Cycle Myanmar - 14 Days

Day 1: Mandalay arrival and bike fitting

Welcome to Myanmar! Upon landing at the Mandalay International Airport, your English-speaking guide and driver will be waiting to greet you and transfer you into the city. 

After a chance to freshen up and relax at the hotel, take some time to get acquainted with your bike, making any necessary adjustments and going for a short spin. Afterward, continue to a local pagoda for an introduction to Myanmar culture. Then it’s off to dinner at a local restaurant, or if you're feeling adventurous, at one of the city’s famous barbecue shops. 

Day 2: Mandalay markets & countryside

After a leisurely breakfast to recover from the flight, get on your bike and pedal to a multi-story morning market. You'll pass through urban neighborhoods, getting a glimpse of local life before reaching the market. Wander through the stalls, seeing the exotic items on offer and mingling with the shoppers.

Then continue on bike to Atumashi (nicknamed the "incomparable monastery") and Shwe Nandaw Kyaung (the last teak building from the royal palace) before reaching the vast Kuthodaw pagoda. Next, you'll ride out into the rice paddies. Although Mandalay is a big city, the countryside is within easy reach: you'll pedal past paddies, fruit plantations, duck farms and more. Along the way, stop in a tea shop for lunch to sample tasty local dishes.

Day 3: Mandalay - Mingun - Sagaing - Amarapura - Myingyan

Pack your bags and check out of the hotel, then cycle past the Mandalay moat to the boat jetty where a private boat whisks you away to Mingun. Bike to Mingun's sites, such as the Mingun Paya and Hsinbyume Pagoda, then ride south to Sagaing, the Buddhist heart of Myanmar.

After fueling up with a snack break, pedal up Sagaing hill to see some of the 300 Buddhist monuments that fill the town. Returning down the hills, stop at some old ruins before crossing the river to a scenic spot for a picnic lunch. 

The final stop on today's tour is Amarapura, a small town that served as the royal capital in the 18th and 19th centuries. Visit a silk dyeing workshop—a popular industry here—and the famous U Bein Bridge, the world's longest teak bridge, which spans tranquil Thaung Tha Man Lake. 

Day 4: Cycle Myingyan to Mount Popa

Today is a long day: you'll ride from Myingyan to Mount Popa. Set off early this morning to make the most of the cool morning air, as there is little shade on the journey. The contrast of landscapes from yesterday to today is dramatic as you ride into the heart of Myanmar’s "dry zone." After pedaling for most of the morning, you'll hit the base of Mount Popa, an extinct volcano.

Take a short but challenging climb up the main hill and stop in a small village to have lunch in a family’s house. Then gather your energy for one final push up another short but steep hill to your hotel. Relax at the infinity pool overlooking the plains to finish the day. 

Day 5: Cycle Mount Popa to Bagan

Start the day with a fabulous downhill ride on the southern side of Mount Popa. Upon reaching the flatlands, you will stop in Kyauk Padaung for a visit to the vibrant local market and a cup of tea at a popular tea shop. Then get back on the bike for an enjoyable ride over gently rolling terrain.

On the outskirts of Bagan, make a stop at a toddy farm for a chance to sample sweets and strong alcohol made from the liquid of the toddy trees. In Bagan, you'll have a late lunch, check in to the hotel, and enjoy a short rest before heading out to watch the sunset.

Day 6: Bike Bagan with Sunset Cruise on the Irrawaddy

We spend a full day on the bikes today to discover Bagan. The tour will include some of the main monuments as well as some lesser-known ones as we avoid the main roads and stick to smaller lanes. There is also a chance to visit a lacquerware workshop and local villages to learn more about the life of the Bagan residents.

Late this afternoon, we board a private riverboat for a sunset cruise. Explore the waters of the Irrawaddy River and enjoy cocktails and snacks as the sun sets over Bagan.

Day 7: Fly to Heho, Bike to Pindaya

This morning, transfer to the Bagan airport for a domestic flight to Heho in the heart of the Shan State. Take a short drive away from the airport to a quiet street where you'll enjoy a light snack before you start pedaling to Pindaya: the scenic ride provides a great introduction to the Shan State.

Ride over rolling hills dotted with fields growing cabbage, chilis, and other produce. Stop to chat with farmers in the field: you'll notice that many are wearing tribal dress from the Danu or Pa-Oh ethnic groups. Cross through local villages, then enjoy a gentle downhill ride into Pindaya. Check in to the hotel and relax before heading out to dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 8: Bike Pindaya to Kalaw

Start the morning with a visit to the Buddha-filled Shwe Oo Min Caves. Arriving before the tour buses, you'll enjoy peace and quiet while exploring thousands of Buddha images and hidden cave chambers. Then it’s back on the bikes for a door-to-door ride to Kalaw.

Pass by colorful fields and hill villages, cross through pine forests, and enjoy breath-taking viewpoints along the way. Descend to Kalaw and take a short walk around the town’s colonial-era buildings for a taste of its past life as a British hill station.

Day 9: Kalaw Trek

Today, leave the bike behind and hit the trails on foot. Spend a day trekking in the hills around Kalaw, learning about life in the highlands as you meet farmers and pass through villages. Along the way, enjoy a simple but filling lunch in a village. You'll have plenty of chances to stop for photos, too.

Return to Kalaw before dark in time for a well-deserved shower and a relaxing evening.

Day 10: Kalaw - Aung Ban - Bike to Inle Lake

Get back on the bike today for the ride to Inle Lake. Venture off on the road less traveled, passing villages inhabited by ethnic hill tribes and enjoying fabulous scenery. A whizzing downhill descent takes you to the flatlands near Inle Lake’s edge. Then ride up the western shore, a road with little traffic and gently rolling hills. Stop in a small village for a short walk to see scenes of local life. Then pedal into the town of Nyaung Shwe, the gateway town for Inle Lake.

Day 11: Bike & Boat Inle Lake

Begin the day with a bike ride along Inle’s eastern shores. The short ride gives great insight into the lives of the lake’s residents, who rely on the lake’s fertile soil for their livelihood. Then board a motorboat to explore the famed floating gardens, traditional handicrafts, and pagodas on and around the lake. Return to town late in the afternoon.

Day 12: Fly to Yangon

This morning is at your leisure in Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake. Walk around the town, stop in tea shops, and explore the market. Your guide will collect you after lunch for the transfer to the Heho airport, where you'll board a late afternoon flight to Yangon. 

After landing and collecting your luggage, your guide will be waiting to greet you and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy a night on the town in Yangon.

Day 13: Yangon Insider's Tour

Spend an insightful morning in and around Myanmar’s most holy site: Shwedagon Pagoda. You'll go on an insider's excursion where you'll learn about the beliefs of the Myanmar people, have the chance to make donations to monks, and meet a fortune teller as you walk around the pagoda and its surrounding neighborhood. 

After lunch, continue downtown to learn more about the rich blend of heritage and culture that define Yangon. Explore the diversity of downtown with its colonial buildings, leafy side streets, and bustling street markets. Pop into the famed Strand Hotel for a drink before returning to the riverside to check out the action along the Yangon River. See the sunset over the water.

Day 14: Yangon Departure

The morning is free to spend as you like until it is time to depart. Your driver will collect you at your hotel and transfer you to the international airport for your onward flight. Safe travels!