Cycling in Myanamr is other way to discover this beautiful country, on the way you can enjoy the spectacular views, the life style of hill tribes. Bicycle round trip to an extinct volcano, Mt. Popa, which dominates the area. Mount Popa was for centuries where kings of central Burma made pilgrimages to confer with the sacred statues about the future of their reigns
Highlight
- Cruising by boat on the picturesque lake until sunset, enjoying the spectacular views in Inle Lake
- cycling due north to Pindaya on a rolling empty road flanked by beautiful manicured fields from where much of Myanmar’s produce comes from
- visit a village, meeting with a local family in their home and visiting a local school to meet with children
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1 : Arrive Yangon, (D)
Day 2 : Yangon flight to Heho – Inle Lake (B, L, D)
Day 3 : Inle Lake – Taung Gyi – Kakku Pagodas – Inle Lake (B, L, D)
Day 4 : Inle Lake to Kalaw Highlands (B, L, D)
Day 5 : Kalaw to Pindaya (B, L, D)
Day 6 : Pindaya to Mandalay (B, L, D)
Day 7 : Mandalay (B, L, D)
Day 8 : Mandalay to Monywa (B, L, D)
Day 9 : Monywa to Popa (B, L, D)
Day 10 : Popa – Bagan (B, L, D)
Day 11 : Bagan (B, L, D)
Day 12 : Bagan flight to Ngapali Beach (B)
Day 13 : Ngapali Beach free (B)
Day 14 : Ngapali Beach flight back to Yangon (B)
Day 15 : Yangon for international flight (B)
Day 1 : Arrive Yangon, (D)
After arrival at Yangon airport, meet the escort and transfer to hotel for check in. Enjoy the Welcome dinner at the Padonmar Restaurant. O / N in Yangon.
Overnight at Yangon.
Day 2 : Yangon flight to Heho – Inle Lake (B, L, D)
Asian Wings YJ 751 ETD: 11:00 – ETA: 12:10
Breakfast and transfer to the domestic terminal for the flight to Heho and then by van to sublime Inle Lake. Lunch at a Local Restaurant. We’ll spend the late afternoon cruising by boat on the picturesque lake until sunset, enjoying the spectacular views. After, enjoy a dinner on the deck while going over our plans for the overall tour and the next day.
Leisurely cycling today of about 22 miles (35 km)
Overnight at Nyaung Shwe .
Day 3 : Inle Lake – Taung Gyi – Kakku Pagodas – Inle Lake (B, L, D)
In the morning, we’ll set up and test our bikes before departing by car to Kakku, a lesser known but impressive site comprised of several thousand small stupas in the Pa O region. From here, we’ll begin riding back to Inle Lake with a wonderful descent dropping nearly 2,000 feet to the lake basin. After lunch on the lake, loading our bikes onto our boat, cruising across Inle Lake, passing stilted villages with their unique floating gardens. After reaching shore, we’ll mount our bikes, riding through lake front villages, pausing at temples, markets and to meet with local families.
Leisurely cycling today of about 35 miles (56 km)
Overnight at Nyaung Shwe
Day 4 : Inle Lake to Kalaw Highlands (B, L, D)
After a leisurely breakfast admiring the sun rising over the lake, we’ll depart by bikes climbing up from the lake on quiet roads for the short but challenging climb into the scenic country side to Kalaw, a hill station filled with interesting mix of colonial-era architecture and hill tribe villages. Depending on the time, we can wander through the market or ride around the city looking at the decaying colonial mansions or hoof it on a leisurely hike through the foothills surrounding the town.
71 miles (96 km) with climbing and rollers
Overnight at Seint Motel (Standard), Kalaw
Day 5 : Kalaw to Pindaya (B, L, D)
Today, cycling due north to Pindaya on a rolling empty road flanked by beautiful manicured fields from where much of Myanmar’s produce comes from. The area is rich with a diversity of hill tribes and we will pause to visit some of the villages en route. After we reach Pindaya, strolling the small town’s sites and Lake Front. Before dinner we will also trek up to visit the famous Pindaya caves, filled with hundreds of Buddha statues. After, we’ll enjoy the sunset from the hill side over the lake.
