Desert and Ocean Splendor
Mingalabar (welcome). Since 1999, we have been arranging trips in this most special of places, The Land of Gold. What’s new since Orwell penned his classic colonial-era novel, Burmese Days? Notwithstanding Barack Obama’s offical state visit (the first by an American President) and to the delight of our travelers, not much at all. After forty years, in what once was a sleepy, closed-off destination, visitors will now ceetainly encounter new buildings going up in Yangon, but only an hour’s flight from Bangkok is ancient and mystical past; a refreshing glimpse of how life was in much of Asia decades ago. Despite the media, you will encounter only a warm and friendly people, stunning ruins, mighty rivers, Himalayan mountain views, historic colonial buildings, teakwood forests, and a unique ambiance that harks back to the past, where ox-drawn carts still trundle along dusty roads and saffron-robed monks spend quiet me worshiping at revered shrines.
Why Myanmar?
Myanmar features exotic landscapes of tropical jungle, plains of magnificent ruins, rustic villages, sacred lakes, and warm welcoming smiles, on tranquil roads. Largely closed off to travelers for over the last fifty years, no destination in Asia provides a glimpse into the past nor more exotic traditional cultures than Myanmar.
MYANMAR TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
• Seamless travel, including required visas optional air ticketing, transfers from Bangkok and post-tour travel.
• Travel the highlights and off-the-grid special places we enjoy few travelers know or get to.
• Explore the bucolic Shan State, one of Asia’s most beautiful regions.
• Comfortable top boutique and luxury hotels in each destination, including the sublime Governor’s Residence.
• Ride quiet roads with little traffic
• Ride as much or as little as you’d like
• Feast on delicious Baja style cuisine
• Enjoy warm sunny weather throughout during the dry season
• Stay on to enjoy R&R on Myanmar’s tranquil Ngapali Coast, or Thai Islands.
• Professional guides with a stocked sag wagons
Why Us
Myanmar Experts with over 22 years organizing cycling trips in country
Why us? After crisscrossing the Southeast Asia for over two decades, no one knows these roads better. Our tours feature small groups, meticulous preparation, safe and seamless travel include airlines and visas, pre- and post-tour arrangements, and unique places few others travel to—high adventure.
Guides
Aung Wai Min (Alex)
Alex is a native of the mountainous Shan State and has lead cycling trips over the last ten years. An avid mountain bike racer, Alex has pioneered many new off-road and paved routes in the country.
Patrick Morris
In 1993, Patrick moved to Saigon, organized and lead the first cycling tours of a newly-opened Vietnam, then Cambodia, Laos, Sumatra, Turkey, and Myanmar. Call Patrick in our San Francisco office at (415) 680-3788 to learn more about and his passion for cycling off-the-grid destinations, including Myanmar. Favorite new destination? Baja, California. A special window for ride cycling that did not exist before and will not last long and as Baja gentrifies. See our new cycling trips there at www.velopura.com.
Destination and Trip Details
In our second decade of cycling Myanmar, we’ve refined this trip’s routes, places to stay, dining, and training of a world-class support crew with over 20 years’ experience leading trips. This journey is fully-supported. Riders can expect beautiful, fascinating, and safe rides, plenty of delicious Burmese and Shan dining, hot showers, and cultural activities on the side. This 12-day trip is limited to only 12 riders. However, this trip may be also organized as a private, custom tour for you and your friends or family of any size. Contact us for full details.
Pre-Departure
In addition to a pre-tour preparation packet for Myanmar, all riders are welcome to contact us in advance of the trip, for questions and information they may need.
Arrival & Departure
Please contact us before arranging your flights for recommendations, or even for booking a ticket. If you are flying in, you’ll want to arrive into Bangkok or Singapore Airports, with departure from from the same, we will arrange regional flight transfers if needed. We will also arrange transport from the airport in Bangkok if overnighting before you to join us in Yangon. including a stop to obtain your required visa at the border.
Hotels
In places with options, such as Yangon and Mandalay, we stay at the best properties available, such as The Governor’s Residence, in the verdant embassy quarter, while in smaller towns, such as Cataviña, we stay in the best hotels available, simple and rustic yet comfortable.
Day-to-Day
Our Myanmar trips are designed for moderate to advanced riders comfortable riding 2-5 hours at a steady pace, though all riding is optional—our Sag wagon is always nearby, even for a catching a quick lift up climbs. We ride as a group, though faster riders may ride ahead if desired or add additional mileage. We typically depart mid-morning around 9 AM each day, with a break for a pleasant lunch. Afternoons after arrival with include some time free, or we will have scheduled sightseeing, such as visiting the many sacred temples along our route. Mornings before we depart also provides some time to see local sights.
Health, Medical, and Covid-19 Safety Procedures
Post-vaccine will bring safety to travel again, and Myanmar, despite the media stories, remains one of the safest destinations in the world for travel. Participants are requested to provide a Covid-19 test or proof of vaccine prior to the trip
Weather & Climate
The weather in Myanmar during our touring season is always sunny and warm, little or no rainfall, and typically reaching into the 70s to 80s midday, dry but not too humid. Evenings are pleasantly warm.
Dining
Our past travelers will tell you our trips are as much as about the food and culture as the riding. In fact, after 20 years our Iron Chef Vietnam culinary cycling trip remains our most popular. Meals feature a variety of the best of Burma, from delicious local dishes featuring fresh variety of healthy vegetables, noodles, rice and classic dishes such as mohinga, a delicious fish soup. Vegetarians will find largely Buddhist Myanmar a wonderful place for food.
Money Matters
ATM’s are common only in larger cities, but credit cards are now widely accepted if you’re interested in buying a big ticket souvenir. Aside from alcoholic drinks and souvenirs, you will need only small amounts of local currency, the kyat, mostly for hotel staff and tips. We recommend allowing for about $10-20 per day for such expenses.
Trip Cost: $4,580
What’s Included
- Pre-tour packet
- VeloPura cycling jersey
- Transfer from San Diego
- Visa assistance
- Covid-19 safe travel procedures*
- All accommodation
- All transportation
- Snacks, water, and sodas, all meals and other non-alcoholic beverages
- Laundry service for cycling clothes
- Bike assembly, disassembly, and maintenance
Not included with trip:
- Rental bike (available below)
- Required visa fees ($25)
- Single room (+$925)
- Airport transfer at end of trip
- Alcoholic drinks
- Customary guide gratuity
- Trip cancellation, travel, emergency medical insurance (request information)
*Covid-19 Travel Safety Procedures
While we are optimistic a vaccine will free us for safe and healthy travel again. Myanmar remains one of the world’s safest destinations, a gentle largely Buddhist nation despite the media headlines.
Contact us for more details at (415) 680-3788 or by email: [email protected]
Images of Myanmar
Private & Custom Trips
Travel with your club, friends, or family. Customize this trip to your specific preferences—we’ll work with you to make it the trip of a lifetime.