KYAING TONG

Kyaing Tong, the capital city of the Golden Triangle Region, is served by daily flights from Yangon, taking about one hour. You can go there by car but it will be rough riding most of the way.
Formerly off-limits to foreigners, Kyaing Tong is a border town with good hotels and restaurants including Kyaing Tong Hotel. The room rate is about US$ 80 while a meal costs about Ks. 1,500. The area is perfect for trekking, leading to villages of 13 nationalities including Ahku, Ahka, Palaung, Eng, or Lahu races. They retain their traditional costumes and way of life. Kyaing Tong is a mixture of old and new; local guides are available.
Visitors cannot stay overnight at the villages of the national race. Giving presents is not allowed, except for some medicines such as anti-malaria ones. Foreigners need to get Border Passes through arrangement with tour agencies.

Mandalay

The last capital of Myanmar kings, 668 km north of Yangon. Built in 1857 by King Mindon; now the second largest city, rich in cultural heritage.

How to get there
Just over an hour’s daily flight from Yangon to Mandalay International Airport. About 14 hours by train, 12 hours by express or by car.

Where to stay and where to dine
Mandalay City Hotel, Mandalay Royal Hotel, Mann Myanmar Inn, Sein Sein Hotel, Silver Swan Hotel, Nadi Myanmar Hotel, Sedona Hotel, Mandalay Hill Resort. Meals: Chinese food, Thai food, Shan food and Myanmar food.

Why so special
Mandalay Hill, 230 metres in elevation, commands a panoramic view of the city: Mandalay Palace with its brick walls, gates and moat; Shwenandaw Monastery, a magnificent building dating back to 1879; Mahamuni Pagoda built by King Bodawpaya in 1784 which has the Great Buddha Image; Kuthodaw Pagoda (built in 1868) where there is the “World’s Biggest Book” in 729 marble slabs with the Buddha’s Teachings inscribed on them.
Mandalay Museum, Zegyo Market and Silk Weaving Cottage Industry are among other places worth visiting.

TAUNGGYI

The capital of Shan State. About 726 Km from Yangon. A hill station, over 1,430 metres above sea-level.

How to get there
By car all the way in 16 hrs. By train up to Nyaung Shwe and thence to Taunggyi by car. Air service up to Heho, then by car. From Taunggyi it is about an hour’s drive to Inlè Lake.

Where to stay
Taunggyi International Hotel, Duwun Motel,Hotel Empire, Paradise, and Golden Island Cottages Hotel.

What to see
Taunggyi is cool and pleasant all the year round. The market on every fifth day is crowded with ethnic minorities in their traditional dresses. Taunggyi Museum is worth visiting.

Sagaing

A town 21 km to the southwest of Mandalay, and on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River; 30 minutes' drive from Mandalay. The Sagaing Hills, a retreat for some 6,000 monks and nuns, are dotted with white-washed pagodas and have more than 500 monasteries. Soon-U-Ponyashin Pagoda, Kaung-mudaw Pagoda and Ywahtaung Village (home of the silversmiths’ guilds) are there for sightseeing.

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