Kalaw is a former British hill station in Myanmar at 1320 metres above sea level. Although the town itself is unremarkable, it is surrounded by stunning trekking country and lovely, unspoilt villages. The train journey from Kalaw to Inle is also very beautiful. It is a great place to see rural Myanmar, with tea pickers, farmers and stunning villages. Many of Kalaw’s original colonial-era buildings remain, and it is also known as Myanmar’s trekking mecca.
Whether you are after a brief stroll to to soak up the atmosphere and take in some hill views and the colourful flower-lined streets, or a longer multi-day trek to Inle Lake or Pindaya to witness the lives of the local hill tribes, Kalaw offers a wide variety of options for exploration – and a freedom of unfettered movement that is not always possible in other remote parts of Myanmar. It serves as a fantastic stop off point if you are combining Myanmar with Thailand.
