Cycle Myanmar (Burma) 13 Days

Begin your day with a walking tour of Yangon, led by your guide, who will introduce you to the city center and highlight several key attractions. In the afternoon, you will visit the most sacred site in the country, Shwedagon Paya. This stunning gold-plated pagoda, adorned with diamonds and precious gems, is believed to house eight strands of the Buddha's hair. The pagoda is particularly breathtaking at sunset, when the lights illuminate the stupa, creating a mesmerizing glow. Next, we’ll make our way to Kandawgyi Lake, where you can admire Karaweik Hall, a replica of a golden royal barge gracefully floating on the eastern shore. If you're up for more adventure at the end of the day, consider joining an optional Urban Adventures tour called "Yangon’s Streets By Night."

We will head to the airport for our flight to Bagan, where you'll be captivated by the expansive plains adorned with countless ancient pagodas. Our day will be filled with cycling as we explore the city's most intriguing landmarks, including the bustling Nyaung Oo Market, the stunning Shwezigon Pagoda, and the serene cave temple of Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi. In the afternoon, we'll stop at a traditional workshop to witness the craft of lacquerware production before proceeding to the architecturally impressive Ananda Phaya monastery.

Today, we rise early to beat the heat as we cycle through lush groves of towering palm trees. You'll likely spot local men climbing these palms to harvest the sap used for distilling liquor. The scenery along our route is incredibly picturesque, so don't forget your camera! Mount Popa, rising 1,518 meters above sea level, is a volcano located in the Pegu Range and is also considered the legendary abode of nats, the 37 spirits of Myanmar.

Today's journey to Myingyan takes us along picturesque, narrow roads that are characteristic of Myanmar's central dry zone. While the route is generally flat, we will pass through the townships of Taungtha and navigate several unbridged sandy creeks meandering through the toddy forests toward Mount Popa. This evening, we have a delightful experience planned— a Shan Traditional Dinner awaits us.

Today involves a significant amount of travel, so you'll be transported part of the way with your bike. You'll cycle along well-kept roads that meander through quaint villages until you reach Tada-U, situated along the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Afterward, we'll hop back in our vehicle and head north on the highway toward Mandalay.

After breakfast, we begin our cycling journey from downtown Mandalay to the quaint town of Amarapura, famous for the U-Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world. We then continue our ride to Mingun, a charming riverside settlement that features an immense, unfinished temple. Originally intended to reach a height of 152 meters, the Mingun stupa would have been the largest in the world if completed. Local legend holds that construction was halted after an astronomer predicted that its completion would bring disaster to the nation. From Mingun, we board a boat for a scenic cruise along the Ayeyarwady River back to Mandalay, where we'll leave our bikes and take private transport to visit the stunning Kuthodaw Pagoda, located at the base of Mandalay Hill and known as the world’s largest book. We’ll climb the hill just in time to watch the sunset, offering breathtaking views of the city’s lake and shimmering stupas. For evening entertainment, you might consider attending a traditional performance by the Mandalay Marionettes or an unconventional comedy show by the Moustache Brothers.

Departing from Mandalay, we will bypass the bustling highway traffic and embark on a drive of about four hours to the quaint mountain village of Ywa Ngan. Following lunch, we'll cycle approximately 50 kilometers through the picturesque rural landscapes of Myanmar, passing vibrant villages and expansive fields on our way to Pindaya. This town is renowned for its limestone caves that house thousands of Buddha statues.

We will drive to the Pindaya caves to explore their fascinating caverns and tunnels. This intricate network contains over 8,000 Buddha images, with visiting pilgrims contributing to the collection daily. Afterward, we’ll cycle through the undulating hills of the Shan plateau towards Nyaung Shwe, the entry point to Inle Lake. Stretching 14 miles in length and 7 miles in width, this lake is the second largest natural lake in Myanmar and is situated 2,900 feet above sea level, surrounded by the misty Blue Mountains. The journey into the Shan Highlands involves a few challenging ascents.

This morning, we’ll cycle along the western shores of Inle Lake towards the Indein pagoda complex situated on the hillside. After spending some time exploring the hundreds of Shan-style stupas at the site, we will cross the lake by motorboat. Our journey will then take us along a winding road through lush farmland, where you'll encounter Intha villages (known for their unique leg-rowing technique), rice paddies, fields of sugarcane, and traditional wooden houses. In the afternoon, we will drive to the local Red Mountain winery for a tasting session before heading back to Nyaung Shwe for the night.

Today, we will explore Inle Lake and stop by Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which serves as the main sanctuary for Buddha images and royal barges on the lake. Taking a boat ride around Inle Lake allows for a unique perspective on local life. As we cruise, you'll notice various cottage industries and spot the lake's famous leg-rowing fishermen. Their distinctive rowing style, where they stand and use one leg to wrap around a long paddle while casting their conical nets, enables them to move freely across the water. This technique has developed due to the dense reeds and floating plants that make it challenging to see and navigate while seated. Our next stop will be the village of Inpawkhone, renowned for its traditional silk weaving from lotus flower stems. Although the process is labor-intensive, it yields high-quality fabrics. After observing the weavers, we'll visit a cheroot factory to see cigars being handmade.

Spend the morning immersed in the tranquility of Inle Lake before saying goodbye to your support team and heading to Heho for your flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival, a transfer is included to take you from the airport to your hotel.

Your cycling journey through Myanmar comes to an end today in Yangon. With no scheduled activities, you are free to leave at your convenience.