About 60 km south-east of Bagan, Mount Popa,the oasis of the central Myanmar dry zone, is an extinct volcano with 1,500 meters high and the highest point within the Bago Yoma range. The main attraction of this region however is the smaller, 730-meter high conic rock Popa Taungkalat, also known as the “ Olympus of the Nats” because it is the abode of Myanmar's legendary 37 ‘Nats” (or spirits) where is an important nat worship center as well as a major pilgrimage destinations.

Mt.Popa hosts two major “nat pwe”, spirit festival, on in the month of May / June and other in Nov / Dec. spirit possession and over all drunken ecstasy are still part of the celebration.  Climbing up by 700 sheer steps reach the top of the volcanic plug with its many shrines and a monastery, one has to be seen a crowd of monkeys on the way to top. This effort will be rewarded many times by the extraordinary panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. Around the area of the Popa Mountain, there is the Popa National Park with dense sandalwood forests and rare species of birds and butterflies worth a walk or a trek and also has been designated as a National Park, a perfect place for eco-tourism.