Visit the mysterious Ruby land of Mogok set in an upland valley at over 1000 metres above sea level; this slow-paced town is situated on the shores of a beautiful lake, surrounded by a mountain range. It is said that in the 6^th century, Italian merchant Ludovico de Varthema purchased 200 rubies (paid with some coral) after seeing the gems shining at moonlight. This tale attracted hordes of unscrupulous traders to the Mogok region looking for rubies, sapphires and other precious stones. The gem trade was long controlled by the Burmese kings and extraction methods were simple until the British set up larger and more professional mining operations. For decades Mogok has been closed to foreign visitors and is still a restricted area. With the recent advancements and Myanmar embracing the outside world it is now possible to visit Mogok with a special permit, which we can arrange for you.

Mogok is a city built on rubies and as such has always been known as ‘the city of rubies’. Just how true this is was brought home when geologists and engineers first began to study the gem deposits of the area. They found that some of the richest alluvial lay right beneath the town itself.            

Tremendous difficulties were encountered from the outset. First, a road had to be constructed from Thabeitkyin to Mogok, through nearly 100 km of hilly, dense jungle. Machinery had to be imported; diseases took their toll on the men and livestock; flooding was common in the rainy season; these were but a few of the problems. Power generation was yet another obstacle. Coal was not practical, as it would have had to be brought from Thabeitkyin. Steam pumps were used at first, but required too much timber. Since Mogok had plenty of water, it was decided to construct a hydroelectric plant. This was completed in 1898, the first of its kind in that part of Asia.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Mandalay – Thabeitkyin – Mogok

Day 2: Mogok Tour  

Day 3: Hiking to Lisu Villages

Day 4: Mogok - Mandalay

Day 1: Mandalay – Thabeitkyin - Mogok                                        [-/L/D]

You are picked up in Mandalay and driven 5 hours to Thabeitkyin, a junction town and gateway to Bhamo and Mogok. After a lunch break in Thabeitkyin you will visit the local market and jetty by the Irrawaddy River before driving 2 more hours to Mogok. You arrive at Mogok late afternoon and take a stroll through the town and meet the locals.

Meals Included:         Lunch and dinner at local restaurant

Overnight stay:          At Mogok Motel or similar

Day 2: Mogok Tour                                                                           [B/L/D]

After breakfast, you visit a local gem stone market to learn about the different consistency and quality of stones that are extracted from Mogok and its surroundings. If we can obtain permission we will visit some sites where mining activities are taking place and observe the methods used for extracting precious stones. You will also visit some of the most popular pagodas of Mogok and take leisurely walks to explore the town and nearby villages.

Meals Included:         Breakfast, lunch & dinner at local restaurant

Overnight stay:          At Mogok Motel or similar

Day 3: Hiking to Lisu Villages                                               [B/L/D]

After breakfast you set off on a leisurely hike to the Lisu minority villages of Pyaung Gaung and Pan Lyin west of Mogok. En route we pass tea plantations and other small villages. You will enjoy a packed lunch today along the trail or in one of the local houses and return back to our hotel in Mogok late afternoon.

Meals Included:         Breakfast, lunch box & dinner at local restaurant

Overnight stay:          At Mogok Motel or similar

Day 4: Mogok - Mandalay                                                                [B/L/-]

After breakfast we drive back to Mandalay. Depending on the time of arrival we can do some sightseeing in the city and its surroundings.

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch at local restaurant en route to Mandalay. 

 This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The ‘Price From’ quoted is for a party of 6 to 8 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

• REMARKS:

We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:

>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 60 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 110 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night

Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details
 

 TBA