A small regional capital town, Hpa An is close to the border with Thailand and makes for a lovely stop en route to Yangon from southern Myanmar. However, it won’t be the town that will capture your imagination, but the hidden gems in the gorgeous countryside that surrounds it. The limestone mountains surrounding Hpa An are dotted with sleepy hill tribe villages where you will also find caves full of Buddha statues and images. A 2-hour hike up nearby Mt Zwegabin offers amazing panoramic views of the rural countryside, with a small monastery and stupa at the top dedicated to the spirits and saintly souls said to live at the top of the mountain.
