Tarywa (B,L,D)

After breakfast, depart from Kalaw in the morning. After walking for 2:30 hrs, arrive in view point and at that place you can see the wonderful panorama view. Lunch at view point. After lunch, proceed to Taryaw village about 1:00hrs walk. Overnight at long house of Tar Yaw village. That long house is traditional of Palaung races. Stay overnight at homestay.

Day 4: Tarywa – HninKhar Gone – Shar Bin – Nang Thelethee (B,L,D)

Depart from Taryaw village in the morning. After walking for 1 hr, arrive in HninKhar Gone Village. Next one hour later you will be reached MyinSai Gone village. That village is close to railway station of go to Thazi. And then proceed to Shar Bin (or) MyinThar for lunch. After lunch, proceed to Nang The Le Thee village about 1:00 hr walk. On the way you can visit four villages of Pao and Danu races. Whole day walking hour will be about 5:30 hrs. Overnight at Nang The Le Thee village.

Day 5: Nang Thelethee – KoneHla-HtiThein (B,L,D)

After breakfast, depart from Nang The Le Thee and after walking 3 hrs, you can reach KoneHla village of Pao races. On the way you can see the plantation of paddy field and garlic plant. Lunch at Kong Hla village. After lunch you can visit into the village and take some photos. And then proceed to HtiThein village for night stop.

Day 6: HtiThein – Indein (B,L,D)

Depart from HtiThein village and after walking for 4:00 hrs arrive in Indein. Your boat is waiting at this village. In Indein village, you can see the ancient Pagodas and quiet places. After that proceed to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and transfer to hotel by boat. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 7: Trekking in Inle lake (B,L,D)

After breakfast at the hotel, from Minetauk Jetty, we start trekking up to Minetauk Tawya monastery (Meditation Centre). You will be able to spend something for lunch break and/or meditation service at the monastery. After lunch and meditation, start trek up to Inne via Paw Lapat village about 3 hours by passing through endless view of farms and fields. From a view point bird eyes view over the lake is marvelous and would really make you smile. Arrive in Inne village; warming greetings from the villagers, visit to families in the villages, Observe the local people at work in the farms of avocado, wheat, corn and orange could also be seen. Accommodation would be provided in a houseroom. Casual talks and chats could be exchanged in a cordial way. Overnight in the village.

Day 8: Trekking in Inle lake (B,L,D)

Breakfast would be offered with Pa O food in local style. Depart Inne village after exchanging views with the village descending from another land route in a zing zag way passing through Tapay Kone villages about 2 hours. Lunch package would be provided wrap in Bamboo leaf & have a lunch at convenience place. After lunch leading to Thale U and proceed to respective hotel in the lake by boat. Overnight at hotel in Inle Lake.

Day 9: Inle Lake – Pindaya (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel, morning drive to Pindaya and explore Shan paper making, basket weaving, monk umbrella making workshops and Pindaya Caves, contain more than 8000 Buddha statues dating back hundreds of years. It is an astounding sight that has long beguiled Buddhist pilgrims and casual visitors alike. Stay overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Day of trek (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel, early morning walk to the market and buy all the provision for your forthcoming 2 days trek. This morning, enjoy a walk through the hills, 1 hour, to Htut Ni village of the Danu tribe. You will pass through the farming where the Danu cultivates cheroot, tea, damsons and mangoes on the hillsides. The track crosses the valley floor before climbing very steeply again to another Danu village of See Kya Inn. Continue to walk about 2 hours to Yasakyi, another Danu village and stop for a simple lunch. In the afternoon, observe tribal village life and how the Palaung people dry cheroot in a specially designed oven. Simple dinner (local cooking) and stay overnight at Monastery.

Day 11: Day of trek (B,L,D)

Simple breakfast. This morning enjoy continue walking through the hills. The path leads through another several villages, producing Shan Tea in the traditional way. You will see the drying of the tealeaves and pass through the tea plantations. From the hills are great views on the surroundings Shan Plateau. Pass through the Danu and Pa O villages. Arrive in Pindaya around noon. Free at own leisure. Overnight in Pindaya.

Day 12: Pindaya – Heho – Kyaing Tong (B,L,D)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Kyaing Tong, the former Shan capital. On arrival transfer to your hotel. Sightseeing in Kyaing Tong starts with MahaMyat Muni Pagoda, housing Mandalay style Buddha image and nearby a monastery where the monks learn “Khun” language, which is very similar to that used in the Northern Thailand. Proceed to the Shan lacquer ware making home industry to learn embossing method lacquer ware making. Stay overnight in Kyaing Tong.

Day 13: Trekking (B,L,D)

After breakfast your local station guide will meet you at the hotel for a hiking tour into the Pin Tauk area. Lush mixed monsoon forest with a view to the plain rice fields looking like a huge, green patchwork blanket shimmering in the water of the flooded paddy fields. Your local guide will introduce you to the villagers of Aka and An tribes. Some are baptized, some tribes still animists. The walk is not difficult, and can be done slowly. Some of the An villages or on hills, appr. 45% “steep” walk up but for not more than half an hour. The An people, known to be the kindest tribe, as there is no case up to nowadays where an An member has ever been violent. It will take about 6 hours to visit the villages, including visits of the houses. Late afternoon come back to Kyaing Tong for overnight.

Day 14: Kyaing Tong – Yangon (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning relaxation at the hotel. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to the hotel and check in. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 15: Yangon departure (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Free time for relaxation. You can be relaxing at the hotel to enjoy the pool, sun, and gardens or to enjoy at your leisure activities of your choice (no services provided). In the late afternoon, transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight. Registration formalities, customs and police. Boarding and taking off on flight to your destination.