Mandalay to Bagan
7 days / 6 nights
Sunday Jan 26th to Sun Feb 1st 2020
Sat Feb 15 to Fri 21 Feb 2020
Sat Nov 28 – Fri Dec 2nd 2020
Cost USD 1780
Single supplement USD 335
Max Group size 12. Minimum 2
This trip can be run as a private tour for one person for USD 2400
MANDALAY – AMARAPURA – SAGAING – AVA– MYINGYAN – MOUNT POPA – KYAUK PADUANG – BAGAN
More famous then Burma’s last royal capital is the way there: the Road to Mandalay.
We go the opposite direction — from Mandalay travelling progressively back in time to the ancient Buddhist Kingdoms on the plains of Bagan.
The road to Bagan follows the Irrawaddy River along a historic route so decorated with pagoda’s, sacred mountains, spirit homes, and ancient kingdoms, that bike is the only way to take in the landscape without becoming overwhelmed.
Spire-fringed skylines, golden sikaras, crumbling ruins, toddy palms, sunsets on the river, monks on teak bridges, buddhas and bougainvilleas, cotton trees, temple macaques, bullock carts and horse drawn carriages – Upper Myanmar is old Asia, romantic and exotic and a feast for the senses.
A bikeable feast
Local authentic, home-cooked meals are a highlight, Check out the descriptions of some highlight meals in the section titled “A saar a saa”.
A saar a saar means “food style” in Myanmarese, and there is a wide diversity plus some some really special meals and food experiences built into this unique itinerary.
Join us for a ride this Chinese New Year. Its the perfect season to ride the road to Bagan.
Email: bruce@bikeaways.com to reserve your place.
Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY IN MANDALAY
Indulge in the romance of one of travel’s most evocative place names: Mandalay.
BYO pith helmet, pour yourself a sundowner, and get nostalgic over the exotica of empire. Or more to the point, get nostalgic over the last Burmese royal empire, sacked and taken over by the British in 1885, the royal family exiled to make way for what became Britain most colonial outpost.
Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel, which is in one of the more salubrious suburbs of Mandalay, and just a short walk from the Royal Palace.
Explore the newly restored sectionor just a stroll along its walls to get a sense of why Mandalay remains the cultural and spiritual capital of contemporary Burma.
In the evening you will meet your fellow riders over a welcome drink at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: 3 star hotel with character, in the middle of the city near the moat. Can walk to beer stations, tea shops.
DAY 2: Mandalay
Start the day with a relaxing river cruise. Head up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun, a town filled with ‘big things’. Explore the mammoth Mingun Paya, the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell and the massive white-washed Hsinbyume Pagoda.
Return to Mandalay by boat, enjoying a feast of curries on board.
Then take to the streets by bike, pedaling around the outer moat of Mandalay Palace to Shwe Nandaw Kyaung. This is the last remaining building of the original palace and steeped in legend. Then its on to Kuthodaw Pagoda, referred to as the ‘worlds biggest book’. Continue, if you wish, up to the top of Mandalay Hill or relax on the edge of the moat to watch the sun set.
Afterwards we will continue to one of our favouriterestaurants for a fun dinner with the locals.
Overnight in Mandalay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A saar- A saa: Rub elbows with the locals at a lively ‘beer station’, an open-air restaurant selling draught beer and barbeque. Mandalay is famous throughout Myanmar for its beer stations and we will chose one of the most popular. Dine on a selection of grilled meats and vegetables all washed down with ice-cold Myanmar beer.
DAY 3: AMARAPURA – SAGAING – AVA – MYINGYAN
We bike out early, to beat the traffic and catch the monks on their way back to their monasteries after the early morning alms collection.
The U-Bein Bridge at Amarapura – one of the most iconic images of Myanmar is our destination. Spanning 1.2 kilometres across the Taung Thaman Lake, this is the world’s longest teak bridge, and one of the most picturesque.
Crossing the Irrawaddy River, one of Asia’s greats. we cycle onward to the stupa-filled hills of Sagaing, former capital of an independent Shan kingdom in the early Fourteenth Century.
A short climb pays off with birds eye views of Mandalay City and the Irrawaddy below.
White and gold pagodas are cloned throughout the hills — a down hill cruise the best way to drink in this spiritual landscape.
Cross the Dokthawaddy River ( ‘Small River’) by another picturesque bridge, then another time by local ferry, we cycle along to Ava, a famed royal city formerly known as Inwa.
Four times the capital of Upper Burma. Ava is now a pastiche of farmlands, crumbling ruins and rustic villages well suited to exploration by bike.
Dirt trails and small back roads make for a fun ride.
We transfer to our hotel in Myingyan late in the afternoon for a special visit to the resident mummy — an enlightened monk called Sunlun Sayadaw Arahant whose body has been preserved since 1952.-one of many opportunities throughout the day to begin to understand what Buddhism means in contemporary Myanmar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Cycling 60 km
Accomodation: Clean comfortable rooms 2 star hotel, with hot water.
A saar A saa: After an amazing morning of riding we refuel with a picnic of homemade dishes made by Daw San Ye, the mother of one of our mechanics. Tuck in to a spread of salads and curries served out of tiffin boxes, just like the locals take to school. We will make sure to find a shady spot off the tourist trail to enjoy our feast!
