Itinerary

Day 1?Yangon

Arrive at any time.

Arrive at anytime today. Today is arrival day so there are no activities planned. You are free to relax and explore the city. Please try to arrive before 6pm for an important group meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and other group members. Following this, enjoy an optional group dinner where you can sample some of the local cuisine.

Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting

1h 18:00

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour.

Accommodation

Hotel Grand United – Ahlone (or similar)

Hotel

Day 2?Yangon/Nyaungshwe

Fly to Heho and transfer the short distance to Nyaung Shwe. This town is the gateway to Inle Lake and its many attractions. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Nyaung Shwe.

Leave Yangon this morning and fly north to Heho. From here, travel by road a further 1 hr to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Take the rest of the day to explore Nyaung Shwe. Wander the numerous side streets, stupas, and restaurants around the town.

Plane

Yangon ? Heho1h

Private Vehicle

Heho ? Nyaungshwe45m

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Free Time

NyaungshweAfternoon

Explore the many shops, restaurants, and stupas in this charming town.

Accommodation

Royal Inlay Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3?Nyaungshwe/Inle Lake

Visit Inle Lake by bike and boat. Cycle around the lake and stop for lunch with a local Intha family during the ride.

Bike out to Inle Lake today, your first experience of cycling around Myanmar (Burma). First, take a boat down the canal to Inle Lake. Pass villages built on stilts over the water, inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens, built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.

In the afternoon, cycle around the lake itself. Stop for lunch with a local Intha family and admire the views across the lake as we follow the road past paddy fields and tiny villages.

Cycling

Nyaungshwe ? Inle Lake6h-7h15km

Cycle around Inle Lake. Stop for lunch with a local Intha family and admire the views across the lake as we follow the road past paddy fields and tiny villages along the cycle. The cycling here is relatively flat and the area is peaceful, so enjoy yourself. See the famous leg rowing fisherman, silk weaving and entire communities that exist on the lake. Depending on the rotation, there might be a chance to see the revolving market which sets up in a different location every week.

Accommodation

Royal Inlay Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4?Heho/Pindaya

Cycle through rolling hills to the village of Pindaya, before heading out into the countryside and exploring the surrounding trails.

After a short ride to Heho, enjoy a ride out to the village of Pindaya, set in a picturesque valley. Once here, enjoy the routes around the village, exploring country tracks on two wheels. Discover the myths and legends around the area.

Private Vehicle

Nyaungshwe ? Heho45m35km

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Pindaya Cycling

Heho ? Pindaya 3h-4h 30km

Cycle to Pindaya, a small town in a picturesque valley. Ride through rolling hills on the way to the town. On arrival, cycle the narrow trails around the town and visit the Golden Cave, home to a legend involving a Giant Spider and a handsome prince.

Accommodation

Golden Cave Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5?Pindaya

Begin an overnight hike up through the hills around Pindaya. Visit the magnificent Pindaya Caves, set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake, where over 8,000 images of Buddha are on display.

Hike up among the caves surrounding the village of Pindaya. Passing the Shwe U Min Paya pagoda, the 152.4m (500 ft) caves are filled with thousands of images of Buddha, many dating back centuries. These images are made in a variety of materials, from cement to marble. Keep an eye out for monks in prayer, even in the smaller caves.

Pindaya Hills Hike

Pindaya 3h-4h10-15km

This morning, pull on your hiking boots and head up into the hills. Trek through friendly villages and incredible scenery around Pindaya. The hill tribes and monasteries in the area are breathtaking and make the climb worthwhile. Visit the magnificent Pindaya Caves, set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake. Look at the over 8,000 different types of images of Buddha on display here.

Accommodation

Pindaya Home Stay (or similar)

Homestay

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6?Pindaya

Wake up among the hills and enjoy the sights and sounds of village life. Hike through friendly villages and incredible scenery around Pindaya, before returning to the town for the night.

Hike through friendly villages and enjoy the view. The scenery around the hills is spectacular and is among the best in Myanmar. Return to Pindaya to spend the night.

Pindaya Hills Hike Day 2

Pindaya 3h-4h

Wake to the sounds of the village coming to life before enjoying a half day hike returning back to Pindaya.

Accommodation

Silver Star Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 7?Mandalay

Transfer from Pindaya to Heho, then fly to Mandalay. The rest of the day is free to explore Mandalay’s ancient temples and other beautiful sites, such as the Golden Monastery.

