Kalaw, Myanmar (Burma)

If we could take Kalaw with us, we would!" the British are reported to have said when leaving Myanmar. This old hill station on the rim of the Shan Plateau, in the Pineland, remains a favourite place for holidays. The main attractions of Kalaw are the town itself, with its mock-Tudor colonial bungalows, its ethnic mix of people, and its setting within trekking distance of many ethnic minority villages. Kalaw is earning a cool reputation among budget travellers, and it's not just due to its chilly winter weather. Located at 1320m on the rolling, pine-clad hills of the Shan Plateau, this is Myanmar's budget trekking heartland. Located to the west of beautiful Inle Lake, some travellers enjoy hiking between the two (about 45km), on mountains dotted with Palaung, Pa-O, Intha and Shan villages.