Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour
Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)
From EUR 73.32
Office phone number: +95 1 656259
Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour
Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
An action-packed day, south of the river, full of golden pagodas and ancient cities, designed to show you the best that the Mandalay region has to offer. Your local guide will take the hassle out of ticking off those must-see sights, introducing you to local people along the way and showing you the best spots for Instagrammable vistas and fascinating Burmese history.
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Highlights
- Admire the many monasteries and golden pagodas of Sagaing
- Learn more about the quest for spiritual enlightenment at a famous Buddhist university
- Visit the ancient city of Inwa and its iconic sites such as the Barayar Monastery and Yadana Hsimi pagodas
- Explore the Immortal City of Amarapura and watch the sunset from the longest wooden bridge in the world
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Schedule details
- Duration: 12 hours
- Meeting point:
Oway Grand Hotel, No.624, 78th Street. Between 30th & 31st Streets, Central Mandalay. Phone: +95 2 72395
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- Starting time: 8.00 AM
- Ending point:
Oway Grand Hotel, No. 624, 78th Street, between 30th and 31st streets, Central Mandalay. Phone: +95 2 72395
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation, tea and water, lunch.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
We’ll start our Mandalay tour by travelling 20 kilometres southwest of the city to arrive at pagoda nirvana, or Sagaing as it’s known on the map. Sagaing is an important religious centre that’s home to dozens of monasteries and hundreds of monks. Pagoda towers dot the pretty landscape to make for picture-perfect, bucket list-inspired photography.
We will visit the university of Sitagu to learn more about Buddhism and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, before making a stop at Myasetkyar Monastery, famous for its giant (and we mean huge!) standing Buddha statue. Here we will observe the monk’s lunchtime parade and rituals.
Then we’ll whisk you off on the public ferry and into a horse-drawn cart, which will take us to Inwa, the ancient capital of Myanmar on the other side of the Irrawaddy river. By now you will have worked up an appetite so we will stop at a riverside restaurant to sample some local dishes such as mohinga (rice noodle and fish soup) and laphet thohk (pickled tea leaf salad).
Inwa used to be the capital of Myanmar, so it is rich in history. There are some stunning monasteries and pagoda complexes to explore, including the Yadana Hsimi Pagodas, a little tumbledown roofless collection of several stupas and three Buddhas. Much of the former royal city has been reclaimed by mother nature and agriculture, so as well as weaving our way around crumbling architectural gems, we will also walk through luscious fields of banana trees and see rice being sown in one of the paddies.
Our lost stop of the day is Amarapura, another former capital known for its silk and cotton-weaving industry. Here we will navigate one of the most photographed sites in Myanmar, the Ubein Bridge — an impressive teak structure that claims to be the longest wooden bridge in the world at 1.2 kilometres. The monks who use the bridge to cross Lake Taungthaman every day often take time to talk to visitors in order to practise their language skills.
Then, a brilliant orange sunset awaits you. This is the time to reflect on your day, gazing at the antiquated bridge with the sun setting behind it. One of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism is to develop the mind. Take this Mandalay tour with our amazing local guide and give your mind the workout it deserves
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation, tea and water, lunch.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: As we will visit a religious pagoda, please wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +95 1 656259
Email address: info@mandalayurbanadventures.com
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