52 miles rolling hills (74 km)
Overnight Pindaya
Day 6 : Pindaya to Mandalay (B, L, D)
The longest travel day of our bike tour goes northwest on a recently-paved, rolling road through mountains and jungle-lined roads to Kyaukse where the bus will transfer us the remaining distance “on the road to Mandalay.” Mandalay is the historic old capital, but remains the center of Myanmar culture and religion. It is also where traditional arts and crafts are centered. Myanmar abounds with historical sites, cultural memorials and Buddhist monuments and we will explore some of them after arrival. In the evening, enjoy dinner overlooking the Ayeyarwaddy River.
Up to 160 kilometers (100 miles), rolling country road
Overnight at Mandalay
Day 7 : Mandalay (B, L, D)
Today, touring Mandalay by foot, the religious and cultural center of Myanmar. From ancient wooden palaces to massive pagodas to serene monasteries, Mandalay has it all. After breakfast, traveling outside Mandalay to the former royal capital of Amarapura, including an interesting stop at the Mahagandayon Monastery, a school for novice monks. Also visit to U Bein Bridge, a 200 year-old bridge and the longest teak one in the world. In the afternoon, sightseeing in central Mandalay, including Mahamuni Pagoda, gold leaf hammering, Shwe Inbin Monastery; Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Kuthodaw Pagoda, renowned for its stone slabs of the Buddhist scriptures, and panoramic Mandalay Hill, ending the day with a sunset view from the peaceful Sagaing Hill across the Ayeyarwaddy River.
Overnight at Silver Swan Hotel (Superior), Mandalay
Day 8 : Mandalay to Monywa (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we’ll transfer out of Mandalay mid-morning by bus to Ondaw. Today features a ride west into the desert landscape and heartland of central Myanmar where bullock carts outnumber cars. There are several interesting sites to explore on the way to the provincial capital of Monywa including a pagoda with over 300,000 Buddha images and a monumental reclining Buddha. We’ll also stop to visit a village, meeting with a local family in their home and visiting a local school to meet with children before biking onto to pleasant Monywa.
56 miles (94 km) on mostly flat road
Overnight at Win Unity Hotel (Superior), Monywa
Day 9 : Monywa to Popa (B, L, D)
Mt. Popa and the final day of riding. We bicycle round trip to an extinct volcano, Mt. Popa, which dominates the area. Mount Popa was for centuries where kings of central Burma made pilgrimages to confer with the sacred statues about the future of their reigns.
We’ll climb the hundreds of steps to the monkey-populated hill (feeding them if your brave enough), for a expansive, panoramic views of the surrounding area. Optional return ride to Bagan. Enjoy another dramatic sunset in Bagan.
29 miles (48 km) on quiet, flat sandy roads
Overnight at Popa Mounatin Resort (Superior), Mount Popa
Day 10 : Popa – Bagan (B, L, D)
Heading out of Popa we’ll bike a road with light traffic meandering through a rice growing region along the Chindwind River to Pakokku, passing through hill tribe villages where we’ll break for lunch. After reaching Pakokku, we board our boat to cruise on the famed Irrawaddy to Bagan. After arrival in Bagan, we’ll enjoy a short ride to our hotel near the world famous ruins. Dinner and delightful, traditional puppet show in Old Bagan.
74 miles (123 km) on quiet country road
Overnight at Bagan
Day 11 : Bagan (B, L, D)
With over forty square kilometers and thousands of pagodas, Bagan is nothing short of breath taking. We’ll cycle the ancient plain, pausing to explore primary and secondary temples. If there is time, we can visit the market which has a pleasant mix of local and tourist shops before returning for dinner along the river. Dinner will include another Burmese cultural show of dance, athletics and puppetry with excellent photo opportunities.
32 miles (51 km) on quiet, flat sandy roads
Overnight at Bagan
Day 12 : Bagan flight to Ngapali Beach (B)
Aisan Wings YJ 912 ETD: 11:40 – ETA: 13:35
Breakfast and transfer to the airport for our one-hour flight to Ngapali. Pick up to Ngapali Beach. Transfer to hotel and free.
Overnight at Ngapali Beach
Day 13 : Ngapali Beach free (B)
Breakfast and all day free for beach relaxing.
Overnight at Ngapali Beach
Day 14 : Ngapali Beach flight back to Yangon (B)
Air Mandalay 6T 602 ETD: 12:55 – ETA: 13:50
Breakfast and all day free for beach relaxing, Driver pick up to airport for flight to Yangon for check in. O / N in Yangon
Overnight at Yangon.
Day 15 : Yangon for international flight (B)
Air Asia FD 2752 ETD: 08:30
Breakfast driver pick up to airport for your international flight back home!