Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar 

Hsipaw (pronounced “Thee-paw”) is a beautiful little town in the Shan state of Myanmar. Hsipaw is around 140km north east of Pyin Oo Lwin and can be accessed by bus, taxi or train. The journey to Hsipaw by road takes 3-4 hours from Pyin Oo Lwin. Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar

1 Trek through incredible hills 

Trekking through the hills and tea plantations around Hsipaw was genuinely one of my absolute highlights of our trip to Myanmar. This is a MUST DO for anyone who loves adventure, nature and the outdoors. A guided trek will include food, accommodation and guide to show you the way- and give you some awesome insights into local life and culture. Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

Click here for an awesome blog on everything you need to know about trekking around Hsipaw>>

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

2 Immerse yourself in history at the Shan Palace

The shan palace is a mysterious old house on the outskirts of Hsipaw; the architecture of the building is strikingly similar to classic British architecture. This is no coincidence. The Shan palace was built in 1924 for Sao Oo Kya who was the last Shan prince and had studied in Oxford England.

The palace is now home to Mrs Fern who is the wife of the nephew of Sao Oo Kya. She often opens up her home at around 4pm each day to tell people about the history of the land. She refuses to charge people money for this because she want people to learn about the history of Myanmar freely. 

The Shan Palace is to the North of Hsipaw town. It is around a 5-10 minute bike ride from town. The location is shown on the map below:

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

3 Enjoy delicious fresh Shan noodles 

Enjoying freshly made Shan noodles was one of my favourite food experiences in Myanmar. You can find a quaint little noodle factory nestled in amongst a lovely little village on the outskirts of Hsipaw. It is actually pretty close to the Shan Palace so you may wish to drop in while you are in the area. Shan noodles are a very tasty dish of freshly made noodles mixed with a tangy tomato-based sauce. They are not spicy and almost have a European feel.

Click here to find out more about the amazing shan noodle factory of Hsipaw>> 

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

4 Check out the mini golden boulder

Buddhism plays a prominent role in Myanmar culture and life. This is a small replica of the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, which is a small pagoda built on top of a tenuously balanced granite rock. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is a very popular destination for tourists in Myanmar, but if you don’t have time to see it, then this small replica is worth a look. Consider stopping on your way to the Nam Tok waterfall. It is on the left hand side of the main road as you exit Hsipaw.

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

5 Cycle to the stunning Nam Tok waterfall

The Nam Tok waterfall is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the area and the great news is, it is not too far from town. The journey to the waterfall is pretty awesome too. Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar. 

Click here for more pictures and a step-by-step guide on how to get to the Nam Tok waterfall>>

Once you get to the waterfall take a refreshing dip in the deep plunge pool at the bottom. The slight incline of the rock means you can swim very close to the bottom of this impressively tall waterfall.

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

6 Relax by the river (beer or coffee)

If you adventure around Hsipaw you will probably need  a little time to unwind. There is a lovely river to the east of the town. It takes around 5 minutes to walk to the river bank from the center of this lovely little town. Once on the river bank you will find a few pleasant places to either have a coffee or a local beer. Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

7 Nam Hoo Nwae waterfall

If you have time, the Nam Hoo Nwae waterfall is definitely worth a visit. This waterfall doesn’t have a plunge pool at the bottom, however you can still sit on the rocks and cool off in the flowing water. I was even able to take a much needed shower under this waterfall. A visit to this waterfall could be combined with a 2 or 3 day trek depending on your route- check with your guide. It is slightly further from town than the Nam Tok waterfall. If you only have time for one waterfall, personally I would recommend the Nam Tok waterfall.  

Nam Hoo Nwae waterfall is 6km out of town along the Mandalay-Lashio main road in the Mandalay direction. There is a right turn and you have to follow small roads for several km before reaching the waterfall. I would not recommend doing this on foot or by bicycle because it would be quite easy to get lost. However, it could be a good adventure on a motorbike. 

 Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.

Looking for a place to stay?

Bagan>>     Inle Lake>>    Kalaw>>     Mandalay>>     Hpa An>>    Hsipaw>>      Pyin U Lwin>>     Myawaddy>>

Is it safe to visit Hsipaw?

As Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, opens its heart and borders to foreign travels and becomes much more accessible for overland travel, the big question everyone’s asking is of course about safety…

Click here to read our blog on whether Hsipaw is safe to travel and trek?>>

Click here for travel advice about Myanmar from the UK FCO website>>

There’s always more…

Don’t miss out on the epic awesomeness of Myanmar, make sure you check out our TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN MYANMAR and SHARE SHARE SHARE it with anyone you know who’s heading there …

 Things to do and see around Hsipaw Myanmar.