Pyin Oo Lwin
Founded in 1915 and carved out by Turkish prisoners captured by the British during WWI, this lovingly maintained 435-acre botanical garden features more…
Northern Myanmar
Rugged and remote, northern Myanmar offers the prospect of travel through some of the least-visited areas of the country. While much of this vast region remains off limits, two main routes are accessible. One climbs rapidly from Mandalay to the British-era summer capital of Pyin Oo Lwin and then continues across the rolling Shan Plateau to Lashio. The crisp evenings are a great relief from the heat of the plains, while hikes take visitors into Palaung and Shan hill villages. Another option is taking a ride along the mighty Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, stopping off at Katha, the setting of George Orwell’s Burmese Days.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Northern Shan State
A highlight of the long, slow Mandalay–Lashio train ride is the mighty Gokteik Viaduct. It spans the Gokteik Gorge, a densely forested ravine that cuts an…
Northern Myanmar
The mystical Shwe Myitsu Paya, on an island off Nam Tay village, seems to float on the surface of the lake and is especially atmospheric at dawn when…
Northern Shan State
As the epicentre of the gem trade in Myanmar, Mogok has many marketplaces for gems. The early-morning market is known as the Cinema Hall Market, as it is…
Hsipaw
At the northern edge of town, Hsipaw’s oldest neighbourhood has a village-like atmosphere, two delightful old teak monasteries and a collection of ancient…
Pyin Oo Lwin
Finished in March 2000, this dazzling pagoda is by far the region's most impressive religious building. It enshrines an enormous 17-ton white-marble…
Pyin Oo Lwin
Just north of Anisakan village the plateau disappears into an impressive, deeply wooded amphitheatre, its sides ribboned with several waterfalls. The most…
Northern Myanmar
The 32 excavation sites here date back to the Pyu era (4th to 9th centuries AD). The sites rise above Hanlin village and survey the plains for a…
Guidebooks
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Get to the heart of Northern Myanmar with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
