Major city · Myanmar
Kyaukmeကျောက်မဲ
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.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MMK
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cool and dry)
- avoid Mar–May (hot), Jun–Oct (rainy, trails may be muddy)
- Airport
- MDL
- Nights
- 1
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 Kyaukme199 ▾
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 Kyaukme, 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
- SafetyLandmines are a real risk in the hills around Kyaukme.
- Emergency numbers199 police · 191 fire · 192 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportMDL Mandalay International (About 4–5 h by bus or train; no direct flights.).
- Getting aroundcheckWalk or hire a motorbike taxi (check price before riding).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealShan noodlescheckMMK 500
- Metro or bus rideBus to HsipawcheckMMK 1,000
- Budget bedPrivate room (double), a night, per roomMMK 15,000
- Mid-range bedPrivate room (double), a night, per roomMMK 25,000
- High-end bedPrivate room (double), a night, per roomMMK 40,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MMK 15,000 · Mid MMK 25,000 · High MMK 40,000
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
- MDL Mandalay International (About 4–5 h by bus or train; no direct flights.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
May
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Avoid
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Sep
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Mar–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C) low), wettest Aug (21 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kyaukme: 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
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
1 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Apr
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
20 rd
Aug
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
21 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
17 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 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
Walk or hire a motorbike taxi (check price before riding). For treks, arrange a guide through your guesthouse.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Bus from Kyaukme bus station, 1–1.5 h
Hsipaw has more treks and a livelier traveller scene; a good day trip or overnight.
Palaung hill villages
goDoor to door: Half-day to full day
Trekking or motorbike with a local guide, half-day to full day
The main reason to come to Kyaukme; arrange through your guesthouse.
Door to door: About 5 h
Bus from Kyaukme bus station, about 4 h
Too far for a day trip; stay one night.
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 near the market
Guesthouses and homestays within walking distance of the bus station and main road.
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 15,000–25,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- MMK 25,000–40,000 excl. bed
- High
- MMK 40,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Dorm bed in guesthouse1 × 1 night × MMK 8,000 | MMK 8,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × MMK 15,000 | MMK 15,000 |
| Bus from Mandalay to Kyaukme1 × MMK 4,000 · check | MMK 4,000 |
| Motorbike taxi ride within town1 × MMK 2,000 · check | MMK 2,000 |
| Guide for Palaung village trek (half-day)1 × MMK 15,000 · check | MMK 15,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MMK 4,400 |
| Trip total≈ MMK 48,400 per person per day, bed included | MMK 48,400 |
2026 estimate in kyat; flights and visas excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Shan noodlescheck | MMK 500 |
| Avocado juicecheck | MMK 500 |
| Golf roundcheck | MMK 2,000 |
| Bus to Hsipawcheck | MMK 1,000 |
| Bus to Mandalaycheck | MMK 3,500–4,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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 (1.2 mi) from the centre.Buses to Mandalay and Yangon may not enter town; flag them on the main road about 1.2 mi (2 km) from the centre.
- Internet is slow and limited; download maps and messages before you arrive.
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.
Kyaukmeကျောက်မဲ
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ဒီလိပ်စာကိုသွားပေးပါTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police199
- Fire191
- Ambulance192
Embassy
Most embassies are in Yangon; the nearest consulate is in Mandalay (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- 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)
Say or show
- မင်္ဂလာပါ — Hello (mingalaba)
- ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် — Thank you (kyay zu tin ba deh)
- ဘယ်လောက်လဲ — How much? (beh-lauk leh)
- ကားဂိတ်ဘယ်မှာလဲ — Where is the bus station? (ka-gait beh-mar leh)
- လမ်းပြတစ်ယောက်လိုတယ် — I need a guide (lan-pya ta-yauk lo deh)
Carry small kyat notes; ATMs are scarce and may not work.
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 Kyaukme. 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 (cool and dry) · avoid Mar–May (hot), Jun–Oct (rainy, trails may be muddy)
- 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
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Trekking routes to Palaung villages with verified guides and safety notes.
- Bamboo paper workshop visits with opening hours and prices.
- Golf course details and booking info.
- Bus schedules and flag-stop locations on the main road.
Sources
Ask about Kyaukme
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