Hsipaw and Nanshan

Beautiful and intriguing walking in north-eastern Myanmar around the pleasing town of Hsipaw, accessible from Mandalay (approx. 6 hrs).

High forested ridges nestle remote and intact tribal villages in their irrigated fields. Visit monasteries, hot springs and waterfalls; wander among paddies and villages near to town. There is a good range of day walks to choose from, and you can make overnighters, too (Mr Charles guesthouse is (as of 2012) recommended as an organizer). You will do well to choose a walk starting a bit of a way off, as you will get into remoter country more easily.

Some distance west of Hsipaw is Nanshan, set delightfully in high tea plantations with glorious views.  Good walks can be made in the area, enjoying the sculptural effect of the tea area and the rough ridges and ravines, and visiting local villages.  There is a pagoda high above Nanshan with particularly good views.  There is less trekking infrastructure than in Hsipaw. Nanshan is painful to get to (the road is terrible) and takes 6 hours or so (as at 2012), so most people will, given the opportunities elsewhere, not think the journey worthwhile. But this will change.

You can trek from Hsipaw to Nanshan in a couple of days, reputedly a lovely walk (all photos and comments welcome!)

Kyaukme, on this maudalay road to the south-east, is also a good trekking centre, and easier to get to then Namshan.

Guides are a good idea, and are easily arranged on the spot. Take care to agree your requirements and the pay before you start. Walking here is exceedingly cheap, so don?t be too tough on the bargaining: every penny helps the oppressed locals.

Lonely Planet's Myanmar has starter information on the area.

To go or not: until recently, there were major issues with visiting Myanmar, with the money and affirmation that the regime receives - with counter-arguments to the effect that money to the desperately poor locals and foreign contact is more important. These were well put in the 2009 Lonely Planet. But, with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the debate has for the time being changed; she cautiously welcomes visitors coming to Myanmar.

THIS PAGE IS AT AN EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: ALL SUGGESTIONS AND PHOTOS WELCOME!