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Itinerary: The Active Life
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Everyone sweats under the sun, but some things – trekking, biking and diving – take a little more exertion than others. More travellers are planning their own loops and itineraries, by foot, on treks in Shan State.
Of the best, and certainly most popular, are the treks from Kalaw to Inle Lake; independent treks around Hsipaw take in Shan villages.
Getting to some religious sites are hikes in themselves, famously up Mandalay Hill, riverside Sagaing Hill, and past monkeys up Mt Popa, the spiritual centre of the 37 nat.
It’s rewarding to explore the back lanes of any Myanmar town on a rental bike. More serious long-distance bikers can take to the dry zone – a popular route is from Mandalay to Bagan via Myingyan – or to the hills along the relatively quiet road from Pyin U Lwin , to Lashio via Hsipaw.
You can take beginners kickboxing classes at the YMCA in Yangon, or go for run .
Ngapali Beach and Chaungtha Beach are more hang-out places, but both offer half- or full-day snorkelling trips.
The best diving, by far, is off the islands near Kawthoung, currently reached (at an expense) with diving operators from Phuket . Weeklong kayaking trips can also be arranged in Kawthoung.
In the far north, at the foothills of the Himalaya, you can go white-water rafting serious rapids on the Maykha River.
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