Hpa-an (Karen ဖးအါ၀့ၢ်ဖိ; Burmese ဘားအံမြို့) is a city (population 421,575 as of 2014) in Kayin State (Karen State) in Southeastern Myanmar. Hpa-an is the capital of Kayin State. It is surprisingly underdeveloped given its relative proximity to Mawlamyine and Yangon but this can be explained by the fact that the area has been in conflict with the Government for many years and has only become relatively peaceful since a ceasefire in 2012.
With the expected completion of the Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Corridor at the end of 2015, when improvements to the road between Mae Sot in Thailand and Mawlamyine are due to be finalised, Hpa-an will have great prospects to export to Thailand, and the town and surrounding region are likely to boom.
There is no train so only road travel is possible. From specific destinations:
The Clock Tower 📍 is the main transport hub for travelers. Shared taxis and buses leave and stop here. Ticket-sellers congregate here.
There is also the official Sat Pyit Kwin Bus Terminal 📍, just in case you do not get dropped off at the clock tower or are keen to get your bus ticket first-hand.
Especially around the market and the ferries, plenty of motorbike-taxis and trishaws are available. Do not pay more than 1,000 kyat for destinations within the city. Trips to the countryside for a couple of hours should not cost more than 5,000 kyat for a trishaw.
Shared tuktuk (max 6 pax) cost ~35,000 kyat for one whole day (07:00-18:00). It takes you to all places of interest except Bat Caves. Petrol & toll are inclusive.
It is easy to rent a motorbike; some hostels like Galaxy Motel and Soe Brother can arrange them (~ 8.000 kyat/day) from 07:00 onwards.
Hpa-an is famous for its numerous surrounding caves, mountains and green planes. Most guesthouses organise tours to those (like Soe Brothers and Golden Sky) - full-day trips cost 30,000 kyat (for up to 6 people). In case you arrive late, the Bat Cave evening tour is a highly recommended choice. However, you can also easily explore everything on your own by renting a motorbike from many guesthouses, e.g. Soe Brothers, Galaxy Hotel, Lwin Pyar Guesthouse or Good Luck Motorbike Rental next to Soe Brothers. It takes about a day (without the 4 hr climb of Zwegabin mountain) and the rental costs about 6,000 kyat - depending on the season. Fuel will set you back by another 1,000-1,500 kyat. No road or bridge toll is required on a scooter or bicycle. Below are two recommendations for a day-trip by scooter.
Leaving Hpa-an early at 8:30 and returning around 19:00. The journey has a length of about 75 km. The gpx track is attached to this page.
Kaw Ka Taung Cave, Mat Ka Na Bridge & Village, Saddan Cave, Yae Ta Khon, Lumbini Garden, next Kyauk Kalap to the west, then Kawgoon Cave as well as Ya-The-Byan Cave, and last but not least the Bat Cave for a lasting sunset & bat experience. Probably there will not be enough time to climb Mount Zwegabin from Lumbini garden, if you want to visit all sights listed above.
For a slightly less demanding tour try this 62 km round-trip. Sightseeing stops are Ya-The-Byan Cave (monkeys), Kaw Goon Cave, Kyauk Kalap, Lumbini Garden, Yae Ta Khon pool (for lunch - 1,500-2,000 kyat), Mat Ka Na Village, Kaw Ka Taung Cave.
A "sophisticated" traveler community including bars and clubs has yet to develop. Some shops, e.g. the one opposite Galaxy Motel, sell alcohol.
Most buses and pickups/vans leave from the Clock Tower in the center.
