The way south to Hpa-an from Yangon

Welcome to Yangon - the biggest and most bustling city in Myanmar, a unique city in Southeast Asia with all nostalgic colors of time and culture reserved over centuries. If you are interested in colonial era architecture, a stroll down Yangon's colonial buildings will definitely blow you away by well-reserved images from the 20th century, with decaying facades filled with old paint and small trees squeezing through those little cracks. Moreover, proud of rich cultural tradition, Yangon will amaze you with plenty of spiritual relics where you can experience the importance of Buddhism to the Burmese’s lives: tranquil Chaukhtatgyi Temple containing an over-200-feet-long reclining Buddha, the octagonal-shaped 2500 year old pagoda Sule Pagoda located in the heart of the city, and especially the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda - the massive 99 meter high gold plated pagoda with the diamond studded spire on top of a small hill in downtown Yangon. And don’t miss chance to meditate in pagoda’s mystical atmosphere beautifully lit up after dark.

Highlighted on the top of Mt. Kyaikhtiyo, Golden rock pagoda is well-known as one of the most sacred religious sites in Myanmar with the giant balancing rock perched on the edge of a mountain for over 2,500 years. ITo the intriped travellers and risk takers, the 30-min truck journey up the winding roads with lots of sharp turns to reach the pagoda will be such an unforgetbale experience not to be missed out. Listening to the story behind the magical rock while witnessing hundreds of devotees line up to light candles and paste golden leaves to the rock, you are to see how much this place means to locals as a way of life. Lately, warp up your special day watching the sun going down from the mountain top as the rock lights up magically.

Over the cold stay on top mountain of Kyaikhtiyo, a soft trek meandering the lush jungle-covered mountain and its little villages will make your Golden Rock trip more highlighted and extensive. Grasp an excellent chance to capture and live up the simple nature beauty in perfect harmony with vibrant hill tribe culture in which authentic Mon people spend most of the time together farming, weaving and having fun in their unique thatched houses. Feel free to stop at anywhere for stunning pictures or random chat with any passing friendly villagers.

As far as 300 km from the hustle Yangon, there exists a picturesque charming town named Hpa-an, a little known name for majority of tourists but highly appreciated among travel experts. When you are here, some of the very must we invite you to enjoy is countryside walk through friendly farmers on rice paddies and local markets in Eain Du Karen Village before a continue to nearby Saddan  cave, a stadium-sized dark and deep cave holding a wonderful secret on the end side with natural rays of light leading out to an idyllic lake and a proud towering top of the region – Mt. Zweka Bin, interested in hiking, the 2-hour trek conquering the mountain top will rewardingly offer you unforgettable overview of whole stunning surroundings with all beauty spots of the area.

There may be few tours to Hpa-an completed without Kaw Goon Cave and Kyauk Ka Lat pagoda, the two most iconic sites that would be hardly faded in your memory about this charming town. Walk into the colorful painted cave, you will be surprised with distinctive terracotta votive tablets can be found high up on the cliff faces, sandstone Buddha statues and old mural paintings in ink inscriptions. If you are a huge fan of architectural wonders and historical details, the cave should be truly a paradise for you. Moving to Kyauk Ka Lat pagoda, you will soon find the place familiar as it is the regular result when searching Hpa-an. Let’s come close via a wooden bridge, climb up to the middle or even the top of little isle mountain where golden Kyauk Ka Lat pagoda stupa situates and enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding lake, paddy fields and the towering Mt. Zweka Bin not too far away.