Meal: lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Mandalay

Upon arrival in Mandalay, you will be welcomed by your biking guide and you can choose a bike that fits you from our selection of mountain bikes. After fitting start biking on the eastern rural side of Mandalay and observe the daily life of the people in the outskirts of the town. Bike through scenic paddy fields and villages and stop at Ye Kyi to observe typical village life, cottage industries and from some refreshments at a local tea house. Come back to Mandalay and continue to Zaycho Market where locals come to trade their various products. Bike along the former Royal Palace wall which is one of the main features in Mandalay. After lunch, continue to bike until arriving to the mighty Ayerwaddy River. Walk and bike through the busy ports and merchant activities. Bike through the north-western quarters of Mandalay to the northern Moat Road and visit the famous the Golden Palace Monastery, the last surviving building of Royal Palace and the charming temple where entire Buddhist bible is engraved on the 729 marble stone slabs. Late afternoon we drive to Mandalay hill to enjoy beautiful Panoramic views of the city and surrounding plains.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Mandalay

After breakfast, bike through the heart of Mandalay city to the Mingun jetty. Start your day with a pleasant cruise over Ayerwaddy River to Mingun village. Wander through the village lanes and visit Mingun Bell, the world’s largest un-cracked bell weighing over 90 tons, the stylish Hsinbyume Pagoda and the unfinished Mingun Pagoda dreamed to become the world’s largest Stupa by King Bodaw Paya in the early 1800s. Begin your biking on the country road to Sagaing along the western bank of the river through rural villages. Enjoy the agricultural scenery of the beautiful countryside. Visit nunneries and monasteries of Sagaing Hill and end the day at Ubein Bridge with refreshing sunset drinks.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Monywa

In the early morning, board your boat to Myin Mu town. It’s a delightful small market town in the center of highway road from Mandalay to India. Visit beautiful market of Myin Mu. Start your biking on the country road to Monywa passing through a lot of farms, villages, road junctions, small towns. Biking is probably the best way to discover the rural lifestyle of Myanmar. Simple lunch en-route. Make stops at the villages and get more insight of the authentic local life style. Once you get to Monywa, check in the hotel. In the evening you can take a walk in the town for the night food and fruit market.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Bagan

After breakfast, commence your longest day of biking to Pakkoku (128 km – 6 hours), a port city set south of the Chindwin confluence. Visit villages on the way. Visit Pakhangyi, one of the oldest ornate teak monasteries of the country. After lunch at a simple local restaurant in Pakokku you will visit a typical local market. There is also a possibility to observe a weaving process of typical Myanmar cotton blankets. Continue by boat, on the Ayeyarwaddy River, to Bagan where you will arrive in time for sunset. This down river trip takes approximately leisurely 2 hours and you can enjoy the beautiful riverside views. Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to your hotel.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Bagan

After breakfast, begin your day of biking in Bagan with a visit to the colorful Nyaung U Market, the largest market in Bagan. We make stops at Thanaka Museum, to learn about the traditional Burmese make up and shining gold gilded Swezigon Stupa, purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. In Taung Bi Village, a typical Bagan neighborhood we make stops to learn how Rice noodles and Myanmar cigars “cheroots” are made. After lunch break we continue to well-preserved Ananda Temple often cited as the most beautiful temple in Bagan. Within short ride away is the Shwesandaw Pagoda, tall brick stupa offering perfect views over Bagan. We continue on small and sandy lanes and tracks through more remote temple sites to New Bagan and Myinkaba Village where we visit a Lacquerware Workshop for Bagan’s special arts and crafts.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Bagan

Today we will tour Bagan with mountain bikes traveling on the hidden trails and tracks to some of the more remote temple sites & villages. This day is more free flowing and we have a chance to interact with locals and learn little bit more about the life of the locals.

OPTIONAL TOUR: Sunrise hot air balloon flight over Bagan
Imagine . . . floating over thousand year old pagodas and the Ayeyarwaddy River, as the sun sinks slowly behind distant mountains. Balloons over Bagan affords visitors a unique opportunity to see this ancient kingdom, as it never has been seen before. The sunrise champagne flights take off daily from October through to the end of March.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Bagan

After breakfast, begin your biking from your hotel to Mt. Popa passing charming farming landscapes and villages. Visit palm sugar production industry of Bagan region. This is where you will leave your bike and continue the steep mountainous part by car to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with spectacular views over the surrounding plains and home of the Myanmar guardian ‘Nat’( spirits). Visit Nats shrine and have a glimpse of this animistic believe that is still in practice in Myanmar and related to Buddhism. Climb up the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak and enjoy the panoramic view. Lunch at Popa Mountain Resort. Return to the palm sugar factory and bike back to Bagan.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Yangon

After breakfast, transfer to Nyaung U airport for flight to Yangon. Upon arrival to Yangon airport, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Our journey begins with an afternoon tour through the colonial-style city center of Yangon. We start with one the landmarks; Sule Paya stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of numerous historical events in the city –Chauk That Gyi pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, and Karaweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Swedagon Pagoda, a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: not included

After breakfast, transfer to Yangon international airport for your onward departure.