
Life of Inle Lake
Trip Starts:
Inle LakeTrip Ends:
Intha VillagesTrip Over View
Inle Lake is also known as Inle Sap and is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles. Inle Lake surely is a major tourist attraction and probably the most magical and beautiful place of Myanmar where you will actually feel like being in a different world. This vast lake is natural and fresh. The beautiful Inle Lake is surrounded by the green Shan hills. Inle Lake is famous for the unique leg-rowing of the Inthas who are the local lake-dwellers and distinctive for their one-leg rowing. Leg-rowed traditional boats are the main traditional attractions of the Inlay Lake. Also there are floating villages, colorful daily floating market and it is so amazing that the locals here live completely in tune with the lake. There are plenty of handicrafts and Shan dresses selling around and you can purchase them as a souvenir. Inle Lake is also a great place for photography because this place is exceptionally photogenic. You will spot something interesting going on just about wherever you look at. With life here that is quite exciting and scenic, one can find tranquility here making it livelier than many cities that people have visited. Surprisingly, the night life in Inle Lake is quite wonderful with a different kind of landscape illuminating itself when night falls. You can enjoy cultural shows and boat races that not only entertain, but also share the culture, customs and traditions of the people of Myanmar. During October, the festival of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is held in Inle Lake and it would be great plan to visit Inle Lake in festival time. You can venture into deep Pa O province to experience rural life and wide views of lakes and mountains or cycle through thick forests to find out the Intha tribe, visit their houses and experiment their cuisine.
The 5 days itinerary Life of Inle Lake is prepared to let you experience the place with full zeal. Come and relive every moment here!
HIGHLIGHTS
- See skilled “one-legged” rowers, flourishing floating gardens and stilted villages on Inle Lake.
- Trek in the course of spectacular rolling scenery to secluded monasteries and ethnic hill tribe villages.
- Venture into deep Pa O province to experience rural life and wide views of lakes and mountains.
- Cycle through thick forests to find out the Intha tribe, visit their houses and experiment their cuisine.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1: Explore Inle Lake & a winery.
Day 2: Trek from Indein to visit ethnic villages.
Day 3: Trek through the Shan Mountains.
Day 4: Boat trip to Sangka.
Day 5: Cycle to Intha Villages.
Day 1: Explore Inle Lake & a winery
Inle Lake is situated in Shan State. It is a stunning and mystifying place enclosed by cloudy mountains and rolling green hills. Indulge in a relaxing day on the lake by observing skilled fishermen using their one-legged rowing technique. Visit the floating gardens, an Intha village and a monastery. Then finish off the day in an elegance with a visit to Red Mountain Winery to experiment locally manufactured wine.Overnight in Inle Lake.
Day 2: Trek from Indein to visit ethnic villages
A short boat trip can be taken to the village of Indein to see the temple complex. After a stroll around the village, chase the sheltered stairway to the striking Alaung Sitthou area where dozens of primeval stupas stand amongst an overgrown jungle-like surroundings. We begin the trek at this point to Kyar Tun village, home to Pa O and Taung Yoe ethnic groups where you can get familiar with their way of life. The trek continues up the hill of U Daung Thaung for about 45 minutes to a monastery from where there are wide-ranging views of the entire southern lake area. Visit U Daung Thaung Monastery and the burial site of a famous monk, recognized in this region for his meditation and devotion to the Sasana (the spreading of the Budddhist teachings). If we are lucky, we may have a chance to meet Pa O ethnic tribes who come to take part in Sabbath day offerings or other holy rituals. Enjoy a picnic-like lunch, then move down to U Daung Thaung and carry on back to Indein temple complex (approx. 60 minutes). Visit nearby Sae Ma village and then move back to Inle via boat.Overnight in Inle Lake.(Total walking time is 4 hrs and 30 mins.)
Day 3: Trek through the Shan Mountains
The day’s trek gets you deep through Pa O territory in the Shan mountains, passing small settlements and villages down the way. After about 1 hour trekking you will arrive at Dong Ta Khawh village, a place where you can understand prospect of country life, see how the villagers produce cheroot leaves and how they be liable to the land. Another hour of sheer hiking will bring you to the village of Hti Ne on top of the hill, from where there are extensive views of Inle Lake area and the adjoining villages. The ultimate leg of the trek takes 90 minutes approximately and passes in the course of rolling hills and fields.Travel by vehicle to the Kakku temple complex having a collection of over 2000 Buddhist stupas which dates from the 12th and 13th centuries concerted in the space of one square kilometer. After lunch, we will drive back to Nyaung Shwe via Taunggyi with a brief halt to visit large, local Taunggyi market. Back to Inle via boat and overnight.
Day 4: Boat trip to Sangka
Take a trip to Sangka via boat, a pleasing town sited on lower Inle Lake and settled by Pa-O and Intha people. Discover this hillside village and watch the traditional culture and lifestyles of these ethnic groups. Visit the market at Sahn village of Kyauk Taing.Overnight in Inle Lake.
Day 5: Cycle to Intha Villages
Get on your bicycle and cycle to the Taung Chay Taw Ya Monastery where the surrounding area has stunning views. Continue in the course of dense bamboo forests and after 1 hour of cycling, stop at Than Taung village to discover the lifestyle of Intha ethnic tribe. Carry on to cycling for about an additional 30 minutes and then stop at Intha village house in Nwar Dhama village to tryout a customary Intha lunch. Once done with the lunch, walk around the village to examine life in the village and see how cheroots are prepared. There is also an alternative to take a canoe to Kyae Sar Gone village, a floating garden and trip to a classic stilt house.Return to Inle Lake via boat. Service ends.
Includes
- 3 meals a day.
- English speaking licensed guide.
Excludes
- Drinks, tip and expenses of personal nature.
- Extra expenses due to nature and unforeseen events.
- Travel Insurance.