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Kingdoms of the Irrawaddy

Home > Myanmar

Kingdoms of the Irrawaddy

Price from

1950 USD

Duration

6 Days | 5 Nights

Level

2

Tour Code

GHMA12

BOOK THIS TOUR

Bike Tour Myanmar’s Iconic Highlights

Cycle the beautiful flatlands of Myanmar's central west, traveling back in time from the classic northern city of Mandalay to the historic capital Ava, astonishing Mt Popa and ancient Bagan. You'll meet the warm Burmese people, discover their lifestyle and tour the amazing temples of Bagan.

Quality Bikes
GT Avalanche Sport, Merida Matts 6.2 V

Your Guide
Friendly Burmese leader

Group Size
2 to 14

Accommodation
Comfortable hotels

Activities
Ride

Minimum Age
16

Overview

The recent interest in Myanmar as a destination means that everyone is talking about it but only a few will have the pleasure of seeing it in its current form. Now is the time to visit a country that has been shrouded in mystery for too long.

Cycle from Myanmar's last royal capital, Mandalay, down to the ancient 9th-13th century capital, Bagan. Along the way, experience genuine, rural Myanmar as we ride through the charming town of Myingyan, visit a dry zone community, and cruise on the impressive Irrawaddy River.

We cycle to the famous Mount Popa, a volcanic mountain from which we see a stunning view of the surrounding countryside and where we can learn about the 37 Nat spirits and their importance to Burmese people. We then finish off this great trip by exploring the Bagan Plain where ancient temples stretch out over the sandy expanse.

This is a compact trip, packed with highlights including some outstanding accommodation! The riding is easily achievable by most, making this a great excursion for anyone wanting to see the best of Myanmar.

224 Km riding. The terrain is a mix of sealed and unsealed roads on secondary roads and quiet country lanes. We aim, wherever possible to be away from main roads with traffic and have adjusted the itinerary over time to achieve this. There is only one sustained climb over the trip, and the length of this is around 6km split into two sections with a flattish bit in between. It is important to understand that you must be comfortable with riding on rough surfaces. The dirt trails do feature holes, gravel, sand and other obstacles, while the roads are often potholed.

Peak Season Surcharge: For tours commencing from Dec 23 to Jan 3 there is a peak season surcharge of 7% on the tour price due to hotel rate increases at these times of year.

Deposit amount: $800 USD

Highlights

Enjoy a boat ride up the Irrawaddy before pedaling to Sagaing Hill for some great views of Mandalay.

Visit the world’s longest teakwood bridge in a picturesque spot.

Cycle to Mount Popa to learn about the 37 Nat spirits that live in the Taung Kalat temple.

Pedal the plains of Bagan as you visit some of its numerous pagodas.

Day to Day


Meal:
D

Arrive in Mandalay at any time today where you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Alternatively, you may want to arrive a day early and take some time to explore the city. In the late afternoon the group will meet at the hotel and you will have a chance to try out your bike and make any adjustments necessary. After a briefing, we head to dinner.

Riding:
50km
Meal:
BLD

We are in for a real treat today as we avoid roads as much as possible. We first travel upstream on the Irrawaddy River by boat and then explore from Mingun down to Sagaing, along a fantastic road running parallel to the river. A short, challenging climb takes us to the top of Sagaing Hill for a fabulous view of the monastery-dotted hill and Mandalay in the distance.

From here, we cross over the river returning to smaller trails, leading us past the ancient former capital Ava, banana groves, weaving villages and countryside views. We make it all the way to the longest teak wood bridge in the world, a structure that has withstood the ravages of time remarkably well. After some time at the bridge we travel by car to our home for the evening, the small town of Myingyan, where a simple, but adequate hotel awaits.

Riding:
84km
Meal:
BLD

A pleasant ride takes us through the dry zone, terrain that is markedly different from the rest of Myanmar. We pass villages along the way and as the day progresses, the gently rolling hills become more pronounced. As we pass the last of the flat fields, we find Mount Popa and a sharp, but relatively short climb to the lovely resort with its pool perched on the edge of the mountain overlooking the Taung Kalat temple. In the afternoon, you will have the option to visit this temple and hear the stories of the 37 Nats - spirits who call this place home.

Riding:
65km
Meal:
BLD

A flying downhill starts us off into the valley and into Kyauk Padaung. After a stop at the local tea house for snacks, we will look through the produce market before riding onto Bagan. As we ride in, the red bricks of the pagodas come into view and the become more and more numerous as we near the hotel which is located on the edge of the Bagan Plain. After lunch we will head out to a scenic spot to catch the sunset.

Riding:
25km
Meal:
BL

The pagodas of the Bagan Plain are best visited early in the morning as the sandy landscape heats up by the middle of the day. We make good use of an early start and focus our visit on the temples that were built between 14th and 19th centuries: Shwezigon, Dhamagyangyi and Ananda to name a few. In the late morning we find a local restaurant to have lunch then return to the hotel where an afternoon by the pool may be a good way to unwind and enjoy the warm temperatures.

Note: Day 5 is the ideal timing for a sunrise hot air balloon flight over Bagan, considered some of the best ballooning in the world. We can arrange this for you. Prices are approximately US$360 per person and the balloon rides operate between 01 Oct and 15 Apr each year. Please inquire when booking on the tour if this interests you.

Meal:
B

The tour concludes after a hearty breakfast. Options for onward travel are many and include domestic flights from Nyaung-u Airport in Bagan (NYU). A quick 30 minute flight to Mandalay or a 50 minute flight to Yangon will bring you to your connecting international flight. For those in no hurry to leave, the beaches of Myanmar beckon. Please feel free to inquire at the time of booking about onward travel plans.

WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT

GRASSHOPPER STYLE


This tour focuses on Myanmar’s rich history, with stops at significant temples as well as an exploration of Bagan. Enjoy satisfying cycling, beautiful views, comfortable accommodations and interesting cultural stops along the way. With your expert local guide in the lead, you’re sure to have a memorable experience as you dive deeper into authentic Burmese life and culture. Relax knowing we’ve taken care of all the small details so you can enjoy the ride and discover some highlights of Myanmar.

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