Travel advisory: The US government advises against all travel to Myanmar, and the UK advises against all but essential travel to Mandalay and against all travel to Sagaing and the area north of the city. Fighting, drone attacks, curfews and internet shutdowns continue, and many sites were damaged in the March 2025 earthquake. Check the US State Department and UK FCDO before making any plans.

Multi-Day Trips from Mandalay

Multi-day itineraries around Mandalay have traditionally strung together the city, the old capitals and a river excursion. Official advice currently points away from trips of this kind, and none of the stops can be confirmed open.

The traditional three-day pattern

• Day one, the city: the palace grounds, Kuthodaw Pagoda and Shwenandaw Monastery. The palace is a reconstruction of the original royal residence, and its walls were damaged in the March 2025 earthquake. Kuthodaw sustained serious structural damage.
• Day two, Sagaing Hill and Inwa: a monastery-covered ridge and an old capital. Sagaing is in a region where the UK advises against all travel, and Maha Aungmye Bonzan at Inwa is nearly destroyed.
• Day three, Mingun: an unfinished giant stupa and a bell. Hsinbyume Pagoda is largely destroyed, and the stupa must not be climbed.

Anyone with existing plans should confirm each site’s status with official sources and an operator in writing.