Kawthaung Myanmar –Top Picks for Attractions and Things to Do

To be frank, there’s not enough to do in Kawthaung to kill more than a few days, but it’s a pleasant place to spend some time and offers a more authentic and peaceful experience than much of the rest of Myanmar. These are the main things to do in and around the Kawthaung area.

Pagodas

Within the town itself there are some pretty pagodas that many like to go and see and take photos of. The most famous one in the downtown area is Pyi Daw Aye. The golden peak can be seen through town from its location on a hill just to the north of the town centre. It’s often busy with locals and there are small food, drink and souvenir stands near to the entrance.

Pyi Daw Aye is a good spot for taking in the sunset and offers some great views across the river and the Thai mountains off in the distance.

Another pagoda that’s worth seeing is Mey Paw Kyan which is situated on a rocky outcrop just in front of the water on the town’s edge. For a couple of dollars you can get a local boatman to take you around the area where you can enjoy some views of Kawthaung and the sea.

Waterfalls

Once you’ve wandered around the town and seen these pagodas there’s not a huge amount else to do without venturing further afield. The first stop for many is the picturesque waterfall and hot springs located around 40km outside of Kawthaung. It’s named Maliwan waterfall and is a popular day trip that costs around USD15 for transport, making it a little expensive by local standards but worthwhile if you’re in the area for a couple of days and want to explore.

There’s a water slide and various inflatables, and it’s very popular with locals, especially at the weekend where it can get quite busy. While you can find this activity not so thrilling, it does provide a good insight into locals’ daily life. Probably not worth visiting in the dry season where the waterfall is a lot less impressive.

Palautonetone

Not too far from Maliwan Waterfall is Palautonetone, a small island with a bridge that connects it to mainland Myanmar. The bridge can be a little nerve wracking to cross! It’s open to motor vehicles but is just a simple wooden bridge that runs for over a kilometre to link the two locations. The island boasts a reasonable beach - whilst the water isn’t particularly clear, it’s a sandy beach that’s litter free for the most part. There’s also a very local village where people are not used to seeing tourists but are still welcoming. Enjoy a seafood lunch at one of the small restaurants or have a beer in the town.

Snorkelling and diving tours

Also along the coastline of Kawthaung, there are boat trips available where you can do snorkelling and diving. While most people tend to stick to Thailand for a better infrastructure and experience, these types of tours are continuing to improve as more tourists explore the area.

There are a couple of companies offering trips, but they tend to be fairly pricy due to exclusivity over the local market. For around USD100 you can take a boat trip to the island of Nyaung Oo Phee to enjoy some lunch and snorkelling.

Gambling

Finally, many visitors to the area, especially those travelling from Thailand, will make a stop at the Andaman Club Resort Hotel, which is on an island around a half hour trip from Kawthaung. It’s most popular for its lively casino, where you can gamble the night away if that floats your boat. This is the only place where you can gamble in this part of Myanmar, and the hotel complex also hosts a golf course which is another place many people like to spend some time.