Why Go?Rugged and remote, northern Myanmar offers a fascinating mix of ethnic minority peoples and the prospect of travel through some of the least-visited areas of the country. While much of this vast region remains off-limits, two main routes are accessible. One climbs rapidly from Mandalay to the British-era summer capital of Pyin Oo Lwin, and then con-tinues across the rolling Shan Plateau to Lashio. The crisp evenings are a great relief from the heat of the plains, while hikes take visitors into timeless Palaung and Shan hill-villages.

The other option is taking a ride along the mighty Ayeyar-wady (Irrawaddy) River. You’ll need close on a week if you want to stop off along the way from Bhamo to Mandalay, but shorter itineraries are possible starting from Katha, the set-ting of George Orwell’s Burmese Days. The lazy, meandering journey downstream provides great opportunities for genuine interaction with the locals. Far beyond Myitkyina lie the rarely seen, snow-capped peaks of Myanmar’s Himalayas.

Northern Myanmar

When to Go

Nov–Feb Best time for river travel, with temperatures comfortable and water levels high.

Mar–May The Shan Plateau’s cooler days offer an easy escape from the fero-cious hot season.

Sep–Oct Despite the rain, the best time to mount serious climbing expeditions in the far north.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Northern MyanmarRainfall inches/mm

0

5/125

2/50

3/75

4/100

1/25

°C/°F Temp

10/50

0/32

30/86

20/68

Best Places to Stay¨¨ Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin (p264) ¨¨ Mr Charles Guest House

(p271)

¨¨ Malikha Lodge (p290)

¨¨ Hotel Madira (p277)

¨¨ Friendship Hotel (p281)

Best Places to Eat¨¨ Club Terrace (p265)

¨¨ Jing Hpaw Thu (p278)

¨¨ Aung Padamyar (p264)

¨¨ Shamie Restaurant (p281)¨¨ Shwe Lawon (p275)

Pyin Oo Lwin .............260Kyaukme ...................268Hsipaw ......................268Lashio ....................... 275Myitkyina .................. 276Myit-Son & Jaw Bum . 279Bhamo (Banmaw) ....280Katha ........................ 283Kyaukmyaung ........... 285Shwebo ..................... 285Hanlin ....................... 287The Far North ............289

©Lonely¨Planet¨Publications¨Pty¨Ltd

No

rtherN

MyaN

Mar

No

rtherN

MyaN

Mar

No

rtherN

MyaN

Mar M

yaN

Ma

r H

igH

LigH

TS

259

REGIONSAGAING

STATEKACHIN

STATESHAN

Hsenwi

Tanai

Ye-Ngan

Tagaung

Ti-Kyaing

Shwebo

Myitkyina

Shwegu

Kyaukmyaung

(Spirulina Lake)Twin Daung Budalin

Kalemyo

Sittaung

Stone VillageTamu Momauk

Homalin

Tengchong

Nyaungbin

(Hkamti)Khamti

Anisakan Wetwun

Gokteik

Mogok Panglong

Kutkai

LontonHopin

Mohnyin

Mogaung

Ye-U

Namtu

Naba

Namhkam

Myit-sonHpakant

PakokkuMyingyan Kyaukse

Kin-u

Kalewa

Paungbyin

Mawlaik

Imphal

Jorhat

Dibrugarh

Monywa

Mandalay

(Mangshi)

Mong La

Putao

Mu-se

Ruili

Luxi

Kyaukme

Lashio

ecI

snia

tnuo

M(5881m)Razi

Kum

on T

aung

Hkakabo

Valley

Namhkam

Valley

Hukaung

Chind

winRive

r

RiverShweli

River

Malikha

River

Maykha

River

Ayeyarw

ady

TIBET

CHINA

INDIA

to ForeignersRoads Closed

to ForeignersRoads Closed

Peyagyi

KalayAirport

Myaung CavePeik Chin

Tiger ReserveHukaung Valley

National ParkHkakabo Razi

Pwe Kauk Falls

36

445

44

3

Pyin Oo Lwin

KathaBhamo

Hsipaw

ViaductGokteik

Indawgyi Lake

Namhsan

120 miles0200 km0

1 Walk to unspoilt Shan and Palaung villages from Hsipaw (p268), a laid-back plateau town with royal connections

2 Spend lazy days drifting down the mighty ayeyarwady river starting from pretty Bhamo (p280) and taking in little-visited towns on the way

3 Enjoy the cool air and colonial architecture of Pyin Oo Lwin (p260), the British summer capital of Myanmar

4 Explore george Orwell connections in sleepy Katha (p283)

5 Head to the remote hills of northern Shan State and visit

the tea-growing, ridge-top town of Namhsan (p273)

6 Brave the rough road to serene Indawgyi Lakeand mystical Shwe Myitsu Pagoda (p280)

7 ride a bouncing train across the mighty Gokteik Viaduct (p267), Myanmar’s longest railway bridge

Northern Myanmar Highlights