Eco-Tourism

Myanmar's diverse forests and green landscapes which host a large variety of wildlife species, 7000 plants, 300 mammals, 360 reptiles and 1000 bird species, provide an ideal setting for nature-oriented and eco-tourism.

Wildlife National Parks and Sanctuaries

• (1) Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park - Situated 95 km to the northwest of Monywa is this renowned place of interest called Alaungdaw Kathapa. A journey to this involves some 27 km of a tough trekking and elephant ride besides the trips by road and water. It is recommended especially for those keen on adventurous walks in a jungle. Kathapa is in fact the name of an Arhat whose remains, it is believed, are kept in this place. However, what you can see there is but the representation of the reclining Arhat.

• (2) Hlawga National Park - Hlawga Wildlife Park lies just 45 minutes drive from Yangon. It is inhabited by more than 70 species of herbivorous animals and 90 species of birds. Easily accessible, Hlawga Wildlife Park is an ideal place of interest for bird-watchers!

• (3) Popa Mountain Park - It is an extinct volcano over 1,500 metres in height. Lying smack in the centre of the Dry Belt, Popa Mountain Park covered with recently-grown forests is like an oasis in the desert-like Central Myanmar. Accessible conveniently by road. Remarkably, there are many semi-tame monkeys in Popa Mountain Park that - though far from being dangerous - sometimes snatch food from the hands of visitors and run away.

• (4) Lampi Island (Myeik Archipelago) - Lampi is situated between latitudes 10 º41'N to 10º 51'N and longitudes 98º 04' E to 98º 18' E. The length of the island is about 50 km and the average width about 11 km; with the land surface area around 205 km². The distance to Lampi by sea from Myeik is 145 km and from Kawthaung, about 95 km. Lumpi Marine Park has great potential for both marine- and land-based ecotourism.

• (5) Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary - This sanctuary is located in Minbu forest division, on the western edge of the Myanmar dry zone, between Mann and Mone streams. Accessible by road and is about two hours' drive from Minbu. It covers a total area of about 553 km². Many species of animals including Eld's deer, gaur, banteng, serow, sambhur, hog deer, wild boar, leopard, bear, wild dogs, various kinds of birds, and some species of primates are reported to be inhabiting in this sanctuary.

• (6) Inlay Lake Bird Sanctuary

• (7) Lawkananda Sanctuary Park

• (8) Sein-ye Forest Camp (Bago Yoma) - Located at a distance of about 200km from Yangon. It lies in the amidst of the Sein ye teak forests, a part of Bago Yoma, and offers experience in witness the logging methods and the utilization of elephants. Men of Kayin people in the area make their incomes by working as oozies, living with and training the elephants to work in the forests.

• (9) Khyat-thin Wildlife Park (Shwe Bo)

Domestic Flights

The main tourist centres are located at a distance from Yangon and it is convenient for visitors to travel by domestic flights. Myanmar Airways, Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways operate flights to major tourist sites including Mandalay, Bagan, Heho, Thandwe, Myitkyina, Tachileik and Kawthaung.

Get your free map at:
165/167, Rm.4, 1st Flr., 35th Street, Kyauktada Tsp.,  Yangon, Myanmar. (Burma) Tel: (+95-1) 20 40 20, 20 40 92, 700 541, (+95-9) 99 25558    Internet: http://www.dpsmap.com
Last Modified : 23-3-05 (TSZW)