Myanmar Heritage by Bicycle

Myanmar, formerly Burma, is a land that to this day holds a mystical feel about it. With its rich history, deep sense of spirituality, exquisite cuisine and gorgeous scenery it is an easy place to lose yourself, particularly when riding a bicycle.

The famous writer Rudyard Kipling once wrote of the country: ‘This is Burma. It will be unlike any land you know about.’ Such words will ring in your ears once you begin to get those wheels rotating.

Starting in Mandalay you’ll feel like you’re rolling back the years as you explore the stunning landscapes that line the route. Following the Irrawaddy River you can stop and admire the famous 200-year-old teak U Bein bridge, while also taking time to chat with welcoming locals.

Throughout your journey there will be numerous sunsets to lose yourself in, each more dazzling and breath-taking than the last. There must be something in the Myanmar air which makes the sunset colours more vivid.

Away from Mandalay, the warm embrace of the countryside will offer a different perspective on village life in the country. Orange orchards and sugar cane farms are just a few prominent crops that grow here and this assault on the senses will keep you riding on. Of course, no trip to Myanmar is complete without a visit to Bagan, home to the scattered remains of 4,000 plus stupas, pagodas and temples. A day is spent here to visit the ancient city and ride around this once famous centre of a religious empire.

While Mandalay’s sunsets may have proven powerful, it’s the one you will see over the plains at Bagan that will remain etched in your mind. After the highs of Bagan, things are taken to a new height, quite litreally, as you climb Mount Popa for a view over the glorious plains before heading to Yangon. There’s time for another fine meal and a visit to the religious site of Shwedagon Paya before wrapping up what has been the trip of a lifetime.