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An update from Evaneos
Shan

Shan (Burma)

Practical information about Shan

  • Relaxation
  • Encounters with locals
  • Nature Reserve / Wildlife Observation / Safari
  • Viewpoint
  • Hiking / Trekking
  • Mountain
  • Culture (paddy field, coffee, tea ...)
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Handicraft
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Essential
  • Off the beaten track
4 / 5 - One review
How to get there
1 hour by plane from Mandalay
When to go
From November to March
Minimum stay
2 to 3 days

Reviews of Shan

Marc Sigala Travel writer
67 travel articles

Huge Shan State covers a major part of eastern Burma (today known as Myanmar).

My suggestion:
It's best to hire a guide for your excursions, especially if you plan to get off the beaten track. The region has endured many conflicts and there are still dangerous areas (notably because of landmines).
Summary:

Shan State, which was long closed to foreigners, is slowing opening up to tourism. This situation will improve thanks to the slow and fragile transition towards democracy. A mountainous region consisting of dense hills and plateaus, the landscapes that I saw there alternate between rice paddies, forests and small villages populated by many ethnic minorities, even if the Shan remain the most numerous.

Many communities are open to tourism and I was able to make several excursions accompanied by a guide, on foot, by bike or by jeep, for often very reasonable prices. It is also one of the most interesting regions to visit during a trip to Burma to discover the cultural diversity of the country (influences of China, Thailand and Laos).

Pa-Oh woman at work