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Trek and hike in the northen part of Shan state in Myanmar - Kyauk me - Nampsam area |
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We propose you trek and hikes in the Palaung area, not so far from Mogok and Nampsam (famous for the tea).
The best is to stay at list 2 or 3 nights, to enjoy the local life in village, to have time to visit this charming area.
This trek is ONLY organised by Ananda Travels anb it is currently our favourite trek in Myanmar, place is very relaxing, out of the world, Palaung people still wear traditional clothes, the country side is very green, with forest, tea plantation, rice field in terrace... |
(Palaung women cleaning a Boddhi tree) |
Best time for the trek?
The best time is from November to February. The country side is very green, there is a lot of festival in Myanmar (you could be lucky to one a Palaung festival), day tempereture is mild (25 C°), night temperature could be cold or very cold.
Moonson - rainy season : June to Septembre. It may rain all the day (but less that in Inle area), walk ways can be very slippery, you probably will not have a blue sky and the access road will be really bad.... but if you like this very special feeling of tropical rains, monsoon, evergreen forest... this is a good time to come, otherwise, avoid it.
Dry and hot season: March - April - Mai. It is hot, but thanks to elevation, not really very hot like in Mandalay or even Inle. This is the full harvest period for the tea, and you will see the Palaung women in traditionnal dress harvesting tea plantation. Country side is more dry than usual, but still greener than south Shan state (Inle area).
Buddhist New Year(12-17 April): If you come during the Buddhist New Year, you will enjoy the festival in a very traditionnal way in the Palaung village. This is a very good time to come to discover something else.
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| What do you need to bring along during the trek ? |
(Silver palaung Men preparing bamboo
offering for a Lord Buddha shrine) |
Light treking or hiking shoes, there is no stone on the way, but if it rains, it could be slippery. For winter time (December to February, you need warm clothes for sleeping and big socks.., you are sleeping in a traditionnal house with heating device).
Take also a small towel and soap for the bathroom (a well), it is quite cold in winter (cold water from the well.... good for the health and to get energy in the morning)
Do not forget your hat and a sun block cream (1500 metres + tropical sun...)
Ananda Travel supplies a blanket, a bamboo mat, food and lodging. We do not supply a mosquito net, you do not need it in winter (December to February). It is better to have one for the rest of the year. It is very cheap and easy to get at any market in Myanmar. You can buy it at Kyauk Me market better starting the trek. |
Whom can do it ? Important facts :
Perfect if you are looking for a trek in a remote area, unspoiled by tourism (but not too far) to see the local life of the Palaung tribe people, in their day to day life.
- Walking hour : 5 to 7 hours a day, some parts are a little stiff.
- Elevation : 1 300 to 1 700 meters.
- Accomodation: loca private house.
- Lunch & diner: private house, local place, local food.
- Shower: cold water from a tube well or spring
- Weather: Very cold at night from December to February, 25 C° day time, 30 C° to 35 C° in March or APril
- Ethnic groupe: Palaung (Shwe and Ngwe, gold and silver).
- Best time to come : for the weather (October to February), tea harvest : March -April.
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 "National" road to access the starting place of the 3 or 4 days trek....(50 km = 5 hours driving.) |
Starting point for the trek:
We star the trek from Kyauk Me a small city 4 hours drive after Pyin Oo Lwin on the way to Lashio and the Chinese border.
- You will start walking directly from Kyauk Me for 1 day and 2 days 1 night trek..
- For the 3 or 4 days treks, you will leave Kyauk Me by jeep. You mus be aware that the road from Kyauk Me to the starting point of the trek is very bad (very nice but very bad). It takes with a local jeep 5 hours for 50 km.
Carry a small bag for the trek, your excess luggage will be sent directly to your hotel in Hsipaw.
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Trek & Hikes
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(Palaung women dansing in the street of
the village
) |
1 day . You will depart from your hotel in Kyauk Me, walking the country side and Palaung village (5 -7 hours). Lunch in a Palaung village. You will come back to Kyauk Me by car in the evening.
2 days - 1 night . You will depart from your hotel in Kyauk Me, walking the country side and Palaung village (5 -7 hours). Lunch in a Palaung village. Sunset at the top of a hill, near a pagoda to enjoy a superb view. Night and diner in a local Palaung private house. Breakfast, small walk (3-4 hours), lunch during the trek and drive back to Kyauk Me.
3 days - 2 nights or 4 days - 3 nights
Early departure by jeep from Kyuauk Me to reach the starting point of the trek. The road is beautiful but very bad and it takes 5 hours to drive 50 km. You will be able to stop in very remote villages on the way (to rest and visit).Lunch in a local "restauran" in a very small village. After 13h00, you will start to walk to reach the first Palaung village (3 hours walk). Night and diner in the village in a private house, you will visit a very charming 16 century pagodas near the village.
Seconde day :Wake up early to enjoy the sunrise over the village and mountains, countryside with tea plantation, myst over the mountain is really charming. You will walk 6 to 7 hours, cross Palaung villages, have a superbe view from a pagoda located at the top of a small mountain (1800 metres). Night and diner in a private house.
Thrid day: 6 to 7 hours of easy walk as you mostly go down to Hispaw. You will reach Hispaw at the end of the afternoon, night at Mr Charles Guest house.
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Before and after your trek at Kyauk Me region
It is quite easy to integrate a trek - hike in kyauk Me area with other visit or trip to north shan state :
- Pyin Oo Lwin (before or after the trek).
- Before a visit of Hispaw (could do also a river excursion and trek near Hispaw).
- Before coming back to Pyin Oo Lwin or Mandalay by local train and crossing the very very spectacular Gotheik Bridge....
(Palaung woman going to
work in a field
)
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