A Trekking Trip to Kyain Tong - Shan State

A TREKKING TRIP TO KYAING TONG

Inspection trip to Shan State, Kyaing Tong by Kywe Kywe, Yu Yu Kyi and Phaung Phaung, Thet Khaing Diethelm Travel Myanmar

A TREKKING TRIP TO KYAING TONG 4 of our Diethelm Travel Myanmar staff (Thet Khaing, Kywe Kywe, Yu Yu Kyi and Phaung Phaung) went on an inspection tour in June this year to the Kyaing Tong region.

The team stayed each night at the Princess Hotel in Kyaing Tong, and went on 3 different day hikes to the surrounding villages inhabited by Akha, Ann, Palaung and Loi hill tribes.

They returned full of enthusiasm and said it was definitely one the most interesting trekking trips in Myanmar. As they all had such a great time, they want to share their unforgettable experience with everyone.

Scenery on the way to Arku village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Day 1– Arku village -

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About 30 minutes drive from Kyaing Tong and 5 minutes walk to the village.

Some elderly women still wear their traditional dresses and a nice small village.

First day visit to Arku village

Arku woman

Thanksgiving party at Akha house (Wanpin village)

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Day 2 – Akha and Ann villages (Pinthauk area) -

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About 1 and half hours drive from Kyaing Tong (northwest direction).

15 minutes walk to the first Akha village called Wanpin village. Continue walk about 30 minutes to waterfall and another 30 minutes walk to an Ann village called Panlor village. The people are still animist. Many interesting things to see there.

Take a lunch break on the way in the field.

After lunch, another 25 minutes walk to reach Akha village called Wanlar.

The Akha are famous for their women’s striking headdresses. Elderly people still wear their traditional costumes.

Pinthauk area is a bit spoiled but it is still interesting to see some Ann animist villages. You can see both Akha and Ann tribes within a day trek.

Today is a good soft trek and we would recommend for people who want to see different hill tribes but don’t want to walk too much.

Akha style thanks-giving meals

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

On the way to Panlor village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Ann woman selling her handmade products

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Nat Shrine at home

Traditional drum which is only used on festival days

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking Totem

On the way to Akha village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking Nat shrine in the middle of the village

The place where we had lunch on the way

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Our trekking guide Mr. Paul

Akha Woman at Wanlar village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Ann people at Nam Lin Kaung village

The Beautiful headdress of an Akha Woman

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

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About 30 minutes walk to first Ann village called Nam Lin Kaung.

People in this village are still animists and are dressed in their traditional black costumes.

They paint their teeth black. In their believe, it is better to be black from the outside and have a pure heart.

Continue walk about 30 minutes to another Ann village called Nam Lin Mai. People in this village have converted to Baptism.

There is a school and a church. This village has better hygiene.

On the way back to Kyaing Tong, stop at a Palaung village called Wan Pauk. People still wear their beautiful traditional costumes.

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Ann Pregnant girl

Shwe Pa laung girl at Wan Pauk village

Traditional Weaving Of Pa Laung

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Day 3 – Loi villages -

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Drive about 2 hours outside of Kyaing Tong (direction to the Chinese border).

1 hour walk to the first Loi village called Wan Nyet village.

Another 1 hour walk to second Loi village called Wan Sein village.

You can see a beautiful ancient monastery right at the entrance of each village.

The Loi people live in a traditional long houses with 8 to 10 families under one roof.

Each family has its own fire place and a sleeping quarter behind the fire place.

The houses at Wan Nyet village are more traditional style.

In our opinion, just one village is enough to see Loi people.

Third day trek to Loi villages

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Monastery at Wan Nyet village

Monastery at Wan Nyet village

Wooden Triangular Bell

Loi village

Loi Children

Fire place for cooking and warming (one fire place represent one family)

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking The girls are picking tea leaves

Entrance of the Wan Sein Village (another Loi village)

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Day 4 – Akha villages near Hokyin village -

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Drive about 1 hour outside of Kyaing Tong (direction to Tachileik).

1 and half hours walk to the first Akha village called Pan Kalar village. They wear traditional dress only at festival. Luckily they dressed for us to take some pictures. Nothing much to see there except the hut with clay wall.

Another 25 minutes walk to second Akha village called Nummoroup village. They worship their ancestors.

The main highlight there are swinging pole, sacrifice animal pole and spirit worshipping entrance. Really interesting village. We recommend this visit instead of Kokyin Mountain.

Loi traditional dress

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Fourth day trek to village near Hokyin village

Our porter

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

A hut made by Clay wall at Pankalar Akha village

Akha women

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking Akha old man

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking Scarified animal pole

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Spirit Worshipping entrance at Nummoroup village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking Swinging Pole at Nummoroup village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Fertility spiritual wooden pole

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Important Notes

-A trip to Kyaing Tong must be regarded as an adventure tour because of the prevailing travel conditions: bad roads, simple vehicles with No air conditioning, very simple restaurants and hotels. Meals during the trekking tours will be packed lunch.

-Accommodation is very simple. Power cuts happen very often and the hotels are allowed to use the generator only from 6AM until 11PM. It is therefore advisable to bring your own torchlight.

-It can be quite cold in Kyaing Tong during winter (October to February) and therefore one requires warm clothing.

-Since the trip includes trekking, one needs good walking shoes.

- Please note that villages change and roads can suffer damage in the rainy season – exact itinerary is therefore subject to changes.

Important Notes

Important Notes: -The area around Kyaing Tong is still new to tourism and not many have travelled here. The hill tribes have lived, and still live, their lives traditionally. Since this is the main attraction of this area, we kindly ask your co-operation in preserving the villages. Please do not bring pens, candy, T-shirts etc. as gifts for the villagers.

-To ensure that the area stays untouched and beautiful, please do not leave garbage on the way or in the villages.

-If you would like to give some support to the hill tribes, you can bring them soap or salt, which they can not produce themselves.

- It is essential that all guests visiting Kyaing Tong are fully aware of travel conditions as described above.

For more information, please contact: Diethelm Travel Myanmar c/o Inya Lake Hotel 37 Kaba Aye Pagoda Road Mayangone Township Yangon, Myanmar General Line: (+95-1) 652 898 - 899, 652 905 - 906 General Fax: (+95-1) 652 907, 653 182 General Email: leisure@diethelm.com.mm Contact Person: Mr. Nicolas Rabier - Managing Director Direct Email: nicolas.r@mm.diethelmtravel.com

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