By far the best way to see any country is on a bicycle. This 8-day trip takes us around Mandalay with its markets, pagodas and monasteries. We will cycle through the rolling Sagaing Hills along back roads, through friendly villages, getting very close to the lifestyle of the locals. We take a boat ride along the Ayeyarwaddy River, continuing to Heho and the old capital of Amarapura. We will visit local handicraft workshops, see how the local cigars are made and explore life around Inle Lake.

 

Brief Itinerary

 

Day 1: Mandalay Highlights

Day 2: Biking Mingun - Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge – Mandalay

Day 3: Mandalay – Heho – Inle Lake

Day 4: Inle Lake – Inn Thein          

Day 5: Inle Lake – Red Mountain Estate Vineyard – Heho – Bagan

Day 6: Bagan Biking

Day 7: Bagan – Mandalay – Ava

Day 8: Mandalay departure

Day 1: Mandalay Highlights
You arrive in Mandalay by air and today you will visit several highlights; the lively Zegyo Market is in the heart of the city and here you will take a stroll to experience some authentic local life. You continue to the Jade Market where blocks of raw jade are traded; on to the Artisan Quarters where some of the oldest craftsmanship is showcased dating back to the last kingdom of Myanmar. You observe the process of pounding 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 ride to visit the 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 past 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 as the world’s largest book in terms of surface area. You end our day with sunset panoramic views over city skyline from Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city.             

Meals included:                       Lunch at local restaurant      

Overnight stay:                       Mandalay Hotel

 

Day 2: Biking Mingun - Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge – Mandalay
After breakfast at the hotel, you ride your bikes 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 reaching 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. Continuing to the Ubein Bridge, a simple yet remarkable teak structure that spans 1.2km over Taungtaman Lake, before the last lap back to Mandalay. 

 

Biking:                                     Approx. 60km

Meals included:                       Breakfast, lunch at local restaurant

Overnight stay:                       Mandalay hotel          

Day 3: Mandalay – Heho – Inle Lake
You have breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the airport for the domestic 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 minority groups from the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). Near the market you start your cycle 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. You descend from the Shan highlands to lower-lying paddy and farming fields and take a smaller unpaved road, continuing on to Haung Daing Village situated on the western shore of the lake. After a late lunch we transfer to our hotel by boat on Inle Lake. On the way we 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 row while balanced on one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.

 

Biking:                                     Approx. 40km

Meals included:                       Breakfast, lunch at local restaurant

Overnight stay:                       Inle Lake hotel

 

Day 4: Inle Lake – Inn Thein
After breakfast you journey out by boat, following the current of a small river to reach the Inn Thein pagoda complex, a site that makes you 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 silks, linens and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted. As an extra treat, you also 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 you how Burmese cigars, or “cheroots,” are traditionally packed and rolled. You end of your day with a magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg. 

 

Biking:                                     Rest day

Meals included:                       Breakfast, lunch at local restaurant

Overnight stay:                       Inle Lake hotel.

Day 5: Inle Lake – Red Mountain Estate Vineyard – Heho – Bagan
The morning is free for sightseeing or relaxing on or around the lake. Our team can make arrangements for you to take a leisurely stroll to the neighboring villages to observe local village life. Next, you take a 1-hour drive from Inle Lake that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields. Near Inle Lake, you also visit the Red Mountain Estate to take a tour of the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain, taste some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, and observe the different aging methods completed in their cave cellar. Alternatively, also our team can make arrangements for a visit to Nyaung Shwe town to explore the quaint town, or shop for local handicrafts. In the afternoon you will be transfer to the Heho Airport for the next connecting flight to Bagan. On arrival you will be met your guide at airport then transfer you to your hotel.

Meals included:                       Breakfast, lunch at riverside restaurant

Overnight stay:                       Bagan hotel

Day 6: Bagan Biking
After breakfast, you begin your cycle journey into the Ancient Kingdom of Bagan. The Dhamayazeka Zedi is your first visit, providing panoramic views of the temple-studded plains of Bagan. You continue to the Manuha Temple, built by the Mon king in the 1300’s to represent his time in captivity under the Bagan king; Taung Bi village, a typical Bagan neighborhood where you visit rice noodle and cigar making workshops.  En route to Nyaung U market, the largest market in Bagan, you stop by the Thanaka Museum. After a lunch break 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 that seem to serenely keep their eyes on you wherever you stand, and then 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:                                     20-25 km

Meals included:                       Breakfast, lunch at riverside restaurant

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 the 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’s never been seen before. The sunrise and sunset champagne flights take off daily from October through to the end of March.

Day 7: Bagan – Mandalay – Ava
After breakfast you will be transfer to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Mandalay. On arrival you will change into our biking gear at Mandalay airport and send the luggage on to Mandalay by coach. After approx. 8km cycling along the main road you turn onto a small dirt road leading through small villages and ruined pagodas to Inn Wa (Ava), the ancient capital of Shan and Burmese Kingdoms for over four centuries. You visit the Bagaya Teak Monastery, over 300 years old yet well preserved and still in use by local monks; the Nanmyin Watch Tower, the last standing structure of the Ava dynastic palace compound also known as the “Leaning Tower of Ava”. After a lunch break in a restaurant near Myint Nge River you cross the river by ferry and cycle back to Mandalay along tree-shaded roads.

Meals included:                       Breakfast, lunch at local restaurant 

Overnight stay:                       Mandalay hotel          

Day 8: Mandalay departure
After breakfast you transfer to Mandalay airport for your onward flight.

Meals included:                       breakfast       

 

Included 

•          English speaking local guides in all destinations.

•          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 (quoted separately. Most of our bikes are Trek brand)

•          Mechanic & maintenance of hired bikes (Those who decide to bring own bikes should bring spares and 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

 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
 

Description	Price per person in USD
Group Size	2	3-5	6-8	9-12	13++	Single Supplement
Superior (3*)	$	$	$	$	$	$
Deluxe (4*)
Luxury (5*)

 TBA