Uncle Sam Travel & Tours
Kalaw (Burma)About
Location :
Added by Jopie, at 12 December 2016
Gallery
Add missing information
9 Reviews
-
07 April 2018
We did the 3 day and 2 night trek and had an amazing time! Our guide was knowledgeable and spoke great English. If your considering places to book with, I would recommend Sam's. The hiking isn't very hard, but beautiful as you see many types of landscapes. I completed it all wearing sandals(during the dry season). You get plenty of tea breaks and the lunch/dinner is some of the best food we had in all of Myanmar 👍 You will get a close up glimpse of village life in Myanmar and the hard work the people there do. If you don't choose Sam's, you must still do the trek regardless! It is an experience in S.E. Asia that is hard to beat!
response / report this review -
12 March 2018
Had a fantastic three day hike to Inle lake with Uncle Sam's crew! Powered by two young local guides we got to meet some of their tribes people, tried various wild fruit and learned lots about the landscape, farming practices and locals! From speaking to other people from other outlets that I met, I think Uncle Sam really raises the bar.
response / report this review -
06 November 2017
My best experience so far in Myanmar. Our tour guide was amazing. Not only did she guide along the way to Inle Lake she also cooked all the meals for us as well, and the food was the best I’ve had here so far and some of the best ever. No joke. Let’s not forgot Uncle Sam the cutest old man and he’s so set on everyone having an amazing time. I can’t recommend Uncle Sams enough.
response / report this review -
29 October 2017
Thanks to uncle Sam and to our guide, Doon Ding. It's been a great experience on the 3 day hike. Everything was well organized and the guides knowledge about the area and people was phenomenal as he originally is from one of the villages. I had a wonderful hike!
response / report this review -
16 July 2017
Summary: no refund, lying staff/ "family" members, monopole-like trekking tour, low payment to locals/tour guide - please don't do it! They are much nicer people and trekking services you can help with your money!
Hallo everybody!
I've so far - just met wonderful people in Myanmar.
Unfortunately, I have made my first bad experience in Kalaw. When you reach this city - you will immediately feel that tourism has begun to spoil the people. Every backpacker knows this turning of friendliness into business of course. Nevertheless - Uncle Sam's Trekking Tour charged us 40.000 kyat per person. The morning we wanted to depart for the 3 day/2 night track – I got sick from food poisoning. It started right inside the building of the trekking company when we were just about to leave - so everybody - including the company staff - could see that we couldn't start the tour. We came back one day later asking for bringing us at least to the starting point of the third day - refund wasn't possible. Rather, they wanted to charge us additionally 7000 kyat for transport and 6000 kyat for luggage transportation per person. Asking to start the tour later on with another group wasn't possible neither. Asking why – they couldn’t give reasonable answers. Instead the whole company staff just laughed as we asked for refund of the money - saying we didn't sign anything. They argued that they payed our part already to the tour guide. As we know from a friend who started the tour and asked the guides - they are paid very low. So the biggest part of the money flows into their own pocket. The only thing I could argue in the end was, that accommodation and food was paid as well - so in the end they refund us 7000 kyat per person.
Summary: no refund, lying staff/ "family" members, monopole-like trekking tour, low payment to locals/tour guide - please don't do it! They are much nicer people and trekking services you can help with your money!response / report this review -
15 June 2017
Tips to make your trek the best and avoid monasteries!
I first went with Sam's in December 2015 and had a lovely experience back then. This time around it was as good as ever. The guides at Sam have been around for many years and know their way around the hillside regions. Given this is my 2nd time I have a few tips to share!
Tips:
1. Their treks are easy to do (I went the first time on All Stars) though be mindful there is a 30 minute climb on the 2nd day which can be tricky after rainfall. Paths can be muddy and become very slippery.
2. Bring a speaker so you have some music in the evening whilst playing cards, there isn't much to do when its dark. Also music and rum at the river is great (see tip 3)
3. On the the second day you will go to a beautiful river where you can relax a bit. Most of it is shallow though there is a deep bit where you can swim under the bridge. During lunchtime, before you reach this river, buy a bottle of rum and some bottles of cola to take with you to the riverside. If you have a speaker, go ahead and put on those funky tunes. Take your time here to relax - you deserve it!
4. Beware of some agencies that tell you that you'll stay in a monastery at night. Many travellers have reported being bitten by bedbugs (including photographic evidence) !! Even when they say you wont stay in a monastery, one traveller still reported that was the case whilst already being on the trip - avoid at all cost! Staying with the local families is much nicer and social.
Enjoy!
response / report this review -
10 May 2017
Solid agency with bag delivery.
response / report this review -
25 March 2017
Najpopularniejsze miejsce w Kalaw jeżeli chodzi o treki. Przeszłam w 7-osobowej grupie 3 dni, wychodzi po 20 km dziennie, niezbyt męcząco. Noclegi w okolicznych wioskach, jest gdzie kupić wodę i tanakhę, za to brak prysznica. Polecam przewodnika Yele, który bardzo dobrze gotuje i dekoruje potrawy :-)
response / report this review -
19 December 2016
Ont répondu à toutes nos attentes, un trek aussi authentique que possible. Des guides bien formés et compétants. Expérience inoubliable
response / report this review
