Inle lake Discovery – 5 Days

Day 1: Heho arrival – Nyaung Shwe town
Mingalabar – Welcome to Heho! Upon arrival, our guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. Enjoy the breathtaking drive to Nyaung Shwe town with the peaceful villages, Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery (a wonderful old monastery with awesome Buddha image) and Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery. This is the place you learn about the varieties of grapes and how the soil and vines are maintained in a tropical environment. Taste the premiere white and red wines while soaking in the scenic view.
Meal: N/A
Accommodations: Hotel in Nyaung Shwe.
Day 2: Nyaung Shwe – Tuaung Gyi – Kakku – Nyaung Shwe
At first, you take the drive to Taunggyi, the capital of the state. If time permits, visit Taunggyi market, cross by the small village Pa O people, Sulamuni Pagodac (a huge white stupa modelled on the Ananda Pagoda in Bagan; it was built in 1994 to commemorate Taunggyi’s centenary). After two hours you’ll arrive at Kakku. The first view of Kakku is breathtaking 5200 individual stupas, some are 20 metres high, and several Buddha images scattered throughout. There are no clear facts about the history of the stupas but most date back to the 11th-13th century, the same period when Bagan was thriving. Wandering throughout the temples, you take the time to enjoy the ruins, discover the intricate carvings and details on the structures. In the evening, drive back to your hotel in Nyaung Shwe.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Nyaung Shwe.
Day 3: Inle Lake exploration.
Being the 2^nd largest freshwater lake of Myanmar, Inle Lake measures about 70 square kilometres. There are an estimated 70,000 people living in more than 200 villages on or around the lake. To get a real sense of the lake’s expanse, you will take a longboat cruise navigating pass floating gardens and stilt houses, observe the “one-leg rowing technique” of the Intha fisherman with incredible balance. It’s indispensable to immerse yourselves in the magnificent view of peaceful lake and cascading mountains.
Journey by boat to the local 5-day market which is rotating between 5 different lakeside villages over 5-day period. The market is a unique culture; people all around the lake and mountains come here to exchange not only their daily products but also the indigenous cultures.
Continue to the most outstanding sites, including: Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the holiest one of Inle Lake with five 800-year-old golden Buddha images. In the afternoon, you continue to Ngaphechaung monastery, the biggest and oldest one over Inle Lake. Here you observe the unique architecture, remarkable collection of Buddha images (But it’s best known for the ‘jumping cats’. In the past, they were trained to jump through hoops in the air). From here, you proceed to Nam Pan village; cigar house, cotton and lotus weaving factory of Intha people.
The boat then heads towards Indein village. Upon arrival, take an easy walk through verdant bamboo groves to the hilltop of more than 1000 ruined stupas embracing the Shwe Indein pagoda in the middle. All were constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries. You then visit small communities that live along the lake. Wrap up the fruitful day trip with fantastic sunset over the beautiful lake.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 4: Sagar boat trip
Today, you take the trip to Sagar, the far southern region of Inle Lake. Taking the boat journey within 2.5-3 hours, you will see the fabulous views of the most beautiful and off-beaten-track places in Shan State. The area is so far protected and administered by PNO (Pa O National Organization). The most outstanding site of Sagar are ‘sunken’ stupas. There are 108 stupas from the 16-17th centuries. The next stop is Sae Khaung Pottery Village to see the crafting of oil and water pots as well as the natural, underground kilns used by the villagers. Following is a visit to the home of Pa-oh at Thaya Gone village, where you can climb up to the hill top for the panoramic view over the area. Take time to the western shores, you head to Tar Kaung with more than 200 ancient stupas… In the afternoon, you come back to your hotel, enjoy the beautiful sunset over Inle Lake.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 5: Pindaya Cave – Departure
Enjoy a scenic drive to Pindaya with opportunities to stop and photograph the colourful farms and rolling hills of the Shan Plateau. Upon arrival, you visit the limestone caves that house more than 8,000 Buddha well preserved statues of various sizes. Complete sightseeing activities with a visit to the handicraft village and see how the locals make the Shan parasols and paper.
Finally, you head to Heho for your onward flights. End services.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A