The Hotel – Kalaw Hill Lodge

It takes about 20 minutes to drive to the Kalaw Hill Lodge along a bumpy dirt track, passing remote villages. The odd bump here and there is certainly worth it as you quickly discover you are seeing the glorious pleasure of experiencing Burma off-the-beaten track. The lodge overlooks the Shan hills and local farmland.

The main house sits at the centre where you will find the restaurant and lounge area that opens out onto the terrace, offering superb views. At the centre you find a large fireplace, ideal to make you feel toasty again after a walk in the countryside.

The rooms are tastefully designed and fan out either side of the main house meaning all rooms have good views. Opt for either a first-floor room with a balcony or a ground-floor room with a terrace. The rooms have been comfortably furnished, and all have fireplaces, flatscreen TV, en-suite bathrooms, safe and mini-bar. They feature dark teak floors, and mosquito-net clad double or twin beds. The bathrooms feature walk-in rainforest showers, but no bathtubs.

Kalaw is a mecca for the avid trekker, and you can opt from a range of relatively easy day-treks to longer overnight treks, possibly walking to Inle Lake. You can also have the chance to explore the local working farm and more experiential activities seeing how rural Burma works.