Enjoy a glimpse of rural Myanmar life
With their colonial era buildings, lofty locations and fascinating attractions, Myanmar’s hill stations offer you the perfect chance to see a part of the country other tourists rarely visit.
One of the best is Kalaw, a sleepy market town 1320m above sea level. The centre of the town is a mix of interesting colonial buildings and Shan-style architecture. The surrounding countryside with gnarled pines, bamboo groves and minority villages is a trekker's delight with walks to cater to all levels of fitness. To really appreciate the simplicity and tranquility of rural Shan life we recommend the trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake with overnight stops at a monastery and a chief’s house.
Just a short, picturesque drive on from Kalaw is the hill station of Pindaya. Here, nearby caves contain over 8,000 images of Buddha and in the town itself you can explore the colourful marketplace and picturesque lake. To the northwest of Pindaya are the Padah-Lin Caves. Even more important than those at Pindaya, the prehistoric caves contain paintings that are thought to date back around 11,000 years.
Our guides know Myanmar’s hill stations better than anyone, and we’ll happily take you even further off the beaten track, to Hsipaw. There’s just one guesthouse here and a handful of restaurants. It’s a place only the most intrepid travelers venture to and, for now at least, it’s completely untouched.