Nature Destination

Myanmar is country of immense biological diversity. It is one of the few Asian countries where scientists from around the world can still discover new animal species such as the leaf deer ( Muntiacus putaoensis) , recently discovered in NW Myanmar’s Kachin state. Avian species such as Gurneys pitta, have recently been re-discovered long after it was considered extinct. Our SE forest tracts in the Tenassarim and those of northern Kachin state are some of the last haunts of the endangered tiger and other rare Asian mega fauna.

At Woodlands we value this natural world in the same way that we value our culture and beautiful historical/religious monuments. We feel it is our duty to help preserve these natural regions and we do so through ecotourism. Only ecotourism values undisturbed forests and wildlife in their natural state.

Woodlands is one of the few outfitters in Myanmar that offers travelers guided jeep safaris and meticulously organized treks into Myanmar’s national parks and wilderness areas. Our wilderness journeys can be built into traditional tours of Myanmar’s cultural and historical monuments lasting only an afternoon. Or we can arrange multi-day adventures, which allow one to immerse more deeply into our unique SE Asian ecosystem. What follows are very brief introductions to some of Myanmar’s more outstanding natural wonders. For more information on combining visits to these places with cultural tours, please contact us.

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park (Sagaing Division)

Deep in western Myanmar’s Sagaing Division, not far from the Chin Hills lies Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park. This exquisite 620 square mile national park was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1941 and opened as a national park in 1984. For lovers of mega fauna and birding, the park is a destination itself. It can be accessed by car from both Mandalay and Monywa. The park contains many residential birds, butterflies tiger, leopard, gaur, banteng and barking deer among others. Like most of our excursions into the natural world, all tours can be done on the backs of elephants.

Hkakaborazi National Park (Kachin State)

If you are looking for untracked wilderness the likes of which has all but disappeared from most of inner Asia, this 1472 square mile National Park is the place for you. Its wilderness, remote tribal groups, and diverse fauna were first made famous by the intrepid explorer Frank Kingdon Ward in the early part of the 20 th century. His books are required reading for all explorers to this park. More recently, Alan Rabinowitz of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York wrote Beyond the Last Village about his multi-year quest to survey this wilderness and turn it into the park that it is today. is situated in Nogmung Township, Kachin State.

The journey to Hkakaborazi starts from Putao (formerly known as Fort Hertz in British times) which is a small town not unlike Chamonix, France or Boulder, Colorado. Putao has a small airport which groups can fly into from Yangon or Myitkyina. Soon out of Putao all roads end and groups begin walking. Woodlands treks into the park can last from 1-2 days or 4 weeks for those intent on reaching the glaciers of Myanmar’s unexplored Himalayan peaks.

Our treks into the Hkakaborazi wilderness are also anthropological expeditions. You will have the opportunity to interact with various ethnic groups such as the Lisu, Rawang, Myanma Tibetan, and what may be the last generation of the T'rong- a tribe that is so isolated it no longer has the diversity of people to perpetuate itself.

The natural history one encounters in the Hkakaborazi wilderness is unmatched. Nearly all flora ecosystems are passed while walking including evergreen, hill alpine and moist upper mixed deciduous forests. As for wildlife, Takin, Musk Deer, Blue Sheep, Black Barking Deer, several species in the cat family, black neck crane and many, many other species are encountered. For information on our visits to Hkakaborazi’s Burmese Himalaya, please contact us.

Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (Kachin State)

Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Lontene village, Mohnyin Township of Kachin State. It is the largest inland lake in South East Asia. The lake and surrounding forests were declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1999. The reserve is ideal for birders or those simply looking to relax. Nearby the lake are community run eco-guest houses where people can stay. These look out over the lake and provide easy access to hiking areas.

Birders will find this area a paradise as it is one of the best birding sites in Myanmar. Among 120 species of forest dwelling birds are Red jungle fowl, Pheasant, Barbet, Green Pigeon, Great Pied Hornbill, Collard Treepie and Dove. Resident and migratory water birds include Great Cormorant, Spot-billed Duck, Tufted Duck and Spot-billed Pelican.

