The trails
Between villages and fields.
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Kalaw is a hill town in Shan State, about 1,310 metres above sea level and some 50 km from Inle Lake. It is known for hiking, with trails leading to villages in the area and on to Inle Lake and Pindaya. The town grew from small villages in the early 20th century, when the British set up a hill station here for its cool air, and its first hotel opened in 1903. Its tree-lined streets still keep some houses from that time, and the mood is calm and pleasant for most of the year. Around the town are green hills with red soil, rice fields, tea plots and small villages of the Danu, Pa-O and Palaung peoples. Visitors walk for a day between villages, or take a two- or three-day trek to Inle Lake, sleeping in village homes. The town also has a small railway station and a busy market. Nyaungshwe is about 38 km away in a straight line. Bring warm clothes for the evening, and hire a local guide for the longer trails. The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to this area, so read the current advice before you plan.
Between villages and fields.
A small hill railway.
Produce of the plateau.
Kalaw, Shan State, Myanmar
Two or three days on foot, sleeping in villages.
Mild by day and cold at night, especially in winter.