Kayin State

The Karen (Kayin) people are Myanmar's second-largest ethnic group, speaking a family of related but mutually distinct languages including S'gaw, Pwo, and Pa-O. Their traditional territory spans the highlands and lowlands of the southeast, and Karen culture is expressed through vibrant weaving, music, and a rich oral tradition of poetry and song. Traditional Karen dress — a red-and-white woven tunic for unmarried women, coloured sarongs for married women — is still worn daily in rural areas.

Hpa-An sits in one of the most dramatic karst landscapes in Asia. Jagged limestone towers rise from flat paddy fields, cave systems penetrate deep into the rock, and sacred Buddha images appear at every turn. Saddan Cave, a cathedral-sized cavern with a boat exit to a forest lake, and Kawgun Cave, its walls covered in 7th-century clay Buddha figures, are among the most memorable sites in the country. Cycling between caves and viewpoints at your own pace is one of the best ways to spend a few days in Myanmar.

The Karen New Year, held in January, is a major festival of music, dance, and traditional sports. Communities gather in elaborate traditional dress for days of celebration. The Karen Water Festival and the Buddhist Thadingyut Festival of Lights in October illuminate towns with candles and paper lanterns — arriving in Hpa-An during either celebration transforms an already memorable destination.