The lake can be reached over a mornings drive from Myitkyina. After exploration of Idawgyi it is possible to venture further west into Naga areas of Sagaing state-one of the least known but richest cultural and wildlife areas of Myanmar.

For more details on our excursions to Indawgyi and beyond, please contact us.

Lampi National Marine Park

Lampi is one of the largest and perhaps the most biologically diverse of the 800 islands in the fabled Myeik Archipelago. This island chain off the coast of SE Myanmar not far from Thailand, is treasure trove of cultural and biological wealth. These remote, pristine islands are similar to Thailand’s coastal islands 40 years ago before mass tourism. They are home to the nomadic Mokken people that live on boats and fish for a simple subsistence existence. They are some of the least known people in the world. Our journeys to this island chain include a mix of diving, sea kayaking, snorkeling, nature hiking etc. Lampi island is known for its diverse terrestrial and marine biodiversity such as dense evergreen forests, amazing tidal mangroves, fish, marine turtles and coral reefs. The islands can be reached by boat from Kawthaung, a frontier town opposite Thailand's Ranaung region.

Myaing Hay Wun Elephant Camp (Yangon Division)

Myaing Hay Wun Elephant Camp is situated in Taikkyi Township of Yangon Division about 3 hours drive from Yangon city. Elephants are a perennial attraction-and they happen to be one of the best ways to get into the backcountry to view wildlife. This camp employs many elephants that used to work in the timber industry. We highly recommend a day trip or overnight in this camp to catch a glimpse of the lives of elephants and in SE Asia and to take in some of the amazing biodiversity of the region.

Natmataung National Park (Chin State)

Also known as Mt. Victoria, Natma-taung National Park was established in 1994 to protect this mountain and the surrounding environment. The 279 square mile wide National Park is situated in Chin State. Mt. Victoria (Natmataung) is nearly 11,000 ft high-not high by Himalayan standards, but very high for this area of mere ‘hills’.

The base camp of Natmataung can be reached from Bagan temple landscape by car. The trip up to Natmataung Peak (10,500 ft) can be done entirely on foot from old Kanpetlet city. One can drive the first 10 miles by car ride and hike the last 5 miles. Woodlands offers fine overnight camping trips in this area that allow one to camp on the flanks of the peak. Our trips also offer one fine glimpses of the Chin culture as well as the fascinating mix of Manipuri/Mizo culture spilling over from nearby India.

The park itself is home to host of indigenous species-especially birds. There area 159 recorded bird species 5 of which are indigenous. Extremely unique species such as the White Browed Nuthatch can be found in abundance here. Many resident birds include White Throated Babbler, Hooded Treepie and Burmese Bushlark. The intact, old growth forests of the Victoria area is home to mega fauna species such as tiger, wild boar, leopard, guar, serow, gibbon, birds, reptiles and butterflies. Orchids abound in the Natmataung Peak area. For any interested in the natural history of Myanmar, this is a must see destination.

National Kandawgyi Garden ^{Kandawgyi Hill Resort}

Kandawgyi National Gardens is one of Myanmar’s natural treasures. Woodlands Travel founder, U Win Aung, can take much of the credit for turning these gardens into the beautiful landscape that they are today. But Woodlands come into the picture only relatively recently. The history of the Gardens is long.

In 1915, Mr. Alex Rodger a forest research officer in Colonial Burma along with a certain Lady Cuffe, herself a botanist from Kew Botanical Garden, began the transformation of the then British Hill Station’s lawns, natural forests and tiers of lakes into the beginnings of true botanical garden. In 1917, it was declared a State Garden. The Gardens were initially looked after by the Ministry of Agriculture and since 1920, the Directorate of Forestry has been in charge of the garden. In 1924, the Directorate of Forestry declared this 240-acre area a forest reserve. At that time it had an already impressive collection of seasonal flowers, orchid gardens, rock gardens, dahlia gardens and rose gardens. By 1942 it had 178 species of orchids. During the latter part of the 20 th century the gardens were somewhat neglected. The massive British era bungalows lent an aura of grandeur, but it was not until U Win Aung of Woodland Travels was given control of the gardens that true transformation began. Today the gardens boast one of the finest collections of floral species in Asia.

