We recently visited Bagan ancient city in Myanmar and experienced what felt like heaven on earth. I won’t hide the fact that we actually planned our entire trip to Myanmar around going to Bagan, so you can just about imagine how excited we were when we got there!

Known as the Kingdom of Pagan during the 9th to the 13th centuries, Bagan is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar.It was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. Whoa! During the kingdom’s height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 10,000 Buddhist temples, stupas, pagodas and monasteries were constructed next to the Irrawaddy River, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day!!

We spent two days and three nights there. We toured around Old Bagan and New Bagan on bicycles (e-bikes are also very popular) where we roamed between heavenly and other-worldly spiritual sites. We also took a horse-cart ride around the local communities. But the best of all?… Our sunrise hot air balloon ride over the temples and plains of Bagan. Incredible.

If you ever go to Bagan, we urge you to take a hot air balloon ride. If it’s a little too pricey for you ($260), then  just make sure you watch the sunrise and sunset from the tallest pagoda you can find!

[Side-note: In Bagan, and everywhere else you travel to, please be conscious of not damaging ancient relics that need to be sustained and preserved.]

If you have any questions about how to organise this trip, don’t be shy to ask!

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Remember, life is what you make of it!

Carmia and Jochemus