SHAN HIGHLANDS MOTORCYCLE TOUR

Welcome to Myanmar! Meet your drive at Mandalay airport and transfer to your hotel in town.

Settle in and then enjoy free time to explore Mandalay. Welcome dinner, trip briefing and get together this evening.

Overnight : Hotel in Mandalay

Early in the morning, after checking the bikes a short safety briefing and ride on. We take a narrow and scenic road and head east from Mandalay following a river valley. Photo stops and a visit to beautiful waterfall on the way to Anisakan and Pyin Oo Lwin through rugged landscape. This is nice ride with great and varied scenery and almost no traffic.

Late afternoon exploration of Pyin Oo Lwin, ride through tree shaded lanes weaving by quaint colonial mansions, botanical gardens, golf courses, coffee and tea plantations. The perfect way to complete the day is to grab a drink at the View Restaurant overlooking the multi-tiered Anisakan waterfall. (drinks to own account)

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Pyin Oo Lwin

Leave Pyin Oo Lwin early today and take the Mandalay-Lashio road that serves as a main overland way connection Myanmar and China. In about 1,5 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. Arrive in town late in the afternoon, rest of the day free and chill.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Lashio

Today we head up north to Hsenwi to explore this former Shan kingdom which is truly off the beaten trails and radar of most travellers to Myanmar. Another fascinating stop along our route today is (conditions permitting) is Kachin town Kutkai, where we try delicious local dishes and enjoy cooler weather. We’ll drive up to a view point for some amazing scenery of rolling hills stretching far in the horizon towards China border region. Return to Lashio late afternoon for a walk exploring old quarter the lively night market followed by a delicious Shan buffet dinner.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Lashio

Get ready for a splash! This morning ride brings us to increadible waterfalls around 20km outside of town. This is one of the most amzing places we have found in Myanmar and a must visit when heading up to the north. We spend the morning swimming, climbing and jumping or documenting the beauty of the place. Our next stop is Hsipaw town where we will have a lunch stop. Time permitting we can swing by the home museum of perished Shan prince and Saobwa of Hsipaw where family members tell their story and give interesting insight to the royals of the region. Some of the other sights in Hsipaw where we can visit before riding to less touristy Kyaukme are nat shrine and cottage industries making baskets and local snacks.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Kyaukme

This is going to be a long riding day. Get packed lunch to go in the morning as there are not many places along the way. First you will drive to Naungcho along the main road and from Nyaungcho head down south towards Taunggyi and Inle Lake. This road had been paved only couple years ago and until now sees very limited use, so most of the way will be just to ourselves. After scenic gorge with the river and serpentine road you will ride through some forested hills, and then through the rare Shan and Danu villages. Near Intaw we pass a reservoir lake on the way. Further from this point the landscape is quite flat with some mountains in the distance. Short distance before reaching Taunggyi we can visit Ayethayar vineyard which is situated on the mountain slopes just beneath the town. For those who will make it to Ayethayar will be rewarded with wine tasting and sweeping views over the vineyards and Inle Lake valley below.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Taunggyi

Early breakfast and begin ride southward along the secondary road to Kakku pagoda complex, a popular Buddhist pilgrimage site. Continue to the valley beneath and take the highway down to Loikaw, on the way we can visit large market in Pao town Loisawn. Time permitting some waterfalls and caves along the way closer to Loikaw. Arrive in town late in the afternoon or early evening. Watch sunset from the top of Taung Kwe pagoda built on the karst outcrop in the middle of town, the views of surrounding valley and distant ranges are simply amazing.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Loikaw

Today we begin the day with riding roughly 1,5 hours to Panpet group of villages – home of a few tribes of Kayan people, whose ladies still wear brass coils around their necks. Lunch can be in a village or in Loikaw on the way back, then continue for roughly half an hour east to see the mysterious Kyet Cave containing centuries old teak wood coffins of unknown origin. Late afternoon/early evening return to the town.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Loikaw

Morning market visit and start riding up to Phekon and further on to Pinlaung, which is the highest altitude town in Southern Shan State, well known for it’s tea and pears, as well as new emerging area for coffee plantations. Take a scenic mountainous road leading down to the lake valley, cross the bridge and continue another 1,5 hours ride to Nyaung Shwe town at the northern end of Inle Lake. Time permitting we will switch motorcycles to boats and embark on a short trip over the lake to learn about Intha minoritys’ floating gardens, leg rowers, perhaps visit ancouple local craft shops. Evening is free for some walk around town.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Nyaung Shwe

Wake up early – depending on day of the week, there might be a rotating 5-day market somewhere in the area which is a good opportunity to see local tribal people coming the the market place to trade their produce. Half day boat trip to the wonderful Indein pagoda complex across the lake, before we get back to our motorbikes and take a nice secondary road up the mountains that leads through Pao and Taung Yo farmlands. In Aungban we turn onto the main road and continue for another 15 minutes to Kalaw, the old British hill station town with century old colonial mansions and pine tree groves. Spend rest of the day riding to nearby villages or take a walk through streets of Kalaw.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Kalaw

Another great riding day in Shan hills. Drive down the plateau to Aungban and Heho. Where we can stop at little shop where local family makes Shan paper and umbrellas. From Heho we take small single lane road through region with beautiful rolling hills that is often called the Tuscany of Myanmar for resembling the famous region in Italy. The fields are covered with various colors in November which best season to visit here. In Pindaya you can visit the limestone temple cave housing thousands of Buddhas placed there by pilgrims. Depending on time available and preferences of the travellers we may explore the hills above Pindaya where colourful Palaung tribe families grow tea and tend their orchards.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Pindaya

In the morning we ride out of town and take a shortcut that connects to the nice road with eucalyptus trees, it’s possible to make a quick detour to visit a blue pond hidden in the groves. Lunch stop in Ywangan and we can check out local coffee initiative, Genius Coffee that works closely with a community of Danu small growers. Shortly after leaving the town, road climbs up the mountain, and another 1,5 hours would be a serpentine ride which is partially under reconstruction, offering great view anyway. Once back in the lowlands, it’s just half an hour until we reach the old Yangon-Mandalay highway, from where it’s another 1,5 hours to Mandalay via Kyaukhse.

Meals included : Breakfast
Overnight : Hotel in Mandalay

Last day of the program. No riding. Depending on your departure flight time there will be a transfer to airport.

Meals: Breakfast