A quiet and beautiful town of Mogok is situated in a valley surrounded by a large number of mountains. This area has a great reputation for providing quality gemstones including rubies and sapphires. Though Mogok is a town filled with charms, due to safety concerns, it had been listed as a restricted area from time to time. Recently, Mogok has reopened to allow tourists with appropriate permits from the local government and Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in Mandalay to once again visit. All tourists travelling to Mogok must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide.