Trekking In Shan State

Spend the morning exploring the countryside where the Akha, Lahu and other fascinating hill tribes still live.This is one of the few regions in Southeast Asia where it is possible to meet and spend time with authentic tribes in their home villages. Hike first to visit the Loi tribe. While they don't wear the vibrantly dyed clothing that some of the other tribes do, they are unique in their way of living. The Loi live in wooden longhouses-- multiple families residing under the same roof. Also unique are their farmining and agricultural methods. Travel deeper into the countryside of Kengtung to visit more hill tribes in their villages. After the Loi village, you will hike up Hokyin Mountain in order to reach your next destination in Wanpauk, where the Silver Palaung hill tribe lives. The women of this tribe wear brightly colored clothing and large silver belts around their waists. Spend time here and learn that, while many of their traditions are the same, the people within this village have different religious beliefs. Return to Kengtung at the end of the day by car. Overnight in Kengtung.

After breakfast this morning, visit the Akhu village known as Wan Sai. The locals continue to dress in their ancient traditional garb and live according to traditions mostly unchanged and uninfluenced in recent times. Reach the villages on foot as you trek through vivid rice and vegetable fields. You will be astonished by the welcoming hospitality and warm kindness, which extends from village to village. You will have an opportunity to visit the Ann in their village Wan Pin. The Ann people are animists and in the village you can see a small ritual house. You may notice that many of the women's teeth are tar-black, stained from chewing betel leaf. Head back to Kengtung and pass along the Lone Tree Hill, a vantage point which will provide a wide view of Kengtung...

After breakfast at the hotel, this morning is at our leisure to explore Kengtung. If time allows, visit a traditional Shan lacquerware workshop in Kengtung. Then transfer to the Kengtung airport for our onward flight to Heho. Upon reaching Heho, drive to Pindaya and this evening will be at leisure. Overnight in Pindaya.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel followed by a visit to the famous ‘Buddha Caves’. This multi-chambered cave system is filled with hundreds of Buddha statues and is a popular pilgrimage spot for locals. We then visit a local workshop making umbrellas and paper from the mulberry tree. This is one of the few areas in Myanmar still practicing this fast disappearing craft. Then it’s time to venture into the forest for a unique encounter with Myanmar’s wildlife. Begin with a 1 hour transfer to a typical small Shan village where a guide from the camp will greet us. We will enjoy a light trek through the woods, during which time the guide will point out the indigenous flora and fauna as well as explain more about the local lifestyles in this region. We will then come face-to-face with the Burmese Elephants. Formerly working as logging elephants, these gentle giants have been given the chance to live freely in their natural environment, giving visitors a unique opportunity to interact. Feed and help wash the elephants and learn about the history of elephants in Myanmar. In the early afternoon we savor a delicious lunch prepared using traditional methods and ingredients from the camp’s organic garden. This afternoon return to Kalaw.

Our adventure trekking begins this morning with a scenic 90 minute drive which leads us to the small town of Naung Tayar, the starting point of our trek. The scenery is remarkably different from middle Burma and the air temperature is generally much cooler than the rest of the country. We meet with our trekking team, set off on foot and trek along the trail filled with seasonal agriculture. After lunch at local family house in traditional style, we continue our scenic trek. On the way, we will have plenty of opportunities to stop and interact with the friendly locals. We reach our overnight stop village of Saung Khar in the evening. Tonight we stay in a house with a local family which gives plenty of opportunity for more interaction and learning about the local people’s way of life. Overnight in Saung Khar Village

Departing Saung Khar early, we say farewell to our host family and continue our trek towards Inle Lake. This morning trek offers great views of bamboo forest, valley and overview of the villages. Our first stop is Naung Mon old Monastery and village where we can learn about monastic life in Myanmar and day to day village life. The monastery also serves as a community center and is an important part of rural Burmese life. Continuing onwards and downwards we descend to our final destination of Tharyar Gone, a short stroll from the shores of Inle Lake. Depending on progress made our lunch will be served either in a village or at a restaurant in Tharyar Gone. This also lends the opportunity to observe the making of local rice wine. Last up, we visit the Thar Khaung Pagoda Complex before transferring by long tail boat to Samkar located on the opposite shore. Overnight in Samkar.

After breakfast we check-out and embark on a scenic boat journey to Nyaung Shwe by crossing Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. This afternoon set off on a sightseeing tour of the town. Travel by local trishaw down to the bustling canal which is a hive of activity in the morning as boats from the lake come in to unload tomatoes and other vegetables for distribution to the markets around the country. Watch as baskets laden with produce are transferred from boats to trucks and bikes. Hop back on the trishaw and wind through quiet streets. Make a stop at the ‘tomato house’, a warehouse-like structure where the tomatoes are sorted and priced for sale. Then continue past some of the many monasteries and nunneries in the town, stopping for photos as you go. Check in to your hotel in the mid afternoon. If we can still have enough time to catch sunset, there is an opportunity to visit Red Mountain Estate, one of Myanmar’s top vineyards. Enjoy wine tasting with expansive views of the lake below. Then, transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.