Page 356 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

354 NortherN MyaNMar Myitkyina and the far north
TREKKING FROM PUTAO
once you get to Putao, you can only travel outside town with a permit, as a member of an
organized tour. the tour company will arrange the permit, but it may take a few weeks. in
extreme cases, the government may stop issuing permits for a time due to ethnic conflicts in
the region.
the local tour guides work for independent organizations or in branches of yangon-based
trekking companies. you can typicallly choose between a clutch of relatively gentle two-day
hikes to stay overnight in rawang and Lisu villages, go rafting on the Malikha river or head for
the summits of mountains such as Phongun razi, Phangran razi or the base camp of
Myanmar’s tallest mountain, hkakabo razi. the difficulty of these treks varies considerably
– consult the tour operator before deciding.
one of the most popular treks is to Phongun razi (3635m), the most accessible of the
mountains. it takes around five days (walking six hours per day) to reach the summit as part of
a twelve-day package, with a day in Putao at either end. this trek will cost around $1900 per
person for a group of four, all-inclusive. you’ll be walking through primeval forests, staying in
village houses at first and then camping as you approach the mountain. on all of these treks,
you’ll have the opportunity to see the indigenous wildlife and plants, including (with luck)
some endangered species.
LOCAL GUIDES
Myanmar Trekking T01 667948, Wmyanmar Putao Trekking House T09 840 0138,
trekking.com. This Yangon-based company has Wputaotrekkinghouse.com. These local specialists
branches nationwide. Their Putao branch offers treks operate from their own hotel in Putao. The team leads
8 ranging from a four-day walking tour or “soft trek” day-trips, cycling and rafting expeditions and treks
($830 per person in a group of four) right up to a 33-day
ranging from four-day trips to visit minority villages
adventure trek to the base camp of Hkakabo Razi ($805 each in a group of four) up to an epic 26-day
($8500 per person in a group of four). They can also mountain hike.
design trips to your own specifications.

prices of some goods are higher than elsewhere in Myanmar, though locally
produced items such as tribal costumes and fabrics in the market can be a
real bargain.
Excursions out of Putao range from two-day trips to nearby Kachin villages to
multi-day whitewater rafting excursions and a twelve-day round-trip hike to Phongun
Razi (3635m), the region’s most accessible trekking peak. Once out of Putao, the only
accommodation options are wild camping and the occasional village house. You can
forget about camping independently, though – you’ll be stopped as soon as you try to
get out of town by yourself.
arrIVaL aND DePartUre PUtao
By air The only way for foreigners to get to Putao is by (Wyangonair.com) and Air Bagan (Wairbagan.com). The
air, and flights can be booked up weeks in advance in airport is a few kilometres north of the town; if you’ve
high season. If you’re having trouble finding available booked accommodation in advance, hotel staff will
flights and agencies are unable to help, try visiting normally come to the airport to meet you.
airlines’ websites and offices directly, as they sometimes Destinations Mandalay (3 weekly; 2hr 20min); Myitkyina
keep seats back. Putao is currently served by Myanmar (5 weekly; 50min).
National Airlines (Wflymna.com), Yangon Airways
aCCoMMoDatIoN
Kham Su Ko Near the market T09 840 1082. This is Wmalikhalodge.net. Set on a large site next to a Lisu
owned by a Kachin family, who converted their village around 12km from Putao, this Jean-Michel Gathy-
wooden family home to make a simple guesthouse and designed lodge has ten high-roofed thatched bungalows
restaurant. K40,000 complete with log fires and round teak bathtubs. Room rates
Malikha Lodge Mulashidi Village T09 860 0659, (minimum two nights; longer stays are slightly cheaper)

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