{"type":"Feature","geometry": {"coordinates":[ [97.63492584,16.88920731],[97.63493000,16.88902000],[97.63588000,16.88903000], [97.63633000,16.88892000],[97.63711000,16.88862000],[97.63766000,16.88844000], [97.63829000,16.88801000],[97.63856000,16.88783000],[97.63892000,16.88763000], [97.63999000,16.88719000],[97.64049000,16.88691000],[97.64090000,16.88662000], [97.64128000,16.88634000],[97.64259000,16.88502000],[97.64347000,16.88426000], [97.64405000,16.88377000],[97.64495000,16.88354000],[97.64588000,16.88328000], [97.64626000,16.88311000],[97.64677000,16.88282000],[97.64777000,16.88235000], [97.64947000,16.88136000],[97.65027000,16.88055000],[97.65054000,16.88012000], [97.65123000,16.87940000],[97.65243000,16.87824000],[97.65303000,16.87780000], [97.65385000,16.87739000],[97.65439000,16.87706000],[97.65500000,16.87663000], [97.65595000,16.87581000],[97.65684000,16.87500000],[97.65751000,16.87448000], [97.65948000,16.87324000],[97.66163000,16.87223000],[97.66310000,16.87029000], [97.66452000,16.86907000],[97.66553000,16.86802000],[97.66590000,16.86704000], [97.66715000,16.86556000],[97.66767000,16.86468000],[97.66790000,16.86424000], [97.66821000,16.86364000],[97.66854000,16.86221000],[97.66864000,16.86133000], [97.66930000,16.86013000],[97.66998000,16.85943000],[97.67273000,16.85827000], [97.67499000,16.85690000],[97.67552000,16.85654000],[97.67594000,16.85615000], [97.67626000,16.85579000],[97.67699000,16.85475000],[97.67714000,16.85442000], [97.67732000,16.85371000],[97.67748000,16.85318000],[97.67790000,16.85137000], [97.67853000,16.84910000],[97.67864000,16.84863000],[97.67941000,16.84610000], [97.68018000,16.84369000],[97.68027000,16.84347000],[97.68177000,16.84148000], [97.68267000,16.84025000],[97.68306000,16.83979000],[97.68439000,16.83852000], [97.68510000,16.83793000],[97.68586000,16.83748000],[97.68630000,16.83735000], [97.68730000,16.83727000],[97.68804000,16.83717000],[97.68842000,16.83701000], [97.68904000,16.83663000],[97.68937000,16.83632000],[97.69011000,16.83574000], [97.69304000,16.83302000],[97.69388000,16.83235000],[97.69745000,16.82996000], [97.69783000,16.82980000],[97.69880000,16.82967000],[97.69948000,16.82954000], [97.70132000,16.82891000],[97.70201000,16.82850000],[97.70232000,16.82826000], [97.70265000,16.82866000],[97.70360000,16.82962000],[97.70433000,16.82989000], [97.70548000,16.83010000],[97.70572000,16.82932000],[97.70548000,16.83010000], [97.70433000,16.82989000],[97.70360000,16.82962000],[97.70265000,16.82866000], [97.70232000,16.82826000],[97.70260000,16.82804000],[97.70318000,16.82745000], [97.70415000,16.82616000],[97.70505000,16.82491000],[97.70757000,16.82117000], [97.70879000,16.81961000],[97.70896000,16.81947000],[97.70976000,16.81926000], [97.71003000,16.81913000],[97.71044000,16.81877000],[97.71126000,16.81826000], [97.71147000,16.81805000],[97.71159000,16.81781000],[97.71178000,16.81732000], [97.71264000,16.81600000],[97.71443000,16.81283000],[97.71477000,16.81220000], [97.71497000,16.81169000],[97.71565000,16.80931000],[97.71584000,16.80910000], [97.71871000,16.80790000],[97.71912000,16.80768000],[97.71934000,16.80748000], [97.72012000,16.80659000],[97.72031000,16.80630000],[97.72081000,16.80517000], [97.72151000,16.80327000],[97.72214000,16.80059000],[97.72280000,16.79916000], [97.72299000,16.79885000],[97.72327000,16.79863000],[97.72529000,16.79758000], [97.72643000,16.79680000],[97.72679000,16.79663000],[97.72721000,16.79654000], [97.72903000,16.79654000],[97.72949000,16.79665000],[97.73134000,16.79754000], [97.73207000,16.79780000],[97.73263000,16.79790000],[97.73437000,16.79793000], [97.73501000,16.79786000],[97.73554000,16.79