Experience many of the famous sights of Myanmar (formerly Burma) on this fully guided and supported cycling journey. Your trip starts from the British administration-constructed capital city, Yangon (formerly Rangoon) where we visit the magnificent Swedagon pagoda and take a stroll through the quaint Old Quarter of Yangon enjoying sights and sounds of this bustling city. We continue by air to the rural Shan State and the beautiful Inle Lake region inhabited by several minorities. Here we start our cycling journey and make visits to the markets, floating gardens and other cultural highlights on the lake and surrounding area. From Inle Lake we continue our journey to Kalaw, a charming colonial hill station town inhabited by minorities. From the forested Kalaw region we descend to the dry and almost desert-like plains to Meikhtila and Mt Popa, the latter known for its extinct volcano and spirits. From Meikhtila we continue to the ancient kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temple ruins located on the plains of Bagan by the Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy). During its heyday Bagan was one of the greatest kingdoms in the world and is truly a magical destination to visit. From Bagan we ride to Mandalay and explore some of the ancient capitals of Myanmar, all situated near the current Mandalay City before returning and ending our trip to Yangon.
Brief Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival to Yangon. Yangon walking tour
Day 02: Flight to Heho. Cycling from Heho to Inle Lake
Day 03: Inle Lake highlights by boat
Day 04: Visit vineyard & cycle to Kalaw
Day 05: Cycling from Kalaw to Meikhtila
Day 06: Cycling to extinct volcano Mt Popa
Day 07: Easy ride from Popa to Bagan
Day 08: Bagan highlights, temples & back roads
Day 09: Cycling from Bagan to Mandalay
Day 10: Rest day and Mandalay sights
Day 11: Cycling Mandalay & Royal Cities
Day 12: Flight Mandalay – Yangon. Free time in Yangon
Day 13: Depart Yangon
Day 1: Yangon Highlights – Walking Tour
On arrival at Yangon international airport, you will be welcomed by your guide and driver, and transferred to your hotel for check in. Today you visit the colonial-style city centre of Yangon starting from one of the landmarks; the Sule Stupa built over 2,000 years ago. You continue to the quaint Yangon Old Quarter, built during the British colonial era where many charming historical buildings can still be seen. During your stroll through bustling market streets full of merchants and food stalls, yoy visit a local pharmacy and learn about Myanmar traditional medicine, stop for tea and a snack as the locals do, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Yangon. You continue to one of Asia’s architectural landmarks, the elegant Strand Hotel built by the Sarkies brothers. Inside, you visit the River Art Gallery where the works of some of the most famous and skilled Burmese artists are on display, befitting the grand surroundings. You continue to the bustling Bogyoke (Scotts) market, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked away in a maze of color. (Please note that the market is closed on Mondays and on public holidays)
After lunch, you continue on foot to Yangon Central Railway Station where you board the Yangon Circle Line train, the local mode of travel. The rail line ambles along a leisurely, 3-hour loop around Yangon and its surrounding neighborhoods and is full of character. Youd isembark the train after a few stops and approximately 30 minutes of travelling, to continue sightseeing in your own vehicle. Later in the afternoon you complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Swedagon Pagoda, a gold covered bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline and is frequented by pious locals. The Swedagon Pagoda is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.
Meals included: lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: Yangon hotel
Day 2: Heho – Inle Lake (Cycling)
After breakfast at the hotel you will be transfer to Yangon domestic airport for a short, 1-hour flight to Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. You visit the bustling Heho Market, the meeting point for different ethnic minorities from the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). Near the market you start your biking journey to Inle Lake stopping en route at a local family workshop to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made from mulberry tree pulp. Descending from the Shan highlands to the lower-lying paddy and farming fields you take a smaller unpaved road and continue to Khaung Daing village situated on the western shore of the lake. After a late lunch you will be transfer to your hotel by boat on Inle Lake. On the way you see floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Delight in the picturesque sights of fishermen who balance and row while standing on one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.
Biking: approx. 40 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch in Nyaung Shwe, dinner at hotel
Overnight stay: in a hotel built on stilts over the lake or on the shore
Day 3: Inle Lake – Inn Thein (by boat)
After breakfast at the hotel you journey out by boat, following the currents of a small river to reach the Inn Thein Pagoda complex, a site that makes us feel as if you’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the complex, you walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. You boat back to the lake and visit Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the home of some of the country’s most sacred Buddha statues covered in gold leaf by devout followers. You also make a visit to the Inpawkhon Weaving Village to learn how local silk, linen and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted. As an extra treat, you stop at a house for Burmese cats built over the lake, where you see the preservation efforts and reintroduction of this rare pure breed of felines to Myanmar. At Nampan village, local craftsmen show us how Burmese cigars, or “cheroots,” are traditionally packed and rolled. You end our day with magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.
