Into the Heart of Burma's Golden Land

What is it to be extraordinary? Rudyard Kipling knew. So when he described Burma as "unlike any land you know about," trust him. One hundred years later, his assessment still stands. For nearly 20 years we’ve been exploring this mysterious and long-cloistered world by bike. Let us show you why we keep coming back to Myanmar. It’s the temples. The landscapes. The complex history and diverse culture. The authenticity of the people. How often can you leave the ordinary behind for something truly magical? That’s what we thought. Don’t forget your memory cards.

Day 1 Soak up sights and sounds of secluded areas rarely seen by outsiders  In bustling Yangon, stroll with a monk through the stunning 6th-century Shwedagon Pagoda Take part in an evening candle-lighting tradition, and soak up the powerful ambience of this sacred Buddhist site, hailed by The New York Times as a "mirage-like mountain of gold."

Days 2-3 Lose yourself amid some 2,000 temples and pagodas in Ancient Bagan, a place that for many visitors exceeds the wonderment of world-renowned sites like Angkor and Chichen Itza Explore two striking temples with a local archaeologist, then travel by horse-drawn cart to a remote site for a marvelous sunset viewing  Cruise by traditional boat up and down the Ayeyarwady River, witnessing farmers tilling fields with oxen right up to the base of ancient ruins They've been doing this for centuries, but you may feel like the very first visitor to come across this site in hundreds of years!

Days 4-5 Enjoy authentic interactions with Burmese who have been yearning for contact with the outside world  Pedal to the gold and glass spires of holy Mount Popa and into the realm of the 37 Burmese nats, powerful animistic spirits Here on this extinct volcano, amid the scampering of resident macaque monkeys, you can tackle the precipitous walk up the 777 steps, perhaps joining local Burmese on pilgrimage to the summit.

Days 6-8 Pedal to heavenly Inle Lake and behold floating gardens, ancient pagodas and entire villages built on stilts  In the valleys and mountains of the Shan State, visit traditional markets and fascinating spiritual enclaves Investigate a cave containing more than 2,000 Buddha statues and shrines, and slurp some unbelievably tasty noodles at a remote mountain monastery Explore Inle Lake by boat, visiting silversmiths, silk weavers and a private home - all set on fixed platforms in the middle of the lake.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain