Active Inle

📍 Distance and journey time: Transfer from HEHO airport to Trekking starting point: up to 1 hour Trekking: up to 3 hours Difficulty: Easy

Upon arrival at Heho Airport, meet with the guide and driver and head to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop for lunch before arriving in Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake. From there, leap into action with the first adventure of the Active Inle Tour -a hike in the hills and mountains surrounding Inle Lake

Starting in the Shan Hills, this half-day (14km) hike passes through rolling green hills, farms and charming villages. Visiting local hill tribe’s communities offers a perfect chance to observe their traditional lifestyles and farming and craft-making techniques.

After a few hours, the scenery opens up, providing sweeping views of Inle Lake and the stunning natural scenery that surrounds it. After stopping to take some photos relax and soak up the scenic setting, begin again with a 1,000 metre descent to the lake itself. Stop to sip tea with locals in a village on the lake before boarding a boat and heading to the hotel.

Check in and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Nyaung Shwe/on Inle Lake. 

Inclusions:

📍 Distance and journey time: Cycle: up to 60 km Difficulty: Medium

Today the sightseeing begins at 08:00.

After breakfast in the morning, take a full-day cycling trip around the Inle Lake. With its paved, quiet, and relatively flat roads, Inle Lake is the perfect place to do a bit of exploring on two wheels. After breakfast, get fitted with a mountain bike and head out along the western side of the lake.

Following the contours of the Shan Mountains and Inle Lake, enjoy spectacular views of rice paddies, temples and monasteries. A quick snack break will be made at Khaung Daing Village, which is known for its delicious handmade soy bean crackers, tofu and other treats. Just before lunch, arrive at the lakeside village of Indein.

Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village and wandering through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou Area. Alaung Sitthou is filled with picturesque stupas, and has magnificent views of the lake. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and soak up the village’s unique atmosphere.

After lunch, throw the bike on a boat and hop on.  Travelling first along a canal from Indein and then across the lake to the village of Nampam, get an up-close look at the unique lifestyle of local Inthar people. Living in stilted houses, farming floating gardens and guiding their boats with their famous one-legged rowing techniques, the Inthar people are unique even among the many tribes in Myanmar.

After arriving in Nampam, hop back on the bike and head out along the eastern shores of Inle Lake. Along the way there will be a chance to stop at the Red Mountain Winery, a collaboration between local Pa-Oh and a French vintner, it’s the epicentre of Myanmar’s burgeoning wine industry.  After a tour of their wine-making facilities, enjoy a wine-tasting session at the hilltop restaurant.  Afterwards, cycle back to Nyaung Shwe.

Overnight in Nyaung Shwe/on Inle Lake.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Distance and journey time: Transfer from Nyaung Shwe to HEHO airport: up to 1 hour Kayak: up to 3 hours Difficulty: Easy

This morning the tour starts at 08:00.

TEarly in the morning, transfer to the small lakeside village of Ywama, the setting for today’s kayaking tour of Inle Lake.

Upon reaching the village, climb aboard a kayak and start paddling! Wind through the maze of canals and waterways that form the ‘streets’ of the village. Get up close to the famous stilted houses of Inle and pass by local kids on their way to school.

After half an hour, take a break from paddling and go ashore for a village visit. Stop at family-run workshops to see the traditional techniques used to make tofu, metal works and gold jewellery. There may even be a chance to learn about traditional medicine. This hour-long walk provides a fascinating insight into the deep-rooted heritage of the Inthar people. 

Return to the kayaks and paddle through another section of Ywama. See more fascinating scenes of local life and enjoy the tranquillity of the quieter corners of Inle Lake. During the trip, stop at a stilted house to refuel with tea and snacks. Then loop back to the starting point to drop off the kayaks and transfer to the motorboat for the return trip to Nyaung Shwe.

From Nyaung Shwe transfer to the Heho airport for an onward flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast