Kalaw is a quiet town at 1.320 m (4.331 ft) above sea level on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. Formerly a popular British hill station, it retains an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era.
Kalaw also serves as a good starting point for interesting one- to five-day treks and hikes into the surrounding mountains, home to hill tribes such as the Palaung, Pa-O, Taungthu, Taungyo and Danu, just to mention a few.

Pindaya is a peaceful little town in a beautiful rural setting. It is famous for its labyrinthine caves which house over 8.000 Buddha images of varying sizes. Pindaya is mainly inhabited by Danu people and the villages around it mostly by members of the Pa-O tribe. The town is a starting point for treks further afield to the hill villages of the Palaung, Taungyo and Danu tribes.