Highlights of Yangon
Venture into the Garden City of the East, with its evergreen and cool tropical trees, shady parks and lovely lakes. Start your day in the colonial district at the heart of the city, where you can discover the 2,000 year old Sule Pagoda, which holds one of Buddha’s hairs. Explore the major cobblestoned bazaar of Bogyoke Aung San Market, where you can practice your bargaining skills. Witness Royal Family treasures, including the pure gold and intricately carved Royal Lion Throne, at the National Museum. The highlight of Yangon is the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda! Built over 2,500 years ago and towering over the city’s skyline, you can breathe in a most enchanting and spiritual sunset. End your day with a High tea at The Strand. Please note that shoes must be removed during your temple visits.
Walk around Colonial Yangon
Enjoy a walking tour along Yangon’s old colonial quarters, reliving a genteel era. Right after breakfast at your hotel, go down to visit the popular Bogyoke (Scott) Market, one of the city’s largest and busiest bazaars, dating back to the 1920s (Scott Market is closed on Mondays). Wind your way through the colorful stalls, selling everything from antiques to apparel, before making your way to the ancient Buddhist Sule Pagoda. From the pagoda, cross over to city’s popular Maha Bandula Park, named after General Maha Bandula who fought the British in the First Anglo-Burmese War. Visit the old colonial and administrative quarters of Yangon Stock Exchange, Bank Street, and the grand Balthazar Building. Walk down Strand Road to look up Yangon’s famous colonial hotel, The Strand Hotel. Also visit Lower Pansodan Road with its concentration of colonial buildings in the city, including the Sofaer Building and the towering Port Authority building. Wind up your ‘colonial’ day with a trip to Kandawgyi Royal Lake, which was built by the British for supplying Yangon with potable water. Today it is a popular destination for avant-garde artists and young Yangonites. (Half Day; Duration: 4 hrs, Time of Day: Morning; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Moderate; Please bring comfortable walking shoes).