Inle Lake Culinary Explorer

Today the sightseeing begins at 08:00.

Receive a warm greeting from the guide after breakfast in the morning and embark on an amazing Inle Lake day trip.

Board a private motorboat (on board are cushioned wooden chairs, life jackets, umbrellas for sun and wind protection, and blankets in the winter months)

Start with a visit to the morning market, which rotates locations on a 5-day basis. (note: there are no markets on full-moon or dark-moon days) This daily market attracts people from all over the lake’s shores who gather to buy and sell their wares. On any given day, it’s possible to see Pa-Oh, Inthar and Shan ethnic minorities in their traditional outfits. Wander amid the stalls and receive local insight from the guide on the area’s unique culture, and what local produce and goods for sale are.

Then continue across the lake, passing through villages with stilted houses and floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Along the way, observe the unique leg‐rowing fishermen who steer their boats with incredible balance. Inle Lake is said to be the only place in the world where this practice takes place. 

Continue to Khaung Daing Village on the lake’s western shores.This village is famous for its traditional Shan tofu – fried crackers and folded, triangular tofu treats. We’ll be able to watch (and perhaps participate!) as they sift the soy beans, boil them, mash them into balls then form tofu cakes to dry in the sun. This is a fabulous taste of local life on Inle Lake.

Then travel by boat to an Intha family’s house and join them in preparing lunch. Using local produce, herbs and freshly caught fish, prepare a feast of traditional dishes handed down from generation to generation of Intha families. Sit down in the dining room around a large wooden table, local-style, and enjoy a delicious lunch in the company of a warm, hospitable local family.

Overnight on Inle Lake.

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch

This morning the tour starts at 08:00.

In the morning, hHead to Nyauuang Shwe and take a town tour by trishaw. Begin with a visit to the side canal where boats piled high with tomatoes and other produce from the lake are being unloaded to be distributed throughout Myanmar. Continue to the morning market which is bustling in the early morning as locals from neighbouring villages descend from the hills to buy and sell fresh produce. In addition to vegetables and fruits, flowers, traditional snacks, tea and noodles are also for sale.

Then stop at a nearby tea shop to sample a cup of famous sweet tea with a fried local donut, samosa or other snacks. The tea shop is located on a busy street corner near the market - a perfect place for people-watching.

Then continue around the town by trishaw, passing local houses, monasteries and shops as we make our way to the ‘Tomato House’. Then stop by View Point restaurant on the shore of the canal. View Point specializes in local Shan cuisine. Their Shan Introductoary Lunch is a superb sampling of different canopies. Each one offering a unique flavor from the surrounding region.

Our final stop of the morning is Red Mountain Estate., one of Myanmar’s best wineries. Take a short guided tour of Enjoy a stroll through the property and the vineyards, where Old World grapes are grown and harvested by the Pa-Oh people, and enjoy the views of the Shan Hills and Inle Lake below. Sit down, soak in the views while sampling a few of the wines made from  for lunch and a wine tasting, and sample the delicious varietal grapess grown at Red Mountain.  and dine on a set-menu of local cuisines.

From Red Mountain we will journey along the lake’s eastern shore.  The road is lined with farms growing crops such as sugar cane, corn and vegetables.  Stop to the see the processing of molasses and other activities in the fields and villages.  Then continue to Maing Thauk Village where our boat will be waiting.

Overnight on Inle Lake.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the Heho Airport for the departure flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast