Adventure Safari across Chin Hills

This adventure combines fascinating drive through Chin Highlands, impressive sceneries, heritage sites, authentic villages and tribal communities. You will experience something that cannot be found in tourist guide books. It is more than just an off-road expedition, it’s about nature, mountain trials and social interactions with local tribe. Experience the authenticity of life style of colorful Chin tribal women wearing different facial tattoo patterns on their face and attractive amber necklaces. Driving through remote Chin Hills will get you a lifetime achievement.

Draft Itinerary

Day 01:Meet and greet by your guide upon your arrival at Zokhawthar/Rihkhawdar friendship gate. Your adventure starts here as you set off for Tedim, passing Rid Lake which heart shape and famous holiday spot among Indian and local.

Day 02:Roll along the mountainous road for Hakha, the capital of Chin State along beautiful roads often goes high up to witness Rhododendron and other high land dwelling plants. You often come cross people driving wooden trolley cars which they use these vehicles to fetch fire woods, and product from field. You will notice some memorable stone slabs, inscribe about the people mostly with their lives and achievements.

Day 03:A challenge journey towards south to Ye Zwar, small village between Hakha and Matupi. Most part of the road we travel at high altitude gives you a fantastic view of the remote wildness of the Northern Chin Hills.

Day 04:The winding road often goes ups and downs through Jungles and villages dotted along the way to Matupi, set up high above sea and famous for its natural beauty and tenderness and hospitality of the people, generous blossoms and bashful rivers making their ways through the rugged terrains.

Day 05:Explore beautiful Bungtla water fall, which are famous of its beauty and venture southward journey towards Mindat through the mountains and valley of the Chin Hills often infested with thick rhododendron flowers. Mindat is the administrative town for southern Chin State, impressively perched on a hillside offering scenic and overlooking Mt.Victoria some 30 miles away across a deep valley to the southwest.

Day 06:Explore some of the sights and sounds of Mindat and head south to the base of Mt. Victoria, enjoying heavily forested park system amongst oaks and laurels which later change into rhododendrons. Trek along mule trek to the peak at 3070 meter. The journey to the summit is more impressive than the broad summit itself. Back to the base and drive down to Kanpetlet another Chin settlement.

Day 07:Explore part of Kanpetlet, observe Chin tribal women wearing different facial tattoo patterns. Later we set off for Saw and then to Pakokku, driving down through Chin Hills along winding roads with green vegetation.

Day 08:Set off for Monywar through the western bank of Ayeyarwady river. Explore Poe Win Taung ancient ruin site where Buddha Images in the caves carved from the rocky hills. This extraordinary complex consists of 947 sandstone caves dug out of the hills and contains what is considered by archaeologists to be the richest collection of mural paintings.

Day 09:Set off for your adventure towards west to Kalaymyo. Travel on the western part of Myanmar, enjoy the site and sounds of authentic life style of local in the mainland.

Day 10:Heading north for another Indo/Myanmar border at Tamu/Moreh, from where you will exist into India to complete this unique experience.

Photo Gallery

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrival, travel to Tedim

Upon our arrival at Zokhawthar/Rihkhawdar friendship gate, meet and greet by our guide and get formality done. Zokhawthar is a village in the Champhai district of Mizoram, India, on the Indo-Burma border. On the Myanmar side is Rihkhawdar village accessible via a bridge built over the Harhva also known as Tio river. Like many border towns, Rihkhawdar boasts a fascinating dynamic of organized, cross-boundaries chaos and diverse, multilingual residents, many of whom are of Indian or Chinese descent. From here we drive to Tedim, passing Rid Lake which heart shape and famous holiday spot among Indian and local. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guest house.

