We start off our tour with a leisurely ride as we get used to our bicycles. Making our way towards Mingun, we stop at the famous 200-year-old teak U Bein Bridge. Our route follows the Irrawaddy all the way to Mingun, and there's little traffic on this undulating road. There'll be plenty of photos ops as we ride past more monasteries on this one road than on the entire rest of the trip. In Mingun, we visit the ruins of Pahtodawgyi, a massive unfinished stupa that would have been the largest in the world if completed and now might be the largest pile of bricks in the world, but is nonetheless impressive. We'll also see the Mingun Bell, which weighs 90 tonnes and is the largest ringing bell in the world. After lunch at a restaurant, we hop on a boat to take us downstream back to Mandalay and then pedal from the dock to the hotel. We meet up in the evening to drive to Mandalay Hill to enjoy another sunset before dinner.

Mandalay Hill Resort Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Ride 44km +335m -249m

We start with a 3-hour transfer beyond the small town of Chaung-U. Once on the bikes, we cycle through the Chindwin Valley, where a variety of crops, from oranges to sugar cane, are grown. We take a break to visit Monywa's famous temple complex of Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya, which dates back to 1303 and claims to house more than 500,000 Buddha images. After lunch at a local restaurant, we cross the Chindwin River by boat and continue cycling to Pho Win Taung Cave, famous for its carvings and mural paintings dating from the 14th and 18th centuries. Passing through several small farms and villages, you will have a glimpse of the traditional Burmese way of life. After visiting the cave, we return to Monywa and check-in to the hotel.

Win Unity Hotel Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Ride 51km +324m -202m

We start from the hotel and hit dirt roads to take us south along the Irrawaddy River to Pakkoku. We pass through A Myint and A Neint, where you can spot ancient pagodas peeking out from the overgrowth. We stop to see some of the hidden temples decorated with murals as well as an old monastery. After lunch, we have a relaxing afternoon as we boat to Bagan. Once we dock, it's a short transfer to our hotel.

Bagan Hotel River View Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Ride 62km +214m -219m

Following the highway east, we transfer by bus up to Mt Popa. Popa soars 650 m up out of the plains, and the temple at the summit is populated by Burma’s most revered nats (spirits). As you climb the almost 900 stairs up to Popa Taung Kalat Temple, you will pass dozens of nat shrines and see pilgrims who come to honour the spirits. From the top, you will have a pano-rama of the surrounding plains. After your visit, begin biking downhill to Bagan. Along the way, we stop to enjoy a picnic box lunch in a village. The ride weaves through villages and quiet lanes as we make our way back to Bagan.

Bagan Hotel Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Ride 63km +100m -880m