Bagan Temples Tour - Three Treasures Responsible Tourism Myanmar

Bagan's temple panorama — Bagan’s temple panorama photographed on our Bagan day tours.

Bagan is an ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on a flat plain on the Irrawaddy River in the Mandalay Region.From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom’s height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 4,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2,200 temples and pagodas still survive today. Our Bagan temples tours and photography experiences uncover the hidden gems of this unique site of global importance.

Simply the Best of Bagan

Following our tradition of being the most valuable resource for Bagan private tour experiences, we offer this compact showcase tour of Bagan’s must-see sites. For each, we provide as much detailed information as you are interested in, without making your tour a history lesson! The Bagan Archeological Zone is vast, and your time is limited. We have curated this itinerary to include the most carefully restored and best-preserved examples from the 2,000+ temples of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Colorful people, lively discussion, and stories that tie it all together add to the experience on your Bagan Classics temples tour.

Although still off-the-beaten-track for mass tourism, tourism to Bagan is growing, and with it the number of buses and crowds. We plan our itineraries and visit times to avoid a “mass tourism” experience, and bring you closer to the authentic, magical Burma that is rapidly changing as the country opens up.

Bagan Now Officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site!

“Bagan contains an extraordinary ensemble of Buddhist monumental architecture, reflecting the strength of religious devotion of an early major Buddhist empire. Within the context of the rich expressions and traditions of Buddhist architecture and art found throughout Asia, Bagan is distinctive and outstanding.” – UNESCO World Heritage Inscription, July 2019

What to Expect

On this classic Bagan temples tour, your guide will unravel the mysteries of the defining features of each structure, including their floorplans, structural features, and distinctive decoration, each shaped by historical influences over Bagan’s 450-year history.

Learn about Bagan’s ancient temple and stupa architecture, paintings, and sculpture on this premium Bagan temples tour experience. See the iconic 9thto 13th-century monuments of Bagan including Ananda Pagoda, Dhammayangyi, Shwezigon Pagoda, Sulamani, Dhammayazika, and Htilominlo temples and stupas.

Bagan Classic Temples Tour Highlights:

A tour that goes deeper on Bagan’s most important sites
Save time and avoid “temple fatigue” – see only the best examples of temple architecture, mural paintings, statues, and stone carvings in Bagan
Great choice for a first-time Myanmar visitor to learn about local culture, traditions, and food
Combine sightseeing with an authentic cultural experience
Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle with experienced English-speaking guide

Visit Bagan with Insiders

Uncover hidden sites and secret temples on our Bagan temples tour. Classic temples, as well as lesser-known and remote sites await as you travel comfortably by air-conditioned private taxi and driver. We take you to significant sites, monuments and locations rarely visited by tourists. A truly exceptional day out for the “Best of the Best” in Bagan!

Sample Itinerary

The challenge of visiting Bagan’s most iconic temples is often avoiding the crowds and finding the best viewpoints. Our approach is to time our visits to maintain a distance from the big-bus crowds while capturing the most magnificent views of these masterworks. We realize most visitors can only maintain interest in a few sites each day before everything begins to look the same. This Bagan Classics temples tour brings you to the most notable and special sites across the Bagan Monument Zone.

06:00 (or 30 mins before sunrise): Pickup from your hotel by air-conditioned private taxi to position for sunrise

06:15-07:30: Sunrise balloon viewing at location within the monument zone. Due to changing regulations and to avoid crowds, specific site will be chosen shortly before tour date.

07:30-8:30: Discover the elegant struggle of daily life with Burmese people from nearby villages as they go out into the fields to farm or bring their animals to graze in the fields between the ancient temples. Smiling faces and colorfully dressed, with thanaka across their cheeks, Burmese women are constantly active with daily chores.

08:30-09:30: Al fresco light breakfast with local pastries, fruit, and fresh coffee/tea at our “home” pagoda situated within harvest area of local community. Orientation to Bagan, its historical significance, topography, agriculture. Discussion of your goals and confirm the day’s plan. Return to hotel for breakfast by request.

09:30-12:00: Guided tour of Bagan’s largest and most iconic pagodas, most of which are clustered along the riverside from Old Bagan to Nyaung U. Emphasis on exterior landscapes, dramatic interiors, significant structures, and murals.

12:00-13:30: Lunch break and travel time

13:30-15:30: Interior tours of main (and less-visited) pagodas in riverside section of Old Bagan-Nyaung U to avoid harshest light and heat.

15:30-17:00: Tour of late-period ruins in northeastern sector against tourist traffic, situated adjacent to agricultural village and reservoirs with amazing golden light in late afternoon. Sunset viewing and photography among village ruins OR position for classic views among Old Bagan pagodas.

17:00-18:30: Sunset at secluded pagoda in northeast section or Old Bagan based on your desired subjects and perspectives.

18:30-19:00: Return to your hotel

Duration: 12+ hours