Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar kings, second largest city in the country and heart of the Burmese nation, world-famous for its rich cultural and religious heritage.

In the morning you will take a boat to the ancient city of Mingun where the world’s largest (90 tons) ringing bronze bell is located. You will also see impressive ruins of the massive temple Pathodawgyi - construction was started by King Bodawpaya in the late 18th century and was never completed. It was supposed to become the biggest Buddhist building in Asia of those times. Steps away from the unfinished giant temple and the bronze bell there is an elegant unique-style white-color pagoda Hsinbyume. The pagoda was built in the 19th century on model of the mythical Mountain Meru – center of the world according to the Buddhist cosmology.

In the afternoon you will come back to Mandalay and will visit major city’s monuments. Among them are Shwenandaw monastery which impresses visitors by its astonishing wood-carvings, and Maha Myat Muni pagoda housing the huge gilded Sitting Buddha image, one of the most revered by the Myanmar Buddhists. You will visit Kuthodaw pagoda and will see its unique collection of 729 stone slabs on which are inscribed the whole of the Buddhist scriptures. You will also learn about unique Myanmar crafts by visiting local workshops (gold leaf, stone carving, wood carving, traditional golden and silver embroidery, etc.).

At the end of the day your guide will lead you to Amarapura, former center of one of the ancient Burmese Kingdoms, where you will walk along the famous U Bein Bridge. The bridge was built more than 150 years ago and, measuring more than 2 km, is now believed to be the oldest and the longest teak wood bridge in the world.