Myanmar Cycling

Experience the most famous sights of Myanmar on this fully guided and supported cycling journey. Your trip starts from British administration constructed capital city, Yangon (Rangoon); where we visit the magnificent gold plate and gemstone decorated Swedagon pagoda; take a stroll through quaint old quarter of Yangon enjoying sights and sounds of this bustling city.

Our journey continues northbound to rural Shan State and beautiful Inle Lake region inhabited by minority peoples. By Inle we sample local wineyard harvest; visit markets, floating gardens and cultural highlights on the lake and vicinity. From Shan State we continue our journey to Mandalay for exploring Ancient Capitals of Myanmar (Burma) all situated near current Mandalay City. We visit; the last remaining palace building; centuries old teak wood monastery; the sacred Mahamuni Buddha’s temple; observe traditional gold leaf ponding, carving, tapestry and weaving in local workshops. We explore ruins of AVA kingdom by horse carriage and enjoy Ubein teak bridge vistas known for spectacular sunsets. From Mandalay we continue to Ancient Kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temples ruins located on the plains Bagan by Ayeyarwaddy river (Irrawaddy). Bagan was during its heyday one the greatest kingdoms in the World and is truly magical destination to visit.

Trip details

• Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights
• Trip type: Biking tour, adventure
• Destinations: Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Bagan
• Grading: Challenging
• Price:
• Departures: Daily on private basis
• Starts: in Yangon
• Ends: in Yangon

Highlights

• Vibrant Yangon and gleaming Swedagon pagoda
• Picturesque Inle Lake, floating gardens and leg rowers
• Mandalay and ancient capitals
• Temples of Bagan
• Meeting locals

 In brief

• DAY 1: Arrival to Yangon & Yangon highlights
• DAY 2: Ride to Twante & Dala by bike
• DAY 3: Flight to Heho. Biking from Heho to Inle Lake
• DAY 4: Inle Lake highlights by boat
• DAY 5: Visit vineyard, biking by Inle & to Pindaya Caves
• DAY 6: Biking from Pindaya to Mandalay
• DAY 7: Mandalay sights by bike
• DAY 8: Mingun – Sagaing – Amarapura - Ubein Bridge
• DAY 9: Cycling from Mandalay to Bagan
• DAY 10: Bagan highlights by bike
• DAY 11: Cycling Bagan to Mt Popa
• DAY 12: Bagan – Yangon
• DAY 13: Depart Yangon

DAY 1 > YANGON HIGHLIGHTS WALKING TOUR [-/L/D]

Upon arrival to the YANGON international airport, you will be welcomed by our Expeditions Myanmar guide and transferred to hotel. Today we visit colonial-style city center of Yangon starting from one of the landmarks SULE PAYA stupa – built over 2,000 years ago. We continue to the quaint YANGON OLD QUARTER, built during the British colonial era where many charming historical buildings are still located. During our stroll through bustling MARKET STREETS full of merchants and food stalls, we visit a local pharmacy and learn about Myanmar traditional medicine, stop for a tea and snack in the fashion of locals, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Yangon. We continue to one of Asia’s architectural landmarks, the elegant STRAND HOTEL built by the Sarkies brothers. Inside, we visit the RIVER ART GALLERY, where the works of some of the most famous and skilled Burmese artists are on display fitting of the grand surroundings. We continue to bustling BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a maze of color.

(Please note that the market is closed on Mondays and on public holidays)

After lunch in the afternoon, we continue on foot to Yangon Central Railway Station where we embark on the YANGON CIRCLE LINE TRAIN and travel as the locals do. The rail line ambles in a leisurely, 3-hour loop around Yangon and surrounding neighborhoods and is full of character. We disembark the train after few stops and approximately 30 minutes of travelling to continue sightseeing by our own vehicle. Late afternoon we 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 Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.

• Meals included: Lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In Yangon, in hotel.

DAY 2 > BIKING YANGON – DALA - TWANTE [B/L/D]

After breakfast pick up from your hotel and transfer to Pasondan Jetty by Yangon River. After final adjustments to bikes we cross Yangon River by local ferry to DALA VILLAGE and start our biking journey. Our morning ride takes us through small lanes, market streets and friendly village neighborhoods. We observe the daily activities of Burmese locals and get a feel for the authentic rural lifestyle of Myanmar. We make a stop in a local pagoda and small monastery and enjoy local refreshments before heading off to Twante. The road to Twante is passing through farming lands and paddy fields and has very little traffic. We stop enroute at a local workshop to see how popular Burmese velvet slippers are produced. TWANTE is known for its generation’s old industry producing some of Myanmar’s best terracotta. After lunch in a local restaurant we visit some local workshops, meet the laborers and observe the craftsmen in action of making pots and other items with traditional methods and burning them in kilns. We also visit 75m high stupa at SHWESANDAW PAGODA before biking back 24km to Dala. After ferry crossing back to Yangon we stop for a sundowner at a riverside restaurant by the Yangon River before transfer back to hotel.

• Biking: Approx. 50km
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In Yangon, in hotel.

DAY 3 > BIKING HEHO TO INLE LAKE [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Yangon domestic airport for (1hr) FLIGHT TO HEHO, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. We visit the bustling HEHO MARKET, the meeting point for different ethnic minority groups of the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). Near the market we start our biking journey to Inle Lake stopping enroute at a LOCAL FAMILY WORK SHOP to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made from mulberry tree pulp. Descending from Shan highlands to lower lying paddy and farming fields we take a smaller unpaved road and continue to KHAUNG DAING VILLAGE situated on the western shore of the lake. After late lunch we transfer to our hotel by boat on the 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 balance and row with 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 in Nyaung Shwe, dinner at hotel
• Overnight stay: In a hotel built on stilts over the lake or on the shore

DAY 4 > INLE LAKE & INN THEIN BY BOAT [B/L/D]

After breakfast we 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 we’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the complex, we walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. We 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. We 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, we stop at a house for BURMESE CATS built over the lake, where we 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. We end our day with magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.