Distance cover: 58Km, Duration of drive: 3 hour (approx.)
Meal inclusion – Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Local Guest House

Day 02 : Tedim – Falam - Hakha (2370m to 336m then to 1567)

Breakfast at local tea shop and we roll along the mountainous road for Hakha, the capital of Chin State. About three hours or so on the beautiful roads often goes high up to witness Rhododendron and other high land dwelling plants. We Have lunch stop at Taingen village, located at strategic point of road junction between Kalay/Hakha and Kalay/Tedim cross road. After lunch, we continue our journey passing through many Chin settlements along the road where houses are built on stilt at the edge of road side. We often pass through people driving their wooden trolley cars (a wooden trolley with 4 wheels without engine built for multi- purpose use) which are important instrument for daily life as they use these vehicles to fetch fire woods, and product from field. We cross the Barr Bridge that span across Manipur river. As we approach Falam we notice some of the memorable stone slabs, inscribe on the stone slab about the people belong to the village ahead with his good deeds, wealth, marriage life, children and his achievements etc. Some slabs shows not only in words but also human, animals, houses are carved on the surface of the stone.

After another two hour drive we arrive at Falam, situates 5500 feet above sea, built on the slope of a mountain range, in multiple steps. We will just pass through this town since our final destination is Hakha, which take us another three hour on the winding road along the esthetically beautiful landscape. Hakha is the capital of Chin State located at elevation 6120 feet from the sea. We have dinner at local restaurant and check in at local guest house for overnight.

Distance cover: 119Km, Duration of drive: 5 hour (approx.)
Meal inclusion – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Local Guest House

Day 03 : Hakha – Ye Zwar (1826m to 900m and then to 1358m)

Breakfast at local tea shop and hop on to our jeeps for a challenge journey towards south to Ye Zwar, small village between Hakha and Matupi. Most part of the road we travel at and around 7000 to 8000 feet high which gives us a fantastic view of the wildness of the Northern Chin Hills which very few foreigners may have access till now. We check in at a small local guest house and explore the village interacting with the friendly local. We have pack lunch and a home cooked dinner today as there is no restaurant in Ye Zwar. Overnight at local guest house.

Distance cover: 162Km, Duration of drive: 8 hour (approx.)
Meal inclusion – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Local Guest House

Day 04 : Ye Zwar – Matupi (1358m to 1802m then to 1170m)

Breakfast at local tea shop and hop on to the jeep for a challenge journey towards south (65 mile, approx. 3 hour) to Matupi, locate at 3560 feet above sea level, through the winding road often goes ups and downs through Jungles and villages dotted along the way. Famous for its natural beauty as well as the tenderness and hospitality of the people, generous blossoms and bashful rivers making their ways through the rugged terrains. “Matupi is extremely amiable and affectionately beautiful.

It is home to several tribes. We explore around Matupi admiring the natural beauty and friendly tribes. We visit beautiful Bungtla water fall, which are famous of its beauty. Survey record shows Matupi is still rich in fauna such as Wild Dogs, Pangolin, Porcupines, Tigers, Leopards, Bears, many species of Monkeys but coming across with any of these animal (except for the monkeys) would be rather unlikely. The Hornbill is one of the most famous birds found in the forests. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at local guest house.

Distance cover: 103Km, Duration of drive: 6 hour (approx.)
Meal inclusion – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Local Guest House

Day 05 : Matupi – Mindat (1130m to 2650m and then to 1428m)

We say good bye to the local and continue our southward journey. Our destination today is Mindat through the mountain and valley of the Chin Hills often infested with thick rhododendron flowers. The highest mountain Mt. Mawpi stands at 9228 feet, and the second highest is Lukil stands at 8408 feet are located around this area. Mindat is the administrative town for southern Chin State, impressively perched on a hillside at an altitude of 4860ft, offering scenic and varied adventures to visit the Chin ethnic minorities. It is overlooked by Mt. Victoria some 30 miles away across a deep valley to the southwest. Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Distance cover: 152Km, Duration of drive: 6-7 hour (approx.)
Meal inclusion – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel in Mindat

