Page 270 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

268 INLE LAKE AND THE EAST KAYAH STATE

SILKS AND SAUSAGES IN LOIKAW
Loikaw boasts a couple of other low-key attractions, although you’ll need a guide (see below)
to visit them. Run as a training centre for local girls, the Weaving Centre (Mon–Fri
8.30–4.30pm; $3, plus guide fees) offers the chance to see traditional dyes being made
and cotton-spinners and loom-weavers in action on a variety of mechanical and traditional
wooden looms. It’s also a great place to pick up inexpensive local textiles woven on site.
For a cookery class with a difference, try your hand at making spicy Loikaw-style
6 sausages at a quaint little local cottage factory. Classes last around 1hr 30min (after which
the sausages are left to cook for a further 90min) and cost $15 per group (2–6 people),
plus $5 per person plus guide fees.

the longer route round the west of Lake Moebye via Destinations Shwenyaung, for Nyaungshwe (1 daily; 6hr);
Pekon. There’s at least one daily minibus along this route Taungoo (5 daily; 7hr); Yangon (2 daily; 11hr).
to Shwenyaung (see p.252), a short hop from By boat Far and away the most memorable way of
Nyaungshwe. There services bypass Kalaw, but will set reaching Loikaw is by boat from Inle Lake – a six-hour
you down in nearby Aungban (4hr), from where you can journey from Nyaungshwe across Inle Lake itself then down
catch a motorbike, minibus or pick-up to Kalaw itself. the canal to Lake Moebye, passing Sankar (see p.261) en
There are also two afternoon buses from Loikaw to route, before ending at the town of Pekon, where you’ll
Yangon via Taungoo (plus more regular minibuses to need to transfer to a car for the final hour’s drive to Loikaw.
Taungoo), although it’s a tortuously long and slow drive. It’s a fine (albeit slow) journey. Count on a minimum of
Services depart from the small bus station north of the around $75 for boat plus car, which you should be able to
centre past the airport on National Highway 5. arrange through a tour operator in Nyaungshwe.
TOUR OPERATORS
All the following operators can arrange tours to the local villages of Pan Pet and Hta Nee La Leh (see p.269), along with
various other local excursions. Count on around $110 per person for the full day-trip to Pan Pet in a group of two (falling to
around $70 in a group of five or six), or $100 per person in a group of two to Hta Nee La Leh ($55 in a group of five or six).
Amazing Kayah T09 560 0315, Eamazingkayah Emeticulousmyanmartravel.lkw@gmail.com.
.loikaw@gmail.com. 9 Generation Force T09 256 502 908, E9generation
Meticulous Myanmar T09 780 166 815, force.office@gmail.com.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in Loikaw is plentiful but pricey, with lots of mid-range options but virtually nothing in the way of budget
lodgings. Cheaper options are concentrated in the town centre while upmarket places are clustered around Hteenhgarylar
Lake – an attractively rural area, although a bit of a hike (at least 20min) north from town. All places listed have a/c unless
stated otherwise.
Kan Thar Yar U Ni St T083 22344, Ekantharyarhotel nice enough if you don’t mind the rough edges, and at a
@gmail.com. Super-peaceful modern hotel right next to reasonable price. $100
the larger of Loikaw’s two lakes, around 2km north of the Kayan Golden Sky Guest House 29 Khattar St T083
centre. Rooms are bright, spacious and comfortable, and 21923, Ekayangoldensky@gmail.com. Good mid-
well equipped with safe, fridge, flatscreen TVs and big range modern hotel, with comfortable and well-equipped
Kangaroo boilers, while most also come with soothing lake rooms at (by Loikaw standards) very competitive rates, plus
great views of the Taung Kwe Pagoda from the rooftop
views through big French windows. $45
Kayah Resort U Kun Li St T08 321374, Wkayah dining terrace. $40
resort.com. Attractive upmarket resort with spacious ★ Loikaw Lodge U Ni St T09 257 426 673,
and stylish teak-floored rooms set in attractive gardens Wloikawlodge.com. This beautiful lakeside retreat,
around a large pool around 2.5km north of the centre. around 2km north of the centre, is a real labour of love,
The whole thing does, admittedly, appear to have been painstakingly conceived and constructed by the resident
knocked up on the cheap, with comedy wi-fi and German owner Jens Uwe Parkitny. There are just twelve
showers which alternately freeze and scald (and the rooms, each a model of cool, contemporary interior
derisory breakfast could do with an upgrade too), but it’s design, with white walls, teak floors and finishes,