If you are already at the stage of planning a trekking trip in Myanmar, "trekking in Kalaw" is a phrase that might keep popping up on your search results. At 1,320 meters above sea level, Kalaw was the hill station where the British fled to escape the hot plains of Myanmar. Will it be part of your Myanmar trip and if so, what should you expect? This article should help you plan a well-rounded trekking trip in Kalaw.
Why Kalaw for Me
Mild climate, colorful landscapes, interesting local lifestyles and the chance to meet local minority people going about their daily lives; if all these are things that interest you, Kalaw is definitely going to be a candidate for your itinerary.
Kalaw is within easy reach of Inle Lake, only an hour's drive from the starting point. Kalaw is known as one of the few places you can trek without permission and is also one with a wide diversity of experiences, given its different footpaths.
Travelers often add a trekking trip of 1 or 2 days to their stay at Inle Lake, hoping to enrich their Myanmar travel experience. Such a trek takes you around some small villages and mountains. For experienced trekkers, less than 3 days may just seem too insipid. Overnighting at a local home or monastery, setting off early in the morning and trekking for 6 hours nonstop are all optional features of a trek.
You don't have to be immensely fit to trek as long as you choose the right route. Below is a taste of what we can offer.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
Excellent planned and executed Myanmar excursion
Asia Highlights and their local Myanmar partner "mAsia" did an excellent job in planning and execution of a one week trip to Myanmar.The various tour guides and drivers had good knowledge and good command over English. More
Gerd, Jan 2018
|
Planning our trip
We have spend that last eight months planning a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Alisa Lia was creative & patient helping us customize our tour to include the sites and adventures we were excited to see. Hard waiting for the trip to start. More
Jamie Danner, Oct 2023
|
My experience in Thai
All of this was well organized by the local office. The holiday was wonderful. Our guide, Mr. Longdy( Siem Reap)were exceptional. He shared his extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. Thank you so much .shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. More
kelli, Jul 2023
|
Seamless Planning
From the day I submitted an inquiry request, I instantly received a response from Monica asking my preferences for my trip. She has been attentive and responsive to our every needs and we very much appreciate it. Looking forward to our trip in November but many thanks to Monica for making this experience to seamless thus far. More
Sana Samhouri, Jul 2023
|
Very professional agency for a memorable trip to Asia
A special thanks to Albee who worked with us and helped to tailor the itinerary to our taste, she was amazing and always available for whatever we needed. The trip would not have been the same without her and her team. Thank you! More
Daniela, Jul 2023
|
It was our first time in Cambodia and …
It was our first time in Cambodia and we had a wonderful time. The accommodations, food, and sites were really beautiful. We ended our trip with a relaxing massage. Sam was very accommodating to our needs and knowledgeable. Thank you for the laughter and for being so kind. More
Amy Oakes Moon, Jun 2023
|
Our guide Borin - never boring!
Our guide Borin, in Cambodia, was knowledgeable, understanding and thoughtful in every aspect of the plan he put together for our trip to Siem Reap and in its execution. He can read the room, and knew exactly how to pace the tour, when to pause, when to break, and how to prepare us for the maximum benefit. He is extremely kind and caring, and it showed at every turn. He also is a dab hand with the camera, and we have a lot of great pictures to show for it. Kudos to my Asia Highlights coordinator - Cathy Chen, for picking Borin. Borin works with a driver (007) who was also very kind and caring. Whenever we returned to the car, he would have cold towel rolls and chilled water to refresh us. So amazingly considerate. It was an unforgettable experience More
David Muliyil, Jun 2023
|
Great visit!
Our guide, Anna, was fantastic! She was highly informative and a delight to spend our days with. Would request her again if we were to return! More
Alejandra M Almonte, Jun 2023
|
We've had such a great experience…
We've had such a great experience planning our honeymoon with Alisa at Asia Highlights! We gave her our dream itinerary, thinking that it might be impossible to do all the things we wanted, but Alisa made our dreams a reality! She's gone so far above and beyond to answer ALL of our questions and make little adjustments that will make a huge impact on our experience. More
Lauren, Jun 2023
|
Alisa knows how to work fast and please a customer.
