2 Days / 1 Night from Kalaw to Samkar Lake

staring from $144

This exciting, soft adventure trekking tour from Kalaw to Samkar Lake will take you deep into the Pa-O territory, an area which was only recently opened to visitors, and to the southern part of Inle Lake. Not many people have ventured this unspoiled area which still remains culturally and historically. Experience eye-popping views of remote mountains, forgotten pagodas and floating gardens; explore the lifestyle and the culture of the Pa-O and Intha people.

KALAW - NAUNGTAYAH - LAIPAY - KLARPU - NGOLA - NGYANPIN - HSAUNGKHAR - HSAUNGDWEE - NARMOON - THARKHAUNG - SAMKAR LAKE

Overview

Included in the price:

Not included:

Overview

Type of trip:	Individual tour
Price:	starting from $144 (based on 2 travellers)
Availability:	All-year-round
Start of the trip:	Daily
Difficulty:	easy/moderate

Included in the price:

1 night in a private house, breakfast included
Meals as mentioned in our itinerary
Local guide for the 2-day trekking trip
Transfers by pick-up truck
1 boat transfer to your hotel at Inle Lake
Cook & porter fees for the 2-day trekking trip

Not included:

Internationaler Flug nach/von Myanmar
Visumsgebühren
Domestic airfare to/from Heho
Accommodation in Kalaw and Inle Lake
Lunches & dinners not mentioned in our itinerary
Beverages
Early check-in and late check-out
Personal expenses such as camera fees, tips, laundry service, etc.
Porter fees at the hotels

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You have questions? Then please contact us! We will be happy to help you customize your own dream trip.

Itinerary

Prices

General information

Itinerary

Day 1 KALAW – NAUNGTAYAH – LAIPAY – KLARPU – NGOLA – NGYANPIN – HSAUNGKHAR (trek 14 km, approx. 5 ½ hours) (L, D)

At 8:00 am, depart from your hotel in Kalaw and drive for about one and a half hours to Naungtayah, a town deep in the Pa-O territory, the starting point for your 2-day trekking trip to Samkar Lake. The trail continues uphill and downhill, passing through beautiful scenery, for two and a half hours. On the way, stop at the villages of Pa-O where you can learn about the exotic lifestyle and culture from the friendly people living there. Upon arrival in Klarpu, a typical Pa-O village, lunch will be served at one of the local houses. After lunch, continue for another hour to Ngola, a nice village situated on the hillside. Vegetable farms, fruit trees, rice terraces, tea plantations and some forests can be seen on the way. From here, walk for two more hours to Hsaungkhar, a small Pa-O village situated between the hills. Dinner and overnight stay at a local house.

Day 2 HSAUNGKHAR – HSAUNGDWEE – NARMOON – THARKAUNG – SAMKAR LAKE (trek 12 km, approx. 5 hours) (B, L)

After breakfast in Hsaungkhar, continue your trekking trip to Samkar Lake. The trek for this day is mostly downhill and through some remote forests. Visit some of the Pa-O villages on the mountainside with panoramic views. After two and half hours you will arrive in Narmoon, a huge, fascinating Pa-O village. There is a small pagoda from which you can enjoy the scenic view. From Narmoon, it will take another two and a half hours to reach Tharkhaung Pagoda, which is on the western shore of Samkar Lake, the faraway southern part of Inle Lake. Have a tempting lunch at the local restaurant in Tharkhaung. After lunch, take a thrilling boat ride to your hotel for check-in and overnight stay.

Prices

PRICES IN US$ PER PERSON VALID FROM 01.10.2020 - 30.09.2021

	01.10.20-31.10.20	01.11.20-28.02.21	01.03.21-30.04.21	01.05.21-30.09.21
1 person	206	215	206	197
2 people	150	156	150	144
3 people	134	140	134	129
4-5 people	122	128	122	117

General information

Trekking tours in southern Shan State

Southern Shan State is the most popular area for trekking. Kalaw, Pindaya and Inle Lake are good starting points to nearby Palaung, Danu, Taung Yoe, Pao villages through pine woods, orchards and bamboo groves. This region produces temperate climate fruits such as pears, peaches and oranges in addition to rice, tea, wheat, soya beans, groundnuts, tobacco, potatoes, garlic, sunflower seeds and dried green cordia leaves used as cheroot wrappers. You will stay overnight at private houses or at monasteries.

Hikes leading to the north of the Inle Lake are very popular. But there is also the opportunity to hike to the south of the Inle Lake (Samkar Lake). Here, you will have the opportunity to experience the original culture and traditional lifestyle of the Pao and Intha people. The trekking trips are not very difficult, mostly soft up and down, approx. 6 hours a day.

Accommodation in the villages/monasteries is very simple, but clean. There is mostly a well and a typical Asian toilet. For the overnight stay in the village we provide mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets. Please note that during the winter season from November till February temperatures in some mountain areas drop to 0°C. During this time jackets, sweaters, socks and warm pyjamas are necessary (a must).

Breakfast is usually served around 7 am; lunch is usually simple, light and served at mid-day whereas dinners are more extensive and usually at local homes or monasteries. Clients with special dietary requirements must inform us of these at the time of booking.

For the trekking days you need only light luggage, porters are included to carry your luggage. The main luggage will be transported by car/boat to your hotel at Inle Lake.

What to bring:
- Day bag
- Light trekking boots
- Long trousers for the trekking
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sweater
- Rain coat
- Sun hat
- Slippers
- Light cotton inlet
- Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries
- Pocketknife
- Personal toiletries kit (Small Towel, Toilet paper, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste etc.)
- Personal first-aid kit
- Earplugs
- Sun block
- Polarized sun-glasses
- Insect repellent

Pick-up for the trekking trips from Kalaw to Inle Lake:

In case you have booked the hotel in Kalaw on your own, please let us know your address.
Our trekking guide will call you the day before the hike around 17:00 at the hotel to clarify any last questions, and will pick you up from your hotel the next morning at 08:00.

In case you arrive by public bus in the morning, please let us know the name of the bus company and the approximately arriving time. Usually busses drop you between 04:00 and 05:00 near the Winner Hotel.
Please wait at the Winner Hotel, our trekking guide will pick you up at 05:00. You have enough time to fresh up, prepare for your trekking trip and have breakfast at a local restaurant.

Should the night bus from Mandalay or Bagan arrive early morning between 02:00 and 03:00 we would recommend to book a room in advance as it is quite cold in Nov, Dec & Jan.