5 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
8 hours by bus from Mandalay (you can do the trip over night)
When to go
From November to April
Minimum stay
2 to 3 days
Inle Lake (Burma)
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Maryam Josheni
Practical information about Inle Lake
Reviews of Inle Lake
Lake Inle is a must see on any trip to Myanmar! An unforgettable place!
My suggestion:
You have to get up early to see the sun rise over Lake Inle! You'll need a day to visit the floating villages by pirogue.
Summary:
I thought the boat trip on Lake Inle was completely enchanting! As the sun comes up the fishermen start working from their pirogues.
The lake is surrounded by mountains. In one day I managed to visit the floating villages and also the workshops of the local cigar, gold and fabric artisans. It was a bit touristy but worth it all the same!
And don't miss the big local market, which you can go to during your boat trip. You'll find all the different local tribes their, in their traditional costumes. A real experience!
In short, even though it's very touristy, Lake Inle was one of the best places I visited during my stay in Myanmar.
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Maryam Josheni
Inle Lake is a body of freshwater located in the mountains in eastern Burma.
My suggestion:
Avoid the Jumping Cat Monastery, which is just a tourist trap, and instead visit local arts and crafts sites (silk workshops, foundries, cigar workshops, etc.).
Summary:
Lying at an altitude of over 900 m and extending for 50 km, Lake Inle felt like a place with a timeless quality to me, and it is an essential stop on a tour of Burma.
I arrived there after a three-hour trek from Kalaw, and I really enjoyed the slightly phantasmagorical environment offered by the lake and its surroundings.
On the lake itself, I passed through around a dozen stilt villages, gardens, vegetable gardens and floating markets. I was struck by the constant activity that reigns around this lake. I could see various monasteries, stupas and temples on its shores. On the lake, it's impossible to miss seeing the fishermen who control their paddle with just one leg.
I really enjoyed visiting the arts and crafts sites, which are to be found a little away from the more touristy areas.
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Marine Faure
Situated to the north of Burma, Inle Lake is an amazing spot, where anyone traveling around Burma should stop for a few days and soak up its wonderful atmosphere.
My suggestion:
I recommend that you spend at least 3 days by Inle Lake, so that you have enough time to enjoy the walks around the lake, as well as the peace and quiet.
Summary:
The 4 days that I spent at Inle Lake were some of the most memorable of my trip to Burma. I have to say it's got one of the best ambiences in the country, even if it's becoming more and more popular with tourists.
Nonetheless, its a magical place and the countryside is beautiful. The most popular thing to do is go out on the lake in a dugout canoe and visit the lakeside villages. You'll come across fishermen rowing with one leg and several markets, some of which are aimed at the tourist trade.
Another great memory was my bike ride around the lake, when I even stopped off for a glass of local wine! Because, yes, there is a vineyard that produces its own wine - which I enjoyed partly because I was so surprised to come across it!
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Michaël Mamane
70 travellers' photos