Day 06 : Mindat – Mt. Victoria Summit - Kanpetlet

Breakfast and we visit Mindat market and explore some of the sights and sounds of Mindat. We visit a small museum, a village where Makaan tribe ladies wearing amber beads and traditional costumes. Later we head south through the road goes down to valley of Che Chaung, from where curly road winding up all the way to the base of Mt. Victoria. Enjoy heavily forested park system amongst oaks and laurels which later change into rhododendrons. At the base we leave our vehicle and start trek along mule trek to the peak at 3071 meter, enjoying beautiful scenery with colorful Rhododendron flowers and other wild flower like orchid etc. The journey to the summit is more impressive than the broad summit itself. From the summit we enjoy the fantastic view of the entire plain. We descend back to the base and drive down to Kanpetlet another Chin settlement beautifully parched at 1390 meter in elevation. Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Distance cover: 55Km, Duration of drive: 3 hour (approx.)
Trek time: 5 hour (approx.)
Meal inclusion – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel in Kanpetlet

Day 07 : Kanpetlet – Pakokku

Breakfast and we explore part of Kanpetlet, observe Chin tribal women wearing different facial tattoo patterns. Each ethnic group has their own pattern which distinguishes them from one another. Later we set off for Saw and then to Pakokku, driving down through Chin Hills along winding roads with green vegetation. Once we approach low land we feel the humidity and we are looking forward to the heat and dust through the main land. Upon arrival at Pakokku, we check in at our hotel. Later we explore town with major monuments. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Distance Covers 159 km, Duration of drive: 5-6 hour (approx.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel in Pakokku

Day 08 : Pakokku – Monywar

Breakfast and depart for Monywar through the western bank of Ayeyarwady river. On the way visit Pakhangyi ancient town. Monywar is a small town located on the bank of the Chindwin river. We check in at hotel and explore Monywar. Afternoon we visit Poe Win Taung (56 km, approx. one hour). Here we explore the site where Buddha Images in the caves carved from the rocky hills. This extraordinary complex consists of 947 sandstone caves dug out of the hills and contains what is considered by archaeologists to be the richest collection of mural paintings and Buddhist statues in South East Asia. Po Win Taung with its unique Buddha Images and precious frescoes some dating from the early 17th century, is a must to see for anyone with an interest in Buddhist arts. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Monywar.

Distance Covers 320 km, Duration of drive: 6-7 hour (approx.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel in Monywar

Day 09 : Monywar – Kalaymyo

Breakfast and we set off for our adventure towards west to Kalaymyo via Yargyi road. First part till 60 km is fairly good road but become quite challenging with dusts and mud, we then on a fairly good road but once you reach a village called Pahtolone, the road condition is worsen again and gradually we enjoy driving till we get to our destination at Kalaymyo. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at Hotel.

Distance Covers 163 km, Duration of drive: 6-7 hour (approx.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Hotel in Kalaymyo

Day 10 : Kalaymyo - Tamu

Breakfast and we head towards north to another Indo/Myanmar border at Tamu/Moreh, from where you will be existing in to India. We have lunch and visit Namfalon local market which is a wholesale center which deal in bulk of Chinese goods. Later we drive to the Indo/Myanmar friendship bridge, get the formalities done and wedge you a farewell to complete this unique experience.

Distance Covers 130km, Duration of drive: 3 hour (approx.)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight stay: Not included

Booking Condition

How to Book:

Complete the booking form click “submit” button to make your reservation. Alternately you may book through email [email protected] .

Deposit and payment:

A deposit of 30% of your trip cost per person is require to secure your booking. The balance will need to be settled 15 day before commence of trek. Bookings made within 15 days must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Validity:

Prices quoted are net basis and valid according to the date specified on the printed tariffs, quotation, invoice etc. Myanmar Hill lodges (Myanmar Highland Eco-adventures) warrants that the prices or rates quoted are correct at the time of issuance but are subject to change in line with market, tax or currency fluctuation.

