Inle Lake Travel Guide

This vast are of Inle Lake, Myanmar is the nest of more than 30 mountain tribes: the Burmese, the Shan, the Danu, the Danaw, the Pa-O, the Kayah, the Bamars, the Tangyuo, and in particular the Inthas. Tourists find there to admire the houses on the stilts and the art of fishing and the life on the water of the locals.

General Information

A perfect combination between the natural landscape and the rich culture, Inle Lake is an essential stopover on a first trip to Myanmar. Covering an area of 117 km2, Inle Lake offers a surprising and very pleasant natural setting. This jewel, hidden in the hollow of the mountains, is located in the heart of Ex-Burma, in Nyaung Shwe, in the southern part of Shan State. Surrounded by pagodas and floating gardens, this natural place in Myanmar is full of a multitude of tourist attractions. Inle Lake is also distinguished by its biodiversity. With its hot spring, this large heavenly pool was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2015.

Climate and Best Time to Visit Inle Lake

Inle Lake owns a humid subtropical climate influenced by the monsoon with 3 distinct seasons: dry season, hot season, and rainy season.

• During the dry season (November – February), the average temperature is around 22 – 33°C (72 – 91°F), with very little rain, especially in January and February. This weather is conducive to outdoor activities or beach holidays.
• During the hot season (March – May), the temperature is not as hot as if you are in other parts of Myanmar like Bagan. This means that you can generally continue to do most outdoor activities, including activities on Inle Lake.
• During the rainy season (May – October), the rains are frequent and abundant, accompanied by strong winds. It is cooler, with an average temperature varying between 23 and 33°C (73 – 91°F). Rain also brings humidity.

The best time to travel to Inle Lake is during the dry season because it is slightly cooler with little rain. But as already mentioned, the hot season is also a good time to go to Inle Lake. This is the chance to participate in the festive atmosphere of the New Year celebration of the locals.

Getting to Inle Lake

By plane

Taking a domestic flight to get to the lake is the quickest and most convenient way. There is a flight from Mandalay or Yangon to the Lake District. The airport is in the small town of Hého, Kalaw, about 30 km from Inle. The airlines serving this region are Air Bagan, Mandalay Airlines, and Yangon Airlines. Arriving at the Heho terminal, you can reach Inle Lake by taking a taxi (1-hour drive).

By bus

A little slow, but enough comfortable, the bus is the most affordable and common way to get to Inle Lake.

• Bagan – Inle Lake: The bus passes through Kalaw and Nyang Shwe before reaching Inle Lake. From Bagan, allow about 8 hours to reach Inle Lake.
• Yangoon – Inle Lake: 12 hours drive.
• Mandalay – Inle Lake: about 8 hours drive.

By boat

To reach this big lake, it is also possible to take the river. Rich in discoveries, cruises to Inle are numerous, departing either from Bagan, Yangon, or Mandalay. The journey may take a few days. An absolute experience to try!

By trekking

Despite the long distance between Kalaw and Inle Lake (38 km as the crow flies), many tourists choose to trek there. It will take a few days to cross the paths that connect the two villages.

Getting around Inle Lake

Obviously, the boat and the canoe are the most popular types of transport to get around Inle Lake. The inhabitants have always sailed with traditional boats. Currently, many like to use more modern vehicles, especially motorboats.

Accommodations in Inle Lake

You will have many choices of accommodation, cheap or upscale hotels, by the lake or in the town. Most tourists choose to stay in a hotel in Nyaung Shwe, a small town on the northern lake. Here are some of the hotels for your reference:

• Ann Heritage Lodge
• Mingalar Inn
• Amata Garden Resort Inle
• Inle Lake View Resort & Spa
• Hotel Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min – Ywama

Best Places to Visit in Inle Lake

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is the most revered monastery in the Inle Lake region. It houses five ancient Buddha images which are completely covered in gold leaves.

The pagoda is easily accessible by boat from Inle Lake, as in front of the building is a pier. In the center of the monastery building is a golden stupa surmounted by an ornamental hit. The inner walls of the temple are decorated with murals depicting Buddhist stories.

Nga Phe Chuang Monastery

Also known as the “jumping cat monastery”, Nga Phe Chaung benefits from its beautiful location to floating gardens. This teak pagoda happens to be the largest and oldest in Inle Lake. In particular, you can attend an unusual show of jumping cats, led by trainer monks.

Mine Tauk Market

Also known as with the name “5 days market”, this is an event that takes place in five villages around Inle Lake. The products are very varied since the sellers are the ethnic minorities who dominate the four corners of the region.

Shwe In Dein Pagoda

Constructed from thousands of stupas of different sizes and shapes, the Shwe In Dein Pagoda turns out to be a true Burmese masterpiece. These Buddhist monuments are erected in the heart of the village and have survived the challenge of time. A sacred place bordered by a lake, hills, and waterfalls, Shwe In Dein contains 1054 contiguous pagodas.

Nyaung Ohak

Next to Inle Lake is Nyaung Ohak, an awe-inspiring series of historic sightseeing objectives that would make anyone feel like they are part of a fairy tale. The site of Nyaung Oak is characterized by ancient pagodas, Naga serpents, and other mystical sculptures. These archaeological masterpieces are unmissable!

Floating Gardens

The floating gardens are one of the most attractive aspects to tourists. Used to cultivate vegetables and flowers, these floating gardens are essentially made up of thick layers of camelots (water hyacinths) and other plants, assembled with mud. The bamboo stalks maintain their stability to prevent the crop from drifting.

Developed during the 20th century, this agricultural technique today constitutes an identity of the Intha people and Burma in its entirety.

Things to Do in Inle Lake

Observe a Traditional Fishing Method

The traditional fishing technique of the Inthas is very authentic. It consists in giving strokes of the oars on the surface of the water to frighten the fish towards the net. The net is slid into the water with both hands. Throughout the operation, the fisherman maintains his balance with only one leg. He rose with the other leg in a standing position to move the canoe.

Meet the long neck women

When you get to Inle Lake, you can experience the local ethnic life of Padaung women, also known as “giraffe women”. Considered the oldest tribe in Myanmar, its members not only live in harmony with nature but also maintain many unique customs to this day, including wearing multiple necklaces for a longer neck.

Must-try Restaurants in Inle Lake

Sin Yaw Restaurant

This restaurant offers an amount of local cuisine on a budget. Very good works of vegetables and Fried Rice. Do not miss the tea with ginger, lemon and honey!

Inthar Heritage House

You can eat divine local cuisine there, made with fresh produce that can be seen in the floating garden next door, and you can feel it on your plate. In addition, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the lake from there.

Linn Htet Restaurant

This is a very simple place that mainly serves locals, so don’t expect luxury decor. This restaurant offers many curry options: chicken, pork, beef, etc. They also offer a lot of local vegetables, which are suitable for vegetarians.

This natural jewel of Burma is a refreshing step on your trip to Burma. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or wish to organize a trip to this wonderful lake!