|
Day |
Date |
Itineary |
| 01 |
6 Feb, 2011 |
Yangon
Arrival |
|
02 |
7
Feb, 2011 |
Yangon - Mandalay by flight |
| 03 |
8 Feb, 2011 |
Mandalay Sightseeing |
|
04 |
9
Feb, 2011 |
Madalay - Myinmu by bus. Bike to Moywa |
|
05 |
10 Feb, 2011 |
Monywa - Pokakku - Bagan |
|
06 |
11
Feb, 2011 |
Bagan |
| 07 |
12 Feb, 2011 |
Bagan - Mt.Popa |
|
08 |
13
Feb, 2011 |
Mt.Popa - Kalaw by bus |
| 09 |
14 Feb, 2011 |
Kalaw - Pindaya |
|
10 |
15
Feb, 2011 |
Pindaya - Kalaw - Inle Lake |
| 11 |
16 Feb, 2011 |
Inle Lake (bike to orphange at Mine Thauk Village) |
| 12 |
17
Feb, 2011 |
Inle Lake boat excursion |
| 13 |
18 Feb, 2011 |
Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon by flight |
| 14 |
19
Feb, 2011 |
Yangon Departure |
Burma Bike Ride 2008 was
highlighted by the some distinguished festivals
in Myanmar such as – fire balloon festival in
Taungyi, weaving competition on the pagoda
platform in a full-moon day and covered almost
all the diversities in one time. No tour
in Myanmar has as many full pictures and
impression as a bike tour. The group also
visited Taikkyi Youth Development Centre, an
orphanage home which is about 100 Km north of
Yangon. Please join us again for this year Burma
Bike Ride 2011 and program details are as
follow:
Day 1.
Yangon Arrival
Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage. If you arrived by mid day flight, we may proceed for lunch. Following a first taste of local cuisine during lunch, tour through “downtown” Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture from the British times, and high-rises built by more recent investors; Sule Pagoda, built in the early 3rd century is a landmark in the city centre. Late afternoon visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz – a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land”. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals included: Lunch, dinner.
Day
2.
Yangon-Manadalay by flight
After breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for your flight to Mandalay. Our bike begin here from the airport to Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; weaving industries, two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. Lunch at Amarapura.
After lunch, proceed by bike to Mandalay. We will be taking less traffic road to enter Mandalay. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Biking distance :
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
3. Mandalay Sightseeing
This morning, we will be biking around royal moat and back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, you will be transferred for Jetty for a private boat across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. The dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world are the most prominent religious heritages. Then visiting the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe, will refresh your tiredness and fatigue. Return to Mandalay for lunch. After lunch, you will be taken for a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a life like Buddha image; further down south to see the stone carvings, bronze casting; gold leaf making work-place and see how the gold leaf is being made by hand in a traditional way. In the afternoon, we will continue visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world's largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha's Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.
Biking distance : 4 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
4. Mandalay Myinmu by bus. Bike to Monywa
After breakfast, transfer out of Mandalay by bus to Myinmu. Begin biking across the dry interior today features a ride west into the desert landscape of central Myanmar where bullock carts still significantly out number cars. There are several interesting sites to explore on the way to the provincial capital of Monywa including Thanboddhe pagoda with over 500,000 Buddha images, a monumental reclining Buddha image and Boddhi-tataung Pagoda, home to a grove of ancient 1000 banyan trees.
Biking distance : 57 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Biking distance : 43 km approx.
Day
5.Monywa - Pokkaku - Bagan
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred by bus to Chaung Oo where we will begin our bike today. Heading south out of Monywa we take a seldom-driven road through a rice growing region along the Chindwin River to Pakokku, a port city set south of the Chindwin confluence. On the way you will stop in PAKHANGYI to visit one of the oldest ornate teak monasteries of the country. After lunch at simple local restaurant in Pakkoku you will visit the typical local market (if time permit) and possibility to see the weaving of the characteristic Myanmar cotton blankets. Here we take a local ferry across the river and continue bike into Bagan for sunset on a pagoda.
