Made In Mandalay Shopping Tour
Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)
From EUR 31.68
Office phone number: +95 1 656259
Made In Mandalay Shopping 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
Mandalay is the home of the Burmese craft movement, with workshops all over the city producing everything from Buddha statues and gold leaf to tapestries and slippers. But where do you start?! Take the stress out of shopping and join us for a morning mooch around some of the city’s best (and often hidden) craft stores and artisan workshops, stopping off for a few delicious snacks along the way.
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Highlights
- Visit traditional artisan craft workshops and observe gold-leaf and tapestry making, stone and wood carving and lots more
- Acquire unique and beautiful souvenirs and gifts for your loved ones
- Meet the talented locals who make handicrafts their livelihood and learn about the processes involved in their creation
- Find workshops that are difficult to find on your own with a local guide by your side, helping you to communicate and get the best price for your purchases
- Sample delicious Burmese sweet treats at a popular local shop
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Schedule details
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Meeting point:
In front of the Oway Grand Hotel, No. 624, 78th Street, Bet: 30th x 31st, Chan Aye Tharsan Township, Mandalay, Myanmar.
View on Google Maps.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 8.00 AM
- Ending point:
Oway Grand Hotel, No. 624, 78th Street, Bet: 30th x 31st, Chan Aye Tharsan Township, Mandalay, Myanmar.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation in a private, air-conditioned van, local tea/water, tea leaf salad and traditional sweet snacks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide, camera fees at the Mahamyatmuni pagoda.
As the saying goes, ‘the early bird gets the worm!’ Your tour will start bright and early at 8am; after meeting your super friendly guide, we’ll lead you to our first stop of the day, a gold leaf-making workshop.
The Burmese love gold and later on we’ll visit the famous statue that’s become known as ‘lumpy Buddha’ because locals and tourists have added so much gold leaf to it over the years that it has become misshapen. Watch the master craftsmen at work as they hammer the gold down into paper-thin gold leaf, which can often take up to eight hours! (Don’t worry, we won’t stay as long as that, though.)
After all that bling, we’ll visit a nearby showroom for a bamboo paper-making demonstration, which is still done all by hand by local experts. At each stop there will be time to make any purchases that you wish to make.
A 15-minute drive through the city in our air-conditioned van will take us to our next port of call, a stone carving workshop where you’ll observe how Buddha images are expertly carved from stone and concrete.
Then we’re off to check out a wood carving and tapestry studio where you can shop for a vast array of colourful and traditional handicrafts and intricate tapestries. They also sell some gorgeous jade products here, as well as traditional puppets, elaborate Buddha statues (what else?!) and animal statues that make for fabulously authentic souvenirs and unique gifts for loved ones back home.
After that, we will have chance to visit the beautiful Mahamyatmuni pagoda to admire the lumpy Buddha and perhaps add a sliver of gold leaf yourself.
After all that shopping, it’s time to grab a mid-morning snack at a delightful local tea shop where you’ll try local tea and our famous Mandalay tea leaf salad.
Our last stop of the day will be Myint Myint Khin Htoe Mont, where you can taste many kinds of traditional snacks and treats from the region. On the way, we’ll visit an awesome slipper-making factory owned by a local family where you will have a chance to make your own slippers to take away.
Your guide will then take you back to where we started, shopping bags in-hand! Before you go, don’t forget to ask for tips on what else to see and do during your stay in magical Mandalay.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation in a private, air-conditioned van, local tea/water, tea leaf salad and traditional sweet snacks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide, camera fees at the Mahamyatmuni pagoda.
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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