Myanmar: Active roundtrip

Cycling and walking; an adventurous way to discover Myanmar

About this tour

During this roundtrip in Myanmar you will travel mostly by bicycle or on foot. In Yangon you'll take a heritage walk and visit the golden pagoda Swedagon. From here you will fly to Mandalay, further north, where you will have time to explore the city. Your first bike ride is outside Mandalay and then in the next few days you will cycle through the countryside to Myingyan, Mount Popa and finally to Bagan. Here you will make a tour along the numerous stupas and temples. From Bagan you travel by bus to old hill station of Kalaw. Next day we bring you to Lake Inle (car and boat). From here you will hike. You will experience the rural life up close of several minorities in the Shan State. You will get to know Shan, Intha and Pa O. First night you will stay in a homestay, the other nights it will be a hotel. A special walk is the one to Loikaw, to the Longnecks. Your trip ends with a flight to Yangon for the connection to your next destination.

What will you do
  • Heritage walk in Yangon
  • Visit the most famous sights in Mandalay
  • Cycle across the countryside from Mandalay to Myingyan, Mt. Popa and on to Bagan.
  • Discover the temples and stupas of Bagan by bike.
  • Multi-day trekking in the Shan Mountains.
  • Overnight stay in a local Pa O village
  • Trail of the Ancestors trek; meet the Longneck population
Where

Myanmar is a fascinating country. The large number of different population groups, influences from India, China and from the English colonial period create a mixture of styles in architecture, clothing and cuisine. Geographically Myanmar has well-known names such as the Irrawaddy River, the Shan Mountains and the Andaman Sea. There are thousands of monasteries and pagodas still in use in the predominantly Buddhist country, but there is also a historic site, Bagan! There is no lack of variety in Myanmar!

Itinerary

Day 1

Yangon | arrival in Yangon, transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon take a guided heritage walk.

Day 2

Yangon | In the morning you visit Myanmar's most famous pagoda, Shwedagon. You will do this with a guide and discover special stories about this sanctuary. The rest of the day free program

Day 3

Yangon to Mandalay | Today you fly first to Mandalay. Then you will explore with a local guide the Mahamuni Pagoda, the royal palace, Mandalay Hill or the wooden Shwenandaw monastery

Day 4

Mandalay to Myingyan (45 km) | Today you will cycle through the fields and villages across the countryside to from Mandalay to Myingyan. This small town lies on the Irrawaddy River

Day 5

Myaingyan to Mount Popa (84 km) | Most of today's ride is flat, on dry terrain. Only at the end you have to stretch your muscles, for the last part to Mount Popa.

Day 6

Mount Popa to Bagan (65 km) | A flying start down today and then towards Bagan. When you come near Bagan, you will see the hundreds of pagodas that make Bagan famous

Day 7

Bagan | Grab the bike and tour from temple to temple with your guide. This way you will see most of this old historic city and you will get to places where you otherwise might not come

Day 8

Bagan to Kalaw | This is a real travel day. You travel by public bus to Kalaw. Walk around after arrival in this former British colonial mountain resort

Day 9

Kalaw to Lake Inle, start trekking | In the morning we take care of the transfer (car and boat) to Lake Inle, the starting point for today's hike. In about 2.5 hours you will hike across the countryside to a Pak O village. You will stay in a local house

Day 10

Lake Inle | Today you will make a long walk of about 8 hours. The landscape varies. You walk through fields, villages and a forest and you have regular views of the lake. A nice accommodation at the lake is your final destination

Day 11

Inle Lake to Samkar Lake | This morning you will sail by boat over the lake Inle. Then you walk through a bamboo forest towards Lake Samkar with a stop at the Taung To Pagoda. After a short, steep climb you reach the other lake. A boat takes you to the hotel

Day 12

Samkar Lake to Loikaw | Today you walk along Shan, Intha and Pa O villages to visit the Phayataung monastery by boat. On foot you continue along forest and water to Lake Pekon. After that you will briefly take the boat and car to Loikaw, where you will stay the next 2 nights

Day 13

Loikaw - Trail of the Ancestors Trek | During this hike uphill a local guide talks about spirits, totems and traditional medicine. Furthermore, you will get acquainted with the Longneck tribe. The views along the way are beautiful!

Day 14

Loikaw | We take care of the transfer to the airport. Then you fly to Yangon and on to your next destination.

Additional info

The price of this trip is based on 2 travellers, low season, subject to availability of the planned hotels and including CO2 compensation. 

We have assumed standard hotels. But it is also possible to choose more luxurious hotels. The trip can always be adjusted in many ways.

This trip connects to a round trip over