Too Freaking Hot! Summer Pricing

I don't know why people would want to visit Mandalay this time of year. It is hot and miserable. if you go up into the mountains it is still hot and dry but at least the mountain trails are dry and easy to navigate this time of year.
Anyway, I have adjusted my prices for the summer so here they are:
125 underbone motorbikes - 10,000 kyat per day
150 Jialing Dirtbikes - 25,000 Kyat per day
Honda XR -35,000 per day
No hotel drop off included in these prices

Honda XR 125L

Honda XR 125L

My wonderful bike next to my most wonderful little man.

The newest member of the Mandalay Motorbike fleet is the Honda XR 125L. This dependable, comfortable and easy to ride motorbike is perfect for any road in Myanmar. The 12 liter fuel tank gives this bike a 300km range which is perfect for when you really want to get out there. We only have one of the these bikes for now so reserve early.

Rates:

Daily: $45

Dee Doke - Waterfalls and Caves - Day Trip from Mandalay

Dee Doke is a set of waterfalls and caves that is 48km outside of Mandalay. This place isn't in any guidebooks yet but it will be soon because many locals head out here to swim and explore the unspoiled natural scenery that Myanmar has to offer. This is a popular destination for young people to swim and jump off rocks into the blue-white mineral rich water from the Shan plateau above

The caves are about an hour hike form the base of the mountain where you can park the bike so make sure to bring plenty of water.

There are so many pools at Dee Doke so you can look around until you find your own private pool to swim in.

Getting to Dee Doke is fairly easy from Mandalay. The ride out is all on sealed roads so any of my bikes can make the trip.  I can provide easy to follow directions for this day trip from our office in Mandalay.

This cave is completely desolate so you have to bring your own flashlights and extra batteries!!

Pyin Oo Lwin 2-day, 1-night Guided Motorcycle Tour

We are happy to offer our first official guided tour. We are starting simple with a 2-day, 1-night tour of Pyin Oo Lwin and surroundings from Mandalay.

Happy customer on road to Pyin Oo Lwin

We will ride up to Pyin Oo Lwin from Mandalay on our trusty Jialing 150cc motorcycles on day 1 and be back in Mandalay by the evening the next day. On the ride up we will pass a woman’s labor camp, stop to view the Mandalay from the Shan plateau, visit the newly built yet desolate Cyber City, hike down to Anisakan Falls (or just take a picture from the top) and ride through some gravel pits and coffee fields before we reach Pyin Oo Lwin. Pyin Oo Lwin is the old hill station, summer retreat, from colonial days. 

Anisakan Falls

At over 3000ft the weather is quite cool and the air is fresh. We will have an evening walk in the famous Kandawgyi Gardens before going out to dinner at a lakeside restaurant. Hotel will be comparable to a 2 star or above.

Kandawgyi Gardens

Day 2 will start early with a trip out of town to see another set of waterfalls and a local Buddhist temple perched high on a hill for great views. Then we'll go back to tour around Pyin Oo Lwin's local markets and look at some of the sights in town before lunch. After lunch we'll take the back way to Mandalay on some incomplete roads that zigzag down the Shan hills with some seriously gorgeous views of the terrain. 

Back "road" to Mandalay

These roads are so bad that it might as well be considered off roading. This area is not at all developed so well pass some small rural villages and also have a chance to see some exotic birds too. When we hit the bottom of the plateau we will visit a cave and waterfall then get back on the Mandalay-Lashio Road. I should have you back to Mandalay for dinner.

Price: $250 per person

2 person minimum

Prices based on double occupancy

Hotel will be comparable to a 2 star. If booking Nov-Jan. We may have to use a hotel not more than 6 miles outside town.

What's Included?

Gas

Motorcycles

Hotel ( 1 night in Pyin Oo Lwin)

Food (2 lunches,2 dinners any roadside snacks/drinks)

Entrance fees /Camera Fees

Not Included

Alcohol

Hotel room service or phone charges

Mandalay Map

View Mandalay in a larger map

I get a lot of questions about where to go and what to do in Mandalay so I decided to make a nice little Google map and post it on here.  I try to have a decent tourist map of Mandalay but be more geared toward people on a motorbike. I list gas stations, off-limits bridges, and parking locations for someone who is driving on a motorcycle and I also put some general touristy stuff like Mandalay's shopping spots, money changers, restaurants and entertainment. My location is also on here to help you better find Mandalay Motorbike. 

6 Day Northern Shan State on the Lashio Road Self Guided MotorcycleTour

View 6 Day self guided motorcycle tour of Lashio Road in a larger map
This is a rough guide of a trip up into Shan State from Mandalay. Six days is about the minimum time I would like to take on a trip like this but you can cut it to fit your needs. I just want people to get a general idea of what is possible. I have you taking a back way to Lashio from Namhsan along a single-lane paved road, but you can just head back to Hsipaw if you want to cut Lashio out. There is a gravel road that runs to Kyaukme from Namhsan that isn't on Google Maps but it is currently closed due to rebel fighting so you have to go the way you came.
The Mandalay Lashio Road is in very good shape for Myanmar so you can make good time on that. The road to Namhsan is in fair condition and being repaired now so it should be very nice by the fall of 2012.I have some photos of these places from a trip in August on my ride report on ADV Rider and in my Picasa album.
You are basically just allowed to go up to back on the Mandalay Lashio Road but you can take a few detours.
Some off-limits areas are:
North and East of Lashio
Highway 43 and 44
Highway 312 (your allowed to go about 30 miles on this road before you'll be turned around)
The entire area around Mogkok
You can hire a guide around Kyaukme who can take you to the villages north of Kyaukme on a motorbike along highway 312 and on the village trails if they are in good shape. The guides can even arrange for you to sleep in a villagers house if your interested. You can also hire a guide through any guesthouse for tours around Hsipaw on your bike. Happy Riding.

4 Ancient Capitals Around Mandalay Self Guided Motorcycle Tour

View Ancient Capitals Around Mandalay,Self Guided Motorcycle Tour in a larger map

The best way to visit all 4 of the ancient capitals around Myanmar in 1 day is by motorbike. I made this map to help people get an idea of the basic route to take to get to all these capitals in just 1 day. I have many people that rent my bikes just to do this tour but they usually skip out on Mingun because the think it is too far. Mingun is just 20km north of Sagaing on a peaceful single lane road that follows the Ayarwaddy so it doesn't take long to get there.
I arranged the trip so you visit Inwa(Ava), Sagaing, Mingun and then end with a sunset at U-Bein Bridge in Amarapura but you can arrange the order of the cities you visit in any way you like.
The route should be about 100km total, but that depends on how many side roads you take. To play it safe, figure 5 hours of driving time and then add time for meals and sightseeing.
Don't like to ride? I don't run a tour but you can find motorcycle taxis that will do this tour for you. Check around Royal Guesthouse and any other backpacker hotel. They don't need the map, just tell them where you want to go, and it should cost around 15,000-20,000 Kyat.
Happy Riding,
Zach B