For many, the name Mandalay evokes a mythical Kiplingesque idyll. In reality, Myanmar’s second city is a buzzing, fast-developing metropolis, its streets full of honking traffic. It contains some of the country’s most cherished attractions – sweeping hilltop panoramas, 19th-century teak monasteries, and the reconstructed royal palace – and serves as the river-bound gateway to the ancient temple-city of Bagan.
The beauty of the old capital doesn’t start at the summit of Mandalay Hill and finish at the palace gates. Mandalay is a jumping-off point for some of Myanmar’s best water-themed excursions, ranging from glistening emerald-green falls and mining towns on flooded plains to lively river beaches and life-affirming sunset cruises along the Irrawaddy.
All the locations listed here can be reached from Mandalay by either taxi or motorbike (though you’ll probably want to take the boat to Mingun). Most hotels and guesthouses will happily organise transport for you; however, some of the fancier resorts may be reluctant to facilitate motorbike rentals. Expect to pay around K30-40,000 per day for a driver, and K9-15,000 for a motorbike. Please note that journey times provided are by car. If you plan to travel by motorbike, you can add another 30-40 minutes to the time. GPS coordinates for harder-to-find sites are included for your convenience.
Swimming at Dee Doke waterfall
Absurdly photogenic with its luminous turquoise waters, Dee Doke waterfall is one of the most beautiful spots in Myanmar. Most visitors congregate for wild swimming and selfies at the main pool, which is a 15-20 minute climb from the car park. For something a bit more adventurous, you can climb up to several smaller and quieter pools (there’s a handy rope on the right-hand side of the falls) and at the very top, you’ll find a deep, jump-friendly plunge pool.
Make it happen: Located 90 minutes from Mandalay, Dee Doke is doable year-round but expect cloudier water during the rains (May-October). GPS coordinates: 21.710807, 96.355292.
Sunset at U-Bein Bridge
As one of Myanmar’s most iconic attractions, U-Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge, is perfect for witnessing the quintessential Burmese sunset. To enjoy the experience fully, it’s best to view it from the water. At the western bank of Taungthaman Lake, you can rent a boat for K10-15,000 that will take you right up to the bridge for your own classic Myanmar sunset snap. Boats tend to get booked up early, so arrive around lunchtime to avoid disappointment.
Make it happen: Just 30-40 minutes from Mandalay. This spot is accessible year-round; however, the blazing summer months (March-May) can make the lake quite marshy.
Irrawaddy cruise to Mingun
Envisioned as the world’s tallest stupa, Mingun Paya’s construction was halted upon King Bodawpaya’s death 200 years ago, leaving the still impassively tall pagoda base unfinished. Completed or not, it remains remarkably impressive. Nearby lies the Mingun bell, which can be climbed under and into, alongside the blinding-white Myatheindan Pagoda—set along a rustic beach-like embankment on the Irrawaddy.
Make it happen: A daily K5000 ferry departs from Mayan Chan Jetty at 9 AM (arrive by 8:30 AM) and returns to Mandalay at 12:30 PM. For a more flexible schedule, you can rent a large private boat for K35,000, which allows for exploring Mingun and can include a sunset cruise down the Irrawaddy when planned in advance. By road, it’s an hour from Mandalay, with an entry fee of K5000, and it’s open year-round.
Pools aplenty at Whak Kar falls
Just fifteen minutes down the road from Dee Doke, Whak Kar is often overlooked in favour of its shimmering neighbor. While it may not boast the immediate wow-factor of its sister fall, Whak Kar offers something else: variety. A wild-water extravaganza of picturesque streams, tree-jumps, man-made ponds, and dramatic cascading falls, it promises a delightful experience.
Make it happen: Located 80 minutes from Mandalay, it is best visited from June-October as it remains open all year but can dry out by December/January. Entry fee is K1000. GPS coordinates: 21.759424, 96.335311.
Climbing the Eight Floor Waterfall
This monsoon-only waterfall rewards the intrepid. The higher you climb, the more impressive it becomes. Exploring the canopy-shrouded base of the falls is fun, but to reach the most stunning sights, climbing the mountain is necessary. The trail to the upper floors is a proper workout, but you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views, pristine waters, and increasingly extraordinary natural pools.
Make it happen: Just one hour from Mandalay, visit from June-October. GPS coordinates: Lashio highway turning 21.873606, 96.240479; base of the falls 21.871447, 96.282257.
Family fun at D-Garden Waterboom and Seven Mile Beach
D-Garden Waterboom is marketed as a conventional water park with flumes, sprinklers, and a foam machine. However, it has a festive energy that borders on the wild, partly due to the music, which is cranked up to ear-bleeding volumes.
Just up the road on the banks of the Dotehtawaddy River, Seven Mile Beach offers a more mellow ambiance but is bursting with activities – you couldn’t fit the kitchen sink in here if you tried! There’s an arcade, zip-lining, jet-skiing, a speedboat, a water trampoline, a caged Burmese python, and a roped-off swimming area.
Expect a uniquely Burmese (and potentially spirited) experience. It’s an excellent place to connect with locals, and if traveling with kids, this offers a fun, albeit quite lively, family outing.
Make it happen: One hour from Mandalay, visit from November-April; the resorts remain open all year, but for a full-on party atmosphere, steer clear of the monsoon season (May-October). Entry fee is K1000.
The floodwaters of Sakyin
Sakyin (pronounced: Sah-gin) isn’t fully set up for tourists yet, and its dusty charms may not appeal to all. However, for those looking to escape the crowds and embrace nature, this place awaits.
Nestled between horizon-spanning white alabaster mountains, it’s one of the strangest towns in Myanmar; the entire community is dedicated to mining, chiselling, carving, and ornamenting Buddhist statues. The sounds of drills and hammers fill the air, while everything and everyone is covered in a thick layer of white powder. It feels as though you’ve stepped into an eccentric alternative-reality Wild West town, where frontiersmen have swapped cowboy hats for bamboo coolies and pistols for power tools.
The monsoon downpours flood the surrounding plains, transforming Sakyin from a quirky jewel into a wild swimmer’s paradise on a freshwater inland ocean. Some initiative is required, but it is indeed possible to hire a boat to explore the water while taking in breathtaking mountain views.
Make it happen: 90 minutes from Mandalay. Visit mid-June to mid-October; the town is accessible year-round, but without the monsoon, you can forget about boat trips. GPS coordinates: 22.288531, 96.071016.
