1 day

Full Day

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About this activity

Kakku didn’t receive the nickname ‘forest of temples’ for nothing. Located away from the lakeside action of Inle, this Shan Hill surprise contains thousands of stupas, almost perfectly aligned at some sections and dating back to the 11th century. Its remote location in the hills forms the backbone of a full day hiking and trekking towards Buddhist magnificence. The region was not too long ago untouched and unexplored, so treading walking paths and entering this mecca of spiritualty nearby Taunggyi on foots adds only more excitement in this full day active version of seeing Kakku from up close.

The day starts early in the morning at your Inle Lake or Nyaung Shwe hotel by meeting your trekking guide and driver. We start with heading out to the starting point along the Inle Lake shoreline which you will you will reach by boat. The hike through the Burmese landscape commences here with an approximate 3.5-hour hike uphill towards Hti Ne, a small settlement where you will enjoy a simple lunch at a local monastery. Throughout the morning’s hike, a combination of low-lying lands and the beauty of the Shan Hills are said to be the perfect warm-up before reaching your final destination.

After lunch, another 1.5 hours of adventurous walking lies ahead, ending at Neung Ke, locally known as the centre of making traditional Shan musical instruments such as gongs and drums. Most of the villages are inhabited by the Pa-Oh ethnic minority with a rich history. It is here where you will meet the driver for the final stretch towards Kakku. The road up to the thousands of stupas is bumpy, yet rewarding once you reach the area, once was closed to visitors for many years and even now only a few intrepid tourists make their way through here. Dooming up from behind the horizon, the first impression of Kakku is and remains the same – breathtaking. Over 5200 individual stupas adorn the landscape, with examples of stupas towering 20 meters high, and several statues of the Lord Buddha are dotted throughout the region. It remains unknown the exact history with indications leaning towards the 11th – 13th century. Ample time is given to wander around this blissful place, admire the details on the various structures and simply enjoy the awe and splendor of Kakku. We end the day with a stop at Htan Pha Ya village and nearby cave, home to numerous Shan Buddha images. Time to head back to Inle Lake and by car and boat you will reach your overnight address in the late afternoon.

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Included

A full day tour with a professional English-speaking hiking guide.
Return boat transfers from and to the start of the hiking trip
Transportation by car / mini-van / coach with professional driver.
All applicable taxes and service charges
Simple lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)
Lunch

Not included

Inle Lake zone fees.
Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide.
Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying in and inside Nyaung Shwe and along Inle Lake. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Heho, Kalaw, Taunggyi, Pindaya and the domestic airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
Part of this excursion includes walking over unpaved roads and paths. This may not suit guests with walking issues. Bear in mind that such paths may turn slippery / muddy after a rain shower. We suggest wearing good walking shoes, preferred closed shoes, when booking this tour.
This tour includes driving over uneven paths, surfaces and off-road bumpy roads, unsuitable for pregnant women, people with neck and back problems and those with limited mobility.
We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
Sand, dust and water have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 48 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 48 hours may be on request.
It is recommended to bring a rain coat, bag pack, insect repellent and a water bottle with you.
The total hiking time is approximately 5.5 hours with climbs up to 450 metres.
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate