The countryside of the Shan State offers some of the most stunning scenes in Myanmar, which make for spectacular pictures. The 5-Day Shan Experience Tour includes visits to Pindaya, Kalaw and Inle Lake featuring some of the best experiences Myanmar has to offer including hiking through the Shan hills, train rides, boat trips, local wine tasting, memorable picnicking and walking under the stars.
The journey starts with an arrival at Heho Airport and an attractive drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau through fields of rice,toward Pindaya. Upon arriving at a Danu tribe village, passing fields where they cultivate tobacco, tea and potatoes, you’ll visit the local home industries of bamboo hat making and drying potato chips. Walking through the village, the excursion ends at the famous Pindaya Cave, which is set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake and home to thousands of different Buddha images. Later on, stop at Plan Bee beekeeping centre to discover the amazing world of beekeeping and the story of Shan honey before proceeding to Kalaw for the night.
On the second day, head out on a short trek around Kalaw to Myinmahti Village before taking the train from Kalaw to Shwe Nyaung. Once at Shwe Nyaung Railway Station, proceed to Nyaung Shwe, Inle Lake and enjoy a relaxing evening at your hotel. In the morning, experience a boat excursion on the lake. See the lake’s unique ‘leg rowers’ – Intha fishermen who row standing up with one leg wrapped around a single oar, leaving their hands free to manipulate the conical fishing net – along with the region’s floating gardens, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and village silk weaving and blacksmith workshops. On the forth day, take the boat to Indaing passing through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts. Continue by boat to Nyaung Shwe and take a tuk tuk to Red Mountain winery to taste local wine and experience another walking tour on the eastern bank of the lake. Soak in the sunset, while sipping wine and feasting on a traditional home-cooked Shan dinner on the hill overlooking the scenic the lake. You won’t want to return to the ‘real world’ the next day!
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