This two-day tour brings you to some of the area’s scenic riverside destinations. You’ll get to travel by boat part of the way, which is a lovely opportunity to take in the countryside. You’ll stop at some beautiful pagodas and monasteries and explore a richly decorated cave.

Day 1

This tour departs from Bagan. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to a jetty, where you’ll travel by boat on a 3-hour journey down the Ayeyarwaddy River. Upon arrival at the Pakokku dock, you’ll meet your guide and begin the 3.5-hour drive to Monywa. On the way, you’ll stop at Pakhangyi Monastery, which is one of the country’s oldest teak monasteries.

Monywa is a small town on the bank of the Chindwin River. It’s a major agricultural center, and produces much of the country’s beans, oranges, and palm sugar. The main draw here is the Thanboddhay Pagoda, a temple with a towering stupa that was built in 1939. Its interior is rumored to have over 500,000 images of Buddha. Nearby you can also make a stop at the Mahabodhi Temple, which has 10,000 Bodi trees.

Day 2

In the morning, you’ll take a boat across the Chindwin River and then drive an hour to reach the Phowintaung Cave complex. Carvings and paintings on the cave’s walls date back to the 14th and 16th centuries. After the cave, you’ll begin your return trip to Mandalay.

Before you get back to Mandalay, you’ll stop at a convent and a hilltop pagoda. The pagoda has a sweeping view of the surrounding temples and the Ayeyarwaddy River.