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There isn’t really much choice for budget travellers in Hpa-An but since it’s not one of the major destinations in Myanmar and most people only stay here a day or two, it’s generally easy to get a room or at least a bed. 

For that little bit more, you get a lot more. The rooms are big and spacious. Breakfast is included and the views are amazing. The staff have limited English (they told us no Wi-Fi but their signal was strong and we were surfing whilst being shown around?). The more you pay here the better the rooms get. The view from the $35 room is amazing - right out over the river to the north and the mount. Well worth checking out.

More information to come soon.

There are a real mixture of rooms here and it really is the only budget guest house in town. They really try and accommodate everyone and if you’re stuck for a room, then they will put a mattress out in one of the communal areas and you’ll have somewhere to sleep for just $5. Some rooms have AC and a few AC and bathrooms. Bicycles can be hired for 2,000Ks for a full day or 1,000Ks for a half day (after 1200hrs).

More information to come soon.

For the size of the town, there are a good few choices though be aware that the town does start to close up early, around 10pm. The market has street snacks available in the morning and there is a mixture of small bars offering more bland Chinese food as well as local Burmese food that really is worth the try.

A popular little place with reasonable dishes and cold beer.

The food is a little bland but the staff are welcoming and the place is clean.

It looks out of place and it is! Sweet and savoury snacks, good local Burmese tea and a real selection of coffee and fresh fruit drinks. Worth popping in any time of the day.

Has a good reputation and rightly so. Your meal comes with 10 different side dishes and a selection of local sweets for desert. If we could list a place in each town that served good Burmese food like this, then the reputation this country has for bland boring food would quickly be diminished.

A story of two halves – that is there is a bar area and a restaurant. The bar has good cold beer on tap and shows Fox sports channel. The restaurant is in a different building next door and serves local dishes that are worth trying. If you want, you can try Chicken Rump/ Human nose – though I think this is supposed to be Parson’s Nose!

You can visit the majority of the sites as a day trip with the Soe Brothers Guest House or under your own steam. As well as the sites listed under Day Tour there are one or two others that are worth the mention.

Whilst wearing shoes is not allowed in the temple areas, you can wear them once you are inside the caves themselves, so probably worth carrying them through with you. A good torch is essential.

Across the river from Hpa-An, mount Hpar Pu is a worth sun-set destination. Be sure to be back in time (before dark) to catch the return ferry. Fare is 500Ks per person and runs from north of the ferry terminal.

It is easy to hike Mount Zwegabin in a day. But you would miss out on a sunset to end sunsets and the experience of sleeping atop a Kayin monastery. On top of Mount Zwegabin travelers are rewarded with an incredible view and a place to sleep. There is no official cost but visitors are expected to leave a donation for the monastery prior to departure. Allocate at least a 2,000 kyat for the donation. Where to eat: Atop Zwegabin travelers don’t have much of a choice: a small restaurant will make a dinner for all guests for 1,000 kyat. Getting there: Catch an 8 a.m. pickup next to the market and get off at Zwegabin junction and start walking.

 

The following can be taken with Soe Brothers as a day tour starting at 0830 and finishing at 1730hrs. The price depends on the size of the group, costing just 5,000Ks for 6 people sharing (children travel free). Register at Soe Brothers in advance. We’ve listed them in the order of the tour.

A large open mouthed cave and probably the one that you’ll have seen photographs of taken from the inside to silhouette some of the statues. If you want to walk through the cave system to the other side (about 10 minutes) you’ll be greeted with a worthy view.

Admission is 3,000Ks per person and they have waived the 500Ks fee for a camera. If you are on a tight budget then this may be worth missing as the cave itself can be disappointing after visiting Yathay Pyan. The local monkeys run around freely constantly beating the dogs in the begging competition!

How the Burmese like to balance temples on rocks! You’ll see what we mean when you get there. The area is closed from 1200-1300hrs for the monks to eat lunch.

Well over a thousand seated Buddha’s all perfectly lined though the vegetation is running amok! This is the base to Mount Zwegabin so if you have the energy try the first few steps to get a good view.

A local swimming area with inflated lorry tyres for you to play on. Most people take this as a lunch stop with guests being delivered to fast-but-freshly cooked Chinese dishes. Or visit one of the spots selling local food. A great spot to refresh before continuing your trip.

One of the larger caves to visit with a lake on the opposite side offering boat rides into the external cave system (1,000Ks per boat/ 2 people). You’ll really need that torch for this one and don’t forget to carry your shoes until you are off of the temple’s tiled floor. On the way back out, see if you can spot the various religious monuments that are made up of small molded Buddha’s on the walls and ceiling of the cave. 

A bit of a let down, considering this is the last cave on the trip. It looks more like the modern temples of Myanmar with flashing lights to help entertain you.

Tide can vary depending upon the season and the tide. There are generally a few toilet stops along the way. A lovely way to travel on to Mawlamyine. Ticket can be organised at the jetty or in advance with either Soe Borthers or HI FI. Soe Brothers service works in conjunction with Breeze Guest House in Mawlamyine offering a 10 seater boat (5x2 seats) for 6,000Ks (1330hrs) 4-5 hours or with HI Fi at the jetty offering a 6 seater boat (6x1 seats) for 4,000Ks (1300hrs) 3 hours.

Chaw Su Bus Office (clock tower)

Yangon 7hours (0600, 0700, 0800, 0830, 0930, 1300, 1900) 5,000Ks

Mandalay 14 hours (1800) 15,000Ks