Cancellations and refunds:

All cancellations must be advised in writing and are accepted from the date the written confirmation is received and applied cancellation as below.
30 days before trip date: you will lose your deposit
15 days and less before the trip date: 50% of the total cost per person
Less than 7 day before trip date: no refunds will be made
If reservations are cancelled (or) no-show: no refunds will be made

Amendments:

Depending on the severity of the nature of work involve we may impose you an appropriate charge for the amendment. Please note we may not be able to accommodate your request during “high occupation period”. In such case we will not be responsible for any lost or additional costs incurred. Should trip be cancelled after deposit cancellation fee applies.

Grouping:

There is no limitation on the group size on this program, however Myanmar Hill Lodges (Myanmar Highland Eco-adventures) reserves the right to combine in order to form a decent group on same departure.

Un-used service:

No refunds will be considered any unused service after commencement of the tour, trek or expeditions regardless of the reason whatsoever.

Checklist

Clothing:

Some comfortable cotton long sleeves pants and shirts and a lightweight jacket or windbreaker will be useful to tackle variety of weather pattern. A thick sweater or fleece sweat shirt would be ideal to wear in the evenings, when temperatures decline considerably.

Personal items:

Such as flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries, water bottle and lighter, a pocketknife, reading and writing material and personal first aid kit would also be essential for your convenience.

Protection from weather:

A pair of sun glass and hat is essential for your protection from sun. You will also need some sun screen to protect against sunburn.

Protection against insect bite:

It’s important to keep insect repellent to keep the insects away.

FAQ

What are the overnight facilities?

Proper accommodation in Mindat, Kanpetlet, Bagan, Mandalay, Monywar and Kalay with facilities such as en-suite private bath with running hot and cold shower and daily breakfast. Local Guest House during Tedim, Falam, Hakha, Razwar and Matupi where you may have to share common bath and toilet and breakfast usually served at local tea shops. Lighting will be provided using solar panel. Limited amount of hot water will be supplied for face wash in every morning.

What will be the temperature like?

Our season is between November and May, which is winter and best tourist season in Myanmar. Mostly clear skies, warm during the day and cool evenings. Temperature steadily decreases between late December and early February. Average temperature would be between low 10/15 and high 25/30 degree Celsius.

How long is an average drive in a day?

Most of the days we are on pristine and beautiful yet rough and rugged roads thus distance cover will be minimal. We estimate our daily drive time would very between shortest 3 hour and longest will be 8 hour depending on the road and weather condition. We also need to allocate some time to enjoy the nature and interact with friendly locals. Day normally starts at 8 or 9 in the morning follow by breakfast. We try to reach our destination well in time to relax and engage activities like social, cultural interaction.

What will I see during the drive?

Most of our program focuses on cultural and ethnic value thus your trail going across tribal activities, which allow you social interactions with local tribe. This adventure combines fascinating drive through Chin Highlands, impressive scenery, heritage sites, authentic villages and tribal communities. You will experience something that cannot be found in tourist guide books.

How good is the road?

This program is graded as “Demanding” thus anyone who possess fair amount of off-road driving experience will be able to join in. Most part you are on rugged and challenging roads. Both your vehicle and you need to be fit with physical and mentally for this venture.

What about meal?

A hot breakfast usually is served around 7- 8 am, lunch usually is simple, light and serve during mid-day. Dinner will be more extensive featuring pre-dinner snacks and deserts.

What about guides?

We provide English language guide. Upon advance request we will be able to arrange other language guides at additional cost.

What about First aid?

All our guides are qualified in wilderness first aid, and carry a basic medical first aid kit.

Is there any age or health limit to participate?

This program is suitable to anyone with normal health and fitness condition. However older clients or clients with pre-existing medical conditions may require a doctor’s letter confirming their fitness for the trip. During your visit you are under the direction of your trip leader and he/she has total authority to determine your suitability to participate.

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