6 Days Mon & Kayin State

Day 01 YANGON – THATON - HPA-AN

You will be picked up at your hotel around 7:30 a.m. Together with your guide you will travel via Thaton to Hpa-an. Thaton, which is surrounded by rice fields and orchards, is characterised by pretty wooden colonial villas, its bustling market and an expansive temple compound where you can find numerous pagodas, pavilions and monasteries. This is a perfect place to experience provincial Burmese everyday life. From here, you continue to the Bayin Nyi caves. A steep rock with a monastery located at its feet, juts out from the plain. There are thermal springs and it’s possible to bathe there. 3 km before reaching Hpa-an, near the village of Kawgun, you visit the Kawgun cave. This is a natural, 61 metres wide and 91 metres long limestone cave. The rock surface is richly decorated with different types of clay Buddha figures and commemorative plaques. There are not very many of these caves in southern Myanmar. According to their style, the Buddha statues date from the 15th century, the Hanthawaddy period. Upon arrival in Hpa-an, transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight stay.

Day 02 HPA-AN (B)

Hpa-an, the capital of Kayin State, lies at the foot of the striking Zwekabin Hill. Roam through the narrow streets and visit the lively market. Then you drive to the Kayin settlement, Kokamae. From here, you walk north over a footbridge (approx. 20-30 minutes) through the next, exceptionally atmospheric Kayin village, Lakan. Behind the village school you turn left and reach another footbridge 100m away. After crossing it, there’s only a little further to go before you reach the Kaw Ka Thaung Cave. Three caves immediately beckon you to explore this enormous rocky complex. From here, you travel by car to Eindu, a small village known for its cotton weaving mill, and to the Saddan Cave (approx. 34 km further on from Hpa-an), one of the most impressive caves in Myanmar. For approx. 15 minutes, walk through the narrowing and widening parts of the cave, passing roof openings, until you reach the exit, which leads out onto a beautiful pond covered in hibiscus flowers. Here boats will be waiting, ready to take you to the other side through an opening under the rocks. From here, you stroll through the fields and rocky landscape, taking about 20 minutes to return to the cave entrance. Next, travel on to Lumbini Park, with its 2,980 Buddha statues located at the foot of Zwekabin Mountain. In the late afternoon, watch the sunset at Kyauk Ka Lat, also known as ‘James Bond Rock’, due to its unusual shape. The setting is idyllic and the views stunning.

Day 03 HPA-AN – MAWLAMYINE (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the jetty for your private boat trip along the Thanlwin River to Mawlamyine (approx. 5 hours), passing endless rice fields, with bizarre isolated rocks along the way. Upon arrival, transfer to Ngwe Moe Hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, make your way up to Kyaik Thanlan Pagoda, which offers splendid panoramic views, visit Mahamuni Pagoda, constructed in typical Mon style, and U Zina Pagoda at the southern tip of the mountain range, with its four life-size statues depicting the legendary major events in Buddha’s life. Overnight stay in Mawlamyine.

Day 04 MAWLAMYINE (B)

After breakfast, visit of the city centre and the central market specialized in dry goods, the new market with many fresh fruits, vegetables and meats and the Mon Cultural Museum (closed on Monday) with a collection of ceramic objects, silver betel boxes, royal funerary urns, musical instruments of the Mon, and wooden Buddha altars. In the afternoon, drive to Bilu Island (approx. 45 minutes). The people here make their living from rice farming and fishing. You can also see the ancient production of colourful rubber bands, wooden pens or walking sticks in several small family-run farms. In the late afternoon, return to Mawlamyine. Overnight stay at Ngwe Moe Hotel in Mawlamyine.

Day 05 MAWLAMYINE – KYAIKHTIYO (Golden Rock) (B)

After breakfast, you travel to Kyaikhtiyo (approx. three hours travel time). At Kinpun base camp you change from the car to a special open truck which takes you further to the Yet Thet middle station (ca. 45 minutes). The newly opened cable car gives you a wonderful view across the valley. From the cable car station, it is just a short walk (approx. 10 minutes) to the Golden Rock. At the shrine, there is a small stupa tower on top of a massive granite boulder known as the Golden Rock. Covered in golden leaves, it is precariously balanced on the edge of a cliff, and is reputedly “held in place by a single strand of Buddha’s hair”. In the late afternoon, you will enjoy the activities around the shrine, before returning to the hotel for the night.

Day 06 BAGO – YANGON (B)

Those who are up early should definitely enjoy the sunrise at the cliffs. After breakfast you return back to the valley with the truck. Then you travel on to Bago (approx. 2½ hours). In Bago, visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which, at a height of 114 metres, is Myanmar’s tallest pagoda, the Pyay May Pyay Pagoda, where visitors marvel at the large python and the Shwetharhlaung Pagoda, with its huge reclining Buddha which is more than 1000 years old. In the afternoon you change your means of transport again and take the train to Yangon. The two-hour journey takes you along isolated stretches of land, until you reach the outskirts of the city of Yangon. From now on, you can take a close look at the hustle and bustle of daily life. Upon arrival in Yangon transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight stay.
Please note: if the train is cancelled, you will be driven to Yangon by car.