766000],[97.73635000,16.79732000], [97.73679000,16.79729000],[97.73815000,16.79745000],[97.73869000,16.79754000], [97.74106000,16.79767000],[97.74179000,16.79763000],[97.74223000,16.79746000], [97.74238000,16.79728000],[97.74248000,16.79577000],[97.74253000,16.79545000], [97.74261000,16.79525000],[97.74315000,16.79472000],[97.74333000,16.79462000], [97.74500000,16.79440000],[97.74537000,16.79425000],[97.74555000,16.79400000], [97.74571000,16.79361000],[97.74583000,16.79346000],[97.74731000,16.79247000], [97.74820000,16.79171000],[97.74889000,16.79128000],[97.74901000,16.79106000], [97.74931000,16.78998000],[97.74966000,16.78904000],[97.75006000,16.78821000], [97.75054000,16.78747000],[97.75073000,16.78715000],[97.75101000,16.78638000], [97.75111000,16.78618000],[97.75124000,16.78564000],[97.75134000,16.78548000], [97.75161000,16.78526000],[97.75181000,16.78508000],[97.75247000,16.78413000], [97.75292000,16.78362000],[97.75304000,16.78340000],[97.75307000,16.78317000], [97.75300000,16.78283000],[97.75270000,16.78199000],[97.75266000,16.78104000], [97.75266000,16.78084000],[97.75255000,16.78024000],[97.75215000,16.77924000], [97.75181000,16.77766000],[97.75161000,16.77636000],[97.75148000,16.77527000], [97.75147000,16.77432000],[97.75154000,16.77328000],[97.75138000,16.77216000], [97.75138000,16.77188000],[97.75172000,16.77149000],[97.75196000,16.77097000], [97.75211000,16.77027000],[97.75211000,16.77020000],[97.75211000,16.77019000], [97.75206000,16.76966000],[97.75185000,16.76844000],[97.75169000,16.76719000], [97.74996000,16.76780000],[97.74921000,16.76672000],[97.74825000,16.76544000], [97.74722000,16.76448000],[97.74677000,16.76389000],[97.74617000,16.76293000], [97.74478000,16.76126000],[97.74371000,16.76037000],[97.74319000,16.75968000], [97.74251000,16.75865000],[97.74219000,16.75792000],[97.74036000,16.75524000], [97.73950000,16.75195000],[97.73910000,16.75187000],[97.73838000,16.75118000], [97.73773000,16.75004000],[97.73684000,16.74906000],[97.73625000,16.74855000], [97.73497000,16.74801000],[97.73377000,16.74578000],[97.73306000,16.74371000], [97.73312000,16.74306000],[97.73300000,16.74187000],[97.73277000,16.74064000], [97.73221000,16.73875000],[97.73160000,16.73729000],[97.73117000,16.73542000], [97.73015000,16.73558000],[97.72838000,16.73613000],[97.72472000,16.73659000], [97.72412000,16.73670000],[97.72311000,16.73700000],[97.72077000,16.73741000], [97.72018000,16.73756000],[97.72009000,16.73765000],[97.71972000,16.73819000], [97.71966000,16.73834000],[97.71953000,16.73849000],[97.71877000,16.73954000], [97.71953000,16.73849000],[97.71966000,16.73834000],[97.71972000,16.73819000], [97.72009000,16.73765000],[97.72018000,16.73756000],[97.72077000,16.73741000], [97.71944000,16.73422000],[97.71872000,16.73383000],[97.71793000,16.73180000], [97.71797000,16.73056000],[97.71782000,16.72959000],[97.71765000,16.72917000], [97.71721000,16.72860000],[97.71664000,16.72812000],[97.71574000,16.72800000], [97.71445000,16.72822000],[97.71232000,16.72846000],[97.71088000,16.72850000], [97.70944000,16.72848000],[97.70792000,16.72849000],[97.70743000,16.72882000], [97.70656000,16.72916000],[97.70412000,16.72953000],[97.70386000,16.72969000], [97.70362000,16.72990000],[97.70330000,16.73020000],[97.70295000,16.73058000], [97.70248000,16.73161000],[97.70205000,16.73219000],[97.70182000,16.73276000], [97.70163000,16.73335000],[97.70158000,16.73389000],[97.70139000,16.73400000], [97.70060000,16.73408000],[97.69768000,16.73516000],[97.69764000,16.73867000], [97.69416000,16.73864000],[97.69380000,16.73866000],[97.69359000,16.73884000], [97.69270000,16.74123000],[97.69200000,16.74422000],[97