Inle Lake is one of Myanmar’s most iconic and attractive destinations however somehow this secret gem is still undiscovered by many. To this day it maintains it’s peaceful presence and serenity. The lake is recognised for it’s beauty and also for unique traditions which include floating markets and floating villages all built on stilts. Moreover Inle Lake displays a unique fishing practice of the Intha one-legged rowing fisherman. It is the most iconic symbol that represents the fascinating local culture and what makes this small town so charming.
Below is a travel guide on everything you need to know about Inle Lake. We include how to get there, where to stay, best things to do on Inle Lake and plenty of photos to inspire you to add this unique destination to your bucket list!
What is Inle Lake?
Inle Lake sits 900 meters above sea level and is surrounded by lush mountains in the Nyaung Shwe Valley. The floating land is made from dried hardened weeds and the villages are made from wood, bamboo and sit on wooden stilts.
Around 200,000 people live in Inle Lake’s Nyaung Shwe township, which includes various Myanmar ethnicities. The Intha or “lake people” make up the majority of the population. “The ‘In’ stands for lake and ‘tha’ means people in Burmese. The Intha community is self-sufficient when it comes to growing food and building materials. The lake provides the local community with an abundance of fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants.
How to get to Inle Lake?
Inle Lake can be reached by plane, bus or car depending where you are departing from in Myanmar.
The nearest airport to Inle Lake is the Heho airport (HEH), which is 46 kilometers from Nyaung Shwe (the main town of Inle lake). Taxis from the airport to Inle Lake take 45 minutes and cost 20,000k + depending on your negotiating skills. The following airlines operate out of Heho: KBZ, Yadanarporn, Asian Wings, Golden Myanmar, Myanmar Airlines and Yangon Airways.
Night and day buses are available from most towns. For the long-haul routes you have a choice of coach-style night buses, while day journeys are more often done by minibuses depending where you are coming from. You can find out times online or check with your hotel, local travel agent or on the internet. The only full-size buses run at night, which means you will be arriving into Inle Lake at 3:30 am- 5:30 am.
You can hire a private driver to take you to/from Inle Lake and you’ll be on your own time schedule. Although this is the more expensive option you do have the freedom to stop along the way and take photos as you drive through the mountains. We chose this option when we travelled to Inle Lake from Mandalay.
Where to stay in Inle lake?
Around Inle Lake there are 2 main areas to stay, Nyuang-Shwe town and around Inle Lake. Nyuang-Shwe is the main town and is a great location because of its many shops, restaurants and in close proximity to the main jetty where boats depart for Inle lake. Staying on the lake is more expensive than staying in town. The lake is located 5 km away from Nyuang-Shwe town.
We chose to stay in Nyuang-Shwe town at Mother’s Home Hotel. The staff are lovely, the breakfast on the hotel roof top is delicious, location is close to the jetty, restaurants/ shops and staff can organize tours, buses and anything else you need. The staff booked us the Inle Lake tour as soon as we arrived for the next morning. For 2 nights at Mother’s Home Hotel the total came to only $35 USD. The private all day boat tour booked through the hotel cost only $35 USD for both of us!! Click here to book your stay at Mother’s Home Hotel.
Best things to see on Inle Lake?
The Best Thing to do when visiting Inle Lake is to go on a Boat Tour and explore. It’s the best way to see the local culture, see the floating gardens /markets, visit local hand craft shops and so much more. It’s a unique experience you must not miss.
Our driver picked us up at 6am and we made our short walk to the local jetty and boarded our motorised long bottom boat. The boat ride to the main area of the lake takes about 20 minutes. We were so excited to see the famous Intha men with their one legged balancing fishing technique. As the sun started to make its way up the sky transitioned into beautiful soft pinks and purples hues.
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One of the best things to do on Inle Lake is to see the iconic Intha fisherman.
Inle Lake is known for its unique fishing technique of the Intha fisherman. The 1 legged fisherman are what attracts people from all over the world and is the main reason why people visit Inle Lake. The leg-rowing is a traditional fishing technique of Intha and is believed to date back to the 12th century. The technique has been passed down from generation to generation and is still practiced today.
As soon as we arrived in the middle of the Lake two fishermen made their way to our boat and started to show us the fishing technique which was really incredible to watch. The fisherman stand on the stern of the boat and wrap one leg around their oar to steer in a circular movement and propel the boat forwards. The other leg grips the boat and frees up their hands enabling them to pull up the nets and balance. This skill is unique to Inle Lake and takes a high level of balance, agility and strength which is developed from a young age. It was really impressive to watch them do it.
