MYANMAR OFF THE BEATEN TRAILS

Welcome to Myanmar! Your guide will meet you at the Mandalay airport and transfer to your hotel in town.

Settle in and then enjoy free time to explore Mandalay. Welcome dinner, trip briefing and meet the local team tonight.

Overnight: Hotel in Mandalay

Early in the morning, after checking the bikes, we start head to Mandalay-Lashio road that serves as a main overland way connection Myanmar and China. In about 2 hrs check out the historic Goteik viaduct – a railway bridge buildt by the British over a century ago. Ride further to Lashio, the view of surrounding mountain valleys is great and road is in good condition but traffic gets quite busy in parts. Our Lashio team will meet you near junction between Hsipaw and Lashio and ride to a huge waterfall (we will need to evaluate closer to actual date whether it’s safe enough to go, given monsoon ending and situation with rains). No worries – there are many more gorgeous places here. Arrive to Lashio town for the night and settle in to your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Village home stay
Distance covered: approx. 300 km

After breakfast, we begin the day with a walk through the bustling Lashio market where you can observe ethnic minority ladies in their decorative garments trading their produce from their respective hill tribe villages. After visiting the morning market the day’s adventure starts with a 45min drive from Lashio across rural landscapes and through Palaung, Lahu and Lisu minority villages. After a snack in local tea shop and briefing, we take a 15min hike to a spectacular waterfall. This natural water park is at its best from December to May when currents are not too strong for swimming. The rest of the day we spend exploring hidden caverns and cascades and enjoy swimming in refreshing natural pools. Packed lunch will be served by the falls. In the late afternoon we head back to Lashio, where you can rest and enjoy free time in the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Lashio
Distance covered: approx. 180km

Early morning ride to Pyin Oo Lwin, hill station town built by the British. Arrive in town in the afternoon and explore the tree shaded lanes with quaint colonial mansions and the lovely Botanical Garden, tea and coffee plantations. There is also herbal medicine farm (Fame) and factory which make instresting visit for the curious.
For a wonderful sundowner head to View Restaurant overlooking the multi-tiered Anisakan waterfalls.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Pyin Oo Lwin
Distance covered: approx. 216km

This morning we drive south to Kyaukse on old Mandalay Yangon highway and take a scenic country side road to Ywagan climbing over a mountain range. After lunch in Ywagan, we head off continue to Pindaya crossing over a limestone mountain range. You will pass through Danu minority region to Palaung and Pao peoples area. You will recognize Pao ladies easily who wear black tunic and orange towel or scarft as turban on their heads.
Pindaya is home to a large Danu population and is well known for its limestone caves housing thousands of Buddha images. Visit the caves this afternoon and stop umbrella shop to see how Myanmar parasols are hand made same way like hundreds of years ago. Settle in for the night at the charming Pindaya Inle Inn Resort.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Pindaya
Distance covered: approx. 250km

Leave in the morning and drive from Pindaya to Inle Lake along small road scenic which travels through region that is often said to be the “Tuscany” of Myanmar. We will stop in local village to visit farmers and to see what fruits and produce are in the season. The ride is beautiful and the fields are covered in yellow mustard flowers in November.

The road ends in Heho by a buffalo market. On a market day you will see locals negotiating and checking out the merchandise, water buffaloes, which are local traktors used for field work everywhere in Myanmar. Short scenic ride 45min will bring your Inle Lake valley where we spend rest of the day on the lake touring by boat and marveling life on the lake. Witness local fishermen’s unique rowing techniques, villages built on stilts and the floating gardens where most of Myanmar’s tomatoes come from. Try this evening delicious Shan tasting menu at the best restaurant by the lake.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Inle Lake
Distance covered: Approx. 120km

Early departure and long driving day to Ann town which is located between Mrauk U and Mt Vic.
Nothing much to see in Ann. There is quite a big army base and surely some beer stations that get busy in the evening and have football on.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Bagan
Distance covered: Approx. 350km

Wake up early for our pickup at 5am for hot air balloon flight. Imagine flying over the ancient temples of Bagan as the sun rises in the distant horizon. Bagan hot air balloon flights are unique experience. The flight takes normally 45min-1hr depending on air currents. After celebratory glass of bubbly and light snack return to your hotel for breakfast. Today ride will take us to first southbound to Chauk – the texas of Myanmar, where oil exploration was started over 100 years by the British. We can take a short detour to a village where locals are employed in stone carving industry. Then containue riding through dry and flat plains of Magway state to border lands of Chin state where lush mountain ranges and Chin hill region begins. Our destination Kanpetlet is situated half way up to tallest peak Mt Victoria or Nat Ma Taung as its called in Myanmar. Time permitting we will visit some villages by Kanpetlet town.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Kanpetlet
Distance covered: Approx. 170km

After breakfast drive up to summit of Mt Victoria along small jeep road for great views over surrounding valleys. Next stretch of the journey is adventurous one traversing through national park forest along the mountain range and through the dense jungle. Stop at the road curves to enjoy breathtaking views of rolling mountain landscape below; in some parts we can be well above the clouds. On our way we will visit some Chin villages, those are of Moon tribe. In this part of Southern Chin State, tradition of women facial tattoo is still preserved, and you can see tattoo patterns on elderly ladies faces. It’s possible to take main dirt road which is rather wide, or one of the many narrow rocky trails connecting villages along the steep slopes – more challenging but fantastic views guaranteed. Arrive in Mindat town in the late afternoon. The road is unpaved but wide at some parts. Every year after rainy season parts of it needs to be rebuilt.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Mindat
Distance covered: Approx. 60km

In the morning begin slow descend down from the hills, and ride further via Tilin, which is one of main towns in Yaw region – a hilly country side adjacent from the East to Chin hills and populated by a mix of Burmese and Chin people. As we pass two low lying ranges Ponnya-Ponthaung we return onto dry planes of Sagaing region. Just before reaching Monywa, stop at Phowinthaung cave temples – old Buddhist archeological site and the top place to visit in Monywa region.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Monywa
Distance covered: Approx. 60km

This morning ride takes us back to Mandalay. We can visit the most famous temples of Monywa with countless little buddhas decorating the walls. Also approx. 15km outside of Monywa we will pass the Bodhi Tataung which could be described as buddhalandia you will find here the tallest buddha 13 floors high, massive reclining buddha and countless smaller ones. All are quite recent creations and show how keen some wealthy people have been making merit before passing on to next life. Your guide is happy to tell more on this.

Next we will reach Sagaing which serves as a center of monastic education in Myanmar and is home to thousands of monks. Nice views of the central plain and Ayeyarwaddy river open from the top of Sagaing hill. Sagaing is known as a meditation centre. Myanmars all over the country would visit Sagaing for the purpose of religious retreat. We also going to visit monestry to meet monks if they are free from studies and daily duties. Have a cup of tea and learn about monastic life and Theravada buddhism practiced in Myanmar and vipassana meditation practice. You can then try meditation yourself… usually half hour is more than enough for beginners to try to keep their mind clear and under control.
After lunch break we cross the river and visit ancient kingdoms of Ava or Inwa and Amarapura, former royal capitals before Mandalay. A few remaining ancient structures are still in tact.
Visit U-Bein bridge iconic sunset spot and head to Mandalay which is only short distance away.
All fun must come to an end. Enjoy celebratory farewell dinner with the team in a local restaurant.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Mandalay
Distance covered: Approx. 130km

No riding. Free time until your transfer to the airport for onward departure.

Meals included: Breakfast