Burma Tracks
Burma is a truly remarkable destination. Off the map for many years it is now creeping back into line with the rest of Asia and slowly but surely opening up its doors. Mandalay is a fascinating city and the capital Yangon has much to offer. But the true heart of the country lies in the small communities, villages and towns that are joined by what could best be described as tracks. Here we will cycle into wonderfully quaint communities and people who will open their lives to you in a minute.
Inle lake and the surrounding region is a centre for the Shan tribal communities. Kalaw and Maymyo are hill station towns high on the plateau, favourite haunting grounds of the British Raj. Capturing the essence of stunning Bagan is impossible, your breath will be taken away no matter how much you are prepared.
Join us for our cycle adventure. It may be the most amazing journey of your life.
| 15 Day Itinerary | ||
| Departure: | 23rd October 2010 | (Saturday to Saturday) |
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| Price: | USD$1550 | (includes 2 internal flights) |
| Plus Local Payment: | USD$300 | (What is this?) |
Day 1 - Arrive Yangon Meet in Yangon at 6 pm.
We will have an evening meeting prior to dinner and drinks to discuss all aspects of our trip ahead. Day 2 - Yangon to Inle Lake (flight) A morning flight to the airport in Heho (Shan State). We unpack our cycles and enjoy a leisurely pedal around the town of Nyaungshwe, our base for the next few days.
We will enjoy a pleasant afternoon canoe trip thought the canals of Nyaungshwe.
After our sumptuous Shan banquet we will be entertained by dancers, clowns and mythical Burmese characters. Day 3 - Inle Lake A fantastic day of exploration awaits. We will enjoy a cycle around the lake region visiting the lakeside settlements and back country lanes.
We pedal around the villages, waterways and pagoda. It is always interesting to check out the local markets. Day 4 - Inle Lake We head out to the massive expanse of Inle Lake. Our destination depends on the location of the rotating rural market, which will provide us with fantastic visions of rural trading that have existed for 100’s of years. We visit the Phaung Daw U pagoda, the holiest religious site in the lake region. Day 5 - Nyaungshwe to Kalaw Cycling on to the beautiful hill station of Kalaw we may have a chance to drop into one of the small villages to see local trade.
The cycling is mildly challenging today as we ascend the low hills and cross the beautiful Heho valley. We then climb slightly to the town of Kalaw. Day 6 - Kalaw Today we enjoy a short ride to a local village and visit a monastery. Perhaps we will have time to visit some tribal Palaung settlements. An easy to moderate ride with fantastic views and a lunch taken in one of the local villages. Day 7 - Kalaw to Maymyo We cycle through some rugged mountain scenery to the beautiful hill station of Maymyo. Back roads are a great way to get in touch with the ‘real’ Burma. Here we will see no other travellers, only rural dwellers who will be just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. Maymyo is a lovely town with a distinctive Indian flavour Day 8 - Maymyo to Mandalay After a morning of cycling through the sleepy streets we head downhill all the way to the cultural capital of Burma. We have time for an orientation of the city then enjoy a Shan feast near the old palace walls Day 9 - Mandalay We are cycling to the sights today. We will see the world’s longest teak span U Bein’s Bridge, visit the magnificent Shwe Ein Bin teak monastery and the auspicious Mahamuni Pagoda.
This evening we dine on the street side Mandalay BBQ restaurants then a chance to see the fascinating "Mandalay Marionettes" Day 10 - Mandalay to Mingun then on overnight boat Mandalay to Mingun then on overnight boat
An early morning pedal then a short boat ride over to the ancient capital of Mingun. Here are the remnants of an attempt at the largest pagoda ever built. We enjoy the company of one of the friendliest communities in Burma. The afternoon finds us heading down the Irrawaddy towards ancient Bagan. Our evening is spent on deck watching the river life go by. Day 11 - Arrive Bagan We cruise into magnificent Bagan and head to our guesthouse for showers and a relax. Spend some time pedalling around ancient pagoda or relax in the courtyard of the guesthouse. It’s difficult not to be inspired by the 1000 year old pagoda that surround us as we enjoy the night air over dinner. Day 12 - Bagan We cycle through the 40 square kilometers of countryside dotted with pagoda and ancient structures. There is so much to enjoy and you may wish to hire a horse cart or a vehicle to take it all in. Burma’s first capital is truly a sight to behold. Day 13 - Bagan More exploration in the Bagan region. Two days will give you a healthy taste and hopefully will inspire you to return someday. There is an opportunity for a cycle side trip to Mount Popa which is an enjoyable morning ride. This mysterious area is home of the Nat spirits and provides an awesome vista of the countryside from the peak of this volcanic tower. Day 14 - Bagan to Yangon (flight) A morning flight gets us into Yangon with plenty of time to top up on your shopping in Bogyoke market or explore this thriving capital. We also have time to visit the amazing Shwedagon Pagoda, the spiritual heart of the country. Day 15 - Depart Yangon Today is departure day for the trip and no activities are planned. Please ask for our assistance for ongoing travel plans if required. |
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