Alisa is very helpful and works very fast. I am a very difficult client because Inknow what I want in therm of hotels and comfort. She had a lot of patience with me, and moved a lot the plan of the trip, always following my requests. It was a pleasure organizing my trip with her. I recommend her a lot! Thanks Alisa. Malala from Argentina. More
maria laura artola, Jun 2023
|
Trip-of-a-lifetime
In addition, I want to specifically mention the guides provided in certain locations. Rum, in Siem Reap, made the most memorable experience possible. His positivity was contagious - even when it felt like 1000 degrees and we were tired. He brought it all to life, and created a couple days of Ankor Wat, etc. that we will never forget! He heard my daughter's request for specific Cambodian food, and changed our itinerary to go to a village and eat at a locally known shop. He brought the dessert she asked about to us in the car! Overall, he and his driver "Lucky" were a reason to go to Siem Reap. In addition, the other guides (minus one which was switched out immediately) were stupendous. Mon in Bangkok was friendly and provided a great day there; Eak in Chiang Mai gave us a world-class food-tour and day touring the city and its surrounding temples with lots of laughs; Tommy in Hanoi kept us from getting killed in the traffic and gave a stupendous food and architecture/history tour - so very friendly and funny; the fishing village tour in Hoi An, as well as the side-car tour in Saigon, were both unforgettable! Thank you Sharon, and Asia Highlights. Would definitely use again for future trips! More
Teri Simpson, Apr 2023
|
Cambodia and Vietnam adventure!
Our guide in Cambodia, Meas Darapolaith (Pol), was absolutely amazing. He was knowledgeable, friendly and so helpful. His English was excellent and he shared important insights about history and the magnificent sites we visited. We highly recommend him! More
Jennifer Roth Krieger, Apr 2023
|
My daughter and I wanted to discover SE…
My daughter and I wanted to discover SE Asia. Being the first in that region, we wanted to use a tour service company. We ended up using Asia Highlights. From the beginning we were impressed with their services. We left home with of mind because all the pre-travel arrangements were taking care and communicate to us efficiently. All our questions were answered promptly. Once in the countries, we were welcome by our excellent tour guides. Everything was taking care for us. We did not have one issue. They selected the right tours guides for us, they were highly knowledgeable and so much attentive to our needs. We had Dhat in Vietnam and Borin in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I came back home so much rested, and with plenty of wonderful pictures and memories. I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. More
Isabelle Dessaux, Apr 2023
|
Fabulous tour and guide in Cambodia
We have been touring Cambodia, guided by Borin ( and driver 007) for the last 2 days. What a fabulous experience! Borin has been a wonderful guide, the best so far in Southeast Asia, explaining the history and culture of Cambodia through his tours of the temples in and around Angkor, as well as the Landmine museum. He has answered all our questions, made sure we were comfortable, and that we have had great food. 007 made sure we always had enough water and cool towels for our face/neck.We highly recommend Borin as a tour guide for Cambodia!! More
Monica, Mar 2023
|
Best Travel Service for Asia Travel
Alisa Liu was in charge of making the arrangements and she helped us from the start to make all of the arrangements and also helped us when we had questions and requested some adjustments. Her service is of the highest professional level. We are 100% confident that our trip will be perfect. We’re also 100% confident that, if anything comes up during our trip, that Alisa will be there to guide us through and take care of us. We won’t even consider using another agency for travel around Asia and we would like to have Alisa work for us again. More
Leo Pospichal, Mar 2023
|
Tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand
The tour guides and drivers were another high point. All were very good, friendly, knowledgeable and spoke English well. There were two that I want to call out for their excellence. Chan Sovannarith in Siem Reap was our guide in Cambodia. He really made the experience special. His knowledge, willingness to answer all my questions, helpfulness and general attitude made him fun to be around. In order to praise the second exceptional guide I have to explain about an unfortunate occurrence that I had. I'm normally a very active senior, but after leaving Cambodia for Laos I was suddenly struck by the most intense back pain I've ever experienced, couldn't even roll over in bed (turned out to be sciatica). The guide, Mr. Sonophet, really went the extra mile. He went with my traveling companion and bought a back brace and medications for me. When that didn't help much he took me to a clinic where I was seen by a doctor, given a shot and pain meds. He hand-made a walking stick for me that I'm still using! He made it possible for me to somewhat participate in the activities, i.e. a bed on the boat down the river. When it was time to move on to Bangkok he got me a wheelchair at the airport. I can't thank him enough for these kindnesses! This problem lasted for the remainder of the trip, through Bangkok and Phuket and these guides were also very helpful getting wheelchairs, etc. It was a terrible disappointment to have this wonderful trip disrupted, but it would have been SO much worse without the great help that I received from the guides and my poor travel companion! More
