Things to do in Hpa An: among caves and rice fields

From Yangon

• By bus: It takes about 6 hours and costs around US$6-10, depending on the company you choose and the departure time.
• Train: We wouldn't really recommend trains in Myanmar, since they don't usually leave on time and they take much longer than you're told.

From the Myawaddy – Mae Sot border

• Shared taxi: The best way to get to Hpa An from the border. The trip takes about 5-6 hours and, depending on your negotiating skills, can cost between US$8 and US$10.

You can read more about the border crossing here.

The sights in Hpa An are an average of 20 km from town, so you can't see them on foot. There are different ways to get around them. We chose a tuk-tuk because we were a group and it was more comfortable for us.

Renting a motorbike: You can rent a motorbike for US$5 a day. It's a good option because it gives you more freedom and lets you set your own pace. All things considered, the roads around Hpa An are pretty good.

Tuk-tuk: A tuk-tuk for the day to tour the caves and pagodas costs US$20 and fits 6 people, so around US$3.30 per person. We went with this option because there were 6 of us and it seemed the cheapest and most comfortable.

1. Saddan Cave (Sacred Cave)

One of Hpa An's main attractions, this is an enormous cave with a temple at its entrance, full of pagodas and Buddha statues.

The best part is walking through the cave, which takes about 20 minutes. The route is lit with LED lights (they take away some of the mystique), but it's 100% worth it.

At the far end of the cave there's a lake surrounded by rice fields. Here you can take a small boat back to the cave entrance or walk back the way you came. We recommend the boat: it's a short ride, but a lovely one.

Since it's a temple, you walk through the cave barefoot.

Entrance fee: 1,000 kyats

Boat: 6,000 kyats, fits about 6 people

How to get to Saddan Cave

Option 1: If you've rented a motorbike, it's about a 45-minute ride from central Hpa An.

Option 2: On a tuk-tuk tour, like we did.

Important: The cave is only open during the dry season, November to April.

2. Watch the sunset on Hpan Pu Mountain

Spend a different kind of afternoon looking at Hpa An from above. The view and the scenery are amazing, and they're really worth the 30-minute climb.

The trail isn't complicated, but wear sneakers and take plenty of water, because it's very humid. Try to bring a flashlight too, since it gets dark pretty quickly.

How to get there

To get to the mountain, you have to cross the Thanlwin River. You catch the canoes across the river to the right of Shwe Yin Mhyaw Pagoda, and they cost 500 kyats per person. Once you've crossed, walk to the village's main street and turn right. At the far end you'll see the mountain and the path where the climb starts. The boats stop running when it gets dark, so agree on a time with your boatman for him to come back for you.

3. Kyauk Kalat Pagoda

A small pagoda on top of a karst formation in the middle of a lake. It's an impressive thing to see!

Kyauk Kalat is a monastery and a place of meditation. Entrance is free and you can go all the way to the top, except in the mornings.

Entrance fee: Free

How to get there

Option 1: If you've rented a motorbike, it's about a 30-minute ride from central Hpa An.

Option 2: On a tuk-tuk tour, like we did.

4. Watch the sunrise on Taung Wine Mountain

We didn't get to climb this mountain, and we were really sorry to miss it!

The climb takes between 45 minutes and an hour, so it's best to set off an hour and a half before sunrise (it takes about 30 minutes to get from the center of town to the mountain). The easiest way is to arrange with your hotel the night before for a tuk-tuk to pick you up in the early hours.

The climb isn't that hard, but it's very humid, which makes it a bit tougher! Don't forget to take plenty of water.

From the photos we saw and what people told us, watching the sunrise from the top of this mountain seems incredible.

5. Explore the rice fields

Hpa An is surrounded by incredible green rice fields. Rent a motorbike or a bicycle and head to the outskirts of town. They grow rice several times a year, so there's a good chance you'll get to see them.

6. Kawagun Cave

A small cave with more than 10,000 Buddha figures in all different sizes!

But if there's one special thing that sets this magical place apart, it's the mosaics of religious scripture covering the walls and ceiling. Many are hundreds of years old and mix with newer ones that replace the old ones as they break down over time.

Price: 3,500 kyats

How to get there

Option 1: If you've rented a motorbike, it's about a 30-minute ride from central Hpa An.

Option 2: On a tuk-tuk tour, like we did.

7. Kaw Ka Taung Cave

It's famous for the red stone monks leading the way to the entrance. Entrance is free, and inside you can enjoy a walk of about 10 minutes.

Outside the cave, on the right, there's a small mountain you can climb, with a pagoda at the top. From up there you get incredible views of Hpa An, mountains, rice fields and rivers.

Entrance fee: Free

How to get there

Option 1: If you've rented a motorbike, it's about a 25-minute ride from central Hpa An.

Option 2: On a tuk-tuk tour, like we did.

8. Bat Cave

Every day at sunset, this cave puts on a show: millions of bats come flying out of it.

Entrance fee: 1,000 kyats

How to get there

Option 1: If you've rented a motorbike, it's about a 20-minute ride from central Hpa An.

Option 2: On a tuk-tuk tour, like we did.

9. Lumbini Garden and the thousand Buddhas

A very curious place in Hpa An: a garden with 1,500 completely identical Buddha statues!

Entrance fee: 4,000 kyats

How to get there

Option 1: If you've rented a motorbike, it's about a 45-minute ride from central Hpa An. It's very close to Saddan Cave.

Option 2: On a tuk-tuk tour, like we did.

10. Mount Zwegabin

This is one of the most famous hikes in southern Myanmar. It takes 2 hours to climb the mountain and another two to come down, and the way up is quite steep, with lots of stairs. It's famous because there's a monastery at the top where you can spend the night. The nice thing about that is that you get to talk with the monks during the night, and they'll love telling you about their religion and what Myanmar has suffered in recent years.

Opinions differ on whether it's worth climbing. Some people have nicknamed it "Garbage Mountain" because of all the garbage along the way. They also say the view isn't incredible enough to justify climbing for two hours. And others think the view is 100% worth the effort!

We didn't do it because we didn't have time, but even if we had, we'd probably have thought twice about it.