Vistas, hill tribes & mountain railways

Shan State Explorer

Duration

15 days

Regions

6 areas

Pace

Active

Style

Trekking & adventure

About this journey

With jaw-dropping vistas, unfound wilderness, ancient tribes and mouth-watering cuisine, this is Myanmar's largest state explored properly — on foot and by rail.

It reaches the far east at Kyaingtong, drifts over Inle Lake by balloon, treks the pine country around Kalaw and rattles across the Goteik Viaduct, one of the great train journeys of Asia.

Trip highlights

Trekking the remote hills around Kyaingtong
A hot-air balloon flight over Inle Lake
Elephant encounters at the Green Hill Valley camp
Crossing the 100-metre Goteik Viaduct by train
Shan village trekking and the Nam Tok waterfall

Tailor this trip

Day by day

A sketch of the route.

A suggested flow rather than a fixed schedule — every day can be lengthened, swapped or skipped to suit you.

Day1
Yangon
Arrival
Arrive and settle in, with an optional sunset visit to Shwedagon Pagoda.
Day2
Yangon
Colonial Yangon
A colonial walking tour, Bogyoke market, lunch on Yaw Min Gyi Street and a stroll around Kandawgyi Lake.
Day3
Yangon → Kyaingtong
To the far east
Fly to remote Kyaingtong and spend the afternoon among its local highlights.
Day4
Kyaingtong
Market & mountains
An early-morning market, then a trek up to Loimwe through mountainous tribal country.
Day5
Kyaingtong → Inle Lake
Down to the lake
Fly to Inle with time at leisure; bicycle exploration available.
Day6
Inle Lake
Inle from above
A hot-air balloon flight over the lake at dawn, with afternoon sightseeing on the water.
Day7
Inle Lake → Kalaw
Elephants of Green Hill
Drive to Kalaw with an elephant encounter at the Green Hill Valley camp.
Day8
Kalaw
Pine-forest trek
Trek through Kalaw's cool pine forests and explore its colonial-era streets.
Day9
Kalaw → Mandalay
The teak bridge
Fly to Mandalay for a rickshaw city tour and sunset at U Bein bridge.
Day10
Mandalay
Mingun & Sagaing
A river boat to Mingun's pagoda ruins and bronze bell, then the monasteries of Sagaing.
Day11
Pyin Oo Lwin
Hill-station air
The colonial hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin — botanical gardens, mansions and an old-world teahouse.
Day12
Pyin Oo Lwin → Hsipaw
Across the Goteik Viaduct
Take the train across the spectacular 100-metre Goteik Viaduct to Hsipaw.
Day13
Hsipaw
Shan villages
Trek between Shan villages and out to the Nam Tok waterfall.
Day14
Hsipaw → Yangon
Back to the city
Return to Yangon and explore at your own pace with the iDiscover walking app.
Day15
Yangon
Departure
A transfer to the international airport.