Mogok trip is not permitted for the time being due to no reason.
Will issue up-date info when it is open again.

Mogok (Ruby land)

Duration - 3 days 2 nights
Best time - All year round


Mogok is just a famous town as the ruby-land of Myanmar either in Myanmar or the international community. It is 128 miles from Mandalay. The ruby-land is in the centre of four mountains namely 5,955 feet high Myomin taung in the east, 7,544 feet high Taungme taung in the north-east, 5, 277 feet high Daw Nan Keeh taung and 5, 354 feet high Pingu taung in the west. Hence geography of Mogoke looks like an oven. There are green and lush forests around the town as there is wet weather.

Mogok is a town where mixed national races of Shan, Palaung and Lisu are mainly residing. Gems mining and selling is their living while some other local people work on farms. It is said that the land of Mogoke existed about 1-thousand million years ago where human beings had been living in pre-historic era. Geologists estimate that the rock layer of Mogoke is one of the most natural rock layers of Myanmar.

Mogoke attracts public attention for its precious gems-rubies, sapphires and balas rubies-as well as its significant natural panoramic view. Mogoke was once abundance in precious stones. It is said that gems could be discovered if someone merely pulls off a turf of grass. Today gems are extracted through traditional methods of digging by hand and mining by machinery equipment in respective gem tracts.

In the gems industry of Mogok, Hta Pwe or gem markets play vital role in selling and buying the stones. Gems cutting are also a cottage industry in Mogoke.

Day 1 Mandalay - Mogoke by car
Depart from Mandalay by car after breakfast about 7 hours drive. Mogok is 125 miles from Mandalay City.
First driving part is passing through flat and plain.
Then after, a motorway winding up and down the mountain to pass through the forest and the hills in peace and tranquillity but singing of the birds. The motorway is safe although there are nearly one thousand bends and curves along the route. The region being the home of national races- Shan- Palaung and Lisu, the travellers can see their villages along the route and study their traditional customs and daily work.

You may feel fresh because of cool weather and may also be thrilling and itching while driving on the motorway with bends and curves and the sight of ravine and valleys. Lunch break at Shwe Nyaungbin village, named after a majestic banyan tree, after driving about 5 hours. The village races are living on farming, woodcutting, weaving thatch for roofing and selling regional products of vegetable. By driving further, you'll observe fairly close small villages of the national races at the foot and at the top of the mountains. There is pleasant viewing of mountain plantations as well as farms on the plains.
On arrival at Kyat Pyin village, west of Mogoke, visit gems mines in open pit and four-feet-square one. Proceed to Mogoke. Sunset from KyeeNiTaung. Overnight in Mogoke.

Day 2 Mogok sightseeing by car
This morning first visit to AungChanThar market with ethnic hill tribes in and around Mogok. More visit to open pit mines, tunnel type mines and traditional four feet square mines.
Private gem traders open sale shops in Mogok but there are also venues called "Hta Pwe" for sale of the gems. The places are called "Hta Pwe" in reference to keeping gem packets in brass trays known as "Hta".
Gem dealers in Mogok usually take great care of "Pana" the light in selling the stones. They separate the light of the Sun "soft" "strong" and "normal". The gem dealings are carried out only at the time the Sun light is normal. Selling and buying of the gems is done twice a day-once in the morning and another one in the evening at the "Hta market" at PanChan ward where rubies, sapphire, balas rubies and other multi-coloured stones are sold.
There are various types of dealers at the gem markets in Mogoke. Some of them buy only high price stones of their own selection while some of them buy only the gems they specialized, and some dealers who are experts in all kinds of valuable stones. Afternoon visit to gold smith and gem souvenir shops. The last view of Mogok from ChanThaGyi pagoda. Overnight in Mogok.

Day 3 Mogok - Mandalay by car
Breakfast at hotel and return to Mandalay. On the way visit panning out gold near Chang Gyi village. Lunch at Lat Pan village.