Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VAN (SHARE
TAXI)
DESTINATION
AIR
BUS
$119-135; 55min-1hr 15
minutes; Mon, Tue, Fri & St
(direct or via Mandalay)
Heho
N/A
N/A
K10,000; 4-5hr;
frequent
7.30am-12.30pm
K12,000-15,000;
3-4hr; frequent
6am-noon
Kyaingtong
$62; 18min; Wed & Sun
$194-240; 40min-1hr 15min;
Tue, Thur & Sat
Lashio
N/A
N/A
$129; 25min-1½hr; Mon, Tue,
Fri & St (direct or via Heho or
Lashio)
Mandalay
N/A
N/A
Myitkyina
$193; 1hr 40min; Wed & Fri
N/A
N/A
$197; 1¾hr; Tue, Wed, Fri &
Sat (direct or via Mandalay &
Heho)
Yangon
N/A
N/A
KAYAH STATE
Wedged between Shan State to the north and west, Kayin State to the west and south, and
Thailand to the east, tiny Kayah State - Myanmar's smallest - is home to a dispropor-
tionate number of tribal groups, including the Yinbaw, Bre, Kayin (Karen), the eponym-
ous Kayah (Karenni or Red Karen), and perhaps most famously, the 'longneck' Kayan
(also known as Padaung).
After years of only being open to pre-approved package tourists, Kayah State is now
'open' to Foreign Independent Travellers (FITs), although only a handful have made it to
the area. This doesn't mean you can go anywhere, though; at research time, only the cap-
ital Loikaw, and parts of Deemawsoe Township, an hour southeast of Loikaw, were ac-
cessible, and only for day trips.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Loikaw
083 / POPULATION C20,000
