Either an hours’ drive or 3-day hike away from Inle Lake is Kalaw – a beautiful mountain village, once a popular British hill station. Sitting at 1,300 metres up, its a cool place (literally) to linger for several days.

Nowadays the town is a cultural pot, home to descendants of the Shan people, a sizeable Nepalese and Indian population and various colourful local hill tribe minorities. With such a mix, the local cuisine is outstanding and the lively market is all about catering to the locals – herbs, spices, vegetables & meat, some of which you may will no doubt end up eating yourself.

The colonial architecture mixed with the stunning alpine forests make this a great place to visit and its also an excellent base from which to venture in to the picturesque mountains. Walks can be tailored to suit, ranging from day walks to longer overnight treks. Invariably you will pass through remote Pa-O villages with traditional longhouses (each of which are home to many families), tea plantations & monasteries. To top it off, you’ll have constant stunning views across Inle valley.