Start planning your perfect trip
Use Add to ideas + to collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry.
1 item added to my ideas
Collect your trip ideas, share with friends or make an enquiry.
We're back at 9am today, please email us
Call +44 (0) 20 7978 7333
- Monday:
- 9am until 10pm
- Tuesday:
- 9am until 10pm
- Wednesday:
- 9am until 10pm
- Thursday:
- 9am until 10pm
- Friday:
- 9am until 6pm
- Saturday:
- Closed
- Sunday:
- Closed
My Ideas 0 Enquire +44 (0) 20 7978 7333
Opening HoursMandalay Holidays: an Overview
It is hard to believe that bustling Mandalay was known as 'the bicycle city' just 25 years ago. Having said that, this fast-developing city is thankfully still relatively void of towering skyscrapers and American chains - for now at least - and is certainly still worth a visit.
Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar and the city is home to Kuthodaw Pagoda, 'the world's biggest book', Mahamuni Pagoda - home to the famous 9 tonne 'lumpy Buddha' - and Shwenandaw Monastery, an exquisite teak carved building remaining from the 19th Century Royal Palace. Exploring these with a guide is a great introduction to the country's culture and deep history.
Famous for its local crafts and artistic scene, explore the numerous workshops here including wood carving, kalaga tapestries and gold leaf bashing, and spend an evening enjoying a local comedy, often conveyed with puppets. A word of warning for the shopaholic - this is a destination well worth taking a spare bag for.
From Mandalay, take a boat trip up the Irrawaddy to Mingun, surrounded by golden stupa- studded hillsides. One of the biggest draws to this little village is the famous 'unfinished' 18th century stupa; what would've been the world's biggest stupa was never completed by order of the king, after an astrologer claimed that he would die if it was finished.
If time allows, take a cruise from Mandalay down to Bagan, witnessing daily rural life along the river - remote villages, bullock carts, pot-making and ancient temples - a great chance to experience a different side of Myanmar.
Discover More
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandalay |
A Note on Price
Itinerary Suggestions
Active Adventure in Myanmar
17 Days
From 3,760pp
The Heart of Myanmar and Thailand
15 Days
From 6,245pp
Newsletter Sign-Up
Get the latest travel advice, information and inspiration in our newsletter.
Brochure Sign-Up
Our beautiful, free brochure is packed with insider information
and incredible travel ideas from every corner of the planet.
Get the brochure