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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Loikaw
လွိုင်ကော်
Spend 1–2 days in Loikaw: explore the town, nearby pagoda and lake, then take a short day‑trip to a dam or waterfall.
Loikaw is the administrative capital of Kayah State, set in a lake‑dotted plain with hills. Its main sights – Taung Kwe Pagoda, Naung Yar Lake and the state museum – fit in a half‑day each. A nearby dam, waterfalls or ethnic‑village tours add a full day, so 1–2 days cover the basics.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Local name
- လွိုင်ကော်
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (monsoon, road closures)
- Stay
- 1–2 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 ₭5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ₭8,000–12,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Ambulance 192
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a tea shop | ₭300–500 |
| Hin Htote plate | ≈₭500 |
| Shan noodles | ₭400–800 |
| Taxi within town (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi within town (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₭2,000–3,000 |
| Bicycle hire (day) | ₭2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LIW · Loikaw Airport
- Daily flight from Yangon; Air KBZ also on Mon, Wed, Fri
Typical fares
- LIW → Loikaw town centre, taxi
- ≈₭15,000 (check)
- Bike hire, full day
- ≈₭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
Most of town is walkable; bicycles or motorbikes can be hired for nearby villages. Tuktuks and taxis are available; private 4×4 needed for remote day‑trips.
See and do
Known for
- Taung Kwe Pagoda
- Naung Yar Lake
- Kayah State Cultural Museum
- Lawpita hydro‑dam
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ngwe Taung Dam | Hire a private car or 4×4 from Loikaw; 30 min drive south | ≈1 h |
| Htee Sel Khar Waterfalls | Private car, 1 h north | ≈2 h round |
| Kayan villages | Organise local guide; 5,000–10,000 kyat | ≈3 h total |
Sleep
- Kayan Golden Sky Motel
- 12 rooms, AC, rooftop breakfast, free Wi‑Fi; US$30 double
- Moon Joy Inn
- Basic rooms, 8,000 kyat; popular with locals
- Nan Ayar Inn
- 15,000 kyat double, shared bathroom
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | တဆင့်ta sin |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay zu tin ba de |
| How much is it? | ဘယ်လောက်ပါလဲ?be laut pa le? |
| Where is the bathroom? | အိမ်သာဘယ်မှာလဲ?ein tha be hma le? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads to remote sights can be dirt and flood in monsoon – check conditions before travel.
- Some ethnic‑village tours raise ethical concerns; choose operators that benefit locals.
- The area is still mined from past conflict – stay on marked paths.
Loikaw is generally safe for day visitors; avoid remote roads during monsoon and stay with a local guide for village visits.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Loikaw yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Taung Kwe Pagoda
- Naung Yar Lake
- Kayah State Cultural Museum
- Lawpita hydro‑dam
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Myanmar tourism authority: www.myanmartourism.org
- Wikivoyage: Loikaw, revision 5301030 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5301030
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/loikaw). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.