Mount Zwegabin Hike In Hpa An, Myanmar – Visitor’s Guide

//

The hardest, the longest, but the most rewarding hike in Hpa An Myanmar is the famous Mount Zwegabin hike!

After hiking Mount Hpan Pu and Taung Wine Mountain, I saved the best for last and it was worth every drop of sweat to make it to the summit of Mt Zwegabin for sunrise!

I have put together this complete guide to hiking Zwegabin to help you plan your adventure ahead of time!

mount zwegabin, zwekabin mountain, mount zwegabin monastery, mount zwekabin, things to do in hpa an

WHERE IS ZWEKABIN MOUNTAIN?

Mount Zwegabin is located 10km south-east of Hpa An city center.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

zwegabin map

HOW TO GET THERE

There are two ways to get to Mt Zwegabin which I have listed below:

Option 1:

If you are renting a scooter/motorbike in Hpa An, it is a short 15-minute drive from the city center to the base of Zwekabin Mountain. You will be able to rent a scooter from your accommodation for approximately 6,000 – 10,000 Kyat per day.

Option 2:

The second option is by taxi. If you plan to hike to the summit for sunrise, it’s best to organize a taxi the day before to pick you up from your accommodation at around 3:30 am.

The cost of a 15-minute taxi ride should be no more than 5,000 Kyat one way.

Find All → Hotels in Hpa An

mount zwegabin, zwekabin mountain, mount zwegabin monastery, mount zwekabin, things to do in hpa an
Viewpoint at the top
mount zwegabin, zwekabin mountain, mount zwegabin monastery, mount zwekabin, things to do in hpa an
An aerial perspective

Have you got travel insurance for your trip?!

hey mondo 1

We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.

Heymondo offers low-cost Travel Insurance to keep you covered on all your adventures.

MY EXPERIENCE

I arrived at the base of the mountain at 4:30 am, parked my scooter, and paid the 4,000 Kyat entrance fee to a monk at the beginning of the hike. He wrote me a ticket and I was on my way.

There was no easing into the hike, especially at 4:30 in the morning. There are concrete stairs that zigzag all the way to the summit of Mount Zwekabin steeply.

The majority of the hike is dimly lit with hanging lights and safety railings are in place where needed. I would recommend packing a torch to aid you in the darker areas along the trail.

It took me 1 hour and 15 minutes from the bottom to reach the top. This was with around three or four short breaks to sip on some water and catch my breath.

I arrived at the summit at 5:45 am with 30-minutes to spare before sunrise. However, I would recommend allowing 2-hours for the average person to hike to the top of Zwekabin Mountain.

mount zwegabin, zwekabin mountain, mount zwegabin monastery, mount zwekabin, things to do in hpa an
A memorable sunrise

The BEST reusable water bottle for travel!

grayl geopress

The GRAYL GeoPress is a top-rated reusable water bottle perfect for backpacking, hiking, and traveling.

It allows you to purify water from anywhere and keeps you safe from all waterborne diseases.

Get a GeoPress today and never buy single-use plastic bottles again. Mama Earth will thank you for it!

THE VIEWPOINTS

There are two epic viewpoints not to be missed at the summit and they are:

Viewpoint 1:

When you arrive at the Mount Zwegabin Monastery (gold pagoda) take a left-hand turn down the concrete stairs towards another pagoda below, but at about halfway down there is a dirt trail leading off to the right and this will take you to a rocky hillside with insane views facing east where you’ll find the best spot to watch the sunrise. See the images above for reference!

Viewpoint 2:

The second best viewpoint is on the opposite side of the mountain, only a 5-minute walk from the sunrise viewpoint. Look for the toilet block on the right-hand side of the Mount Zwegabin Monastery and you can actually climb on the roof for incredible west-facing views of Hpa An. See the images below for reference!

mount zwegabin, zwekabin mountain, mount zwegabin monastery, mount zwekabin, things to do in hpa an
Zwekabin Mountain

Pssst! Check out this EPIC Hiking Backpack!

Osprey Hiking

Perfect for shorter day hikes, the Osprey Stratos 24L is a tough pack made from sustainable materials.

With great internal organization, this is all you need for your next adventure, no matter the weather!

BEST MYANMAR TOURS

 

WHERE TO STAY IN HPA AN

Hpa An has dozens of accommodations to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of the best places to stay in Hpa-An to suit the needs of luxury travelers, budget backpackers, and everyone in between.

See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:

Luxury: Keinnara Lodge Hpa An

735289 16082616430045846080

Mid Range: Hotel United Hpa An

861980 17050915280052860702

Budget: Galaxy Motel Hpa An

142062979

FOR ALL OTHER PLACES TO STAY IN HPA AN, SEARCH ON BOOKING.COM

WHAT TO PACK FOR MYANMAR

When visiting Myanmar, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

Must-Have Travel Essentials

Hidden Money Wallet

anti theft money belt

Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!


Reusable Water Bottle

grayl geopress

The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!


Travel Backpack

Nomatic 20L Bag

The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!


Quick-Dry Travel Towel

travel towel

The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!


Portable PowerBank

anker powerbank

Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!

More Myanmar Travel Guides

backpacking myanmar, myanmar itinerary

Click the button below to view all articles related to Myanmar!

FINAL THOUGHTS – MOUNT ZWEKABIN

If you have any questions about hiking Mount Zwekabin, please leave me a comment below this post and I will reply as soon as I can. For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

Fb Community Image

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

bookingcom

Search and book accommodation worldwide.


logos 3

Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.


logos 7

Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.


logos 14

Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.


discover cars

Search all rental cars in your next destination.


hey mondo

Need travel insurance for your next trip?

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically.

Many thanks!

PIN IT FOR LATER

mount zwegabin, zwekabin mountain, mount zwegabin monastery, mount zwekabin, things to do in hpa an

Leave a comment