Yangon Colonial Heritage Tour
Yangon Colonial
Heritage Tour
Travel back in time to the colonial days as you explore the heritage sites of Yangon. Take in iconic
colonial-era buildings, a beautiful historic park and the majestic Strand Hotel.
A visit to Shwedagon Pagoda offers a glittering end to the day.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Yangon, or Rangoon as it was previously known, was the capital of Myanmar until 2006 when the military government relocated the capital to the city of Nay Pyi Taw. Yangon boasts a mix of beautiful British colonial architecture, modern high rises and gilded Buddhist pagodas.
Dominating the city skyline is the shimmering golden dome of the famed Shwedagon Pagoda which attracts thousands of pilgrims annually. This heritage tour takes in some of the city’s most iconic historic sites and provides the perfect insight into Yangon. Although an important commercial metropolis, Yangon has preserved its past for posterity which is revealed on this inspirational excursion.
TRAIL ITINERARY
09:00 - 18:00
The guide and driver will collect you from the hotel and take you to the corner of Strand and Pansodan roads, an area that boasts Yangon’s most impressive colonial buildings. You will take in iconic sites such as the former Law Court and the former US Embassy. Nearby, you will find Maha Bandoola Garden, a green space in the heart of downtown Yangon that dates back to 1868. A stroll through the park reveals beautiful views of the surrounding heritage buildings. The park’s most notable feature is the Independence Monument, a towering 149.5 metre-high white obelisk.
After lunch in a local restaurant, you will visit the largest Catholic Church in Myanmar. On returning to Pansodan Road, you will continue the afternoon’s exploration with visits to the High Court building, a colonial-era building which is distinctive in its use of pale burgundy bricks; and the grand building of the former Irrawaddy Flotilla headquarters.
The tour ends at the 2,500 year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, a magnificent gleaming temple that dominates the landscape. The 99 metre-high golden spire is studded with over 4,350 diamonds and 2,310 rubies. Throughout the tour, the guide will explain the history and stories behind the sites that you visit.
At the end of the exploration, the driver will take you back to your hotel.