The Riverside @ Hsipaw Resort

If you are looking to get off-the-beaten track in Burma, and explore remote rural communities and stunning natural surroundings, then Hsipaw might well be your answer. Hsipaw is located along the old Burma Road linking the medieval capital of Mandalay and Yunnan Province in China. You usually drive up from Mandalay, stopping in the former colonial hill station of Maymyo (now Pyin Oo Lwin), and taking the train part of the way to Hsipaw. You really feel like you are escaping the hordes, and allowing the natural beauty of Burma to unfold in front of you. Alternatively, fly to Lashio from either Yangon or Mandalay and drive to Hsipaw.

The Lodge itself can’t exactly be described as luxurious, but is great as a base to explore the local area through a series of day-treks. All the thatched rooms line the Dohawady River, and have cute little sit-outs where you can put your feet up after a walk in the countryside. They are all air-conditioned and feature mosquito-bet clad beds and feature rustic looking exposed brick walls and locally designed fixtures and fittings. All rooms are en-suite bathrooms with showers, but do not have bathtubs. There is a restaurant offering local dishes, and a bar.