Please be aware that the fisherman that pose for photos are not real fisherman, they just pose for tourists. The ones you see in photos are generally well dressed and have no fish in their boat. As you cruise around the lake you can tell the difference between these and the real fisherman catching fish. Both are extremely fascinating to watch.
Check out our cinematic Myanmar video to see the unique 1 legged fisherman with your own eyes.
See the local produce at Tuang Toe local markets
You can’t go past experiencing the local markets on the lake. Tuang Toe markets are located in the southern part of the Lake. The ride to the markets takes 30 minutes by boat from where our boat departed.
It was so fascinating to pass all the villages on stilts and watch children going to school on their boats. The atmosphere was buzzing at the markets and you get a real feel for the local Inle Lake community. You can buy anything from vegetables, fruit, flowers, clothes, scarfs, spices and even get a hair cut. Wooden boats are the only traffic you will find here!
Be inspired by the local ladies at Inn Paw Khone Silk and Lotus Weaving
Over the last 100 years the local women have been weaving textiles using fabric made from the lotus flowers that grow on the lake. Learning how the local women make scarfs and clothes out of silk, lotus and cotton was captivating.
Here you are shown the whole process on how the items are created from the lotus stems. A lovely young employee representative showed us each individual stage of the process and we were able to watch the ladies work the machines, controlling everything with their hands and feet. At the end of the tour you enter the shop where you can see all the hand made clothing. Max brought himself 2 cotton shirts and I purchased a head scarf made from silk. They were very reasonably priced and a great memento of our visit.
Did you know? Lotus products are the most expensive textile in the world and the whole process is very labour intensive and takes many hours to finis one piece. I have so much respect for the ladies who spend hours creating the beautiful clothing.
Learn how cigars are made at Nang Pang Cigar factory
Inle Lake’s famous cigars and cheroots (cigars with the ends snipped off) are hand rolled by the local ladies of the lake. The women sit on the floor and can roll about 500 cigars and cheroots a day. Flavoured cheroots are very popular and the only tobacco in them is often the single leaf that holds the rest of the ingredients together.
Rolled inside the leaf is an elaborate blend of dried banana and pineapple, star anise, brown sugar, tamarind, honey, and rice wine. Inside we watched the women roll individual cigars. Visitors can take a free cheroot sample and enjoy the sweet banana taste. We purchased a packet of the famous Inle cigars for our parents.
See the Buddhist Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
Pull up to the jetty and explore the incredible Buddhist Phaung Daw Oo pagoda, the most admired monastery on the Inle Lake area. Inside the pagoda lies the famous five ancient images of Buddha, completely covered in golf leaf to the point that their original forms cannot be seen.
Old paintings hang from the monastery walls depicting a more unspoiled form of the pagoda which are more than 800 years old. In the center of the monastery building is a golden stupa topped with an ornamental hti. The interior walls of the temple are decorated with murals depicting Buddhist stories.
Around the pagoda there are shops and markets selling traditional Burmese merchandise and souvenirs. Don’t miss this place while you’re on Inle Lake, if you don’t want to go inside that’s ok, it’s beauty can be appreciated from the outside!
There is an entry fee that costs 500 kyat, this gives you permission to be able to take photos inside Phaung Daw Oo pagoda.
Watch how silver is made at Ywa Ma Silver Smith.
Producing gold and silver is a long tradition of Myanmar. The art of Pantain (gold or silversmith) is the art that specialises in working with these precious metals and the Ywama village is famous for its silverware.
At Ywa Ma Silver Smith a lovely young girl called Moiu talks you through the whole process how silver is melted and then made into jewellery . Her grandfather first started Ywa Ma Silver Smith many years ago and the business will be passed down to her. It is a family run business so all the silver smith workers are from the same family. The artisans must be skilful enough to form the metals which must endure many stages including filing, soldering, sawing, forging, casting and more.
The artisans must be skillful enough to form the silvers which must undergo many stages including filing, soldering, sawing, forging, casting and more. The shop sells beautiful rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. I brought myself new studded earrings, hoops and beautiful dangly earrings. Max brought a thin silver necklace for himself. Prices vary depending on the jewellery but are very affordable.
Meet the incredible long neck ladies from the Kayan Tribe
Meeting the women from the Padaung tribe – a subgroup from the larger Kayan tribe is also another best thing to do on Inle Lake.
