Bike & Spa Exotic Myanmar Travel Adventure

Day 1: Yangon ArrivalWe’ll greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Time permitting, a visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda is a must. Welcome Dinner. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon – Mandalay – AmarapuraLate morning flight to Mandalay where your bikes will be waiting at the hotel for a fitting after check-in. Leisurely afternoon in Mandalay before heading out to Amarapura by car to take in the usually magnificent sunsets at the longest teak bridge in the world – the U Bein. You’ll be biking here tomorrow morning to see it in a whole new light! Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 3: Mandalay – Amarapura – Mandalay (50K Biking)

Let the cycling begin! 17K southwest of the city is the same 18th century capital of Amarapura you saw last evening. Today stop dfor a walk across the the 200 year-old teak bridge to the large monastery on the other side.

Myanmar biking continues for 33K across the Irrawaddy River to Mingun and the massive unfinished temple of Pahtodawqyi. Unfinished because the King’s astrologer predicted he would die should the temple be completed. Jus near is the beautiful all-white Hsinbyume Pagoda, its distinctive style meant to resemble the mythical Mount Meru. Makes a great backdrop for little monk photos.

The return to Mandalay will be a relaxing cruise on the Irrawaddy. Spend the afternoon touring the many special places in the city, such as a gold-leaf workshop, an exquisite teak carved monastery, and Mahamuni Pagoda, home to one of the country’s most revered and bizarre Buddha images. End the day atop Mandalay Hill taking in the sunset over the city, it’s many pagodas and zedis, and of course the legendary Irrawaddy. Cocktails and dinner at a lively local restaurant. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 4: Mandalay – Pyin Si – Myingyan (45K Biking)

Today is a combination of biking and traveling by car. You’ll pass through villages and have up close and personal access to observe traditional lifestyles of rural Burmese. Their life may be lacking in many modern amenities, yet there is a happy spirit of cooperation held together by the unique social and religious customs of this part of Myanmar. Overnight Myingyan Guest House, clean but nothing fancy.

Day 5: Myingyan – Bagan (40K Biking)

After breakfast, a little tour of Myingyan, located in the valley of the eastern banks of the Irrawaddy River south of Mandalay. Ten by car for 1.5 hours to Let Pan Che Paw village, where the bike to Bagan begins and end two hours later when you roll up to the amazing temple-scape. After lunch and hotel check-in, the day is free to do as you please, and we will assist with ideas. Lounge by pool, take a nap, and take in the surreal sunset from atop one of the temples is a popular plan. Overnight Bagan.

Day 6: Bagan (16K Biking)

Your Myanmar travel adventure continues with a full day biking around the ancient temples. We begin with the colourful Nyaung Oo Market where the locals come to buy and trade fresh produce and handicrafts. Continue to Shwezigon Pagoda, known for its magnificent golden stupa, and Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings. The morning ends at the elegant Htilominlo Temple, known for its fine carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

Mid-Day heat break! Then afternoon visits to see the traditional lacquerware process, which is one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts and a Bagan specialty. Magnificent Ananada Pagoda follows. This architectural masterpiece survived to 1287 sacking by Kublai Khan’s Mongols with nary a scratch, and reflects the early-style of Bagan temple construction. It’s cool interior houses four impressive standing Buddha’s, each of a different style facing one of the four cardinal points. Overnight Bagan.

Day 7: Bagan – Mt. Popa – Bagan (25K Biking)

This morning set off for a ride to Shwe Hlaing village passing small settlements where men climb palm trees to collect the juice to make Jaggery, palm liquor jungle juice. Then see how the Jaggery is made. And drunk? It’s all by car after this to Mt Popa and back. At Popa a volcanic spire shoots 1,000 feet up from the plain, and atop it sits the famous Nat Shrine. It’s only 777 steps to heaven from the bottom, with about as many monkeys to deal with on the way. Reviews are mixed, but one is not — the views and photo ops of the spectacular shrine from Mt. Popa Resort area nearby. Overnight Bagan.

Day 8: Bagan – Inlay Lake (50K Bike to Kalaw, Optional)
Morning flight to the Shan Plateau. Normally the Biking has ended at this point because it is not possible to bike around Lake Inlay. However, the group you may choose to be fitted with another bike and make the 50K ride through the hilly pine forests to old colonial Kalaw, a former British Hill Station. From there we can drive you to the lake. Overnight Inlay Lake.

Day 9: Lake Inlay

Visit the morning market by private boat. The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5-day rhythm and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. There is no market on the full moon.

You’ll cruise by floating villages with floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. You’ll see Intha fisherman fishing with their baskets and rowing one-leg style. You’ll visit the Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, now famously known as the “Jumping Cat Monastery”, and go on to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Lunch on the lake and later explore the wonderful crafts and textiles of Inlay, with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone. Lotus silk shawls, anyone? Overnight Lake Inlay.

Day 10: Lake Inle – Indein – Nyaung Oak – Yangon

It’s a wonderful bucolic cruise up a natural canal leading to the Pa-oh village of Indein. The best of the 5-day markets is held here. Explore the area on foot, wander through the the mysterious ruins of Nyaung Oak and the Alaung Sitthou area, filled with 1054 ancient zedis and the monastery up top commands magnificent views of lake Inle. After lunch it’s time to make the return trip to Yangon. Take in the setting sun and twilight beauty of Shwedagon Pagoda from a prime position on Royal Lake, check into the hotel and prepare for a soecial farewell dinner. Overnight Yangon.

Day 11: Yangon Departure

If you have time, you might opt for a cultural favorite journey – a ride the Circle Train and around the rural outskirts of the city. This slow moving train gives you fantastic chance to observe the colorful lifestyle of the Burmese away from the “sophistication” of Burma’s largest city. Disembark about 45 minutes in at Insein market where you can check out the dizzying variety of stalls and have fun with the friendly vendors. It’s a really nice way to end your stay in Myanmar. Mingalabar!

Bike & Spa Exotic

Starting at $1795 per person, double occupancy

11 Days / 10 Nights

Deposit required to secure reservation

Price Includes:
Top Rated English speaking guides
Luminous Journeys “Swag Bag”
Airport welcome & farewell
All Accommodation with breakfast
Meals according to your personalized plan
All in-country airfare, airport taxes, air porter fees
All itinerary based transport, inc. private car & driver
Ample bottled water throughout
Entrance and zone fees
Donations to Luminous Journeys’ micro-NGO Charities

Price does not include:
international airfare
any personal transportation unrelated to the itinerary
trip/medical insurance, medical expenses
Early check-in or late check-out charges
personal expenses, such as telephone, laundry, alcohol, etc.
tips for hotel porters or wait staff
camera fees
guide or driver gratuities
Myanmar visa fee (Visa on arrival may be obtained via Luminous Journeys)