Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → Myanmar → Kalaw

Location: Western Shan State, Myanmar

Time Required: 1 day

Red Tape/Notes: None

What’s Nearby?: Pindaya, Shan Plateau, Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp, Cycling to Inle Lake, Inle Lake

Kalaw is a short drive from Heho, sitting high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It’s retained some of the the colonial atmosphere acquired during the British occupation, when it was a popular hill station, and has some interesting temples and stupas. More interestingly for us, you can take a short hike (walk, really) along a dirt road, to a hill tribe village (called Paine Pin). At the village you can feel a bit ridiculous by dressing up in their traditional garb. I think this is supposed to be the highlight, but for us the highlight was the walk itself, which wound through the lovely countryside where you could see people (mostly women) working the fields harvesting ginger and where we got up close views of the “diesel donkeys” (small work vehicles) we’d seen around town. We also passed a number of huts where they collect oranges, which grow all over the area, to sell. We bought some and they were pretty delicious.

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → Myanmar → Kalaw