Northern Myanmar's potential as a serious hiking venue remains virtually untapped due to the sensitive political nature of the mountainous frontier states. Out-of-town hikes are now permitted in the 'secure' area of the Shan State stretching from Kalaw east to Inle. So far about the only place you'll find hiking guides are in the small towns of Kalaw and Nyaungshwe (Yaunghwe). The area around Kalaw and Pindaya offers a variety of possible mountain hikes to minority villages.

Kalaw - The primary recreation in Kalaw is trekking; this can vary from a half day, full day or five day trek into the surrounding hills. The people that live in this region are from the Palang or Pa-O tribes. The hike up to the villages is indeed a wonderful experience; the enfolding landscape is remarkably beautiful, and the people that live amongst the hills are warm and generous. If staying overnight, lodging is usually in a monastery or the ‘long houses’ of the locals.

There is a four day, three night, trek available from Kalaw to Inle Lake. Another from Kalaw to Pindaya which is three days, two nights. Both of these treks allow you to see the local environment and tribes villages. On every trek you are accompanied by your guide plus a local guide, who will be able to speak the local dialect and arrange your food and accommodation in these villages. There are currently two shorter treks available from here, a one night stop over to a Taryaw village. In total this trek takes four hours to arrive at the village, and the trek is just three hours back to Kalaw the next day.

Mt. Popa - There are a number of different treks available around Mt. Popa, the most impressive being to the summit, which will take approximately 5-6 hours by foot. You can continue down about an hour walk into the crater of the volcano. There are also many day hikes from Mt. Popa Resort to surrounding villages that give you a chance to see the picturesque flora and fauna that inhabits Mt. Popa.

Mt. Kyaikto - Mt. Kyaikto, the site of Kyaiktiyo Paya, offers an easily navigated but physically challenging uphill climb if you start from the bottom – about a four hours hike. Branch trails around the mountain provide at least a couple of day's worth of side hikes that few foreign visitors have so far experienced.

Mountaineers everywhere are awaiting the day when the highest mountain in South-east Asia, snow-clad Hkakabo Razi (5889 m), on the border between Myanmar and Tibet, and nearby Gamlang Razi (5835 m) are opened to climbers. So far only limited area around Putao is open for short trekking.