Motorcycle Tour from Bagan to Kalaw and Pinlaung

Great day for another Myanmar motorcycle tour starting from Bagan. Was first going to take route passing through Naypyitaw to Pinlaung but changed the game plan to go via Kalaw in case there will be rain and chance of flooding. Weather turned out to be great and partially sunny.

Particularly memorable was the ride up to Kalaw through lush valleys and ever weaving road carved into mountain sides slowly climbing up to Shan plateau and Kalaw. This was an awesome ride.

After break in Kalaw we continued southbound towards Loikaw on smaller road which was often just a single lane. The landscape is nice rolling hills dotted with farms, growing corn and other seasonal crops. On the way to Pinlaung we passed through many Taung Yoe and Pao villages where ladies dress in black and wear orange turbans.

Just before Pinlaung the landscape gets more dramatic with limestone karst mountains poking up here and there. We arrive to Pinlaung around 5pm and decided to explore small road leading up towards the mountain range rising behind the town. There is a nice small single track road that weaves through green shrubs and by dramatic limestone cliffs up the mountain range. This road goes on for around 5km it’s a nice uphill drive. Lots of school kids were hiking up the hill as well returning home after day of study.

Taking another small road we could get to highest vantage point hoping to get some views of surrounding limestone mountains and valleys but could not see a thing when got enveloped in clouds. Apparently the altitude is so high the clouds often cover the top of the hill where there is a monastery view great views over the surrounding limestone mountains and valleys.

We spent the night in a hotel by the main road passing through the town. It was no frills. Typical Burmese city hotel without character but comfortable enough for good night of sleep after long drive.

The rain finally caught up in Pinlaung and drizzled through all night.