Trekking tour to Keng Tung

You are welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Yangon for check-in. Today spend your night here before your onward flight on the next day
 

A bit farewell Yangon this morning we transfer to the airport for your short flight to Keng Tung. This town has less influence from Burma and the culture as well as language here has been affected by its neighbor Thailand. Therefore this is an interesting region to discover both trekking & cycling to many villages of many colorful minority tribes. Check in at your hotel before starting an afternoon sightseeing exploring some highlights of the town. Visit Wan Pauk, a village of the red clothed Palaung tribe, famous for their silver and lacquered waistbands. A visit to the striking Maha Myat Muni Pagoda and hot spring is a must. Overnight at hotel in Keng Tung

Morning we stroll through the bustling local market to observe the colorful tribes who come to trade their wares. And then depart for the former Colonial hill station of Loimwe (arrpox.2 hours) - an old colonial town. Loimwe sits at an altitude of 1600 meters meaning the climate is cool and pleasant in the summer and chilly in winter. In December the town is particularly picturesque as its many cherry trees come into full bloom. On the way to Loimwe you will have a chance to see the most beautiful scenery passing through the terraced rice field, forest and lake.  And also stop to visit the Ho Lup Akha village inhabited by Akha minatory tribes in their colorful dresses and Pan Wai Lahu tribe village on the left and right side of the road. Spending time exploring the town before transfer back to Keng Tung for your overnight
 

After breakfast we drive out of Keng Tung to Tachilek (approx.1 hour) and head off road to the top of Ho Jing mountain. If the road condition is good enough we will drive up along the narrow and steep road. Or else we will walk up for 2 hours to the top. Upon arrival we can see four different Akha villages. The Akha people are primarily farmers and typically live in stilted bamboo housing across Eastern Myanmar, Laos, Northern Thailand and as far east as China. Between each village is a valley and the path leads down approx.15 minutes and up again approx.30 minutes. The entrance of the first village where people are still animists is very interesting, decorated with the skin of a dog. Other houses have a stuffed wild cat hanging over the entrance. The Akha are very hospitable and enjoy welcoming you to their house for a chat around the stove. We make the tour from village to village and return back to the car. If you wish to do more hiking, we can also walk down the hill, which takes approx. 1 hour. The path leads through farms with beautiful views of the surrounding hills. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way. Return to Keng Tung by car. Overnight in Keng Tung
 

You have free time for relaxing before catching a late morning transfer to Keng Tung Airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival our sightseeing starts with Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda which was built in 1907, with the famous huge reclining Buddha statue carved in 1966. The head of the statue turns east and the face turns south. The costs of building the temple are donated by people around the area. The porcelain face of the statue was separated by large eyes (made of special imported Japanese glass), vermillion lips and light blue eyes. Even the nails are painted red. Buddha statues are decorated with 108 sacred Buddhist symbols. All of these make the pagoda impressive.
We then continue to Karaweik Hall, (or Karaweik Palace) is a concrete structure that looks like two giant golden birds with roofs built in the shape of Pyatthat. It was built in the image of Karaweik, a bird in Burmese mythology. There are leisure activities include elephant dance, Burmese puppets and traditional Myanmar dances with traditional dancers in Burma. There is also an exhibition of traditional Myanmar handicrafts, Burmese art and traditional Burmese costumes and Karaweik costumes.
Last but not least we visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, magnificently golden plated and decorated with diamond and gemstone, Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most beautiful and sacred Buddhist constructions in Myanmar. Archaeologists considered that the pagoda was built in the 6th century. The temple holds four treasures for the followers of the Buddha: the stick of the Buddha, the water filter of the Buddha's Na, the piece of the Buddha's Lettuce, and the eight hair of Shakyamuni Buddha. Being built on the sacred Singuttara hill with the highest chedi is 99m, you can see the pagoda from wherever of Yangon.
Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda. Overnight in Yangon
 

You have free time today until we transfer you to the airport for your flight home