One Day Tireless Exploration of Yangon
Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is still a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating and authentic capitals of South East Asia. In the afternoon, a first look at the city takes you to the National Museum and Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda's 70m long reclining Buddha. Late afternoon, we visit Myanmar’s holiest monument, the Shwedagon Pagoda with its golden stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf. I present Yangon with two very distinct impressions of this capital city. It is one of the most beautiful Asian cities - wide, tree-lined boulevards, spacious parks, charming colonial architecture, and towering above it all, the (insert your preferred superlative adjective) Shwedagon Paya. It is also one of the more boring capital cities . You would have been satisfied with a single day visit .
While there is no denying the beauty of this city, the visual charm of Yangon cannot be taken at face value. Yangon is everyone's first glimpse of Myanmar and the government has gone to great measure to ensure that this impression is a positive one. The city is too clean and too orderly. Myanmar has least developed nation status, but in Yangon it doesn't show. There are few beggars, slums, or homelessness; nor is there the general chaos in the streets that one finds in Phnom Penh, Saigon, and other large Asian cities - and would expect to find here.
The government of Myanmar would have you believe it's because these Third World problems don't exist and the rest of the world is just plain wrong about Myanmar. Nonsense, the government cleared out the slums a decade ago scooting all the residents to shantytowns in distant townships far from the public eye. Yangon is a pleasant window-show. If you visit Yangon, please keep this in mind as you see and enjoy the orderliness, the beauty, the serenity - it's not the natural shape of things - it's a facade - and a good one at that.Of course,I will present the realities of this infamous city.
Tour Activities
A mini walking tour of downtown area to catch the British colonial atmosphere
A visit to the famous Strand Hotel
Batahtaung Pagoda
Lunch break at a fomous Myanmar restaurant
Bogyoke Market
A pleasant stroll in the most beautiful park of Yangon
Guided Agricultural Museum Tour(To know Myanmar economic life)
The Reclining Buddha
A visit to a monastery and a presentation on monastic life
Gems Mart
A major tour of Shwedagon Pagoda
Tour Conditions
The overall guide service fee is US$ 20 for a group of 3 to 5.
The service fee doesn't include transortation ,meals and entrance fees.
Transportation costs vary depending on your choice.A private air-con car with driver will cost
30 to 40 US$.In fact ,we do not need a private car as this type of tour mostly involves walking .For getting here and there ,occasional uses of a taxi(about US$14 )is recommended.
Entrance fees in total: US$8 per person
Note: My services for this category is fully reserved till the end of March,2007.
Highlights of Yangon and 4 Days / 3
Itinerary (Yangon - Bago - Yangon)
HIGHLIGHTS OF YANGON AND SURROUNDINGS
4 Days / 3 Nights
DAY 1 : Arrive in Yangon
Arrive in Yangon and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda's 70m long reclining Buddha and the famous golden Shwedagon Pagoda, a breathtaking and colorful sight visited by Buddhists from all over Myanmar. Overnight in Yangon.
DAY 2 : Yangon (Breakfast)
By car and partly on foot today you explore Yangon and take a close look at the local life of this historical city. For an introduction first stop at the National Museum, then to the Sule pagoda in the center of the city and for a walk around the Mahabandoola Park to see the colonial courthouse and the city hall. From here we start a rickshaw tour around the colonial area with various historical buildings, breaking at a local teashop to enjoy Burmese tea and the typical atmosphere. Continue by rickshaw along the famous Strand Road to the riverside Botahtaung Pagoda. In the afternoon, make a stop at the Bogyoke Aung San Museum, located in the independence hero’s former house (closed on Monday). Visit the Nagar glassware factory in Insein and stop at the huge Bogyoke Market formerly Scott’s market offering a wide selection of Myanmar handicrafts and other goods (closed on full moon days and public holidays). Finish the day with a walk in colorful Chinatown and visit one of Yangon’s Chinese temples. Overnight in Yangon.
DAY 3 : Yangon-Bago-Yangon (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, leave Yangon and enjoy a scenic journey by road to Bago, 80km to the north west of Yangon. Bago is an ancient capital of a former Mon kingdom dating back to the 6th century. Sightseeing in Bago includes the beautiful 55-meter long reclining Buddha, Shwethalyaung, and the Mon style Shwemawdaw Pagoda, one of the most venerated in Myanmar. Its spire stands 114m high and is taller even than the Shwedagon Pagoda. Also visit the well-restored former palace Kambozathadi. End the tour of Bago with a walk around the colorful Bago Market. On the way back to Yangon, visit the Allied War Cemetery near Htaukkyan, the final resting place for over 27,000 allied soldiers. Overnight in Yangon.
DAY 4 : Yangon departure (B)
After breakfast, free at leisure with car and guide at disposal until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Home