.69200000,16.74488000], [97.69213000,16.74518000],[97.69370000,16.74666000],[97.69409000,16.74858000], [97.69467000,16.75061000],[97.69486000,16.75228000],[97.69488000,16.75281000], [97.69462000,16.75706000],[97.69467000,16.75724000],[97.69601000,16.75858000], [97.69756000,16.76068000],[97.69754000,16.76110000],[97.69718000,16.76192000], [97.69708000,16.76239000],[97.69687000,16.76284000],[97.69670000,16.76370000], [97.69677000,16.76456000],[97.69658000,16.76543000],[97.69729000,16.76748000], [97.69627000,16.76947000],[97.69433000,16.77152000],[97.69410000,16.77204000], [97.69368000,16.77324000],[97.69288000,16.77413000],[97.69241000,16.77554000], [97.69218000,16.77617000],[97.68865000,16.77590000],[97.68743000,16.77592000], [97.68711000,16.77609000],[97.68683000,16.77639000],[97.68665000,16.77682000], [97.68658000,16.77730000],[97.68661000,16.77763000],[97.68656000,16.77802000], [97.68640000,16.77863000],[97.68643000,16.77927000],[97.68654000,16.78014000], [97.68642000,16.78167000],[97.68649000,16.78403000],[97.68652000,16.78581000], [97.68649000,16.78625000],[97.68632000,16.78681000],[97.68606000,16.78724000], [97.68567000,16.78767000],[97.68524000,16.78828000],[97.68487000,16.78871000], [97.68542000,16.78918000],[97.68584000,16.78938000],[97.68720000,16.79008000], [97.68719000,16.79008000],[97.68584000,16.78938000],[97.68542000,16.78918000], [97.68487000,16.78871000],[97.68401000,16.78972000],[97.68315000,16.79192000], [97.68291000,16.79245000],[97.68244000,16.79304000],[97.68189000,16.79352000], [97.68131000,16.79398000],[97.67879000,16.79513000],[97.67766000,16.79570000], [97.67611000,16.79669000],[97.67432000,16.79781000],[97.67343000,16.79843000], [97.67299000,16.79889000],[97.67195000,16.80032000],[97.67125000,16.80118000], [97.67015000,16.80249000],[97.66922000,16.80410000],[97.66949000,16.80426000], [97.67034000,16.80546000],[97.67212000,16.80817000],[97.67300000,16.80935000], [97.67299000,16.80935000],[97.67212000,16.80817000],[97.67034000,16.80546000], [97.66949000,16.80426000],[97.66922000,16.80410000],[97.66906000,16.80396000], [97.66872000,16.80398000],[97.66219000,16.80495000],[97.65662000,16.80581000], [97.65219000,16.80651000],[97.64903000,16.80698000],[97.64804000,16.80715000], [97.64600000,16.80746000],[97.64381000,16.80785000],[97.64300000,16.80810000], [97.63980000,16.80929000],[97.64001000,16.81076000],[97.64016000,16.81262000], [97.64029000,16.81476000],[97.64029000,16.81636000],[97.64029000,16.81476000], [97.64016000,16.81262000],[97.64001000,16.81076000],[97.63980000,16.80929000], [97.63824000,16.80982000],[97.63616000,16.81056000],[97.63553000,16.81076000], [97.63442000,16.81108000],[97.63241000,16.81161000],[97.63134000,16.81187000], [97.63104000,16.81204000],[97.63079000,16.81257000],[97.63067000,16.81452000], [97.63047000,16.81863000],[97.63020000,16.82075000],[97.63011000,16.82176000], [97.62980000,16.82336000],[97.62912000,16.82531000],[97.62663000,16.83299000], [97.62623000,16.83326000],[97.62165000,16.83588000],[97.61945000,16.83701000], [97.61130000,16.84145000],[97.60870000,16.84295000],[97.60802000,16.84332000], [97.60715000,16.84384000],[97.60657000,16.84433000],[97.60618000,16.84484000], [97.60591000,16.84539000],[97.60564000,16.84635000],[97.60539000,16.84632000], [97.60528000,16.84635000],[97.60515000,16.84630000],[97.60501000,16.84629000], [97.60493000,16.84495000],[97.60504000,16.84480000],[97.60539000,16.84457000], [97.60061000,16.83777000],[97.59476000,16.83409000],[97.59415000,16.83358000], [97.59286000,16.83102000],[97.59003000,16.83164000],[97.58848000,16.83216000], [97.58758000,16.83265000],[97.58449000,16.83473000],[97.58400000,