Eastern Trekking Tour.

The best-known place for going trekking in Myanmar is the place around Pindaya, Kalaw and the Inlay Lake in the Shan State. On the mountain range around Kalaw you can make a study of the traditional customs of Palaung people who have been living there for many, many years. Taraw, one of the Palaung villages, still retain much its ancient look, which makes it a tourist attraction. You can get there in about three hours accompanied by a tourist guide.

All along the way you can enjoy the sight of tea plantations and other seasonal crop fields. The path is not undesirably rugged. It is all quiet except for the sweet-sounding chirping and twittering of birds. Though relatively deserted, most of the inhabitants being away at work on their farms in the hills, there has never been a single nasty accident on the way.

Taraw village lies in a gorge. It has a Buddhist monastery where you can take a rest, drinking plain tea or eating banana.

An interesting about this village is that the families live, on to a room, in a large oblong-shaped building like those houses you see on the Borneo islands. For food, most of them have just enough for a single meal, and have to make do with whatever they manage to get; the main dish consists of Shan red rice, pumpkin seeds and pounded chilies.

You can do trekking on a long, rugged path from Kalaw up to the Inlay Lake with a two-night rest at the Buddhist monasteries on the way. In most cases, hotel-style accommodation should not be expected at monasteries.

Walking to the Kakku Pagoda Complex, 28 miles from Taunggyi, by way of the eastern side of the Inlay Lake gives you an opportunity to enjoy the unspoiled beauties of nature. (This trip requires official permission.)

You can go trekking to area around Lashio and to villages of Akhas indigenous people to study their traditional customs.

Sample of Trekking Tour

Day 01        - Yangon - Heho (flight) - Kalaw
Day 02        -Kalaw -Myinmahti - Binnwe (trekking)
Day 03        -Binnwe -Konehla - Nanyoke (trekking)
Day 04        -Nanyoke -Taungmouk - Intaing - Khaungdaing (trekking)
Day 05        -Inle sightseeing

Day 01    Yangon - Heho (flight) - Kalaw
Transfer you to airport from your hotel and fly to Heho. Upon arrival at Heho, transfer our visitors to Kalaw (approx one and half hour by private car) through a winding route. Overnight in Kalaw.

(Kalaw is former British hill station town, cool, spring like weather, pine forests, tea plantations and colorfully clad hill tribes make this town to a natural magnet. Kalaw situated 4,200 ft above sea-level.)

Day 02    Kalaw - Myinmahti - Binnwe (trekking)
Breakfast at hotel and start trek up hill through the pine tree to Taunggyiche Palaung village (approx 2 hour) situates bottom of Myinmahti hill 5602 ft. Explore near by Myinmahti cave and return to village, lunch at local monastry and continue to Lamine Taungyoe village (approx one and half hour). Continue trekking to Binnwe Pa O races village (approx two hour) situate at the Heho plain. Dinner & overnight at local monastery.

Day 03    Binnwe - Konehla - Nanyoke (trekking)
Breakfast and continue trekking through plain to Konehla (approx. 1 hour), and then to Patupauk (approx one and half hour) situates between Heho and Nyaungshwe plain with narrow valley. Lunch break and continue trek to Htithein Pa O races village (approx. two and half hour). You will have a perfect view of Nyaungshwe plain and Inle Lake. Proceed to Ngoke Pa O race village (approx 1 hour). Dinner & overnight at local monastery.

Day 04    Nanyoke - Taungmouk – Intaing - Khaungdaing (trekking)
Breakfast and continue trekking to Taungmouk village (approx 3 hour). Observe unique natural black colored stones around the area. Lunch break and continue trek to Indein dam, continue hike to Indein village (approx 1 hour). Visit Indein pagoda ruin site and later transfer to Khaung daing village. (approx 2 hour). Overnight in Inle-Khaungdaing.

Day 05    Inle sightseeing
Breakfast at hotel and you will be on your own to explore the unique lake. Traveling on the lake is an exhilarating experience for nature lovers and a chance to observe the unique tradition of the Intha people. Wonder unique leg rowing fishermen, houses and monasteries on the lake. Overnight in Nyaungshwe.