Major city · Myanmar
Putao
Putao is for trekkers who want Southeast Asia's only snow-capped peaks. You need at least 4 days: 2 for travel (fly from Myitkyina, permits required) and 2 for a short trek. Skip it if you have less time or cannot arrange a permit.
Putao is the northernmost town in Myanmar, at the base of the Himalayas. It offers trekking to the only snow in Southeast Asia, a chance to meet the Rewang people, and a remote frontier feel. Access is by air only, and a government permit is required. The ongoing conflict between the Myanmar army and the Kachin Independence Army means permits may not be issued; check the current situation before planning.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MMK
- Best months
- November to February (cool and dry)
- avoid June to September (heavy monsoon, flights may be cancelled)
- Airport
- PBU
- Nights
- 3–4
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 Putao199 ▾
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 Putao, 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
- SafetyPutao is in an active conflict zone between the Myanmar army and the Kachin Independence Army.
- Emergency numbers199 police · 191 fire · 192 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPBU Putao Airport (Flights from Myitkyina only; schedule is weather-dependent.).
- Getting aroundPutao is small enough to walk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Budget bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomMMK 60,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomMMK 80,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomMMK 120,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MMK 70,000 · Mid MMK 120,000 · High MMK 200,000
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
- PBU Putao Airport (Flights from Myitkyina only; schedule is weather-dependent.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Feb
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Mar
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Apr
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
May
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Aug
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Sep
Avoid
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Dec
not flagged
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Feb, Nov. Avoid: Jun, Sep. Month by month →
Warmest May (30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jul (24 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Putao: 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
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2 rd
Feb
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3 rd
Mar
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5 rd
Apr
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
14 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
22 rd
Jul
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
24 rd
Aug
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
22 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
18 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10 rd
Nov
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°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
Putao is small enough to walk. For treks, you need a guide (arranged through your guesthouse or tour agency).
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kaung Hmu Lon Ancient Historical Pagoda
goDoor to door: About 1 h round trip
Walk or take a boat across the river from town
A pagoda with a long footbridge at the base of the Himalayan foothills.
Duk Dang Village
goDoor to door: Half day
Trek or hired motorbike (guide recommended)
Site of a hydro power project built by the KIO; Rewang village.
Hkakabo Razi base camp trek
overnightDoor to door: 5–7 days
Multi-day guided trek from Putao
Requires a guide, permit and good fitness. The peak itself is technical; most trekkers go to the base camp.
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.
Town centre
A handful of guesthouses and the Putao Trekking House; all within walking distance of the airport.
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 60,000–90,000 excl. flight
- Mid
- MMK 100,000–150,000 excl. flight
- High
- MMK 200,000+ excl. flight
Trip budget
| Putao Trekking House double1 × 3 nights × MMK 96,500 | MMK 289,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × MMK 120,000 | MMK 720,000 |
| Flight Myitkyina–Putao, one way2 × MMK 150,000 | MMK 300,000 |
| Permit processing fee (via agency)2 × MMK 50,000 | MMK 100,000 |
| Guide fee per day (trekking)1 × MMK 50,000 | MMK 50,000 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MMK 218,900 |
| Trip total≈ MMK 279,700 per person per day, bed included | MMK 1,678,400 |
2026 estimate in kyat; flights and permits excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Guesthouse double room | MMK 60,000–120,000 |
| Simple meal (rice and curry) | MMK 5,000–10,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | MMK 1,000–2,000 |
| Guide per day (trekking) | MMK 50,000–80,000 |
| Flight Myitkyina–Putao one way | MMK 150,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Permit required: apply through a travel agency or MTT (Myanmar Travels and Tours). Without it, you cannot fly in.
- Conflict zone: check your government's travel advice. The Kachin Independence Army is active in the area.
- Flights are unreliable: weather can cancel them even in the dry season.
- No ATMs: bring enough kyat in cash for your entire stay.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 199
- Fire
- 191
- Ambulance
- 192
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
PutaoPutao
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ဒီလိပ်စာကိုသွားပါTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police199
- Fire191
- Ambulance192
Embassy
Most embassies are in Yangon. The US embassy in Yangon covers the whole country. Check your embassy's website for emergency contact.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Putao Airport → town centre: walk (10 min) or motorbike taxi MMK 3,000–5,000
Say or show
- မင်္ဂလာပါ — Hello (min-ga-la-ba)
- ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် — Thank you (kyay-zu-tin-ba-de)
- ဘယ်လောက်လဲ — How much? (be-lauk-le)
- လမ်းပြလိုတယ် — I need a guide (lan-pya-lo-de)
- အိမ်သာဘယ်မှာလဲ — Where is the toilet? (ein-tha-be-mar-le)
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 Putao. 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: November to February (cool and dry) · avoid June to September (heavy monsoon, flights may be cancelled)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Permit and flight booking integration with MTT and airlines.
- Verified trekking guide list with safety and language checks.
- Weather-based flight cancellation insurance add-on.
- Offline map and emergency contact card for the trek.
Sources
Ask about Putao
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