JOURNEY TO RUBY LAND

Pick up in Mandalay and drive 5hrs to Thabbeikkyin, a junction town, and gateway to Bhamo and Mogok. Lunch in Thabbeikkyin, and a market visit before driving 2 more hrs to Mogok. Arrival to Mogok late afternoon in time for a walk through the town. Mingle with locals and cap the day with valley and town vistas from a vantage point on a hill.

Get ready for a fascinating day learning about gems trade that Mogok is so famous for. We start the day with a morning stroll through interesting street market where small tables and tarps line street sides and are covered with raw stones on display. Meet a local gemologist for a chat and learn about different precious stones that are found in the region. We may also see in one of the local workshops how rubies and other stones are cut and polished by hand. The marble mountains around Mogok produce more than 80% of worlds rubies, blue Sapphires and large amount of different semi precious gems. End the day with a walk or drive up to a beautiful pagoda and monastery overlooking the Mogok Valley. We like to call the monastery un-official gems museum of Mogok. Where vitrines are full of rubies, sapphires and other precious gem stones donated by generous mine owners.

Note: We will try to obtain permission to visit one or two mines on this day to get a better idea of how the gems are extracted from marble quarries and tunnels. (Subject to local conditions and regulations. We cannot guarantee access to visit mines.) 

Despite centuries of mining in Mogok Valley nature here remains stunningly beautiful and lush the valley’s mountain slopes are covered with forest making the region perfect for hiking. You will be among the few pioneering hikers to discover trails to Lisu minority villages of Pyaung Gaung and Pan Lyin west of Mogok. Along the way we pass tea leaf cultivations and other small villages. We will enjoy packed lunch today along the trail or in one of the local houses and return back to our hotel in Mogok late afternoon.

After breakfast it is time to bid farewells and drive back to Mandalay or Pyin Oo Lwin 5-6hrs. The road contours mountain ranges and passes through lush jungle covered hills region. You will arrive to your destination late afternoon in time for a sundowner or late afternoon sightseeing.