Discover the history and culture of Mandalay. Start at the base of Mandalay Hill and visit Shwe Nandaw Kyuang (Golden Palace Monastery), which is noted for its intricate wood carvings, and Kayuk Taw Gyi Pagoda to view the massive marble Buddha. Finally, check out Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to ?the world?s largest book?, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Continue to Mahamuni Pagoda, with its 3.8m (12.5 ft) tall Buddha image, which is covered with so much gold leaf that it has a lumpy appearance. Check out some of the craft shops in the area. In the late afternoon, head to Mandalay Hill to walk (or take the lift) to the top for gorgeous views over the city, countryside, and Irrawaddy River.

Private Vehicle

Pindaya ? Heho45mMorning30km

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Plane

Heho ? Mandalay 2h Morning

Free Time

MandalayFull Day

Your trip is just that ? yours. Want to linger at the market or grab a table at that cozy caf?? Consider it done. We give your trip structure and direction, but you decide what you want to do today.

Optional Activities – Day 7

Accommodation

Silver Star Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8?Mandalay/Myingyan

Enjoy a full morning in the saddle as the journey continues by bike. Wheel through the ancient kingdom of Ava, the ancient capital of Amarapura, and the multiple Buddhist monasteries of Sagaing. In the afternoon, transfer to Myingyan.

Jump back on the bike today, leaving Mandalay behind and head for Myingyan. Pass through the former Ava Kingdom, which once ruled upper Myanmar (Burma), before arriving at the city of Sagaing. The city is known for its numerous Buddhist monasteries, so stop here to wander around the many sites. Looking along the river, pagodas seem to sprout from the trees, puncturing the skyline.

Continue on to Myingyan by bus, and spend the evening there.

Cycling

Mandalay ? Sagaing7h-8h45km

Cycle through some of the most iconic countryside in Myanmar (Burma) today. Follow the river north towards the U-Bein Bridge, crossing smaller paths through banana groves to reach the longest teak bridge in the world. Continue on to Sagaing.

Private Vehicle

Sagaing ? Myingyan2h45km

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Optional Activities – Day 8

Thambuddhei Paya

Monywa

Dating from the 12th century, the Buddhist temple of Thambuddhei Paya is believed to contain over 500,000 images of the Buddha. There is a large stupa outside and Laykyun Sekkya, the second largest statue in the world, is nearby. Explore this fascinating place.

Accommodation

Kaung Kaung Guesthouse (or similar)

Guesthouse

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 9?Myingyan/Popa Hill

Make the challenging uphill cycle from Myingyan to Mt Popa, enjoying the great views along the way.

Cycle through the dry interior of Myanmar. Pass through fields of crops and varied farmland as the terrain steadily rises en route. Head uphill towards the pilrimage site of Mt Popa.

Cycling

Myingyan ? Popa Hill7h-8h40km

The majestic Buddhist architecture around Myingyan provides the backdrop for this fantastic cycling day. Passing sunflower farms, the summit of Mt. Popa looms into view in the distance, before arriving at the foot of the mountain itself.

Accommodation

Popa Mountain Resort (or similar)

Resort

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 10?Popa Hill/Bagan

Enjoy a downhill cycle, passing through villages, towards the plains of Bagan.

Cycle downhill from Mt. Popa towards the plains of Bagan. The journey passes through villages that are endemic to the region. Buffalo plough the fields and farmers collect their crops as you cycle by.

Cycling

Popa Hill ? Bagan60km

Enjoy a leisurely downhill cycle towards the plains of Bagan. Stop to see palm sugar production in small family run workshops and pedal through the arid countryside.

Accommodation

Nyaung U Thante Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 11?Bagan

Explore the hundreds of temples and stupas that dot the landscape here.

The journey begins with a visit to an elevated temple that offers a panoramic view of the magnificent plains of Bagan. Continue to colorful Nyaung Oo market, where locals buy and sell fresh produce and other goods. Visit the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction to Bagan?s rich history. After, visit nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. Later, check out a local monastery for a special monk blessing.

Guided Bagan Cycling Tour

Bagan 3h-4h 25km

Enjoy a cycle tour around stunning Bagan. Visit the colourful Nyaung Oo Market and the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda to get an introduction to Bagan?s rich history. Explore Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

Accommodation

Nyaung U Thante Hotel (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12?Bagan/Yangon

Transfer to the airport and fly to Yangon. Enjoy a free afternoon.

Private Vehicle

Bagan ? Bagan Nyaung U Airport15m4km

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Plane

Bagan Nyaung U Airport ? Yangon1h30m

Free Time

YangonAfternoon

Explore this cosmopolitan city at leisure, enjoying the vast variety of actvities available here.

Accommodation

Hotel Grand United – Ahlone (or similar)

Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 13?Yangon

Depart at any time.

Departure Day

Meals included: Breakfast

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Please note that most nationalities require a visa to enter Myanmar (Burma); please double check this with your travel agent or local Myanmar Embassy prior to your arrival.