This exquisite stretch of water is known for its calm beauty, colourful festivals and the ancient traditions of its inhabitants. Just a short plane ride away from Yangon, you can witness for yourself this unique wetland environment often referred to “floating gardens”.
3 nights
Day 1: Your domestic flight arrives at Heho Airport where you will then be transferred to Nyaungshwe on the edge of Inle Lake, stopping on the way to visit Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery. Board your own local boat to take you to your hotel. Our preferred hotel is the Inle Princess Resort. Its cluster of traditional wooden chalets set on stilts among reeds and only accessible by boat.
The Resort is surrounded by calm waters, lush paddy fields and distant mountains making it the ideal place to get away from it all. In the afternoon enjoy an excursion to the picturesque ruins of Indaing on the west bank; this is the ideal time of day to experience this magical spot.
Day 2: Enjoy an unforgettable full day boat trip on Inle Lake – a photographer’s dream. Witness its calm waters dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to scenic high hills providing the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique “leg rowers” – the Intha people.
Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the lake’s most historic religious buildings, famous for its “jumping cats” and see silk weaving on wooden handlooms. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State and other places of interest as time allows.
Day 3: Leave your hotel in the morning by boat, followed by a transfer through pine-clad hills to Taunggyi, capital of Southern Shan State and a former British hill station. Visit the local market (where minority people sell their produce) and visit at a cheroot factory.
A couple of hours from Taunggyi on bumpy dirt roads, discover the long lost ruins of Kak Ku in countryside inhabited by the Pa O people and their beliefs that the original pagoda was built on this site some 2,000 years ago. Unfortunately Kak Ku is in need of restoration but this is part of its charm. On your way back, visit one of the many Pa O villages near Kak Ku and a large monastery. Transfer back to Nyaung Shwe where you board your boat to return to your hotel.
Day 4: In the morning, transfer from Lake Inle to Heho Airport for your onward domestic flight.
For more information and to add one of our extensions to your cruise, please contact us.
