Location: Hsipaw
Top Things to do in Hsipaw
The 9 Best Things to Do in Hsipaw, Myanmar
Hsipaw (Burmese: သီပေါ; Shan: သီႇပေႃႉ; also known as Thibaw), is the principal town of Hsipaw Township in Shan State, Myanmar on the banks of the Duthawadi River. It is 200 km (124 mi) north-east of Mandalay.
Restaurants in Hsipaw
1. Firefly's Travel & Trekking Co.
Overall Ratings
5 based on 109 reviews
This small company is run by a local family from the mountain(Palaung) ethnic minority. All the guide are from the mountain villages, well trained and well known about the region, knowledgeable and fluent in English. They speak few local languages and Chinese. They are very friendly, willing to help you. They try to improve the company and fulfill for tourist's expectation who is looking for the trekking tour, outdoor tour, Eco-tour in Northern Shan state (Hsipaw region). For people who want to trek and visit the mountain region, learn and explore the mountain people,ethnicity (tribe)’s culture, life style, their tradition, agriculture and the nature, river boat trip and so on.
Reviewed By Miroslava K
We did a 1day trekking with Firefly and can recommend this company and especially our guide Mine Lay. He was very friendly, professional, helpful and nice. We enjoed our trek, local people and villages, tasty shan food and rice wine :-) I can recommend everyone.
2. Ko Pee Travel & Trekking Tours - Mandalay Hsipaw Lashio Expeditions
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
A very warm welcome to the ultimate destination for trekking and adventure holidays on behalf of Ko Pee Travel. Join us in the gorgeous and tranquil Mountains surrounding the charming town of Hsipaw, Northern Shan State, Myanmar. Stay and relax in the undisturbed hill-tribe villages after your single or multi day trek. Serene vistas and gentle locals make for a truly authentic, inspiring holiday.
Reviewed By brastedbarron - Sevenoaks, United Kingdom
We arrived in Hsipaw having booked a 3 day/ 2night trek (KoPee were recommended to us). Unfortunately my wife was quite ill so we had to cancel 24hours before we arrived. I then booked a 10 hour day hike for the next day, but had to cancel again, 30mins before as my wife was still ill.
They didn’t charge us for either of these trips - which considering the short notice cancellation was extremely kind.
Today my wife did the boat trip with Win Ko - which was lovely. Win Ko was one of the best guides we have experienced in the last four months of travel: engaging, knowledgeable and great English.
I joined a 2 day/ 1 night group with very experienced Win (senior) as our guide and we hiked 15km up through beautiful countryside to Pankham Village. KoPee arranged for a scooter to drive me back to the hotel as we leave Hsipaw tomorrow morning.
I think KoPee are an excellent outfit; super professional, flexible and friendly. We would absolutely use them again.
3. Mr. Bike Hsipaw Trekking
Overall Ratings
5 based on 92 reviews
Hsipaw Jungle Trekking is a small local community business set up and run solely by Mr. Bike, a local guide who speaks fluent English and two local dialects. We aim to provide local and international travelers with a genuine experience into the nature of northern Shan hills and life of the local ethnic people in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
Reviewed By Jon O - London, United Kingdom
Did the 2days 1 night treehouse trek Really enjoyed it our guides ton ton and soel oo we're friendly helpful and spoke good English. The views from the treehouse were excellent and the food also tasty and plentiful we also enjoyed sitting around at night playing cards and drinking "happy water" (rice wine) with the guides and the others in our group. better then the hiking I had done from kalaw so if your trying to choose between the two I'd suggest coming to hsipaw!! Even had 3 dogs that join the trek including a cute little puppy!!
4. Shan State Trekking
Overall Ratings
5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By Susan S
Kham lu is a rather young guide, but already very experienced, knows a lot about country, nature & people and speaks English fluently.
You can arrange with him the kind of trip you like (from 1-3 days, jungle or also villages, difficulty of the trek etc.).
We had a 3-days trek medium level through jungle and with visiting villages, and we slept at homestays in the villages, which was a really wonderful experience.
5. The North Trek
Overall Ratings
5 based on 43 reviews
Licensed professional guides for hiking, trekking, sight-seeing, and traveling adventure in Northern Shan State, Pyin Oo Lwin, Kyaukme, Hsipaw,& Lashio.
Reviewed By Hannah1812 - Doncaster, United Kingdom
We chose the North Trek after being a bit disappointed with the company we used in Kalaw-Inle Lake. It was easy to book using Facebook messenger, and we were able to lower the price a bit after the initial quote was quite high.
As ever, a lot depends on which guide you get - which you have no control over. Our guide was young (19) and spoke some English, but not brilliantly. Fortunately he had brought along his school friend who was able to speak a lot more with us. On the first day we arrived at our homestay earlier than expected around 2pm (apparently we walked quickly, still not sure whether we came a shorter route!). Another group joined later and we were able to fill time looking round the village and having a camp fire at night.
We asked to do the long route when it was offered on the second day, then it turned out our guide hadn’t done that route before - to be fair he enlisted a villager to walk much of the route with us, so we were still able to go ahead. The day finished with a swim in a waterfall, though it seemed a little odd that we had to get a taxi there - again not sure if this was always the plan.
We did 2 days / 1 night, but in hindsight the Hsipaw trekking is a lot more ‘authentic’ and if that’s what your looking for it may be better to spend more time here and less doing Kalaw-Inle (which is beautiful, but everyone does it).
I would definitely recommend this trek, and I’m happy to recommend the North Trek, but your experience will inevitably be very much dependent on your guide.
6. New Force Hsipaw Trekking
Overall Ratings
5 based on 15 reviews
Preset and custom treks through tribal villages in the Hsipaw region of the Shan State.
Reviewed By Noah C
New Force trekking has got to be the most well organised, friendliest and rewarding trekking company I have had the pleasure to experience. On the first day we hiked up through the jungle and at night we settled down in a lovely home stay in a village in the Mountains. The village itself was small and the owner and occupants were so friendly and even sat around and ate and drank with us around the campfire. On the next day we went into a rainforest environment and had an early morning shower under the most spectacular waterfall I've seen in my life! Then a quick walk down the river and had lunch with bamboo everything ... food, cups, table, tea, plates... it was incredible. Then on the final day we had a relaxing 3 hour walk through corn fields and rice patties and made our way back to Hsipaw. One of my favourite things about the trek was the food that we ate, always huge portions and it was all you can eat and more. Authentic food and authentic company. The guides themselves were some of the nicest people I've met, everyday they would eat and drink with us I loved it. The man himself Kham (THE DOMINATOR) was a great team leader and would always be showing the group interesting things about the environment and made the trek even more interactive.
11/10 experience
7. Pankam Village Hike with Than Htike
Overall Ratings
5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Sibylle F - Buchs Aargau, Switzerland
We enjoyed a one day trip to the village and he was well organsised. Very friendly, had some fruits for the guests and we enjoyed the trip. Recommendet.
8. Mr Book
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By TonyGS89 - Madrid, Spain
I came accross this small book stall while walking around in Hsipaw. I was surprised with the quantity of books about Burmese history he had, and although at the beginning he wouldn't turn his sight from the TV (there was a local football match on), as soon as I showed interest in the books he engaged in a very passionate conversation on Burmese history and his experience as a bookseller in Hsipaw, and he gave me some valuable tips on transportation. Mr. Book is such a lovely and helpful man.
It is NOT a tourist atraction, but if you want to get a great book at a fair price to better understand this country (and you don't care using second hand books), this is the place to go.
9. Trek Myanmar Tours
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