Welcome to Northern Shan State

For an easy escape from the heat and hussle of Mandalay, do what the colonial Brits did and pop up to Pyin Oo Lwin. And as you've come this far, why not continue further across the rolling hills of the Shan Plateau to discover some of Southeast Asia’s most satisfying hill treks out of Hsipaw. But bring a decent fleece: while days are warm, it gets chilly after dark and can be downright cold at 5am when buses depart and markets are at their candlelit best.

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Northern Shan State activities

$322.50 Multi-day & Extended Tours

6-Day Northern Shan State and Mandalay Tour from Yangon

Day 1: Transfer to Hsipaw in Northern Shan State from Yangon by bus at 4pm. We will overnight on the public bus.Day 2:  Arrived Hsipaw. Upon arrival, walk to your hotel (hotel is only 5-minute walking distance from Khaing Ta Pyay bus station). The room is ready for check-in. In the late afternoon your guide will take you for a walk through a panoramic scenery of paddy fields and other seasonal crops passing small creeks, Shan villages and local schools and monasteries. The guide will explain in detail about Shan life around Hsipaw and show you some home industries like cheroot (cigar) rolling and bamboo weaving and the local people in Northern Shan state. Overnight at Hotel – Nice wooden bungalows in a beautiful garden.Day 3:  A day for yourself. After breakfast, you will explore the town on your own. Overnight at Hotel - Nice wooden bungalows in a beautiful garden.Day 4:  Completely plunge in rural life with your local guide. Your guide will be waiting for you at the final bus stop to take you to the guesthouse where you will spend the night. Embark on a full day trekking through the mountains surrounding Kyaukme during which your guide will give you a fascinating insight into the life of the Palaung people living in these remote hills. We have lunch in one of the Palaung villages. Today is a great day out in the nature in an area where you can still find people who have rarely seen western foreigners before and who live according to centuries old traditions. Overnight at Hotel – basic Guesthouse with private facilities. Day 5:  A train journey over a bridge, 820 feet (250m) high. The train departs at 11:05am from Kyaukme station and will pass the Gokteik Viaduct at around 1:30pm. Through spectacular mountain scenery the train will slowly move forward over the old railway track passing small villages and towns where vendors will enter the train to sell drinks and local snacks. Expected arrival time in the Pyin Oo Lwin – the former summer capital for the British colonial administration. On arrival at the colonial train station transfer on own arrangement to your hotel.Day 6: Car-pooling from the scenic hill town to Mandalay. A shared taxi will pick you up at the hotel in Pyin Oo Lwin and drive you down the hill towards Mandalay. In Mandalay the shared taxi will drop you at your hotel.
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Northern Shan State in detail