Inle Lake Highlights - 3 days

Arriving at Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few air links to Shan State, you will be greated by your guide and driver.

On the way to Inle Lake, you will stop by a local family’s house to see the makings of Shan umbrellas and papers based on traditional methods with fiber from mulberry tree. It is a great experience looking at the locally produced paper and comparing its texture and smoothness to the regular mass-produced commercial paper and seeing the differences.

Then, you will take a drive to Inle Lake descending through a valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice fields.

After checking-in at the hotel, you will embark on an afternoon exploration in Inle Lake, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds whereas you may indulge in the picturesque sights of fishermen who balance and row with one leg, a technique unique to the Inn Thar minority group on Inle Lake.

Finally, you will visit the century old Nga Phe Kyaung monastery with beautiful Buddha statues inside.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: There are 3 hotel ranges for your selection, please scroll down.

Optional: Shan cooking class at Viewpoint Restaurant.

Duration: 3.5hrs approx.

Participants visit the local market with our head chef to purchase the food to be prepared for a special gourmet luncheon. The chef explains how to shop, traditional bargaining and explains the ingredients being purchased. The cooking class then returns to the kitchen, where the chef begins the basic lessons and prepares the meal with the class.

The colorful and bustling morning market is one of the most favorable highlights in Inle Lake. This might be a great opportunity for you to observe people wearing traditional costumes and joining the authentic market atmosphere as local ethnic minority groups gather here for trading activities. The market rotates five days a week, each day based in a different village (the market is closed on national holidays).

After breakfast, you will travel by boat, following a small river to Inn Thein. To access the Inn Thein archaeological site, you must walk through the bamboo groves, opened to a field and covered with ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago.

Rest of the day is free time for lake exploration at your own leisure. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: There are 3 hotel ranges for your selection, please scroll down.

Note: suggested activities for your free time in Inle Lake

You can learn how the floating islands and cultivation are shaped and tended. Drop by the Inn Phaw Khone village and marvel at the art of lotus thread and garment making. The next stop might be Ywama village, which is known for its silversmith traditions. End your day at the Inn Thar Heritage House and join the scenic canoe ride propelled by leg rowers.

Another option for your free afternoon is to take a cooking class. You will visit the local market and have the ingredients explained as you purchase your requirements for the meal. Joining this activity, you may learn how to prepare and cook traditional Burmese cuisines. You will eventually get a chance to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It is an interesting exercise to compare the aromas, texture and flavors of Burmese cooking with Western style food. Moreover, you can take home some cooking ideas to use in the future.

In the morning, you will transfer to visit Nyauang Shwe town and Mine Thauk village. Then, you will stop by Red Mountain Estate to tour the vineyard, situated on the side of mountain and taste some of Myanmar’s premiere wines as well as observe the different aging methods employed in their cellar cave. You will be surprised at the quality of some of these wines!

Afterwards, you will be transferred to the airport for an afternoon flight to your next destination.

Meals: Breakfast

Note:

If you would like to extend your stay in Inle Lake or further support on connecting your trip with other destinations within the region, please contact our Journey Planner for direct consultancy.