Inside The Golden Triangle
- Off The Beaten Path
Overview
Day 1 - 4: Keng Tung
- Arrive in Keng Tung – a gateway to the Golden Triangle
- Learn about the treasure trove of traditional Shan architecture and the holiest Maha Myat Muni Pagoda.
- Take a jeep journey and trek to the ethnic minority communities in the border (Palaung, Akha, Ann…).
- Depart Keng Tung to the next destination.
Customizable itinerary
Discover life of the many tribe villages inside the Golden Triangle area with this short excursion. Explore Kengtung – the gateway to the Golden Triangle in Myanmar. Visit Lane Tree Hill and Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, the holiest in town. Learn about the ethnic minorities in the Golden Triangle – the red-clothed Palaung tribe, the Akha people, the Wa tribe, the Loi tribe and the Li Shaw people. End the trip by watching a traditional Lan Woan dance performance with pretty Khun girls in Loi Lone village.
Arrive in Kengtung, Myanmar’s gateway to the Golden Triangle. Meet your guide and transfer to hotel. Visit Lane Tree Hill for panoramic views over Kengtung. The town, often compared to Chiang Mai 50 years ago, is a treasure trove of traditional architecture with old-style houses and their intricately designed wooden balconies so characteristic of Shan architecture. After visiting a local Shan lacquer ware factory, visit Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, the holiest in Kengtung.
Overnight in Kengtung
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll take on a full-day excursion to explore the many and still very traditional ethnic minority communities of the Golden Triangle area. A 45–minute drive from Kengtung is Wam Pauk, the home of the red-clothed Palaung tribe. An easy trek of 15 minutes will lead to Hwe Lon, a village of the Akha people. Continue walking to Koum Ma, a Wa tribe village. Stop for lunch at Pin Tauk Waterfall near a Lahu village.
In the afternoon, you’ll meet with the elusive Ann minority. Return to Kengtung.
Overnight in Kengtung
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Leave the hotel after breakfast to visit the Mong Kwan area on a 4–wheel drive pick–up truck. Stop at the hilltop Hwe Kwai village, which belongs to the Loi tribe. Observe the daily life of colorfully dressed Li Shaw people and the unique Wan Kwan mud houses. After a picnic lunch, watch a traditional Lan Woan dance performance in Loi Lone village with beautiful Khun girls, in full traditional costume. Return to Kengtung.
Overnight in Kengtung
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Leave the hotel after breakfast for a walk around Kengtung Market, the meeting point for many hill tribe people. Continue to Yan–Gone village and visit a traditional pottery workshop. Continue to Bo Lang a village of the Ann minority and Wan Sai, an Akha community.
In the afternoon, transfer to Kengtung Airport for onward flight.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Useful Information
This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services. Please click on REQUEST A FREE QUOTE (above) and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!
Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements.
What’s Included?
- Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
- Private Vehicles and Drivers
- Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
- Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
What’s Not Included?
- Your International Flights to and from Myanmar
- Myanmar entry Visa Fees (contact us for further information)
- Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
- Any bank fees or charges at your end
- Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Tips for guides and drivers
Free service. No credit card required
Reviews on Our Service
Simply Perfect!
Simply perfect. We had an amazing three weeks (albeit busy and active – as we requested!) which included a perfectly curated itinerary in Vietnam and Thailand.
From the time I connected with Stella, I knew she’d be able to do exactly as I asked. As for the pre trip/planning portion, I had researched all we wanted to do within the two countries, gave her a budget and advised of the duration of our trip. She mapped all of the logistics: arranging private transportation, English speaking tour guides and enlisted us with specialty activities (some that we joined in with other small groups some of which we did alone). The initial itinerary was “massaged” a couple times to keep everything aligned (us making various decisions) and in line with our initial ideas. Stella ran with every suggestion made! We received a an incredibly detailed itinerary that just made us even more excited for our trip.
Once we arrived, Stella continued with excellent communication by providing us with very specific info communicated on what we could expect, (meeting places, time frame, what to bring for the day, etc). In fact, many people we ran into envied our personalized situation. She left all the guess work out of our trip and we were well prepared in every instance.
Everything was simply wonderful-and we experienced it with a local
flair. I only wish we had a company like this in all countries we want to visit. The experience made it so carefree and we were right at budget. We greatly appreciate all of Stella’s hard work on our behalf, and her company high class, top tier company, Asia Pioneer Travel!
Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam
We just finished an amazing 18-day trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Winston Dinh was our travel designer. He went above and beyond his duty to make sure that we had a perfect trip. He was always available to respond to our request and/or questions. We could not ask for a better travel designer.
The only one thing we wish that our hotels in Da Nang and Hoi An would-be walking distance to the center of night light activities. Other than that, we were very happy with our hotel arrangement.
We already planned for your next trip in 2025. Winston will be the first person that we will contact to help us with our next trip. Thanks, Winston, for a job well done.
THE BEST OF THE BEST……WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR!
Chloe from Asia Pioneer travel prepared for my friends and I a wonderful trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. The planning of the itinerary was a lot of fun and we felt very much part of the process. Chloe and her team delivered everything as planned. guides, vehicles, hotels were first class and were delivered on time and as promised.
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In Angkor Way my friend jumped off a small ledge and broke her heel. CHLOE, ASIA PIONEER AND OUR LOCAL GUIDE WENT INTO QUICK ACTION HAD HER IN VERY COMPETENT HANDS IN A MODERN HOSPITAL WITHIN MINUTES. SHE WAS WELL TREATED BUT SHE DID END UP IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP..
As they say in Vietnam every thing is possible SO CHLOE and her team went into action modified our itinerary and planned other activities compatible with a person in a wheelchair..
In the blink of an eye they made this all possible. . They ARE A WELL GROOMED MACHINE THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHLOE. for making this the trip into an unforgettable memory. I GIVE CHLOE THE HIGHEST RATING AND GIVE HER MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AS TRAVEL PLANNER FOR VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA.
An incredible Lifetime Adventure in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand – Experience Local Culture – Thank You Asian Pioneer
Special thanks to Lizzie Pham and the Asia Pioneer Travel Team for an incredible experience in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand in November 2024. They were always available from our original booking through our travels, and selected knowledgeable, professional, and friendly guides and drivers. My wife and I had the trip of a lifetime. My sister had made a similar trip, with Asia Pioneer, in February and strongly recommended them. We had considered a large tour group and realized, that for approximately the same price, we could have our own private tour. Our ability to be flexible was an advantage not available to large tour groups. Every day was well planned and full of sights and activities. What made this trip extra special was our experience with the local culture which was an important goal. We will always remember taking a Vespa tour through Hanoi learning about the local religion, tasting fruit in the market, and fully appreciating the significance of the tea culture. Biking around a small island on the Mekong Delta, being rowed in the small waterways, making candy with a local family, and catching our own fish to eat for dinner was a highlight. Exploring a local Cambodian floating village and sipping coconut milk while on a floating restaurant (with caged crocodiles) just added to the adventure. Taking a tuk-tuk around Bangkok walking through the Flower market and watching them make Pad-Thai (my favorite) and eating it was yet another “WOW”. The nighttime was yours and with local car or tuk-tuk service being inexpensive we were able to have drinks, on the rooftop, at the famous Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy Hanoi street food, Pub Street and the Phare Circus in Siem Reap, and eat incredible street food in Bangkok. We are so glad that we had the Asia Pioneer TravelTeam manage this remarkable journey.