Deb M, Mar 2023
|
In good hands with Sam
Sam Ol took very good care of us - lots of information, listened to and answered all our questions, was passionate about the places we visited and about his people and country. He was kind, had a great sense of humor, and made sure we felt safe and comfortable at all times. He helped us to fall in love with Cambodia in 3 short days. More
Carol Jones, Feb 2023
|
Best tour guide in Cambodia
When we first arrived at the airport in Siem Riep it was so nice to be greeted by Mr Sam Ol. We instantly fell at home when we saw his friendly smile. We were impressed by his great English and knowledge of the temples. On the tour to the temples Sam took care of us every step of the way. He took awesome pictures of us. It felt like we were on a tour given by our brother who is also a professional photographer. Also, we appreciate his humor as well as the fact he had an answer for every question we had. I give Sam 5 stars, best tour guide ever :) More
Len S, Feb 2023
|
Mr. Sam
Mr. Sam our guide in Cambodia, he and the driver out standing service they went above and beyond touring, my wife so amazed beautiful country, we're planning back here near the futures. Thank Mr. Sam,We'll feedback the whole trip next week when we be home in US More
Pho Lover, Feb 2023
|
Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand
We are still in the middle of our trip, but we are just finishing up our time in Cambodia and our guide, Borin, has been AMAZING!!! He has truly made our time here unforgettable and I plan on referring all of my friends and family to come visit this beautiful country! Thank you, Borin, for everything you did to make our trip so fantastic! More
Danielle Blount, Feb 2023
|
1-day trekking option: good for travelers in general
Morning pick-up at your hotel in Kalaw and trek along the 9 km road to a village named Taryaw, home to the Palaung people. The Palaung are good at building long houses, where up to 8 generations live together under one roof.
After exploring the village and a simple lunch, take a different road back to Kalaw. On the way, travelers can have a dip in the cool water of a stream in the jungle. Be back to the hotel before evening. Add another hour if you start from a hotel at Inle Lake.
2-day trekking option: good for travelers with more than 10 days in Myanmar
A 2-day option can also start with either Kalaw or Inle Lake. Get up early on the first day to visit a local market near Kalaw. This on-land market might not the focus of as much hubbub as the floating ones in Inle Lake, but it may be a good start to ease you into local life.
Start a 20-km trek to the Danu and Pa O communities, which will probably take 6 hours. Lunch will be some basic local cuisine, such as noodle soup and Burmese pancakes prepared in a local dinette. Stay overnight in a village home in Pa O village, after a homemade dinner. Sleeping arrangements are just basic – a bed, a pillow and mosquito net – but that's enough for a good night's sleep.
We advise you to turn in early, as the next day will involve another adventurous trekking journey in the Shan mountains; about 10 km long, and taking 4 to 5 hours depending on your physical condition. It ends at a jetty, where you hop on a boat back to Inle Lake.
More than 2-day trekking option: good for travelers who are up for the challenge
Trekking trips of more than 2 days always start in Kalaw. A textbook outline for a multi-day trek is described below. The first day starts with an easy trek of 2 hours to Lupyin village, a peaceful home to the Pa O people. A short visit in Lupyin is followed by another 1-hour trek to Sharpin village, where you have lunch in a monastery with local monks.
The trekking pace slows down in the afternoon, and it might take you 3 hours to reach your night-base, a monastery in Nanthalathe village. Your trekking guide will take you to a hilltop to observe the sunset before your host monk calls you back for dinner.
Wake up on the second day to the monks' early-morning chanting in the monastery. Bawhinnkone village 8 km away, awaits your visit. It is a big village with over 300 houses and you will talk to one of the Pa O elders to learn about the daily lives of the people.
Compared to Bawhinnkone, the neighboring Konehla village is quieter, a nice place for your lunch and a nap. Afterwards, carry on to Htethein village, passing through bamboo forest and a Danu village called Pat Hto Puk. Have dinner and spend the night at a local home.
The trek becomes more varied on the third day, as you are already used to the mountain trails. Spend 2 hours on the rugged road to Kyauksu village, where you meet some shy but friendly dwellers. The trek ends after a simple lunch in the village and you will then be taken to Indien village by Inle Lake. A boat trip to visit the famous pagoda complex in Indien may be possible, if time allows.
