Inle Lake Tour in Myanmar
My Inle Lake tour in Myanmar began with a 13-hour overnight VIP bus from Yangoon to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake. Over two days I biked around town, then took a long-tail boat across the lake to a village breakfast, lotus weavers, a cheroot factory and the floating gardens of Ywama.
Getting to Nyaung Shwe, the Gateway to Inle Lake
The VIP bus, operated by Thit Sar Do, left Yangoon bus station for the 13-hour overnight ride. It pulled over at dawn, and as we stepped out I was engulfed in mystical cold winds, with the temperature down to 9 degrees Celsius.
Joy Hotel was the one most recommended by the travellers I met on the trip. The rooms are a bit dated, but it’s quite reasonably priced and sits on the bank of the lake. Somehow it felt like the quintessential place to spend a night.
Biking Around Nyaung Shwe
I rented a bicycle and rode around the laid-back town. My first stop was a Buddhist shrine right next to the Khaung Daing hot springs. A flight of stairs took me to the top of the hill for a spectacular view of Nyaung Shwe.
At the shrine, a young boy introduced himself as Aye Ko and welcomed me. He shared some insights into the local way of life, and without a second thought I decided to hire his long-tail boat for a tour of Inle Lake the next day.
The ride back to the hotel was rather tiring. A fellow traveller suggested that a traditional massage would be a splendid idea, and after a little research we found out about an Inthar tribal massage.
Inle Lake Tour by Long-Tail Boat
At the crack of dawn, we got ready to explore one of Myanmar’s prime attractions, Inle Lake. Aye Ko, our tour guide, was all set with his long-tail motorboat.
Stop 1: Breakfast in Maing Thauk Inn Village
Our first stop was Aye Ko’s home in Maing Thauk Inn Village, where we stopped for breakfast.
Stop 2: Inpawkhon Village
We then headed to our second stop, Inpawkhon Village, famous for silk and lotus weaving. Lotus weaving started here about 100 years ago. The stems of the lotus are cut and carefully pulled apart to create fibres that can be woven. Locals believe lotus helps absorb negative energy and bring good luck.
Stop 3: The Cheroot Factory in Nam Pan Village
As the boat ride continued along the scenic lake, we reached the third stop of our Inle Lake tour: Nam Pan village, famous for its cheroot factory.
A cheroot is a local cigar. As we entered the ramshackle building, we saw kids and women rolling tobacco leaves into cheroots and cigars. A local man introduced himself as the person in charge and welcomed us with a freshly rolled cheroot. It was love at first puff.
Rolled inside the leaf is an elaborate blend of dried banana, pineapple, brown sugar, star anise, honey, tamarind and rice wine, among other ingredients. The only tobacco is the single leaf that holds everything together. Cheroots are popular all over Myanmar, but Nam Pan village is famous for its flavoured ones.
Stop 4: Ywama Village and the Floating Gardens
From the cheroot factory, we buzzed across to our last stop on the western side of the lake, Ywama Village.
The village is home to monasteries, shrines and craftsmen who work in weaving and wood carving. There are many “floating gardens”, where farmers grow tomatoes on floating mats of vegetation anchored in place with bamboo poles.
Almost all the houses stand on the lake bed, supported by bamboo stilts, and locals use canoes to get around. Rowing back to Nyaung Shwe, I stored these incredible moments in a mental drawer for posterity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Yangon to Inle Lake?
I took Thit Sar Do’s VIP bus from Yangoon bus station, a 13-hour overnight ride to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake.
What can you see on an Inle Lake boat tour?
My tour included breakfast in Maing Thauk Inn Village, lotus and silk weaving in Inpawkhon Village, the cheroot factory in Nam Pan village and the floating gardens of Ywama Village.
Where to stay in Nyaung Shwe?
Joy Hotel was recommended by the travellers I met. Its rooms are a bit dated but reasonably priced, and it sits on the bank of the lake.
Conclusion
An Inle Lake tour in Myanmar is a window into life on the water, from lotus weavers and cheroot rollers to stilt villages and floating gardens. Hire a local long-tail boat guide, start at dawn and take your time exploring the villages around the lake.
