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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Kyaukme
ကျောက်မဲ
One night is enough: use Kyaukme as a base for Palaung village treks, not for the town itself. A day-trip from Hsipaw is possible but rushed.
Kyaukme is a market town in Shan State, eastern Myanmar, best known as a starting point for trekking to Palaung hill villages. The town itself has limited sights, but the surrounding countryside and bamboo-paper workshops make it a worthwhile stop for a night or two.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Local name
- ကျောက်မဲ
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cool and dry)
- Avoid
- Mar–May (hot), Jun–Oct (rainy, trails may be muddy)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 15,000–25,000 excl. bed · Mid MMK 25,000–40,000 excl. bed · High MMK 40,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 199 · Fire 191 · Ambulance 192
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shan noodles | MMK 500 |
| Avocado juice | MMK 500 |
| Golf round | MMK 2,000 |
| Bus to Hsipaw | MMK 1,000 |
| Bus to Mandalay | MMK 3,500–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDL · Mandalay International
- About 4–5 h by bus or train; no direct flights.
Typical fares
- Bus Mandalay → Kyaukme
- MMK 3,500–4,000, about 4 h (check)
- Bus Kyaukme → Hsipaw
- MMK 1,000, about 1–1.5 h (check)
- Motorbike taxi within town
- MMK 2,000 (check)
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
Walk or hire a motorbike taxi (check price before riding). For treks, arrange a guide through your guesthouse.
See and do
Known for
- Palaung village treks
- Bamboo paper workshops
- Shan noodles and avocado juice
- Budget golf course
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hsipaw | Bus from Kyaukme bus station, 1–1.5 h | About 1.5 h |
| Palaung hill villages | Trekking or motorbike with a local guide, half-day to full day | Half-day to full day |
| Mandalay | Bus from Kyaukme bus station, about 4 h | About 5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre near the market
- Guesthouses and homestays within walking distance of the bus station and main road.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | မင်္ဂလာပါmingalaba |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay zu tin ba deh |
| How much? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲbeh-lauk leh |
| Where is the bus station? | ကားဂိတ်ဘယ်မှာလဲka-gait beh-mar leh |
| I need a guide | လမ်းပြတစ်ယောက်လိုတယ်lan-pya ta-yauk lo deh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Landmines in the area: stay on marked trails and never walk off-path in the hills.
- Buses to Mandalay and Yangon may not enter town; flag them on the main road about 2 km from the centre.
- Internet is slow and limited; download maps and messages before you arrive.
Landmines are a real risk in the hills around Kyaukme. Never walk off marked trails. The town itself is safe, but keep valuables out of sight and avoid walking alone after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kyaukme yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Palaung village treks
- Bamboo paper workshops
- Shan noodles and avocado juice
- Budget golf course
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: Kyaukme, revision 3801845 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3801845
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kyaukme). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.