We hired a motorbike to explore Hpa-An and the surrounding countryside early in the morning. More than once, we felt like we were on Isla Sorna - Jurassic Park fans will know what we're talking about! No dinosaurs, though. The only Jurassic creatures we saw were cockroaches.

Mount Zwegabin: 2,638 Steps to Heaven

We first headed south to Mount Zwegabin - the most dramatic karst formation sprouting abruptly from Hpa-An's flat landscape.

We started our ascent from the pleasant Lumbini Gardens (commonly known as Buddha Park), home to rows upon rows of hundreds of seated Buddha images. After almost 2 hours and 2,638 uneven steps (yeah, we counted them!), we reached the top at an elevation of 723 meters.

With our legs still shaking, we explored the monastery and pagodas built on top of the hill. The 360-degree view over Hpa-An was absolutely worth the climb! After eating half our Malaysian biscuits and drinking almost all our water, it was time to descend those 2,638 steps.

The trek down was physically easier but sometimes more challenging due to some very high steps - your knees will remember this hike!

Saddan Cave: Through the Mountain

Next up was Saddan Cave (sometimes written Sadan or Saddar) - another major Hpa-An highlight. The massive limestone cave features:

• Enormous chambers
• Huge stalactites and stalagmites
• Buddha figures and relics throughout
• Small pagodas
• Sparkling disco lights (yes, really!)

We ventured deeper into the grotto. At the far end, we reached an opening leading to a lake surrounded by rice fields - the view was stunning! Breathtaking!

We crossed the bridge over the paddy fields and explored another smaller cave with no artificial lights. Using our iPhone flashlights, we kept exploring until the bats' noise became too loud - we didn't want to wake the entire colony!

Boat Ride Through Paradise

We returned to the lake where longtail boats waited to ferry us back to the main cave entrance for only 1,500 Kyat (about $1 USD) per person.

The ride was absolutely magnificent! After cruising under the mountain, we glided through an astonishing landscape. Probably one of the best views we had in all of Myanmar - dramatic limestone karsts rising from emerald rice fields, all from a traditional wooden boat.

Ya Thay Pyan Cave

We jumped back on our scooter for a long ride to Ya Thay Pyan Cave. The cave itself was nice, but honestly, the scooter ride was the real highlight - Hpa-An's countryside is a nature lover's paradise!

Linno Cave: The Bat Cave Spectacular

We finished our epic day at Linno Cave - commonly known as "the Bat Cave." This cave is home to massive bat colonies totaling no less than 400,000 individuals!

By sunset, all these creatures rush out of the cave through a small entrance to feed, creating a spectacular natural phenomenon. The stream of bats lasted 20-30 minutes - an endless living tornado of wings filling the sky. Absolutely mesmerizing!

Have you visited Hpa-An? Did you climb Mount Zwegabin? Which cave was your favorite? Did you see the bat exodus at Linno Cave? Share your Myanmar adventure stories below!

Our day exploring Hpa-An's countryside ranks among our best travel days ever! From conquering Mount Zwegabin's 2,638 steps to boating through karst landscapes and witnessing nature's bat spectacle - this off-the-beaten-path Myanmar destination exceeded every expectation. If you're planning Myanmar, don't skip Hpa-An!