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MANDALAY

Overview

Whether you have heard of ‘’Mandalay’’ from the song ‘’The road to Mandalay’’ of Frank Sinatra or from a novel of Rudyard Kipling, you will not easily forget this melodic name. The city now is quite different by a strange combination of old and new things than any other city of Myanmar. Streets are more crowded, noise is worse.  From low-paced Yangon and Bagan coming up here seems to be a back step to the modern world you have escaped recently. Mandalay consists of a community of Chinese, a community of Muslim, and only these factors make the city not only more exciting, more industrious, more business-looking, but also more gourmet from various nations. The conversations with people are full of emotion and assistance like anywhere in Myanmar but give you more feelings of the town’s business-like trend. Yet, Mandalay is still a golden treasure of the country, when you find real golden-plated pagodas and statues, the longest teakwood in the world with incredible sunset, wonderful hills with horizon line made by temples and shrines. You will also find here the local-made Jeeps and sport motorbikes for a longer trip to hilly Pyin Oo Lin or Hsipaw. This city is also a stopover for shopping at well-qualified silver or craft shops after numerous cultural visits. In a word, Mandalay gives you the feelings of a growing Myanmar, whilst protecting its ancient values amazingly.

Food & Drink

Like general food characteristics in Myanmar, Mandalay cuisine is under the influence of Chinese, Thai and Indian cuisines owing to Myanmar’s proximate geographical location with the three other countries. Upon your visit to Mandalay, make sure you do not skip the street food heaven available there.

Travel Guide

Mandalay is the second largest city in the country, which reached its peak under the reign of King Mindon. It is located in Northern Myanmar, directly on the Ayeyarwady River and has a major river port. It is estimated that up to 50,000 monks live in a variety of monasteries in Mandalay. The city is also a center of arts and crafts, discovered through the fine traditional buildings and remnants from the glorious past.

 

Activities

Our pick: Visits to Amarapura to contemplate incomparable sunset at long U-bein teakwood bridge and monastery; taking a boat trip to view U-bein bridge and fields from another side.

Culture visits

Meditation at Mahamuni Paya pagoda; visiting Sagaing and Mandalay Hills with great temples and panorama over the surrounding.

Natural Sites

Departure to Pyin Oo Lin hill resort then taking the sitting train to go by a viaduct built in 1901 to Hsipaw with great view of deep valley and abyss.

Relaxing

Explore the modern corner of the city, tasting different street foods, enjoy night entertainment at bar and discotheque

Boat trip

Taking boat trip from Mandalay to Mingun within a day, and from Mandalay to Bagan and Yangon.

Recommended Tours

12 days / 11 nights

Fr$1320

With numerous active and adventurous activities at Myanmar's top destinations and beach relaxation, this Myanmar tour is definitely worth a try for adventurous seeker and deserve fully once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience. Besides numerous visits to the thousand-temple city of Bagan, gorgeous temple at Yangon, the unique pagoda on one rock, let's take a challenge by half-day light trekking downhill on the way back. Then contemplating thousands relics at Mandalay and enjoying gorgeous sunrise and sunset at Bagan, U-bein bridge, temples or hills, etc. Ending with beach relaxation on the best beach of Myanmar - Chwang Tha beach and shopping at Yangon markets at leisure time.

3 days / 2 nights

Getting out of normal paths and trying cruise between Mandalay and Bagan, you will have a great time to observe the locals’ daily life. During the on board, your cruise crosses in Buddism center, from Mandalay, Mingun, Sagaing, River Village to Bagan. Accompanied by luxury services, you can fully unwind and discover these during this 3-day cruise tour.

9 days / 8 nights

Head to the south and enjoy mile after mile of majestic biking on this adventurous Myanmar holiday. Get out of the beaten tracks and learn about the real Myanmar as close to the daily life on two wheels. Ride through charming villages, unspoiled coastline, and vibrant farmlands. And more, you'll get a taste of colonial history and learn about the prosperous British colonial era in Burma. Let's join us on a fully-escorted Southern Myanmar tour on the bike to the most iconic destinations.

8 days / 7 nights

Fr$1081

It's a new era for this extraordinary and complex land, where the landscape is scattered with gilded pagodas and the traditional ways of Asia endure. Benefit from different types of experience in only one trip through Myanmar - from visits to prominent religious sites to romantic boating on Inle Lake.

11 days / 10 nights

Fr$1107

Too new, too exotic! Myanmar is one of the most culturally diverse countries, to explore once in a lifetime. From preaching about Buddhism to exploring wildlife you can get an exotic travel experience here in this golden land. Being famous to the world as ''The Golden Land'' for its fertile land, wealth of minerals, distinctive culture and 2,600 years of Buddhist civilization, Myanmar possesses too many ''golden'' treasures to combine in just one visit. Distinctive design, patterns and ornaments at temples or relics, the surrounding scenery will astonish you and leave unforgettable impression of the rich spiritual religious local life.