16.83477000], [97.58371000,16.83472000],[97.58344000,16.83454000],[97.58313000,16.83441000], [97.58197000,16.83455000],[97.57893000,16.83398000],[97.57822000,16.83398000], [97.57774000,16.83390000],[97.57686000,16.83395000],[97.57610000,16.83405000], [97.57420000,16.83436000],[97.57340000,16.83454000],[97.57155000,16.83505000], [97.57141000,16.83507000],[97.57155000,16.83505000],[97.57340000,16.83454000], [97.57420000,16.83436000],[97.57610000,16.83405000],[97.57686000,16.83395000], [97.57774000,16.83390000],[97.57822000,16.83398000],[97.57893000,16.83398000], [97.58197000,16.83455000],[97.58313000,16.83441000],[97.58344000,16.83454000], [97.58371000,16.83472000],[97.58400000,16.83477000],[97.58449000,16.83473000], [97.58758000,16.83265000],[97.58848000,16.83216000],[97.59003000,16.83164000], [97.59286000,16.83102000],[97.58822000,16.82229000],[97.58643000,16.82241000], [97.58617000,16.82250000],[97.58643000,16.82241000],[97.58822000,16.82229000], [97.59286000,16.83102000],[97.59415000,16.83358000],[97.59476000,16.83409000], [97.60061000,16.83777000],[97.60539000,16.84457000],[97.60632000,16.84402000], [97.60764000,16.84317000],[97.60789000,16.84298000],[97.60807000,16.84296000], [97.60827000,16.84308000],[97.60837000,16.84328000],[97.60834000,16.84342000], [97.60816000,16.84366000],[97.60815000,16.84377000],[97.60888000,16.84472000], [97.60961000,16.84562000],[97.60961000,16.84561000],[97.60904000,16.84493000], [97.60851000,16.84518000],[97.60828000,16.84521000],[97.60807000,16.84518000], [97.60776000,16.84509000],[97.60708000,16.84508000],[97.60625000,16.84553000], [97.60580000,16.84637000],[97.60564000,16.84635000],[97.60591000,16.84539000], [97.60618000,16.84484000],[97.60657000,16.84433000],[97.60715000,16.84384000], [97.60802000,16.84332000],[97.60870000,16.84295000],[97.61130000,16.84145000], [97.61945000,16.83701000],[97.62165000,16.83588000],[97.62494000,16.83805000], [97.62462000,16.83903000],[97.62198000,16.84503000],[97.62186000,16.84539000], [97.62182000,16.84652000],[97.62200000,16.84833000],[97.62222000,16.84954000], [97.62249000,16.85142000],[97.62271000,16.85181000],[97.62277000,16.85230000], [97.62319000,16.85450000],[97.62325000,16.85669000],[97.62329000,16.85968000], [97.62320000,16.86032000],[97.62244000,16.86255000],[97.62229000,16.86363000], [97.62213000,16.86557000],[97.62182000,16.86702000],[97.62170000,16.86772000], [97.62150000,16.86980000],[97.62145000,16.87065000],[97.62146000,16.87234000], [97.62144000,16.87334000],[97.62138000,16.87435000],[97.62124000,16.87554000], [97.62119000,16.87619000],[97.62118000,16.87685000],[97.62158000,16.87805000], [97.62167000,16.87822000],[97.62190000,16.87857000],[97.62273000,16.88009000], [97.62425000,16.88232000],[97.62483000,16.88324000],[97.62553000,16.88425000], [97.62583000,16.88460000],[97.62602000,16.88491000],[97.62712000,16.88663000], [97.62801000,16.88787000],[97.62820000,16.88833000],[97.62828000,16.88861000], [97.62840000,16.88889000],[97.62857000,16.88918000],[97.62918000,16.89032000], [97.62950000,16.89086000],[97.63012000,16.89209000],[97.63024000,16.89219000], [97.63039000,16.89220000],[97.63113000,16.89177000],[97.63139000,16.89163000], [97.63131000,16.89137000],[97.63129000,16.89105000],[97.63133000,16.89045000], [97.63161000,16.88999000],[97.63207000,16.88955000],[97.63230000,16.88953000], [97.63335000,16.88962000],[97.63420000,16.88984000],[97.63433000,16.88978000], [97.63439000,16.88921000]], "type":"LineString"}, "properties":{ "title": "Hpa-An", "description": "Extensive Day Trip", "stroke": "#ff00ff", "stroke-width":3 }}
</maplink>2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division