Following the trails of the Top Gear team. Eastern Shan state has been absolutely closed for foreigners until 2013 when Khiri got first permission to pass the area with a BBC film crew. Since then it is possible to apply for a special travel permit through this truly stunning area with remote hill tribe villages, high mountains and spectacular views and a lot of authenticity. Certainly one of the last frontiers in travel and an trip that will certainly yield many fascinating travel stories at the dining table when you’re back home.
We take you for an adventure with 4-wheel drive jeeps, a local English speaking guide and enough gear to pass through this remote area of Eastern Shan state where until recently still many different tribes were not in touch with Westerners.
The facilities during the trip are very, very basic in local houses. Mosquito nets and blankets are provided, bathroom facilities are either at a communal village well or in the river while the food will be rice, noodles and locally prepared meals by your guide.
Day 1:
Inle Lake – Taunggyi – Palaung village and continue into the wilderness
Meals: L, D
4×4 jeep drive (chauffeur-driven, about 8 hours) from Inle lake in the tracks of Top Gear through the Shan State. You slowly drive up into the mountains and pass on the way stunning traditional Shan villages and impressive views over the hills and the forest. Around every corner there is a new vista awaiting you.
We stop in one of the traditional Palaung villages where many women still wear traditional costumes with the silver rings around the waist.
Overnight in local village in the house of the village head. Basic facilities and shared bathroom
Day 2:
Phan Lan – Myin Pan
Meals: B, L, D
Early morning wake up and have a local breakfast at the family house before continuing through stunning landscape in an area hardly ever visited by foreigners.
After about 30 minutes with cross the border into Eastern Shan state when we cross the only bridge of the Thanlwin River in this part of Shan State. A securely guarded check-point that closes every evening at 6 PM.
We continue by 4-wheel drive and arrive in the early afternoon in Myin Pyan where we stay overnight. A beautiful little town with traditional Shan houses.
If time allows we are doing some short village walks through the country side on this day.
Overnight at simple guesthouse in Myin Pyan (shared bathroom facilities)
Day 3:
Myin Pyan – Kengtung
Meals: B, L
After a simple breakfast we continue for the last stretch of the journey (about 4 hours’ drive). We stop on the way for a 2 hours trekking through the nature.
On the way we pass some of the most beautiful parts of Myanmar – a place that has been untouched for centuries. During this 3 day adventure we follow the road that used to be the infamous route for opium couriers using mules to pass goods through the famous Golden Triangle.
Arrival doing the afternoon in Keng Tung and time to say good bye to our driver and guide who will go back to Inle Lake while a Kengtung guide will show you the next day his own hometown and region.
Overnight at Princess Hotel – superior room
Day 4:
Kengtung – day trekking
Meals: B, L
Breakfast at the hotel
After breakfast at 8.30am you meet your guide and car and you transfer to Pin Tauk, a beautiful country side where you will do a 5 km trek through 3 local villages, Pan Lac (Ann), Won Lar (Akha) and Nam Lin Mai (Ann) giving you a chance to meet and learn about the different minority people in the area. Returning to Pin Tauk, we get back into the cars and transfer to the other side of the mountain for visits of more villages. A simple lunch will be served during the trek.
An exciting day meeting again different people and tribes in this interesting part of Shan State.
Return to Kengtung at the end of the day.
Overnight at Princess Hotel – superior room
Day 5:
Keng Tung – departure
Meals: B
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport
Depending of your onward journey plans you can either fly from Keng Tung to Yangon or onwards to Tachileik and cross the border into Thailand (Mae Sai) and continue to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai or even cross over into Laos and follow the Mekong river towards Luang Prabang.