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Voykit pocket guide · 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.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cool)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MMK
- Money
- Payment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.
- Daily spend
- Budget MMK 5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid MMK 8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High MMK 12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Ambulance 191
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HEH · Heho Airport
- Nearest airport, 2 h by road to Kalaw; buses or taxis connect.
Typical fares
- Bus Bagan → Kalaw
- ≈ 15,000 kyat, 7 h
- Shared taxi Mandalay → Kalaw (front)
- ≈ 30,000 kyat, 8 h
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; bikes hire from the mosque mid‑morning. Buses and shared taxis connect to Taunggyi, Inle Lake and Yangon.
See and do
Known for
- Hill‑station setting
- Thein Taung Monastery
- Trekking to Inle Lake
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Inle Lake (2‑day trek) | Organised trek from Kalaw; includes taxi to trailhead, meals and guide. | ≈ 2 days, 1 night in a village |
| Thein Taung Monastery | Walk north up the ‘stairway to heaven’, 15 min uphill. | ≈ 30 min round trip |
Sleep
- Pine Land Inn
- Single rooms US$6, blankets, optional breakfast US$1, Wi‑Fi.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | မင်္ဂလာပါMingalaba |
| How much? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲ?Beh laut le? |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်Kyeizu tin ba de |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
Kalaw is generally safe; malaria‑free but use mosquito protection, especially in the rainy season.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kalaw yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hill‑station setting
- Thein Taung Monastery
- Trekking to Inle Lake
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kalaw, revision 5244245 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244245
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kalaw). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.