By Pickup
Pickups leave early in the morning from Mandalay 6 hours, 500 kyat or Pyin oo Lwin 4 hours, 300 kyat for Hsipaw. It is a long and uncomfortable ride and not recommended unless you can get a seat in the front.
By Rail
Every day, a train makes it laborious way up from Mandalay, via steep hills and a breathtaking gorge, to Hsipaw and onward to Lashio. One of the 'must do' railway journeys of the world, the railway line between Pyin u Lwin and Hsipaw is a masterpiece of British engineering, designed primarily to bring trade and thus control to the Northern Shan State, an important ally of the British after the conquest of Upper Burma. The journey takes fifteen hours though the trains are usually late and costs US$9 in First Class or US$4 in Second Class. Many travelers do the Pyin oo Lwin Maymyo to Hsipaw section 11 Hours one way and return by road. Lashio is four hours from Hsipaw by train.
By bus
Early morning buses leave from Mandalay to Hsipaw 4000 kyat and from Hsipaw to Mandalay leaves at 6:00 am 4500 AC, 4000 W/O AC. For buses out of Hsipaw, the ticket offices for the two companies,Duhtawadi are on Namtu Road across from Mr. Food and, for the express bus, at the Shan Market. Buy your ticket on the previous day your hotel will arrange one at no cost and try for a seat towards the front of the bus and preferably not on the seat that folds into the aisle the aisles are blocked for the ride. A bus ride to Lashio 800 kyat takes two hours and buses, you got it, leave early in the morning. Both bus companies will pick you up from your hotel, sometimes an hour before the bus leaves buses leave at about 6am, so you may find it better to walk to the bus yourself.In additional, there is also air conditioned bus of Duhtawadi Express which is the best way to Hsipaw or Kyauk Me' leaves 2:30 pm 5000 kyat
In Pyn Oo Lwin the bus ticket to Hsipaw costs 4500 kyats and leaves from the Samya Restaurant2km north Mandalay-Lashio Road, ask hotel and reserve in advance.
By Shared Taxi
Depending on availability shared taxis run with at least three passengers. Between Mandalay and Hsipaw about 10,000 kyat and between Pyin Oo Lwin and Hsipaw about 9000 kyat. Four hours.
By Private Car
Approximate cost about US$100 for the round trip.