Bagan has thousands of temples, but they’re only a fraction of the site’s original sprawl. Much of the site was built from the 11th to the 13th century, with lots of Buddha statues and other embellishments added from the 14 to the 16th century. You’ll follow your knowledgeable guide to see the most noteworthy temples, as well as a nearby village. This tour takes place around sunset, so you can appreciate the majesty of Bagan’s temples during the cooler part of the day.

The tour begins at Ananda Temple, one of the oldest and grandest temples in Bagan. It has one of the few surviving gates in the site. You can pick out this temple by its gilded spiral, which glimmers under the Myanmar sun.

Next, you'll visit Shwezigon Paya, which is best known for its resemblance to Yangon’s famous Shwedagon Pagoda. In fact, the main stupa’s shape inspired temple designs all over Myanmar. Crane your neck to admire the beautiful, flower-covered stupa.

King Narathu built Damanyangyi Temple in the 12th century and it is the largest temple in Bagan. This king came to power after murdering his father and brother and may have believed that building such an enormous temple would balance his karma. The temple was never finished, and your guide can offer some theories as to why—according to one legend, the king’s wrathful ghost made a mess of the temple’s interior.

Thatbyinnyu Temple was one of the first temples to have two stories instead of just one. It is one of the tallest temples in Bagan.

After the temples, you’ll hop in a horse-drawn cart just as the sun sets. You’ll drive past lots of beautiful shrines on your way to a nearby village. There, you’ll stop at several workshops that make lacquerware, textiles, and wooden wheels for oxcarts.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, light clothes, bug spray, and comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off. If you come from December to January, bring a sweater.

Transportation and guided tour.