Loikaw

This compact capital of Myanmar's Kayah State sits in the Karen Hills near the Thai border, with a walkable centre where cafés and restaurants are concentrated within easy reach of the Pilu River and mountain views. Home to the Kayah, Kayaw, and Kayan peoples, it serves as the main urban hub for the region, and Myanmar's largest hydropower plant lies a short distance east at Lawpita Falls.

• Population17,293
• Nearest water from center2.2 km
• Nearest mountain from center15.8 km