The Pagodas of Sagaing, Mandalay Myanmar, Mandalay

The hillsides surrounding Sagaing are strewn with hundreds of fascinating monasteries and pagodas, and you can spend a day touring a hand-picked selection of the most exquisite sights in the area. This is followed by lunch at a local restaurant (unless you are travelling by boat in which case you might return to the vessel) before embarking on an energetic trip to the Zay Cho Market.

Admire the local handicrafts and fresh produce displays spilling out onto the street, before continuing on to the Maha Myatmuni Pagoda, home to the most-loved Buddhist statue in Mandalay. The sights at the foot of Mandalay Hill might surprise you on your journey towards the top: the crisp white peaks of the Kuthodaw Pagoda, for example, containing the largest book in the world, perched upright and set in stone. Not to mention the Shwenandaw Monastery with its intricate carvings made from teak. Take some time to enjoy the sunset from the summit.