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ITINERARY EXTENSIONS
& MINI BREAKS
Hill Stations & A Shan Prince
5 Days
Hill Stations & A Shan Prince
Yangon - Pyin Oo Lwin - Hsipaw - Lashio
Soft
Adventure
DESCRIPTION
Journey this less-traveled route by road, rail and river through exotic Northern Shan State and towards the remote Myanmar border with China. Explore Pyin Oo Lwin, the hill station once built by the British fleeing the intense Summer heat of the Mandalay plains below. Travel with the locals by slow train across the Gokteik trestle Bridge, an engineering feat of the day. Explore the natural and historic sights around Hsipaw. Visit the home of the last Shan Prince, hearing his tragic story from direct descendants. And spend your evenings in a boutique riverside lodge set in the countryside, next to a meandering lane leading to a nearby Shan village.
HOLIDAY TYPE: Private Guided Tour
DEPARTS: 5 times weekly (October through March)
Several times weekly the remainder of the year
HIGHLIGHTS
- Travel by horse and carriage to and visit the expansive National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens in Pyin Oo Lwin, including the bamboo forest and the butterfly enclosure.
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Chat with curious locals while taking the slow train across the Gokteik Viaduct, the trestle bridge traversing a plummeting ravine deep in the Shan Hills.
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Take a late afternoon stroll from your Hsipaw Lodge to the neighboring Shan Village. Perfectly timed as the sun sets over the fields and farmers return from a hard day's work. Bringing with them their water buffalo down to the river for a cleansing swim.
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Travel by longboat up-river from Hsipaw, exploring traditional villages and meeting friendly locals pleased to share time and stories with you.
EXPAND YOUR ITINERARY WITH OTHER NEARBY DESTINATIONS
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Mandalay
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Bagan
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Inle Lake
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Pindaya
5
days
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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Domestic flights as listed
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4 Breakfasts
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Genuine 3 to 4 star accommodation
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Private and air-conditioned transportation throughout, except when alternative is stated
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The accompaniment of an English speaking, professional guide, indigenous to each area of travel
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Entrance Fees
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In-country itinerary manager just a phone call away 24 hours a day
WHAT'S NOT
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International flights
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Visas
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Travel insurance
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Other meals & Drinks
Located on the railway line between Pyin Oo Lwin and Kyaukme / Hsipaw, the Gokteik Viaduct was constructed to further expand the British Empire’s influence in the region. It was constructed between 1899 and 1901, when it was an engineering feat and the largest trestle bridge of its time. Still today, it is remembered as a marvel of construction, standing over 100 metres high and stretching nearly 700 metres across an extraordinarily deep and picturesque gorge dividing two Shan mountains.