Hiking to the top of Hpan Pu Mountain (Pha Bhu Taung Pagoda) for sunset was a welcoming adventure at the beginning of my 3 days spent in Hpa-An Myanmar! The short hike up Mount Hpan Pu was more rewarding than expected with speechless views of the incredible landscapes in Hpa-An.
WHERE IS HPAN PU MOUNTAIN & HOW TO GET THERE
Hpan Pu Mountain (Pha Bhu Taung Pagoda) is located across the Thanlyin River, north-west of Hpa-An town. There are 2 ways to get over the river to hike Mt Hpan Pu.
Option #1: If you plan on renting a motorbike during your visit to Hpa-An, you can simply drive across the bridge on road 85 and take a right-hand turn on to the road that runs parallel with the river. There is a sandy parking lot at the base of Hpan Pu Mountain to park your motorbike and you’ll see a concrete stairway leading up the side of the mountain. The drive from Hpa-An to Hpan Pu Mountain is approximately 20-minutes.
You will be able to rent a scooter from your accommodation for approximately 6,000 – 10,000 Kyat ($6) per day.
Option #2: Taking a boat across the Thanlyin River is the second option to reach Hpan Pu Mountain. Head down to Shwe Yin Myaw Pagoda, which is a short walk from the centre of town and you will be able to jump on board a local boat for 500 Kyat. The boat will drop you off to the riverbank on the other side and it is a few hundred meters walk to the base of Hpan Pu Mountain.
Note: The boats stop running across the river at nightfall so you will need to coordinate with the boat driver if he will be able to wait for you or not to take you back across the river to Hpa-An after hiking Mt Hpan Pu at sunset.
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EXACT PIN LOCATION OF HPAN PU MOUNTAIN
Drone shot of Pha Bhu Taung Pagoda – Hpan Pu Mountain
The concrete stairs at the start of the Mt Hpan Pu hike
Halfway to the summit of Hpan Pu Mountain
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE HPAN PU MOUNTAIN HIKE
Hiking to the top of Mount Hpan Pu for sunset on my first day in Hpa-An was one of the best experiences I had in Myanmar! The short 20-30 minute hike is steep, sweaty and thirsty work but more than rewarding once I reached the summit!
On the trail to the top of Hpan Pu Mountain, you can expect overgrown shrubs, loose gravel, sharp rocks and bamboo ladders, so your full attention is recommended during the hike as to not have any slips.
At the summit of Hpan Pu Mountain is the Pha Bhu Taung Pagoda, offering 360-degree views of Hpa-An, the Thanlyin River and distant mountain ranges! The awe-inspiring views of the incredible landscapes in the region had me jaw-dropped and smiling from ear to ear. The fiery sunset on this day was the icing on the cake!
I recommend having at least 2 litres of drinking water for the Mount Hpan Pu hike as the humidity is quite intense. Believe me, it was thirsty work getting to the summit and back. If you are hiking Mt Hpan Pu at sunset, you may want to pack a torch or phone light to aid you on the way back down the trail as it gets dark very quickly.
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- Incredible views of Hpa-An
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- Bamboo ladder on the Hpan Pu hike
Watching the sunset at the summit of Hpan Pu Mountain – Things to do in Hpa-An
Panoramic views at the summit of Mt Hpan Pu
HPA AN ACCOMMODATION
Hpa An has dozens of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of my personal favourite places to stay in Hpa-An that caters for luxury travellers to budget backpackers. See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:
Luxury: Keinnara Lodge Hpa An
Mid Range: Hotel United Hpa An
Budget: Galaxy Motel Hpa An
For all other accommodations in Hpa An, you can click HERE to search on booking.com
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST IN MYANMAR
For more Myanmar backpacking adventures, you may want to read my other travel guides below:
10 Best Things To Do In Mandalay
5 Awesome Things To Do In Bagan
5 Awesome Things To Do In Hpa An
Curious to know what Camera Gear & Travel Essentials I carry while backpacking around the world? I have put together THIS LIST of items to consider packing on your next adventure!
Thanks for reading this article an if you have any questions about hiking Hpan Pu Mountain please leave me a comment below.
Happy Adventuring 🙂
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