Luckily Inle Lake is a mecca for leisure vacationers. After 3 days of trekking, you won't need to feel guilty adding at least one extra day doing nothing, apart from sitting in the porch of your riverfront cottage.
When to Trek in Kalaw and How to Prepare
Kalaw enjoys a relatively cool climate compared with other places in Myanmar and it is possible to trek there all year round. That said, the dry season from October to April is the most pleasant time to organize your trekking trip in Kalaw. Below are some specific tips for trekking in Kalaw.
Be prepared both mentally and physically
Don't expect too much luxury. Village homes are only endowed with simple bedding and food, the bathroom is clean but in Asian style, with squat-type toilets and only rarely a tap-water shower. To allow yourself time to recover from the walking, add some extra days afterwards at Inle Lake or at a beach resort.
Choose your route smartly
Evaluate your physical condition carefully before you set your mind on a trekking tour. It's wise not to be too ambitious as a first-timer. We always suggest a 1-day trek if you are new to the country. You might like to talk to our travel advisors, to discover your best option.
Have an open mind and respect the local culture
There will be times when you need to turn to the locals for help; whether it's your trekking guide or your home-stay host. Traveling on the less-beaten tracks of Kalaw exposes you to some utterly different lifestyles and cultures.
When entering a religious site, take off your footwear and wear a longyi (a skirt-like stole). At meals in local homes, wait for the elders to start. It helps to be open-minded. After all, you are looking for special experiences in a different culture in the first place, aren't you?
When entering a religious site, take off your footwear and wear a longyi (a skirt-like stole). At meals in local homes, wait for the elders to start. It helps to be open-minded. After all, you are looking for special experiences in a different culture in the first place, aren't you?
Want to add a trekking trip in Kalaw to your Myanmar holiday? Check out our sample tour 16-Day Myanmar Tour in Depth
Visit Myanmar with Asia Highlights
We provide tailor-made tours to Myanmar. Tours typically start or end in Yangon or Mandalay and last approximately 9 days; visiting Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake.
You might like to read
Why Asia Highlights (10,000+ reviews & 98.8% 5-star rating)
- Save Your Time:
- Less research, more enjoyment!
- Real-time 1V1 expert planning
- Maximize Your Flexibility:
- Personal local guide and ride
- Explore at your own pace
- Celebrate Your Journeys:
- Specially-crafted family adventures
- Celebrate milestones with style!
- 16-Day Myanmar In-Depth Tour with Irrawaddy Cruise
- Myanmar Essence Tour
- Myanmar Tours, Private Vacation & Travel Packages
- Myanmar Essence Tour
- 17-Day Private tour to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos
- 17-Day Private tour to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos
- 17-Day Private tour to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos
- 14-Day Myanmar and Thailand Essence Tour
- How to Plan a 2024 Trip to Southeast Asia With Itinerary & Cost
- How to Plan a 2024 Trip to Southeast Asia With Itinerary & Cost
- 4 Weeks in Southeast Asia: Itinerary & Planning Tips 2024
- Southeast Asia Itinerary for 3 Weeks: Best 5 Ideas in 2024
- Southeast Asia Itinerary for 3 Weeks: Best 5 Ideas in 2024
- Southeast Asia Itinerary for 3 Weeks: Best 5 Ideas in 2024
- Southeast Asia Itinerary for 3 Weeks: Best 5 Ideas in 2024
- Southeast Asia Itineraries:How Long to Spend in 2024/2025
- 10 Days in Southeast Asia: Top 5 Itineraries (with Maps & Prices)
- 5-Week Southeast Asia Itinerary: 3 Options (2024/2025)
- 4 Weeks in Southeast Asia: Itinerary & Planning Tips 2024
- Myanmar Weather in January - What to Wear and Bring
- Myanmar Weather in February - Lots of Sunny Days
- Myanmar Weather in March - From the Cool to the Hot
- Myanmar Weather in April - the Hottest Month
- Myanmar Weather in May - Beginning of the rainy season
- Myanmar Weather in June - the Rainy Season
- Myanmar Weather in July - Rainfall Reaches its Peak
- Myanmar Weather in August - Heavy Downpours
- Myanmar Weather in September - Monsoon Rains Let up
- Myanmar Weather in October - Rainfall Decreases
- Myanmar Weather in November - Dry and Cool
- December Weather in Bagan - The Peak Travel Time
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
moreGet Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.