Planes, Trains and Watermobiles
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Hsipaw & afternoon excursion
This morning you’ll fly from Yangon to Lashio via Mandalay. When you land you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Hsipaw. Once a Shan royal city, it boasts a laid-back vibe and is a relatively untouched area so definitely worth a visit if you want to get off the beaten track. Your accommodation is a small boutique hotel with a unique Shan feel surrounded by gardens.
Once you’ve settled in you’ll join your guide for a walk through the panoramic scenery of paddy fields and through Shan villages. The guide will explain about Shan life around Hsipaw and show you some home industries like cheroot (cigar) rolling and bamboo weaving. You’ll also learn about the spiritual side to Myanmar life and why each Shan village has a spirit house built at the entrance.
Day 2 – Excursion on Dokthawaddy River
Today you’ll get an insight into traditional rural life. You’ll be collected by your guide and transferred to the dock for your excursion by boat. The river passing through Hsipaw town is called the Dokthawaddy River and the ride will take you upstream through amazing scenery of mountains and plantations as you watch village life on the riverbanks. Next you’ll walk for around an hour to visit a 150 year old Shan monastery in the forest before heading back to Hsipaw for another night.
Day 3 – Hsipaw – Kyaukme & trekking
Today you’ll have a full day of sightseeing through the mountains and villages of Kyaukme ahead of you. You’ll catch the local bus around 7:30am, stopping along the way at remote villages to let people and goods in and out. The bus basically functions a bit like a post van, transporting letters, packages or big bags of rice. The last stop is Kyaukme market, where you’ll meet your guide and head to your guesthouse, located within the heart of the town.
Once you’ve settled in you’ll head out for a full day of trekking, taking you through mountains and giving you an insight into the lives of the Palaung people who live according to century old traditions. When you are back in Kyaukme a home cooked meal made from locally produced ingredients will be delivered to your hotel. It’s not only delicious food but you’re also supporting a small, local sustainable business that has been created to allow tourists to taste authentic Shan food.
Day 4 – Kyaukme – Pyin Oo Lwin by train
In the morning you’ll have some free time to explore the town with its colonial buildings and busy market; a good place to buy some snacks for your train journey. During your ride you’ll cross the mighty Gokteik Viaduct which was constructed in 1900 and was once the second highest railway bridge in the world. As the train moves slowly over the old railway track you’ll pass small villages as well as taking in the impressive mountain scenery! You’ll arrive in Pyin Oo Lwin late in the afternoon where you’ll head to your hotel.
Accommodation