Biking: Rest day. Should you wish to cycle today we can take a ride to some local villages along the shores of Inle Lake.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch on the lake, dinner at hotel
Overnight stay: in a hotel built on stilts over the lake or on the shore
Day 4: Inle Lake – Kalaw
After breakfast at the hotel you cycle along the shores of Inle Lake (approx. 10 km) passing though small farming communities. If we are lucky you might see harvesting and cane juice extracting as you pass the sugar cane plantations. Near Main Thauk village you visit the Red Mountain Estate to tour the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain, and sample some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, as well as learning about the different aging methods carried out in their cave cellar. your route to Kalaw travels through Inle Lake’s commercial center Nyaung Shwe. En route you pass lush paddy fields climbing some 400m to the cooler Shan plateau, ideal for vegetable plantations. Kalaw is a former colonial British hill station and home to the Danu, Palaung and Pa-O minorities and sits in a protected valley at an altitude of 1320m. Time permitting we can make a stop at the Myin Ma Hti limestone cave which houses various holy shrines and Buddha images.
Biking: approx. 80km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch box, and dinner at hotel
Overnight stay: in a hotel in Kalaw
Day 5: Kalaw – Meikhtila
After breakfast at the hotel, you ride down to the Kalaw morning market, where ethnic minority groups gather for trading. You join in the ubiquitous tea culture of the Myanmar people at a local teashop and sample freshly cooked local snacks before heading out of Kalaw. The winding mountain road soon starts to descend as you ride west to Thazi. The road condition varies greatly throughout this day. Be prepared for all kinds of terrain. From the junction town of Thazi you continue your ride to the small city of Meikhtila, known for its scenic lake. A packed lunch will be served en route. You will arrive at Meikhtila late afternoon.
Biking: approx. 105 km
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: in Meikhtila
Day 6: Meikhtila – Mt. Popa
After breakfast you start your ride to Mt Popa traveling across a dry, desert-like landscape to the small public transport hub town of Kyaukpadaung and proceed to Mt Popa. Mount Popa is the Myanmar spiritual epicenter for those who worship the pantheon of the Nat spirits and martyrs. After paying respects at the Nat shrine at the foot of the mountain, you climb nearly 800 steps to the pagoda perched at the top, to admire the views of the surrounding plains and farmlands. The last part of your cycling journey is an uphill ride to the Mt Popa Resort offering fantastic sunset views over the mountain and surrounding farmlands.
Biking: approx. 100km
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: in Popa Resort
Day 7: Mt Popa – Bagan
After breakfast you ride west to Bagan on paved and mostly flat terrain, passing through farmlands along palm tree-lined roads. You make a stop at a family-run toddy shop and observe the process of making the rich and caramel-like toddy candies from the sap of the toddy palms. In the afternoon you arrive at the ancient kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temple ruins located on the plains Bagan, by the Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy). During its heyday Bagan was one of the greatest kingdoms in the world.
Biking: approx. 55km
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: in Bagan
Day 8: Bagan Cycling
After breakfast at the hotel you begin your cycling journey to the ancient kingdoms of Bagan. The Dhamayazeka Zedi is your first stop, providing panoramic views of the temple-studded plains of Bagan. You continue to the Manuha Temple, built by the Mon king in the 1300s to represent his time in captivity under the Bagan king; Taung Bi village, a typical Bagan neighborhood where you visit rice noodle and cigar workshops. En route to Nyaung U market, the largest market in Bagan, you stop by the Thanaka museum. After lunch you cycle to the gilded Shwezigon Stupa, purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. Not far from the stupa, the Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple is a sight to behold, housing Bagan’s best preserved mural paintings of the Buddha’s Jataka reincarnations. Late afternoon you visit the beautifully symmetric and majestic Ananda Temple with its four standing Buddha images whose eyes seem to follow you whatever your viewpoint. Next you ride down to Ayeyarwaddy River for a private sunset cruise where views of the riverside temples and bustling shore can be accompanied by cocktails on board.
