OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN MYANMAR

Fly from Bangkok at 9:40 and arrive Mae Sot a 10:50 on Nok Air #8116. A guide will welcome you with a name sign at Mae Sot airport. We then make the short transfer by tuk tuk to Mae Sot Myawaddy border. After border formalities transfer overland 3.5 hours to the quaint Karen State capital of Hpa An. Stop in town to visit one of the monasteries and arrive at your hotel located near the Kan Thar Yar Lake.

Today we explore the Hpa An region on bicycles. Your guide will suggest where to go and you can choose how far you want to ride. Enjoy leisurely riding through rural countryside (on flat paths and roads!) The highlights of the day include visits to rural villages, limestone temple caves and cliffs with many Buddhist carvings, including the Sadar Cave, the most impressive limestone cave in the region. Near the Sadar cave you can also go by canoe through an entire limestone mountain range which opens out to a small lake and rice fields. Return to your hotel late in the afternoon.

Today we’ll set off on a guided tour exploring the back roads, villages and off the beaten trails temples of Bagan on E-bikes. E-bikes are easy and fun to drive. The ride will be mix of paved and small dirt roads to experience authentic local life. Afternoon will be free time for optional activities or own explorations and adventures in Bagan. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the Ayeyarwaddy (Irrawaddy) River for a private sunset cruise where local cocktails can be enjoyed on board along with views of the temple silhouettes and bustling shore.

Our guides are flexible. All touring schedules and activities can be adjusted according to guests’ wishes.

Wake up early for lovely sunrise views, this is good time to enjoy a quiet morning stroll and make another visit to the Golden Rock. Breakfast is served in your hotel before you descend back to the base of the mountain. We then drive to Yangon with visits en-route to a Nat Tree Shrine dedicated to a Nat spirit for travelers, the giant Reclining Buddha, and the Kyaik Pun Pagoda in Bago with its four giant Buddha images, and the Allied Troops War Cemetery honoring 6,000 war heroes of WWII. After arriving in Yangon and checking into your hotel, this evening visit the famous Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset.

Fly to Mandalay and transfer to Paleik where locals gather to worship Burmese pythons in at a Buddhist temple. We will the start days cycling here. First stops are at village weaving workshops where you can see Burmese longyis made. Paleik was back in the days part of Ava Kingdom and has some well-preserved pagodas worth a visit. Most likely there will not be other visitors here. Continue to Ava Kingdom area through some back roads. We transfer some part to catch the best of both places.
Late afternoon witness magical sunset by the Ubein Bridge which is one of the tourist highlights.

This morning transfer roughly two and a half hours to Myingan town. After an early lunch we have a day of cycling to Mount Popa (approx. 40 km). Your support car is always near should you wish to hop in drive to Popa. The road is pleasant and surroundings lush green in October.
Mt Popa is an extinct lava tub and a Nat temple is at the summit. Time permitting you could climb to the top of Taung Ka Lat and visit the temp, but a better much better option is to have a drink at the Mt Popa Resort and enjoy awesome sunset views from their lovely vantage point.

Transfer to Bagan for 1.5 hrs. Today we explore most famous temples of Bagan by car foot or bicycle foot if you wish.

There are lots of trails connecting the temples to each other.

Bagan was one the greatest kingdoms in Asia during its heyday between 11-13th century. Thousands of temples ruins remain to remind us one the bygone grandeur.

Take an early morning hot air balloon flight above Bagan. Enjoy the magic of Bagan from a birds eye view at a sunrise. The balloons team will pick you up from hotel 5am for the sunrise flight. You will get back to hotel for breakfast around 8.30.

Your guide be ready to start any time after breakfast. Spend the day exploring old Bagan by bike making stops at some beautiful temples and riding through local villages and farming lands. If you wish to visit one of the Bagan lacquerware workshops just let your guide know.

Transfer to the Bagan airport and fly to Yangon, connecting to your international flight to Bangkok.

Meals Included: Breakfast