Inle Lake — Exploring the peaceful life of people on Inle Lake, Burma

The boats gliding in early fog, sound of boating, birds go for feeding … bring Inle Lake — one of the two largest freshwater lakes of Myanmar (Burma) peaceful beauty and poetic.

Inle (or Inlay) — in Burmese means big lake — is one of the two largest freshwater lakes in this country. The lake located in Shan province, 600 km from Bagan. The lake has an area of approximately 220 km2, where the deepest of about 6 m.

From Bagan, Inle Lake can be reached by bus. To be able to fully explore the beauty of the lake, the best time to travel is suggested from 8 p.m. previous day to 4.30 a.m. next day. The bus fare is 11,000 kyat per person. The ticket to visit the lake is 12,500 kyat per person. This ticket does not include the boat. You can hire a full day boat for 12,000 kyat. Each boat can carries about 4 visitors.

The best time to visit Inle Lake is 5.30 a.m. The temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius. The cold with fog and wind makes you feel as freezing.

6 a.m, the sun begin rising. The first rays of sun shine into the mist to form sparkling light, beautiful and strange.

In addition to its immense beauty, Inle Lake also impressed visitors by the traditional fishing method — one-legged rowing.

They clamp the remain leg in a cage. This cage will be raised up and down into the water. A thin membrane net surround the mesh cage which makes fish can not escape. Some swing their boats round, thrashing their oars into the water to disperse the fish to the available rows of nets.

The traditional fishing method is considered to be safe with the ecological system of the lake.

Seagulls…

Fisherman fishing when mist evaporate from the lake surface. Morning light makes the view of the lake as beautiful as the watercolor painting.

8 a.m., the sun rises up. The quiet houses reflect themselves on the lake.

Inle Lake is home to the Inthar people, one of ethnic minorities group in Myanmar. In Burmese, Inthar means “people who live on the lake” (lake-dweller).

A baby selling Thanaka which is a traditional powder and long-lasting of the people of this country. Thanaka is said to have a cooling effect on your skin, shrink and minimize your pores and prevent sunburn.

Thakana powder is shaped. When want to apply on your face, people rub Thakana on Kyauk Pyin (a special stone plate), then mix the dough with the water, then apply a thin layer on the face. All Burmese people used Thakana and see as it is a pride.

While people were hurrying with the daily activities of life, the cat quietly sunbathed on the campus of a temple.

Further information

How to get to Inle Lake from Bagan

From Bagan, Inle Lake can be reached by bus. To be able to fully explore the beauty of the lake, the best time to travel is suggested from 8 p.m. previous day to 4.30 a.m. next day. The bus fare is 11,000 kyat per person. You can buy tickets in advance via JJ Express, one of the best bus companies in Myanmar here: VIP Bus Ticket (One Way) between Inle Lake and Yangon.

Ticket & boat price

The ticket price to visit the lake is 12,500 kyat per person. This ticket does not include the boat. You can hire a full day boat for 12,000 kyat. Each boat can carries about 4 visitors.

Inle Lake best time to visit

The best time to visit Inle Lake is 5.30 a.m. The temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius. The cold with fog and wind makes you feel as freezing.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Inle Lake you can refer to

• Inle Lake Day Tour
• Pindaya and Red Mountain Day Tour
• Sankar Village Day Tour
• Kakku Day Tour

Are you looking for a Myanmar itinerary? Let’s check out: 6 day itinerary Myanmar — Suggest Myanmar solo travel itinerary for 6 days.