Frontiers Wilderness Explorations
Bhamo
Situated beside the Ayeyarwaddy River on the way to
Myitkyina, Bhamo is a colorful trading town of river boats with
a unique mixture of tribes and near the 5th century ruins of the
trading city of Sampanago and hill tribe villages of the Lisu
and Kachin people.
Myitkyina
Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State and is set in a broad
valley surrounded by the northern hills of Myanmar. This land
offers forested hills and beautiful rivers where nature’s trees,
fauna and flora abound. Walking and hiking are a very popular
way to see the area. We can also visit Indawgyi Lake, jade mines
of Hpakant, and Myit-son - the very start of the legendary
Ayeyarwaddy River- and we can see a number of hill tribes in the
Myitkyina market. Excursions to visit local tribes of mountain
villages of Haungpa, Tawmaw & Lone Khin, Indawgyi Lake, Hopin,
Hsahmaw, Mogaung, Namti and the World War II Memorial on Mogaung
River at Nam Kawn village.
Putao
Putao is the starting point for Myanmar’s most adventurous
trekking adventures. Myanmar’s northernmost own with views of
the Hkakabo Razi 5881 metre peak - Myanmar’s highest mountain.
Overnight hiking trips to nearby villages and subtropical
evergreen and rainforests offer visitors a very unique view of
the northern frontier.
Putao - White Water Rafting along Nam lang River
Commencing October 2006, the nature and adventure loving
visitors will have the golden opportunity to experience
overnight rafting expeditions on the headwaters of the
Ayeyarwaddy River to the north of Putao, as well as a variety of
day excursions by raft, kayak, mountain bike or on foot. This
area is situated in the foothill of the Himalayas in the far
north of Myanmar, which contains one of the last great areas of
subtropical and rainforest in the Himalayas, and is Home to both
Lisu and Rawang hill tribes.
Mrauk-U
The ruins of Mrauk-U are located up the Kaladan River, about 80
km north of Sittwe, the present day capital of Rakhine State. It
was an ancient capital founded by Rakhine King Minzawmun in
1433. Unlike the temples of Bagan, Mrauk-U’s ruins are
constructed with stone rather than the traditional bricks in a
truly unique style. Explore the “laythu”, tattoo Chin Tribe
villages and “Khami” tribe villages reached by river boat from
Mrauk U. This is a remote destination for the true explorer.
Sittwe
On the northern coast near the Bangladesh border, Sittwe is home
to a large Muslim community. Originally built by the British in
1826, the town’s most popular sites include the Payagyi Pagoda,
the Rakhine State Cultural Museum, Payamya Monastery and the
riverfront market. It’s the best place to buy Arakanese longyis.
Explore the fishing villages by boat along the Kalatan River to
see the rural ways of life.
The Southern Chin Hills
Explore the hill villages of the Myo (Khami) and Thet tribes
reached by river boat from Mrauk-U. This is still a remote
destination for the true explorer. Special permission is needed
for travel into this region.
Nagaland
The Naga are a tribe living in the mountains, valleys, and
plains of the most remote places on earth. Their region covers
the northwest corner of Myanmar, close to Indian border. In the
middle of January every year, Naga New Year Festival was held in
one of the townships in their region. Travellers can journey
overland by 4WD trucks and river barges to reach the town for
the annual festival. At the New Year celebrations, endless cup
of rice wine are drunk, bison and wild boar meat roasted and
eaten; tribal dances performed with loud drums.
Mt. Victoria & Mindat
Mt. Victoria (elevation 10,200 ft) is situated in the Chin Hills
which forms a southward extension of the Himalayas into
Southeast Asia. Mt. Victoria is also known as Natmataung. It is
the highest peak in the Lower Half of Myanmar. Mindat is a small
town at the base of Mt. Victoria and has simple accommodation.
Besides mountaineering this is the best place for hiking to
nearby villages to see the local life and bird watching. The
true heart of traditional Chin culture is found in the Mindat
region. In this area, Chin ethnic tribes with tattooed faces can
be observed in nearby tribal villages around Mt. Victoria.
