Mandalay : Last capital of the Burmese kingdom and Myanmar's second largest city. It is considered the country's cultural heartland and is an important trade center. It is the home of some of Myanmar's most important pagodas as well as its finest handicraft workshops.
Three ancient capital cities, Ava, Sagaing and Amarapura, are within easy reach of Mandalay and well worth a side trip. Just across the Irrawaddy River and a short but fascinating boat ride away is Mingun, home to the worlds' largest bell and the earthquake ravaged base of an unfinished pagoda, which would have been the tallest in the world.
(Admission/Zonefee: - Mandalay/Inwa/Amarapura: $10 - Sagaing/Mingun: $3)

There is a wide variety of interesting things to see in this bustling city and the surrounding ancient cities.

Below is a summary of most of these, although we have more to offer that will surprise and delight you.

You will not be able to see all these during your stay in Mandalay. You need to choose and inform the tour guide about your interests. Since our goal is to keep your traveling highly flexible and individual, our guide will recommend the best itinerary, depending on your interests.

 We offer a full day sightseeing tour of the city of Mandalay on the first day after picking you up from the Mandalay International Airport.
The next day we would suggest a daytrip into the ancient cities Ava (Inwa), Sagaing and Amarapura, ending the day enjoying the sunset over U Bein's Bridge.
If you want to stay for a third day, you will be taken to the banks of the Irrawaddy in the morning and proceed with a ferry over the river to visit ancient Mingun, before coming back to Mandalay for a leisurely lunch after which you can see some more of the interesting places this city has to offer.
Staying four days would allow you to nearly visit all interesting sites intensively.

Mandalay :
Mha Muni Pagoda:
built by King Bodawpaya in 1784. The original shrine was destroyed in 1884 by fire, so the current one is of comparatively recent origin. It features the Mahamuni image that was transported to Myanmar from Mrauk U in 1784, possibly cast as long ago as the 1st century. The 4m high image is cast in bronze, but over the years has been covered with a 15 cm thick layer of gold leaf by devoted Buddhists. In the courtyard are six bronze Khmer figures brought back from Mrauk U and Originally from Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (1h)

 Shwe Inbin Monastery:
monastery dating from 1895 with exquisite wooden carvings along the balustrades and roof cornices. (1/2h)

Royal Palace
imposing palace built by King Mindon in 1857, when he made Mandalay the royal city. It was essentially a walled city within Mandalay, destroyed by fire on 20 March 1945, in fierce fighting between advancing British troops and the occupying Japanese forces. It was recently reconstructed, but of concrete instead of flammable wood. Visit the miniature of the palace and then stroll through the reconstruction, housing a lot of original artifacts, then climb the 33m high watchtower, with views over the whole palace compound and the city. The fort also contains the tomb of King Mindon, the Royal Mint and the Sabbath Hall. (2h)

 Shwe Nandaw Kyaung:
(the Golden Palace Monastery) This is a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Fort. Once part of the palace complex and used as an apartment by King Mindon, who died in this building, King Thibaw had it dismantled and reassembled at its present site in 1880. (1/2h)

Kuthodaw Pagoda:
The 729 marble slabs surrounding this stupa are inscribed with the entire Tripitaka, earning this pagoda the moniker of "the world's biggest book". (1/2h)

Kyauk-Taw-Gyi Pagoda:
famous for the huge seated Buddha image, carved from one single block of marble. Until two years ago the biggest single carved image in the world. (1/2h)

Shwe Kyin Monastery:
a nice place to finish the day. Every day right after sunset all the monks of this larger monastery line up for prayers. At the entrance of the monastery building you will see their slippers placed neatly in rows. The monastery also features some old meditation caves, some of which have been used for over 100 years.

Mandalay Hill:
after a pleasant climb, this hill, topped with a temple style pagoda of mirrored hallways offers a fantastic view all over the city and the central plain. Enjoy the great scenery. (1h) (driving up halfway, missing no important sights, cuts the walk to only 20 minutes). Mandalay Hill is a must and can be visited at any time of the day, but enjoying the sunset from the Pagoda on top of the hill is always a nice ending to a hot day.

 Crafts:
- Marble carving and wood carving, as well as some ornate tapestry on Sagaing Mandalay Road. (3/4h)
- Bronze foundries (1/2h)
- Gold-leaf making in the south east of the city (1/2h)
- Silk Weaving (1/2h)

Merchant Area:
there are some interesting places to see such as candy and candle making in the southwest area of Mandalay city. (1 ½ hrs)

- Puppet-Show in the evening after dinner. (Admission US$ 3,-)(1 ½ hrs)
- Night markets around the intersections of 84th & 27th Street and 79th & 29th Street.