DAY 4: MYINGYAN – MOUNT POPA
We set off early this morning to make the most of the cool morning air. The contrast of landscapes is dramatic as we ride into the heart of Myanmar’s ‘dry zone’. At 60 kilometres, we hit the base of Popa, an extinct volcano that is home to many spirit gods — the equivalent of Greece’s Mt Olympus for Burmese people. A short uphill brings us to lunch in a family home, whilst another steep climb brings us to our hotel with …drum roll… an infinity pool overlooking the plains!
Relax in your pool whilst the pilgrims slog it out below.
You deserve it! Or maybe you don’t, and need a penance….Another 777 stairs up the pedestal-like volcanic plug, Taung Kalat, carefully making your way past the grimacing macaque, to pay homage to a brotherhood of spirits called Nats.
37 Great Nats were “recognised” during the 11th century as high-status humans, all but one called Thagyamin who perished in violent or painful circumstances.
Offerings of money are left at the shrines located on the summit, though Min Kyawzwa, a nat known for alcoholism, is most commonly honoured with whisky instead.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling: 70 km
Accommodation: Mountainside Bungalows. with gardens, fabulous views and a spring-fed infinity pool.
A saar A saa: Ma Paw Paw invites us in to her home today for lunch. Although many tourists come to visit Mt Popa and it’s famed nat shrine, few take the time to explore the neighborhoods that surround. We will pedal through dirt tracks, passing fruit trees aplenty before reaching her traditional wooden house. Seated on the floor around a low, circular table we dine just as the family would do. And of course fresh, locally grown produce features highly on the menu!
DAY 5: MOUNT POPA – KYAUK PADUANG – BAGAN
Bike down Popa faster than the nats can curse you for not leaving your duty free gin at their shrine. We stop in Kyauk Padaung for a visit to the vibrant local market, taking tea at a popular tea shop. Tea is a big deal in Myanmar, and tea-shops have always been associated with the resistance in the dictatorship years.
It’s a gently rolling terrain that takes us to our next beverage stop — a toddy farm on the outskirts of Bagan. Toddy is the afternoon brew of the locals, a sweet wine made from the liquid of the toddy palm.
Upon reaching Bagan we’ll have a late lunch, check in to the hotel and enjoy a short rest before heading out to watch the classic Bagan temple-top sunset.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cycling Distance: 70 km
Accommodation: Old fashioned but charming bungalows around a small pool. Rooms are large and with hot water and air con.
A saar A saa: All throughtout Myanmar’s dry zone, rows of tall skinny toddy palms can be spotted. But you may be surprised at what this humble tree has to offer. Our last snack stop of today finds us at one of these farms. In addition to our spread of fruits and local snacks from our crew, we can sample a molasses-like candy made from the juice of the tree and the strong but smooth alcohol that results from a unique fermenting process (just drink in moderation as we still have about 25km to pedal after!
DAY 6: BAGAN BY BIKE & BOAT
Bagan, Pagan, Pugan or my favourite Arimaddana-pura lit. “the City that Tramples on Enemies” is probably the most amazing pagoda-peppered landscape you will see in your life. People wanting to sell you post cards and oil paintings will chip away at that sense of wonder, which is why mountain bikes are an awesome way to take in the splendour.
Dhammayangyi and Ananda Temples, supreme temples from an architectural point of view, are a must-see, but travelling down smaller off roads and sandy pathways takes you back in time like no other mode of exploration.
Two hundred thousand people once lived amidst the 1000 stupas, 10,000 small temples and 3000 monasteries. Mongols, and earthquakes reduced this to a small sca
ttering of active functional temples and villages, and eery but fascinating ruins.
Late this afternoon, we board a private river boat for a sunset cocktail cruise on the Irrawaddy ll the way to Kyauk Gu U Min, a remarkable cave-temple far away from the main temple zone.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Cycling Distance: 30 km
Accommodation: As above
A saar A saa: Is there anything better than a sunset booze cruise? Nope. But this one is special thanks to rum sours made with the delightfully delicious local Mandalay rum (the Brits may have made some mistakes in Myanmar but introducing rum sours was not one of them) and amazing vegetable tempura with tangy tamarind-infused sauce.
DAY 7: Bagan / Mandalay
The trip finishes in Bagan (unless you have opted for the extension in the Shan Hills through Pindaya and Inle Lake.
Transfers are not included, but can be organised to Bagan Airport which has flights to mandalay, Inle and Yangon. The airport is approximately 40 minutes away. The drive back to Mandalay is 4 hours by car or 12 course by boat which departs daily at 6 am.
Includes
Pick up from Mandalay Airport and transfer to your hotel in Mandalay.
6 nights’ accommodation in a shared twin/double room unless single supplement is selected.
English-speaking Biking Guide
Mechanic on biking days
Bike and helmet rental
Snack breaks on cycling days
Private transportation for all included excursions and support vehicles on cycling days
Entrance fees for all included excursions
Meals as mentioned in program with purified water
Tips for included meals and hotel porters
Myanmar sales tax
Bank transfer fees
Not Included
Myanmar visa
International flights
Tips for guide (USD 5 per person per day, mechanics and driver USD 3 per person per day)
Drinks at meals (wine, espresso, etc), laundry, shopping and other personal expenses
Any excursions not mentioned in program
Onward transfers from Bagan (there are many options for onward travel from here)
Payment
Please pay a deposit equal to twenty percent of your total trip price within a week of booking to secure your place. Full payment is due one month before the trip starts.
Contact
bruce@bikeaways.com
www.bikeaways.com
The better images on this page are slices of much larger and much more stunning prints by Jillian Mitchell and all available on
http://imagesbyjillian.photoshelter.com/index