Shwedagon & Bagan Pagoda Tours: 8 Worth the Trip

1.Balloons Over Bagan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 197 reviews · from $235Our pick

You’ll rise before dawn for a 45-minute to one-hour balloon flight over Bagan’s ancient temples. Hotel pickup, pre-flight tea, breakfast, champagne, photos, and a signed certificate are included. Pilots such as Moses, Andy, Gavin, and Christophe have guided flights, though the pilot varies.

“Exceptional morning in the sky! The whole arrangement was very professional and we spent a lot of time in the sky over Bagan. The group was electric and very welcoming. Fantastic photos captured”

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2.One Bagan Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 129 reviews · from $821

Start at Nyaung U Airport at 9:00 am for a private Bagan tour with an experienced licensed guide. Visit Shwezigon, Ananda, Dhammayangyi, That Bin Nyu, and more, with time for river views, local life, history, and memorable photographs.

“Nway Nway was my guide and now my friend. I’ve been traveling around the world (literally) for over a month now and booked many sightseeing tours with this and other sites. With no question this is the best quite I’ve had the pleasure to spend the day with She was bRead more”

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3.Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $110

Spend about nine hours touring Bagan by private air-conditioned car with an English-speaking guide. Visit the archaeological zone, Nyaung-U, Shwezigon Pagoda, and Gubyaukgyi Temple. Guides named Aung Zay and Kwo have led past tours, and airport pickup is available.

“Aung Zay was our guide and picked us up from Ngaung U airport on time. Excellent guide with fluent English who is really knowledgeable about the locale. The Bagan area is vast and without a car and guide, we would have had to spend multiple days to coveRead more”

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4.Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews

Travel privately from Mandalay hotel or airport to Bagan in about four hours. Your driver meets you with a name board, provides air conditioning and water, and can stop at Tree Jade Restaurant near Natogyi or a teahouse. Drivers such as Lin and Ko Htay have earned praise for punctuality and safe driving.

“Ko Htay is an excellent, very safe, driver who made the trip interesting with his conversations about Myanmar agriculture seen on the way as well as the villages and general local knowledge. Enjoyed the ride and his company. I highly recommend him to people.”

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5.Private Bagan Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 15 reviews · from $70

Spend about nine hours exploring Bagan with a private English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, water, and a wet towel. Visit Sulamani, Damaygyi, Ananda, Htilo-minlo, Kha-Min-Gha, Natdaung Kyaung, a lacquerware workshop, the city walls, and a sunset viewpoint. Lunch is arranged to suit your preference.

“There was no one to pick me up for the tour, I did some research and found that the local tour company had shut down, I am asking for a refund.”

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6.Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · from $30Best value

Travel from Bagan to Mandalay by RV Panorama, a teak boat with air-conditioned seating, an open sun deck, breakfast, Myanmar lunch, and tea or coffee. Meet the crew at Nyaung-Oo Jetty before dawn, try a longyi and thanakha after lunch, and reach Mandalay around 5:30pm.

“Boat is really comfortable, food was better than expected, crew very nice. We were only 15 people on the boat (mid february). Overall fantastic experience for me and my family. Great sunrise, too.”

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7.Bagan Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $48

Spend about seven hours touring Bagan by private tuk-tuk with local guide Zaw. Expect temple and pagoda visits, Buddhist context, village life, handicrafts, photography stops, and hotel or airport pickup. Admission, balloon flights, and sunset boat trips cost extra.

“We did 2 days of tours with Aung and it was wonderful. He really went above and beyond to provide us a great service and give us everything we needed or ask for for this trip. He was very knowledgeable and spoke very good English so he was able to tell us a lot aboRead more”

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8.Bagan and Mount Popa Private Tour (2 Days)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $82

Spend two days exploring Bagan’s temples, Nyaung-U Township, Shwezigon Pagoda, and Mount Popa. Your private vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide keep the pace flexible, with time for rural stops to see palm sweets and peanut oil production. Admission fees are separate.

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