Things to do in Mandalay Region

Ensure a stress-free vacation from start to finish and book your Mandalay to Bagan transfer in advance. After getting picked up from your hotel in Mandalay in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, sit back and relax on the 4-hour ride to Bagan. Soak up views of the scenery along the way, including Tada-U and Myothar City. After around 2.5 hours, take a break in Myingyan before continuing onto your final destination. Upon arrival in Bagan, a UNESCO listed location, get dropped off directly at your new hotel.

Your tour begins as your driver picks you up from your hotel at 9:00AM. Starting with Amarapura City, you will discover the Mahargandaryone Monastery, the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar which was founded around 1914. Moving on, you will encounter a weaving workshop and the U Bein Bridge, which will be your location later on to view the sunset. After Amarapura City you will continue to Mingun City, crossing the Ayeyarwady River and enjoying the beautiful riverside. Following a drive of around 45 minutes, you will come across a huge pagoda titled the Pahtodawgyi Pagoda. You will also learn about ancient construction techniques, before continuing ahead to the two Giant Lions which were established by King Bodawpaya in 1790. Following Mingun City you can take an hour for your lunch in Sagaing City. Sagaing City has two placse for sightseeing: U Min Thounze and the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda. You will then continue to Innwa/Ava City, stopping at the Innwa/Ava boat jetty where you will rent a boat. You will cross a small river by boat, before reaching the other side to rent a horse-drawn cart. Once aboard your cart, you will enjoy some sightseeing around Innwa/Ava City. At the conclusion of your tour you will make your way to the U Bein bridge, where after viewing the beautiful sunset you will return back to your accommodation in Mandalay.

Begin your morning with a pickup from your hotel in Mandalay and set off to see gold leaf manufacturers and learn about the industry. Afterward, visit Mahamuni Pagoda and see its 13-feet tall seated Buddha, a nationally celebrated image believed to be approximately 2000 years old. From the pagoda, learn more about the different industries that help Mandalay thrive like wood carving and jade. Explore the jade market and its cramped, but vibrant walkways. Escape the hustle and bustle and go to Shwe In Bin Monastery, a place for quiet meditation in Mandalay. Spend more time in serenity at the Eindawya Pagoda, a Buddhist stupa. Learn about the pagoda's long and interesting history before breaking for lunch at about 12:00 PM. After lunch, visit and marvel at the Skinny Buddha structure.  Move on to the Royal Palace, a complex comprised of more than 40 timber buildings. After spending time at the palace complex, spend the rest of the afternoon visiting various monasteries and pagodas such as the Shwenandaw Monastery, famous for its gilded jataka scenes, Atumashi Monastery, the Kuthodaw Pagoda, Sandarmuni Pagoda, and Kusinara Pagoda. End your Mandalay sightseeing tour at Mandalay Hill for its viewpoint featuring stunning views of the surrounding landscape. 

Benefit from morning pickup from your hotel by air-conditioned vehicle, and then take a stroll around the colorful local market. Continue to the most significant temples and pagodas, such as the 11th-century Shwezigon Pagoda built by King Anawratha. Marvel at the oldest original paintings in Bagan at the Gubyaukgyi Temple, and look at the four Buddha statues of the Ananda Temple. Break for lunch at a local restaurant or your hotel, and then visit the traditional lacquerware village of Myinkaba. Visit the Mon-style Manuha Temple, and gaze in wonder at the unique sandstone Nanpaya Temple. End with a panoramic view of the sunset at the Bupaya Pagoda on the banks of the Irrawaddy River before getting dropped off at your hotel.

Your tour begins with pickup from your hotel in the morning or evening. From there, your half-day tour of Mandalay begins. As you travel, learn how this city is the last royal capital city of Myanmar. Visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, a fine-teak monastery-temple known for its carvings, particularly in its interior. From there, advance to the Atumashi Monastery and the Kuthodaw Pagoda. This gilded pagoda is comprised of hundreds of shrines, all housing inscribed marble slabs and several pavilions. Following that, visit the Sandarmuni Pagoda, and the Kyautkawgyi Pagoda. If your tour has been booked in the afternoon, drop by Mandalay Hill to observe the sunset. Mandalay Hill is renowned for providing a stunning spot for sunsets, and allows its visitors to take in panoramic views of the entire city. At the conclusion of your activity, your tour concludes with you heading back to your hotel.

Your day will begin as you are picked up from your Mandalay City hotel at 08:00AM. You will begin with some discovery of the Shwenandaw Monastery, a fine-teak monastery and temple which is known for its carving, particularly the interior gilded Jakarta scenes. You will then move on to the Atumashi Monastery, which was built in 1857 by King Mindon and was one of the king's last great religious construction projects. Kuthodaw Pagoda is next, and is comprised of a gilded pagoda, hundreds of shrines housing inscribed marble slabs, and several pavilions. You will then move on to the Sandarmuni Pagoda, a statue which reportedly weights 40,924.8 pounds. Some exploration of Mandalay Hill will follow, which is a 760-foot hill. After Mandalay Hill, you will explore the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace complex is of glittering 1990s reconstruction and is impressive for its scale, with more than 40 timber buildings inside it. The Mahamuni Pagoda is a 13-foot-tall seated Buddha, a nationally celebrated image that's popularly believed to be some 2,000 years old. Following these explorations it will be time for lunch, after which you will start exploring Sagaing City. Following Sagaing City, you will Continue to Innwa/Ava City where you will rent both a boat and a horse and carriage to best discover the area. After exploring for the day, it will be time to see the sunset at U Bein Bridge. Once the sun has set, you will depart from Innwa/Ava City to be returned to your hotel in Mandalay.

More than just a hot-air balloon ride, this program is a special experience you won’t soon forget! Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from a hot-air balloon. You’ll get a special look at some of Bagan’s vast array of pagodas. The program begins with a pick-up at your hotel at around 05:00-05:30 and a ride to the launch site. On arrival, you’ll be served a light breakfast while watching as the hot-air balloon is inflated and prepared for flight. Once airborne, you’ll have mesmerizing views of majestic Bagan as you fly from treetop level up to several thousand feet, moving wherever the wind takes you. During the flight, your pilot will tell you about the history of ballooning and point out prominent pagodas. Enjoy a sparkling wine toast upon your safe landing and receive a flight certificate from the pilot. There will be a shuttle bus for the ride back to your hotel.