This trail is budget friendly, fairly easy to do on a day trip from Mandalay city, and well worth the effort! Anisakan has to be the most beautiful waterfall in Myanmar.
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
Anisakan Waterfall – What To Expect
The Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall is amazing. It was easily one of the highlights of our Myanmar trip!
The unique cone shape reminded me of the Kuang Si Falls in Laos, except this one is not as colorful, although it’s bigger and stronger.
The crashing noise of the falls is pretty loud, and you feel tiny standing on the rocks next to it. This might be the biggest waterfall in Myanmar.
The hike down the ravine is moderate difficulty (at most), and takes about 30-45 minutes in each direction. It’s a steep descent, and the return journey is plenty of work, but the trail is short enough that it isn’t too difficult overall.
Do bring some water, or else buy some at the shops near the falls. If you get too wiped out, you can also pay to hitch a ride back to the top on one of the locals’ dirt bikes.
Scams
There are some women at the entrance that will try to ‘walk’ you down the trail and fan you for tips. They will expect a big tip. Just tell them no thanks and keep walking.
The people we ran into on the trail weren’t rude or pushy (maybe because my wife looks like a local?), but I’ve heard of people having some pretty annoying experiences here.
Just give them a polite but firm ‘no’ and you shouldn’t have any issues.
This elaborate temple sits near the trail parking area.
Relax, you won’t have to cross this bridge on the hike!
Dat Taw Gyaint waterfall in all of its glory.
Ripe for the taking.
How To Get To Anisakan Falls
Anisakan Falls is located near the city of Pyin Oo Lwin, in northern Myanmar.
The closest international airport is Mandalay (MDL), which is serviced by lots of very affordable airlines from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
From Mandalay city to the falls it’s a 1.5 hour drive that traverses some winding mountain roads, with views of wide open vistas. You can rent a scooter for this, or hire a driver for the day.
We found a helpful driver named Mr. Tun and he agreed to take us there by car for $30 USD (45,000 Kyats). His WhatsApp is ☎ +959 785 849883 if you’d like to get in touch! Otherwise, your Mandalay hotel can probably find you a driver too.
If you hire a tuk tuk, the trip will take longer but you can expect to pay about a third of this price.
Best Time To Visit
Myanmar is a tropical country with a distinct dry season and rainy season.
The best time to visit the waterfall is any month near the start of Myanmar’s dry season (November), when the falls still have plenty of water left over from the rains.
Of course, other months of the year will work too, but just may not be completely optimal.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the 3-star Hotel Aurora in Mandalay city for $22 USD per night and loved it.
For this price we got a clean double room with A/C, private bathroom, and one of the best buffet breakfasts we’ve ever had at a hotel.
We ate all our meals at the hotel restaurant, and the location was perfect for exploring the temples and other tourist sights in Mandalay city.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal!
