Bagan Short Tour

The morning will be spent exploring the city and its surrounds by bicycle. You'll visit some of Bagan's most popular temples, including Shwe Gu Gyi Paya, Maha Bodi Temple, Bu Paya and Aananda Pahto. From here, it's about a 15-minute ride to a local village outside the city, where you'll visit a beautiful 150-year-old wooden monastery.

Afterwards, jump back on your bike and pedal to Nyaung U. Enjoy lunch at Sanon Restaurant, an initiative of Friends International – a social enterprise working to rebuild the lives of marginalised youths around the world. Post lunch, cycle back to the hotel, arriving by around 1:30-2pm.

After a few hours of free time, meet your guide at 4pm in front of the hotel for the second activity of the day: an Urban Adventures sunset boat trip. Travel by horse and cart to the Nyuang U Jetty, stopping along the way for some tea at a typical local tea shop. Board a boat on the Ayarwaddy River and enjoy a relaxing 1.5-hour sunset cruise through Bagan. Make sure you bring your camera, as there will be plenty of great photo opportunities! Cold drinks are available for purchase onboard.

At around 6:15pm, head back to the jetty. Your guide can help you find local transport back to your hotel.

Be ready for an 8am pick up at the hotel this morning after breakfast. Today you'll be heading out on the Urban Adventures In Focus tour: Bagan Community Experience. Travel by light truck (similar in style to a Thai songthaew) for about an hour to Pakkoku, where you'll visit the biggest thanakha market in Myanmar. Thanakha is a cosmetic paste made from ground bark, said to treat wrinkles, sun damage, and acne, and even believed to help with fevers and headaches. Visit another local market and stop in at a tea shop, before continuing on to the small, off-the-map village of Kyunkalay.

Urban Adventures has formed a partnership with ActionAid – an organisation working to bring human rights and social justice to neglected communities – to help introduce tourism to the community of Kyunkalay in a way that is responsible, sustainable, and won’t negatively impact their culture and heritage. A donation of $4 per person will be made to the community development fund as part of the tour.