Biking: 20-25km
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: Bagan hotel
Optional Excursion: Hot Air Balloon Flight over Bagan
Imagine floating over thousand-year-old pagodas and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, as the sun sinks slowly behind distant mountains. The magic of Bagan has inspired visitors to Myanmar for centuries. One of the most remarkable sights in Asia, ancient temples dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Now, Balloons over Bagan affords visitors a unique opportunity to see this ancient kingdom, as it never has been seen before. The sunrise and sunset champagne flights take off daily from October through to the end of March.
Day 9: The Road to Mandalay
After breakfast you transfer out to Myingyan village by car or bus and start your cycling journey to Mandalay. You can stop at some villages and teashops en route to see the local lifestyle and also to break up the journey a little. Before reaching Mandalay you change back to bus or car and transfer to hotel in Mandalay. Mandalay is the last royal capital and cultural cradle of Myanmar before the colonial era and is a busy and developing trading city situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.
Biking: around 100km. Flat terrain, road condition varies greatly on this day (cycling distance can be shorter or longer if clients wish)
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: Bagan hotel
Day 10: Mandalay Sights
Today you will visit the highlights of Mandalay starting with the lively Zegyo market in the heart of the city and take a stroll to experience authentic local life. You continue to the jade market where blocks of raw jade are being traded; the Artisan Quarters, where some of the oldest craftsmanship is showcased dating back to last kingdom of Myanmar. You observe the process of applying gold leaf, detailing teakwood carvings and embroidering Myanmar tapestry. You also see how bronze and marble Buddha statues are carved, cast and molded. Next, you visit more major highlights of the city: the sacred Mahamuni Pagoda, housing one of the most significant Buddha images, covered in several tons of gold leaf and the crown prize in wars between competing kingdoms; the Golden Palace monastery, the sole surviving royal palace building in Mandalay, offering a glimpse of the original style and architecture of the Myanmar royals; and lastly, the Kathodaw Pagoda, a compound housing Buddha’s teachings carved in the sacred Pali script on stone tablets and regarded the world’s largest book in terms of surface area. You end our day with sunset panoramic views over the city skyline from Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: Mandalay Hotel
Day 11: Cycling Mingun – Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge - Mandalay
After breakfast at the hotel, you cycle through Mandalay to the river jetty and embark on a 1-hour boat journey across the Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy) to the rural village of Mingun, known for its massive unfinished pagoda dramatically cracked in half by an earthquake in the 1800s; another attraction is Mingun’s bronze bell, believed to be largest uncracked one in the world. Your bike ride follows paved roads with light traffic traveling through friendly villages over rolling hills until we reach the site of the ancient kingdom of Sagaing. From the Sagaing Hills, you enjoy views of the hillside dotted with countless pagodas. You continue your ride to another beautiful ancient capital, Amarapura, famous for its textile industries. You continue on to Ubein Bridge, a simple yet remarkable teak structure that spans 1.2 km over Taungtaman Lake, before heading off on the last lap back to Mandalay.
Biking: approx. 60 km
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: Mandalay hotel
Day 12: Mandalay – Yangon
After an early breakfast you transfer to Bagan airport by car/coach for your morning flight to Yangon. The rest of the day in Yangon is free for shopping and relaxing.
Meals included: breakfast
Overnight stay: Yangon hotel
Day 13: Depart Yangon
After your breakfast at your hotel then our team will transfer you to Yangon airport for your onward flight.
Meals included: breakfast
Included:
• English-speaking local guides in Yangon. Cycling guide from Heho to Mandalay.
• Private tours and transfers with air-conditioned vehicles as specified in our itinerary
• Minibus and support vehicle during long cycling days
• Water, fresh fruits and local snacks during cycling days
• All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary
• Lodging with breakfast as specified in the itinerary
• Meals as specified in the itinerary (quoted separately)
• Luggage handling fees at airports
• Bike rental & helmets (Most of our bikes are Trek 4300 and 4600 series)
• Mechanic & maintenance of hired bikes (Those who decide to bring their own bikes should bring spares and a tool set with them)
Excluded:
• Visa to Myanmar
• International airfares or domestic air fares (mentioned separately)
• Meals or any other item not described in the itinerary
• Early check-in, late check-out, services and non-mentioned meals in the itinerary
• Personal expenses
• Drinks during meals, hotel extras and personal spending
• Travel insurance
• Tips
.jpg "Along the back roads of Myanmar (13 Days)")
Related Tours:
