Central Burma Cycling Adventure

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in Yangon.

First impressions of Yangon are usually memorable. Its unique blend of rich colonial heritage, conspicuous spirituality and make unique cultural vibes make it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.

Overnight in Yangon

We have an early morning flight to Heho and then a short transfer to our hotel in the former hill station of Kalaw. This cool, peaceful town amidst pine trees still retains its colonial feel. After lunch, we prepare for an afternoon ride through the countryside of Kalaw. This off-road ride will be a perfect introduction to your bike and give you a chance to warm up your cycling legs. There will be some up-hills, but we will be cycling through some stunning countryside, making the effort worthwhile.

We have a fabulous ride down off the plateau to the famous Inle Lake. Though we cover many kilometres, the last section has two sweeping downhills, which take us directly to the shores of Inle. We will be on both paved and dirt roads, taking us through the Burmese countryside. After lunch we will stop at Indein village to visit some of the hundreds of pagodas that date back to the 14th century, though most are from 17th and 18th century. We continue our cycle alongside one of Asia’s most beautiful inland waters to Nyaung Shwe, located north of the lake.

We spend the day exploring Inle Lake, from the shore and on the lake. In the morning, we start with a 30-km ride along the shores, riding through villages and past temples. After a lakeside lunch we'll board a boat and cruise to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, floating gardens, monasteries and the Intha fishermen, who famously manage to row their boats with one leg. In the evening we'll have a treat and visit a vineyard for sunset. Dinner at local restaurant in Nyaung Shwe.

We leave lovely Inle and head back up to the Shan Plateau. Shan State covers almost a quarter of Myanmar and is home to several different ethnic groups. Again, we will be cycling on both dirt and paved roads, and though we will be mostly climbing, there will be some downhills. There is one major 10 km-long climb today, but the gradient is gentle. Our destination is Pindaya, home to limestone caves that house thousands of Buddha images. We'll visit the caves before dinner.

Starting on the bicycle from the hotel will bring us to Burma's second city, Mandalay. Initially, the ride will be undulating through a patchwork of fields before we start a long descent. We'll be passing many villages on the way where you'll be greeted by “hellos” from the children. When we reach Ywa Ngan, we stop for lunch and then load up the bikes into the support vehicles for a short transfer to Mandalay.

We head out of Mandalay to explore the towns of Sagaing and Mingun on the opposite side of the Irrawaddy River. We cycle first to the famous U Bien Bridge, the longest teak bridge in Asia, where we'll have some excellent photo opportunities. We then ride along the river past Sagaing, an important religious and monastic centre and, subsequently, home to numerous monasteries and stupas. We continue on our photogenic cycle route to Mingun to visit the ruins of Pahtodawgyi. This massive, unfinished stupa would have been the largest in the world if completed and now might be the largest pile of bricks in the world, but is nonetheless impressive. We'll also see the Mingun Bell, which weighs 90 tons and is the largest ringing bell in the world. After a lunch of local specialties, we'll have an easy return via boat. Relax and watch life go by as the river takes us downstream to Mandalay.

This morning, we explore Mandalay by bike, starting with a cycle to a sprawling local marketing, with stalls and shops selling everything from food to clothing to jewelry along train tracks. We have some time to explore this labyrinth before we jump back on the bikes and continue our riding. On the way, we stop at Yaw Min Gyi Monastery, a brick monastery built in 1866 in European style, before heading to the very tranquil Shwe Kyin Monastery. A visit to Shwenandaw Monastery, aptly named “Golden Palace,” is a must-see. This wonderfully fragile, yet grand example of 19th century Burmese teak architecture, is heavily gilded with gold and adorned with glass mosaic work and impressive carvings of Buddhist myths. We head back to Mandalay a different way, stopping for tea and to taste some local snacks. The afternoon and evening are free to give you the chance to explore Mandalay on your own.

We start early with a short transfer to Tada U and ride into the capital of the ancient Ava Kingdom. Here we'll see remnants of a city wall that protected the city that ruled upper Burma for nearly two centuries, from 1364 to 1555. We continue our ride through fields of millet, sesame, cotton, and many varieties of peas and beans to the town of Myingyan. Here we pack up the bikes and transfer two hours to Mt. Popa.

Our first complete day off the bikes, but that doesn't mean we won't still be active! After breakfast, we climb the almost 900 steps to the top of Popa Taung Kalat, a temple that is populated by Burma’s most revered nats (spirits). As you walk up, you will pass dozens of nat shrines and see pilgrims who come to honour them. From the top, you will have a panorama of the surrounding plains. The views are excellent, and photographers will get some great shots. The rest of the day, you are free to relax by the hotel's infinity pool overlooking the temple, or for those more adventurous, there are hiking trails in the national park.

Wake up to superb views! After breakfast, start with an easy descent from our lofty heights. We snake down around the mountain, as we ride through small villages and palm gardens, coming across farmers ploughing their fields with wooden ploughs and water buffaloes. We ride into Bagan, littered with thousands of temples along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Our riverside hotel offers a refreshing pool to cool down in.

**Recommended morning activity:** Start your day with a scenic hot air balloon ride and enjoy the stunning aerial view of surrounding area, including exquisite temples and its golden stupas. Contact us for more information

Bicycles are the perfect way to explore the temples of Bagan; we take a morning cycle around the Archaeological Zone, stopping to see a variety of temples. When it starts to get hot, we'll return to the hotel for a relaxing afternoon by the pool. Enjoy sunset over the river, or take your bike to catch the setting sun from the top of a temple. The views across the plains studded with chedis will be a lasting memory.

In the morning, we transfer to the airport and fly back to Yangon, viewing from the air some of the terrain we covered by bike. We arrive in time to take a trishaw ride in downtown Yangon and see the Shwedagon Paya, Burma’s holiest religious site at dusk. In the evening, we meet up for a farewell dinner.

Depending on flight time, there is an option to take a ride on Yangon’s Circle Train in the morning.

This unique ride passes through the outskirts of town (20-30 minutes ride), and gives unique insight into the lively, colorful lifestyles of local people in Yangon’s rural areas.  Disembark at the Kyi Myin Daing Market and peruse various stalls and interact with friendly vendors before transferring back to Yangon. 

In the afternoon, if time allows, visit Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market, and browse through the wide selection of Burmese handicrafts and other goods before transferring to Yangon International Airport for the onward flight. (Note: Market is closed on Mondays and on public holidays)