"Road leading to Pakkoku Jetty"
Biking distance: 100 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
6. Bagan
What make the experience of cycling with 2000 millennium old religious edifice better? There will be a formal tour of some of the major temples in the Bagan area or you are welcomed to explore the area on you own. Some highlights are Ananda temple (the master-piece edifice amongst 2000), Thatbyinnyu temple (the highest), Dhanyangyi temple (the massive). You will also see how the lacquer items are made in a local workshop. This evening we will take a boat ride on the Ayeyarwady River. There is a golf course in Bagan. Both a caddy and an umbrella bearer come with your green fee! Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Biking distance: N/A
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
7. Bagan - Mt.Popa
After breakfast at hotel, today we will bike to Mt Popa, an extinct volcano where we will climb the monkey-populated hill (feeding them if you're brave enough), for a panoramic view of the surrounding area. It is just a short, easy ride across the desert plain of Bagan. Tonight we stay at a lovely lodge overlooking Mt. Popa, the site of a popular Buddhist temple build on top of a free-standing volcanic plug and home of the Nats, impish gods who can allegedly have the power to make your life delightful or miserable.
Biking distance: 65 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
8. Mt.Popa - Kalaw by bus
After breakfast at hotel, we will drive to Kalaw across the gently rolling hills and very arid land that make up this central part of Myanmar. If you are energetic enough, we follow a winding road along a river, finally entering Shan State with the serious climb of final 18 miles to Kalaw, a cool, quiet town that was formerly a British Hill Station.
Biking distance: N/A
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
9. Kalaw - Pindaya
Today is one of the most beautiful days for biking. After breakfast, we head north to Pindaya on a road flanked by beautifully manicured fields where much of Myanmar’s produce comes from. Before dinner we will visit the Buddha image filled Pindaya caves and catch the sunset from the hill side. Overnight at the hotel in Pindaya.
Biking distance: 50 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
10. Pindaya - Kalaw - Inle Lake
After breakfast, you will be transferred by bus back to the Aung Ban junction where we begin our bike ride today to Inle Lake. Starting at Aung Ban, elevation 4,300 feet, we have two long downhill runs on the ride to Inle Lake, elevation 2,500’. En route we pass Heho where we will be taking our flight back to Yangon in a few days later. We will poll into our hotel by late evening and our hotel is located on the western shore of Inle lake therefore, we do not require a boat transfer. Check in and overnight at the hotel.
Biking distance: 60 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
11. Inle Lake (bike to orphanage at Mine Thauk Village)
Today, we will do a half-day bike to Minethauk village passing the jetty-town, Nyaugshwe, and a few villages on the way. After early breakfast, cycle onto the paved road to a point where a gravel road leads to Nyaungshwe. It approximately takes an hour for 10km distance. Have a break for a cold drink or a local cup of tea in the town near the market. Then, continue an hr bike to Minetauk village (15km) on the roughly paved road. On the way, enjoy the scenic view of Shan mountains and the rural life. You may see sugar-cane fields, seasonal flowers and fruit on the way. Arrive Minthauk in the mid-day, lunch and spend rest of the time at the Orphanage. In the evening, transfer by boat to your hotel.
Biking distance: 25 km
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day
12. Inle Lake boat excursion
After breakfast at the hotel, visit floating market which is a 5day rotation market most fascinating to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue our excursion by motorized boat to spend the day visiting villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. This afternoon, we will be visiting Mine Thauk orphanage home which is about 15 minutes walk from Min Thauk boat stand. Return to hotel by boat and overnight at the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13. Inle Lake – Heho – Yangon by flight
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transfer to airport for flights back to Yangon. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Today is reserved for exploring Yangon, shopping, and packing your belongings. Do your last minute souvenir shopping at Bogyoke Market. Our farewell celebration will be capped tonight. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14. Yangon Departure
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Yangon International airport for your return international departure flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
