Trekking Highlights
around Kyaing Tong (Keng Tung)
 Hokyin
Area (Akha, Lahushi, Khun, and Wa tribes)
– moderate treks
It is about an hour drive away from Keng
Tung to the place where you leave your car
and begin 1.5hr trek to Akhar villages.
There are basically two to three villages
to visit, including Phata and Na Phi Phank
with different religious backgrounds and
lifestyles. Another 30 minutes trek will
lead to Na Phi Phank village, where Lahu
and Akha tribes living together. Another
visit can be made to Mong Zine (Khun Village)
where traditional Lahu Knives are being
made by Lahu blacksmiths. On the way back
to Keng Tung, the Wa village of Joe Phyu
can also be visited.
Pin Tauk Area (Lahu, Eng,
Akhar tribes – Easy to Moderate)
 It
is about 45-mins drive from Keng Tung along
the scenic valley, fringed by the hazy mountains
that separate Myanmar and Lao, and portrayed
with green carpeted farms, quiet Khun villages,
and dotted monasteries with Lana influenced
architecture. Pindauk itself is a Lahu settlement
located in the northeast of Keng Tung. Normally
at least two Akhar villages (Nam Lin Mai
& Nam Lin Hong); and Eng (often referred
as the “Black Teeth People”) village of
Wan Mai are most visited. Another attraction
is the Pindauk waterfalls surround by the
orchards. For the serious walkers, a visit
to the combination of three Akhar villages,
Buddhist, Baptist, and Animist villages
can be made.
Wan Pauk (Silver Palaung)
& Wan Sai (Akhi) villages – easy treks
 On
the way to Pin Tauk area, Wan Pauk village
can be visited following an unpaved road
passing through several Khun villages and
scenic elevated rice fields. The silver
Palaung tribe at Wan Pauk village can be
distinguished from their golden Palaung
kinfolk by the silver belt worn on their
wrists.
The Wan Sai village is about 30-mins
(9km) drive from Keng Tung. The road passes
through some typical Shan villages, old
wats, spirit shrines and green fields of
rice on the road to Wan Sai village, where
Akhi people live on the forest-clad hill
top.
Lwe Mwe (Loi Mwe) – Easy
to moderate
 Lwe
Mwe is an old colonial outpost located 33km
southeast of Keng Tung, and sits on top
the mountain of 1600 meters. The road to
Loi Mwe is pretty jagged especially when
ascending, but Khun villages, views of terraced
rice fields, forest clad winding road, serene
lakes, and the temperate climate are the
rewards. There are a number of colonial
buildings, a century-old Catholic Church,
and a market next to the reservoir can be
visited. Along the road, Wan Lun Shan village,
HoLup Akha village, and Nang Cho Wa village
and Panwai Lahu village can be visited.
Wan Nyut & Wan Seng Villages
(Loi or Lwe tribe, and Khuns) – moderate
to hard
 The
visit to these villages required one full
day as the starting point is located not
far away from the Chinese border town of
Mongla, some 85km north of Keng Tung. It
will take around 2-hours from Kyaing Tong
to the place where the trek begins. The
road itself is an attraction, as it passing
through expense valley dotted with green
fields, fish ponds, interesting villages
of Khun people and stunning mountain sceneries
along the ridge-road. The trek is not so
easy but the trail leading the villages
has quite rewarding atmosphere, especially
the old monastery just before the village
that dated from 1750AD has very interesting
story and impressive woodworks. Since, Wan
Nyht and Wan Seng villages are located far
from the reach of outside influences, there
one can witness centuries-old traditions,
from hunting methods, to community based
living, where at least 5-families living
in a huge longhouses – a rewarding experience.
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