Group Activities Mandalay Region
Travel advisory: Official advice is firm: the US government says not to travel to Myanmar, and the UK says not to travel to Sagaing or north of Mandalay city and to avoid all but essential travel to Mandalay itself. Violence, drone attacks, curfews and internet shutdowns are continuing, and the March 2025 earthquake damaged many sites around the city. Check the US State Department and UK FCDO before making any plans.
Group Activities in Mandalay Region
No organised group activities in Mandalay Region can be verified, and under current official advice group travel to the region is not advisable. Large parts of the region north of Mandalay city, and all of neighbouring Sagaing Region, fall under the UK’s advice against all travel.
What groups once did
- Visited the ancient capitals of Sagaing, Inwa and Amarapura. Sagaing lies in an area where the UK advises against all travel, Inwa lost most of its historic structures in the 2025 earthquake, and access to all three is unconfirmed.
- Took boats to Mingun, where Hsinbyume Pagoda was largely destroyed in the earthquake.
- Attended traditional puppet shows, which cannot currently be confirmed.
Practical notes
- Myanmar’s currency is the kyat (MMK), many ATMs reject foreign cards, and cash is the main means of payment.
- Burmese is the official language.