• Biking: Rest day
• 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 5 > INLE LAKE - PINDAYA CAVES [B/L/D]

After breakfast, we ride bikes along shores of Inle Lake (approx. 10km) passing though small farming communities if lucky we might see some sugarcane plantations, harvesting and cane juice extracting. Near Main Thauk village we visit the RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE to tour of the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain, and sample some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, and observe the different aging methods completed in their cellar cave. After lunch in Nyaung Shwe town we transfer 1hr to AUNG BAN, a junction town of roads heading North to South and East to West. We bike from Aung Ban to Pindaya (38km) on a smaller road rolling through Shan highlands and farming region until reaching PINDAYA where we visit the PINDAYA CAVE housing thousands of Buddha images donated by Buddhist devotees alongside caverns filled with numerous stalactite formations. After cave visit we proceed to check in to our hotel in Pindaya for the night.

• Biking: 40 - 50km
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch in Nyaung Shwe, dinner at hotel
• Overnight stay: In a hotel in Pindaya

DAY 6 > PINDAYA – YWAGAN – MANDALAY [B/L/D]

Breakfast at the hotel, following 1hr transfer to the starting point of our cycling journey. Our route travels Northbound on paved and quiet road passing through rolling Shan highlands and small rural villages that rarely see foreigners. We stop for lunch in a local restaurant in YWAGAN VILLAGE and continue our ride to Mandalay. Todays biking distance will be adjusted to the fitness level of participants. Arrival to Mandalay will be late afternoon/ early evening.

• Biking: Max.120km
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch in a local restaurant, dinner
• Overnight stay: In a hotel in Mandalay

DAY 7 > MANDALAY SIGHTS [B/L/D]

Today we will visit Mandalay highlights the lively ZEGYO MARKET in the heart of the city and take a stroll to experience authentic local life. We continue to the JADE MARKET where blocks of raw jade is being traded, ARTISAN QUARTERS, where some of the oldest craftsmanship is showcased dating back to last kingdom of Myanmar. We observe the process of pounding gold leaf, detailing teakwood carvings and embroidering Myanmar tapestry. We also see how bronze and marble Buddha statues are carved, cast and molded. Next, we 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 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 KUTHODAW 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. We end our day with sunset panoramic views over city skyline on MANDALAY HILL, the highest point of the city.

• Biking: 0km
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In hotel in Mandalay

DAY 8 > BIKING MINGUN – SAGAING - AMARAPURA - UBEIN BRIDGE - MANDALAY [B/L/D]

After breakfast at the hotel, we ride bikes through Mandalay to 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. Our bike ride follows paved road with light traffic traveling through friendly villages over rolling hills until reaching the site of ANCIENT KINGDOM OF SAGAING. From the SAGAING HILLS, we enjoy views of the hillside dotted with countless pagodas. We continue our 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 last lap back to Mandalay.

• Biking: Approx. 60km
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In hotel in Mandalay

DAY 9 > MANDALAY TO BAGAN BIKING [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel we transfer outside of Mandalay City where we commence with the days biking journey. We ride through villages & farming lands in beautiful landscape. We can take breaks at any of the numerous tea shops along the way. This stretch of biking is great for photography and making stop at local villages enroute. The road condition may vary greatly. Terrain is flat but some parts of the road may be rough and potholed. From Myingyan, we will transfer to Bagan by car or bus.

• Biking: Around 100km (this can be shorter or longer if clients wish)
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In hotel in Bagan

DAY 10 > BAGAN BIKING [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel we begin our cycling journey into the Ancient Kingdoms of Bagan. The DHAMAYAZEKA ZEDI is our first visit, providing panoramic views of the temple studded plains of Bagan. We 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 we visit RICE NOODLE & CIGAR WORKSHOPS. Enroute to NYAUNG U MARKET, the largest market in the Bagan we stop by the THANAKA MUSEUM. After lunch break we cycle to gold gilded SWEZIGON 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. We can also make a visit to a MONASTIC SCHOOL that provides disadvantaged children with free primary level education, we have the opportunity to interact with the school children. Late afternoon we visit beautifully symmetric and majestic ANANDA TEMPLE with its four standing Buddha images that seem to gaze at the viewer with fixed serenity wherever the viewer stands and ride down to Ayeryarwaddy 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: In hotel in Bagan

DAY 11 > RIDING TO POPA [B/L/D]

After breakfast we ride out east from Bagan on paved road and mostly flat terrain passing through farming lands and palm trees lined road. We make a lunch 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. Box lunch will be served during this break. MOUNT POPA, the Burmese spiritual epicenter for those who worship the pantheon of nat spirits and martyrs. After paying respects to the NAT SHRINE at the foot of Mount Popa, we climb nearly 800 steps to the pagoda perched at the top of the mountain to admire the views of the surrounding plains and farm lands. Last part of our cycling journey is uphill ride to Mt Popa Resort offering fantastic views over the Popa Mountain and surrounding farm lands.

• Biking: Approx. 55km
• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In Popa Resort

DAY 12 > YANGON [B/L/D]

Early breakfast and transfer to Bagan airport by car/ coach for your morning flight to Yangon. Rest of the day in Yangon is free for shopping and relaxing.

• Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Overnight stay: In hotel in Yangon

DAY 13 > YANGON [B/-/-]

Transfer to Yangon airport for your onward flight.

• Meals included: Breakfast