Ancient cities :
On the way to the ancient cities we can stop at Shwe Kyet Yet Village to enjoy the beautiful view across the Irrawaddy on to Sagaing Hill, bathed in the morning sun.

AVA (Inwa) :
 (1/2h drive by car, ferry crossing, in Ava transport is by horsecart) (half a day)
Le Thagi Pagoda: (14th century) a square shaped pagoda, featuring many "ogais" (little ghosts), all carved with different faces, surrounding the terraces. Legend tells of the "Queen’s dream". The queen dreamt of a garden full of different animals, and since the Burmese believe a dream including animals to be bad luck, the queen went to a fortuneteller, who advised her to build a pagoda surrounded with these ogais to protect her.
Lawka Htut Phaung and Su Taung Pyi zedi: a pair of 700-year old pagodas next to Le Thagyi Pagoda.
- making of monks’ alms bowls: an interesting stop to observe the different stages involved in making the famous bowls every monk carries with him.
 Yatana Se Me Ko Su Pagoda: a 17th century pagoda whose roof and some walls have been destroyed, leaving Buddha images on their original sites, overlooking the beautiful landscape.
Win Gabar Paya: built in the 14th century, this pagoda provides pleasant views from the top over surrounding fields and towards the Baga Yar Monastery.
Baga Yar Monastery: built by King Bagyidaw in 1834, made entirely of teakwood and supported by 267 teak posts (the largest measures 18m in height and 2.7m in circumference)
Nanmyin: 27m-high masonry watchtower, the only remains of the palace built by Bagyidaw. It tilts precariously, so is known as the "leaning tower of Inwa".
Maha Aung Myay Bonzan: one of the few brick-and stucco monasteries, it was built by Meh Nu, the chief queen of Bagyidaw, for her royal abbot U Po in 1818.
Ava Bridge: British-engineered 16 span bridge from 1934. Until 1998 this was the only bridge across the Irrawaddy.

SAGAING :
(just across the Ayeyarwady from Ava) (2 ½ hrs)
Umin Thounzeh: (30 caves pagoda) An abbot built this semi-circular building, housing 45 Buddha images seated in a long row. The 30 entrances are designed to create the impression of caves.
Soon U Ponya Shin Paya: constructed in 1312. Has outstanding views over Sagaing, the Ayeyarwady River and a landscape dotted with pagodas.
Kaunghmudaw Pagoda: (9km west of Sagaing)
46m high dome, modeled after the Mahaceti (Great Stupa) in Sri Lanka - although a legend says that it represents the perfectly shaped breast of a well-endowed Burmese queen.

AMARAPURA : (1 ½ hrs)
U Bein's Bridge: the longest teak span bridge in the world (1.2km), curved to withstand the wind and waves. Built by U Bein, the mayor of Amarapura, with old teak posts taken from the palace in Inwa at the end of the 18th century.
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda: A short stroll across the bridge, constructed in 1847 by Pagan Min. It has a good seated Buddha image and interesting frescos, (Look carefully and you can even find some suspiciously English-looking figures in the crowds.) - A visit to U Bein's Bridge is most rewarding during sunset -

 MINGUN :
crossing the Ayeyarwaddy River by boat, ca. 1h to 1 ½ hrs (half a day)
Pondaw Paya: 5m high working model for the gigantic Mingun Paya. It gives a clear picture of what the paya would have looked like if completed.
Mingun Paya: work on this gigantic structure was begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790 and halted in 1819 when he died. If the work had been finished, Mingun might now have the world's largest Zedi. The stupa base sustained heavy damage in the earthquake of 1838, which left a deep crack scarring its façade. It is now 50 m high, a third of the projected height of 150m. From the top there is a fantastic view of the Irrawaddy towards Mandalay.
 Mingun Bell: in 1808 the King had a gigantic (90 tonnes) bell cast for the Mingun Paya. It is supposedly the largest uncracked bell in the world.
Hsinbyume Paya: built in 1816 By Bagyidaw, before he became king, in memory of his senior wife, princess Hsinbyume. It is a nice white round shaped zedi, with one nicely decorated stairway guiding up to the top terrace.

Great place for Lunch or Dinner in Mandalay:
- Ko's Kitchen (Thai Cuisine) on corner of 19th & 80th Street
Good places for lunch around the ancient cities:
- Silver Sky Restaurant (Chinese and Myanmar Cuisine),
for Myanmar Food tour guide needs to be informed ahead to order.
- Happy Hotel Restaurant (Chinese Cuisine)
- Amarapura Restaurant