Ancient Capitals of Myanmar Tour

Mekong Cruises Tours

Join this day trip led by a professional tour guide and you will visit three ancient capitals of Myanmar. Inwa, Sagaing, and Amarapura are all located within a day’s trip of Mandalay and makes for an incredible days excursion.

U Bein Bridge

❮ ❯

See more photos

You will start the day by being picked up by our guide and taken to Inwa, which along with Mandalay is probably Myanmar’s most famous ancient capital. Inwa (Ava), located in the Mandalay Region, Burma (Myanmar), is an ancient imperial capital of successive Burmese kingdoms from the 14th to 19th centuries. Throughout history, it was sacked and rebuilt numerous times. The capital city was finally abandoned after it was completely destroyed by a series of major earthquakes in March 1839. Though only a few traces of its former grandeur remain today, the former capital is a popular day-trip from Mandalay. Be taken around this fascinating town by horse cart with your guide highlighting interesting buildings. Make your way after to Sagaing, famous for the hundreds of white and gold pagodas which adorn the hills surrounding it. Sagaing is the capital of Sagaing Region (formerly Sagaing Division) in Myanmar.

Located on the Irrarwaddy River, 20 km to the southwest of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river, Sagaing has numerous Buddhist monasteries and is an important religious and monastic center. The pagodas and monasteries crowd the numerous hills along the ridge running parallel to the river. The central pagoda is connected by a set of covered staircases that run up the 240 meter hill. Enjoy lunch here at the top of Sagaing hill, with a view over all of Mandalay. Finally, in the late afternoon make your way to Amarapura, home to U Bein Bridge, which is also a former capital of Myanmar, and now a township of Mandalay. Amarapura is connected to the Irrawaddy River in the west and the ancient capital site of Ava (Inwa) in the south. It is historically referred to as Taungmyo (Southern City) in relation to Mandalay. Amarapura today is part of Mandalay, as a result of urban sprawl. The township is known today for its traditional silk and cotton weaving and bronze casting. It is a popular tourist day trip destination from Mandalay. See the sunset before being dropped off at your hotel.