The meticulously managed landscape is like something out of Song dynasty Chinese Landscape painting.

U Win Aung has turned the gardens into botanical gardens in its truest sense. One can wander the grounds and encounter flora and bird species from every corner of Myanmar and beyond. The Gardens even has orchid species from nearby Arunachal Pradesh in NE India.

In order to see all of this, Woodlands has renovated an old British era bungalow. The Kandawgyi Hill Resort offers guests all of the luxury of fine country living including several totally private cottages located behind the main bungalow. All of this is only a 5-minute stroll from the gardens.

National Kandawgyi Gardens is situated near Mandalay at 3605 feet above sea level in the town of Pyin Oo Lwin (formerly known as Maymyo after the British colonel of that name who fell in love with the salubrious climate of the region).

Outstanding attributes of National Kandawgyi Gardens

Tree enthusiasts can view 482 species of local and foreign trees. One can view 79 species of Myanmar bamboo. Orchid lovers can enjoy 133 species of orchids collected from Myanmar’s jungles. Enthusiasts of indigenous medicinal plants can observe about 410 plants such as Kalakhanti and Natsay Gamone plants collected from all over Myanmar. The Gardens also contain the rare takin-an ungulate found only in the eastern Himalaya and parts of eastern Tibet. An aviary contains many of Myanmar’s most unusual species.
These Gardens nestled above the plains Mandalay Division is one of the most restful, meditative and beautiful spots in the country-a must for any trip to central Myanmar.

Popa (Mandalay Division) ^{Popa Mountain Resort}

Popa is located about one hour from Bagan. The Popa mountain area is largely known for actual Popa Mountain, which is deeply wooded mountain about 300 meters above sea level. The other, more famous Popa is the stunning volcanic plug immediately adjacent to the main mountain. Sitting atop this plug is the Taungkalat, the holiest shrine in Myanmar dedicated to nat (animistic spirit worship) worship. A series of 777 steps lead to the summit of the plug where another worldly-like complex of monasteries, pagodas and Buddhist shrines await devotees.

Popa Mountain Park (Mandalay Division)

Popa, an extinct volcano, is located in Kyaukpadaung Township, about 16km north-east of Kyauk-pa-daung town within Mandalay Division. The altitude of the entire Mt. Popa mountain complex ranges from 300 m to 1,518 m. The park has a total area of approx. 23,214 ha falling into two main categories of permanent forest estate being Reserved Forest and Protected Public Forest.

Mt. Popa’s wonderful forest ecosystem includes evergreen forest, upper mixed deciduous forest, lower mixed deciduous forest, dry hill forest and grass land. Tree species number 300 and medicinal plants 150. Important medicinal plants include the Sin Don Manwe (Tinospora cordifolia), Taw Shauk (Atalantia manophylla), Tabin-shwe-hti (Intropha podagrica) and Ginseng (Panax schinseng).

Common wild animals presently observed in the park area include jungle cat, jackal, wild dog, wild boar, muntjac, barking deer, dusky leaf monkey, rhesus monkey, eld's deer, squirrels, hare and about 130 species of avifauna. More than 100 different species of butterflies have been observed of which 4 species are identified as rare.

One can view all of this from Woodlands own Popa Mountain Resort-a 5 star exquisitely designed spa/resort that sits unobtrusively on the side of Mt. Popa overlooking the volcanic plug with the its monastery shrine on top. This is one of the finest resorts in Asia – an overnight here will be one of the most inspiring and peaceful you have on your next journey in Myanmar.

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