Kalaw: An Introdution
Around 80 miles south of Mandalay, & 3 days hike from Inle Lake, Kalaw is a beautiful little mountain village, once a British hill station & now home to descendants of the Shan people & local tribes. Its lively market is all about the locals - no trinkets for you, here - just herbs, spices & food, some of which you may well end up eating later, for dinner.
This is excellent trekking country, with trails leading up into the mountains, passing through remote villages, fields & forest, past traditional longhouses (each of which are home to many families), tea plantations & monasteries. To top it off, you’ll get stunning views across Inle valley as a bonus reward for any huffing & puffing. Since it’s 1300 metres up, Kalaw is atually nice & cool, so you shouldn’t get too sticky.