Major city · Myanmar
Kalaw
Spend 2–3 days in Kalaw: one night in town and a 2‑day trek to Inle Lake, or a full 3‑day trek loop if you want more hiking.
Kalaw is a British‑era hill station at 1,320 m. Most visitors stay 1 night and join a 2‑day trek to Inle Lake; a 3‑day loop adds extra village trekking. The town itself is small enough to explore on foot.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MMK
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cool)
- avoid May–Oct (rainy season)
- Airport
- HEH
- Nights
- 2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar befor…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Myanmar ↗Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Myanmar ↗The Myanmar e-visa site is the official application route, but approval does not remove the risks in your government's advice.
- Myanmar ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Myanmar before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kalaw191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kalaw, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkPayment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.Myanmar-wide
- SafetyKalaw is generally safe; malaria‑free but use mosquito protection, especially in the rainy season.
- Emergency numbers191 police · 199 fire · 191 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHEH Heho Airport (Nearest airport, 2 h by road to Kalaw; buses or taxis connect.).
- Getting aroundTown is walkable; bikes hire from the mosque mid‑morning.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Shared taxi from Mandalay (front seat)30,000 kyat
- Metro or bus rideBus from Bagan to Kalaw15,000 kyat
- Budget bedGuesthouse room, a night, per personMMK 6,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MMK 5,000 · Mid MMK 8,000 · High MMK 12,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HEH Heho Airport (Nearest airport, 2 h by road to Kalaw; buses or taxis connect.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Mar
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Apr
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
May
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Nov
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Dec
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: May–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C) low), wettest Jul (14 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kalaw: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2 rd
Feb
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
Mar
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10 rd
Oct
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
Nov
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3 rd
Dec
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Town is walkable; bikes hire from the mosque mid‑morning. Buses and shared taxis connect to Taunggyi, Inle Lake and Yangon.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Inle Lake (2‑day trek)
goDoor to door: ≈ 2 days, 1 night in a village
Organised trek from Kalaw; includes taxi to trailhead, meals and guide.
Cost about 30,000 kyat per person per day; includes accommodation and tea.
Thein Taung Monastery
goDoor to door: ≈ 30 min round trip
Walk north up the ‘stairway to heaven’, 15 min uphill.
Offers town views; entry free.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Pine Land Inn
Single rooms US$6, blankets, optional breakfast US$1, Wi‑Fi.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MMK 5,000–8,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- MMK 8,000–12,000 excl. bed
- High
- MMK 12,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse room1 × 2 nights × MMK 8,000 | MMK 16,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 2 days × MMK 8,000 | MMK 16,000 |
| Bus Kalaw ↔ Inle Lake (2‑day trek)1 × MMK 30,000 · Includes guide, meals, tea. | MMK 30,000 |
| Bike hire (half‑day)1 × MMK 2,000 · Check availability. | MMK 2,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MMK 6,400 |
| Trip total≈ MMK 35,200 per person per day, bed included | MMK 70,400 |
Pine Land Inn rates, US$6 (~6,000 kyat).
2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bus from Bagan to Kalaw | 15,000 kyat |
| Shared taxi from Mandalay (front seat) | 30,000 kyat |
| Meal at Thirigayha Restaurant | 2,000–4,500 kyat |
| Trekking boots (market) | 3,000 kyat |
| Rain coat | 5,000 kyat |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Night buses may drop you off early; confirm drop‑off point with driver.
- Mosquitoes are common in rainy months – use repellent.
- Luggage storage at Shwe Nan San agency costs 1,000 kyat per bag per day.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Fire
- 199
- Ambulance
- 191
Pocket card
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Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
KalawKalaw
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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ဒီလိပ်စာကို ဦးတည်ပါTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance191
Embassy
Check the US Embassy in Yangon for consular assistance.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Bagan → Kalaw: ≈ 15,000 kyat, 7 h
- Shared taxi Mandalay → Kalaw (front): ≈ 30,000 kyat, 8 h
Say or show
- မင်္ဂလာပါ — Hello (Mingalaba)
- ဘယ်လောက်လဲ? — How much? (Beh laut le?)
- ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် — Thank you (Kyeizu tin ba de)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kalaw. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb (dry, cool) · avoid May–Oct (rainy season)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add Heho Airport‑to‑Kalaw taxi (≈ 25,000 kyat) for faster arrival.
- Include bike‑hire guide for independent village visits.
Sources
Ask about Kalaw
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