Upon arrival in Mandalay, transfer to the hotel for check in (early check-in depends on availability).
Just after sunset, the evening's escapades begin with pick up from the hotel. Each person will have a private motorbike with an experienced driver (helmets are mandatory).
Speed-off into the cool and starry night. The first stop is Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda. Named after the large marble Buddha image inside (once the largest in the world), the complex now consists of multiple buildings. Bathed in red and green lights, the area glitters and shimmers in the night.
Then ride through the heart of the city to a colorful night market. Mandalay is a fantastic place to explore markets. Its location along the Irrawaddy River makes it a hub for wares coming from Northern Myanmar. Explore the stalls while the guide introduces the many exotic fruits and vegetables.
Afterwards, stop at a local beer station for dinner. Bustling with activity every night of the week, beer stations are the perfect place to try the local cuisine and observe everyday life in Mandalay.
If the time of year is right there is a chance to visit one of Mandalay's local street festivals. Neighborhoods come together to celebrate with street food, local games, and the occasional tattoo shop. Some of the larger festivals have singing contests. Then it's off to a choice of performing arts, comedy, or a marionette show:
Performing arts: Visit the Inwa School of Performing Arts at the Mintha Theatre for a night of traditional music and dance. The show is organised by a social enterprise that works to preserve Myanmar's cultural heritage. Performers are young artists in-training and ticket proceeds are used to provide scholarships to talented young people in Myanmar whose families do not have the means to support their training. Enjoy a night out with a cause! (Showtime from 20:30 - 21:30)
Comedy: Cruise out to see the comedy styling of local legends, the Moustache Brothers. A mixture of comedy and traditional Burmese dance, this show is quite bizarre and absolutely unique to Mandalay. Jailed for telling jokes against the government 20 years ago, the Moustache Brothers have been entertaining Westerners from their garage since their release.
Marionettes: Cruise along Mandalay's kilometer-long moat and be treated to friendly locals, beautiful views and cool breezes before heading to Daw Ma Ma Naing Marionette show. The small theatre, which was opened in 1986, holds nightly hour-long shows. The performances are mostly recreations of zat pwe (Buddhist Jataka tales) and stories from the Indian epic Ramayana. Traditionally, these cultural shows are used to educate and deliver the news. (Showtime from 20:030 - 21:030)
The night out on the town ends with a transfer back to the hotel.