Learn the Ways of the Ethnic Pa ‘O

One of the most distinctive hill tribes of Shan State is the ethnic Pa’O, who are skilled farmers and tradesmen, known for wearing black or navy-blue dress with colorful turbans. During this full-day trek, you will learn about the lifestyle of the Pa’O people, visit their villages, try their food and even get a chance to try on their traditional dress – a fun photo op! You begin the tour with a short horse and cart ride from your hotel in Nyaungshwe to the starting point of the trek (or a boat ride to the starting point, if your hotel is situated on the lake). You then begin the trek up a gradual ascent to the first Pa’O village. Here you will have the chance to talk with monks at a local monastery, visit a local school and try on the traditional Pa’O dress. You then continue for a short distance to another village where a traditional Pa’O vegetarian lunch will be served with dishes like ginger soup, and pumpkin- and zucchini-leaf salads. The return trek in the afternoon passes through plantations of ginger, garlic and turmeric – stopping off at several spectacular viewpoints overlooking Inle Lake.