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

Day 1– Arku village

- About 30 minutes drive from Kyaing Tong and 5 minutes walk to thevillage.

- Some elderly women still wear their traditional dresses and a nice smallvillage.

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

First day visit to Arku village

Arku woman

Thanksgiving party at Akha house (Wanpin village)

Day 2 – Akha and Ann villages (Pinthauk area)

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

- 15 minutes walk to the first Akha village called Wanpin village. Continuewalk about 30 minutes to waterfall and another 30 minutes walk to anAnn village called Panlor village. The people are still animist. Manyinteresting 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. Elderlypeople still wear their traditional costumes.

- Pinthauk area is a bit spoiled but it is still interesting to see some Annanimist 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 wantto see different hill tribes but don’t want to walk too much.

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Akha style thanks-giving meals

On the way to Panlor village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Ann woman selling her handmade products

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Nat Shrine at home

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Traditional drum which is only used on festival days

Totem

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

On the way to Akha village

Nat shrine in the middle of the village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

The place where we had lunch on the way

Our trekking guide Mr. Paul

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

AkhaWoman

at Wanlarvillage

Ann people at Nam Lin Kaung village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

The Beautiful

headdress of anAkha

Woman

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

- People in this village are still animists and are dressed in their traditionalblack costumes.

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

- Continue walk about 30 minutes to another Ann village called Nam LinMai.

- 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 WanPauk. People still wear their beautiful traditional costumes.

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Ann Pregnant

girl

Shwe Pa laung girl at Wan Pauk village

Traditional Weaving Of Pa Laung

Day 3 – Loi villages

- 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.

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

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

LoiChildren

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

The girls are picking tea leaves

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Entrance of the Wan Sein Village (another Loi village)

Day 4 – Akha villages near Hokyin village

- 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.

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Loi traditional dress

Fourth day trek to village near Hokyin village

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

Our porter

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

A hut made by Clay wall at Pankalar Akha village

Akha women

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

Kyaing Tong 4 Days / 3 Nights Trekking

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

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

-It can be quite cold in Kyaing Tong during winter (October to February) andtherefore 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 rainyseason – 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 travelledhere. The hill tribes have lived, and still live, their lives traditionally. Since this isthe main attraction of this area, we kindly ask your co-operation in preserving thevillages. 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 leavegarbage on the way or in the villages.

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

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

Important Notes

For more information, please contact:

Diethelm Travel Myanmarc/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.mmContact Person: Mr. Nicolas Rabier - Managing Director Direct Email: nicolas.r@mm.diethelmtravel.com

www.diethelmtravel.com