MM · Kayin State · 16.89°N 97.63°E

hpa-an

Limestone hills, cave shrines and rice fields beside the Thanlwin River.

Best time
November to February is dry and cool. March to May is hot, and June to September brings heavy rain, flooded cave approaches and slippery paths.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly direct to Yangon (about 2 hours 45 minutes from KL); Hpa-An is about 6–7 hours by road, when the route is open. Myanmar is 1.5 hours behind KL.
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MM · Kayin Statehpa-an16.89°N 97.63°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Limestone hills, cave shrines and rice fields beside the Thanlwin River.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingHpa-AnMM, Kayin State
KLhpa-an
≈ 1,592 km from KL, as the crow flies
Hpa An, Kayin State

Photo: Go-Myanmar · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Limestone peaks rise straight out of the rice fields around Hpa-An, on the Thanlwin River, with Buddha-filled caves and a pagoda perched on a rock pinnacle in a lake. The town itself is under government control, but fighting continues elsewhere in Kayin State and the UK advises against all travel there, so it's a trip on hold for now.

Makan

  1. MohingaRice noodles in fish broth, the breakfast here as everywhere in Myanmar.Map ↗
  2. Burmese curry setRice with a curry and a spread of small vegetable sides.Map ↗
  3. Mont lin ma yarCrisp little rice-batter cakes cooked in pairs in a round mould, sometimes with a quail egg.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Saddan CaveA huge cave full of Buddha images that you walk right through, coming out by boat across a lake.Map ↗
  2. Kawgun CaveWalls covered in thousands of small clay Buddha tablets, some centuries old.Map ↗
  3. Kyauk KalapA pagoda balanced on a tall rock pinnacle in the middle of a lake.Map ↗
  4. Mount ZwegabinA steep climb to a hilltop monastery, with views over the peaks and paddies.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Kayin State is under UK advice against all travel, and the roads in can close at short notice.
  • The caves are barefoot and dark in places, so bring a torch and sandals you can carry.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.