The women of the tribe wear brass rings around their neck to give the illusion that their necks are elongated. Girl’s first start wearing the rings around the age of five years old. Over the years the coil is replaced by a longer one and then more coils are added over time.
People think the neck is stretched however It’s the weight of the brass that pushes the collarbone down and compresses the rib cage. The neck itself is not lengthened, the appearance of a stretched neck is created by the deformation of the clavicle. The rings are very rarely removed and can weight up to a whopping 6 kgs! Nowadays they are worn as a cultural identity and younger generations can chose when to stop the length of the coils. The maximum amount of coils around the neck is 27 rings.
3 ladies were from the same family, daughter, Aunty and Grandmother. They allowed me to try on brass hollow rings which was less that half the weight of the real ones. The women are extremely friendly and encourage photographs. First ask politely before snapping photos, talk to the ladies and it’s respectful to say Hello and Thank you in the local language. “Mingalabar” and “Jee Zu Ba” Its also respectful to donate money to the ladies of you are taking photos of them.
Enjoy lunch over looking the water
Enjoy a locally cooked meal over looking the water while watching how people live their life on the water. There are many great restaurants on the lake that serve locally cooked food and a variety of cuisines. We made a quick stop at a restaurant for lunch and enjoyed vegetable fried rice and fresh juices. Its a nice way to sit back and watch locals go past with their boats.
Visit Shwe Indein Pagoda
Shwe Indein pagoda is a group of Buddhist pagodas and stupas built in the 17th and 18th century. The earliest one with an inscription dates back to the 14th century. Our first impression was overwhelming. There are hundreds of these pointy pagodas and they come in a variety of colours, sizes and various stages of ruin. The stupas that are gold have been recently repaired.
Once dropped off by our boat we walked to the pagoda along a 700 meter walkway. The walkway is lined with stalls selling hand made clothing, shoulder bags, wooden ornaments, hats and other items. Entry into Shwe Indein Pagoda pagoda costs 500 kyat.
See the floating gardens
Be amazing how vegetables, fruits and flowers are all grown on the lake. Farmers collect weeds from the deeper parts of the lake and make them into floating beds. Bamboo poles are anchored and are made to rise and fall with the changing water levels. The constant availability of nutrient rich water results in these gardens being incredibly fertile and vegetables and fruit can grow all year round.
Watch the sunset over the Lake
For sunset we made our way back to the open area of Inle Lake, just in time to watch the fisherman during golden hour. It was beautiful to watch the sun set behind the mountains and the sky change colours. We filmed more of the iconic fisherman and flew our drone over the lake before heading back to the jetty and saying goodbye to our driver.
It really was a beautiful ending to a great day full of adventure, incredible scenery, new cultures, friendly people and so much more. It has been a highlight of our trip in Myanmar and we hope we have inspired you to visit the secret gem of Myanmar- Inle Lake.
Hire a bike and explore the town
There are plenty of great activities to do outside of the lake. Biking around Inle Lake is a great way to discover its beauty from a different perspective. If hiring a bike consider a trip to the Red Mountain Estate Vineyard, located on the lower slopes of the mountain rim. The vineyard offering stunning views down the valley – it’s a great half day activity.
Go for a scenic walk or trek
A day hike at the surrounding valleys of Nyaung Shwe and Inle Lake is a must do if you have time. There are a wide range of day walks/hikes to choose from. You can choose from exploring around the lake, villages, rice paddies and stupas or head up to the hills for incredible views and fresh air. A popular trek is from Kalaw to Inle lake which takes about 3 days.
Enjoy a wine with a view
Yes you read right.. ..there is a vineyard near Inle Lake. Red Mountain Estate produces the best wines of the country. The wines are produced with locally grown grapes from the property. For 5,000 Kyat you can enjoy a four-glass tasting session (2 whites and 2 reds) surrounded by beautiful views of the vineyards and mountains.
Thank you for reading our guide on Best things to do on Inle Lake. We hope you find this blog helpful and that it has inspired you to visit Inle Lake.
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Looking for more information for your trip to Myanmar? Check out our other free guides that might help you with planning your trip to Myanmar:
- Are you planning on travelling through Myanmar but don’t know where to go? Check out our “Ultimate 12 day Myanmar guide”
- Wanting to see the ancient pagodas and temples in beautiful Bagan? Our “Bagan guide – The best temples and our favourite photo locations.” Has everything you need to know.
- There is so much exciting things to do in Mandalay. Check out our free guide on “Best things to do in Mandalay”.
