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An Inle Lake tour is one of Myanmar’s top tourist attractions, best taken with a local who can reveal the unique way of life there.
Touring Inle Lake is one of the top four travel activities in Myanmar alongside the never-ending temple landscape of Bagan and the two main cities of Yangon and Mandalay. Whilst similar, yet grander in scale, to Cambodia’s famous Tonle Sap Lake, Inle has overshadowed my other experiences on Southeast Asian waterways.
The second largest lake in Myanmar, located in the northern Shan State, Inle Lake is a huge water basin that sparkles in its silvery-blue hue, snaking off into tiny canals with miniature hand-built dams. It’s a place where tradition remains as fishermen paddle by operating the oar using one leg, floating gardens grow fruit and vegetables, buffalos bathe in the muddy waters and weavers toil away in makeshift workshops.
Closer to the main town of Nyaungshwe, the sound of motorboats signal the arrival of a new dawn, where tourists flock for speedy day trips, new construction booms and where canals are said to be being widened to ferry through more eager-eyed passengers. Such sights make you realise the swift power of tourism and you hope that the ambience of this area isn’t, in time, completely ruined by rapid change.
Cruising the Waters on an Inle Lake Tour
Travelling during the low season in May, the Myanmar heat was intense and so I choose to visit the lake as early as possible before the midday sun dominated and scorched my skin in the open deck of the boat. Starting at 9 am, and choosing only a half-day sight-seeing option, I opted out of the temple and monastery hopping side of the standard tour to instead concentrate on spending more time peacefully observing local life. I much prefer it that way.
It was, quite simply, stunning. The lake is so vast that it never feels congested; a middle-of-nowhere feeling, floating along without a care in the world and passing sporadic fisherman at work, or locals relaxing in on the wooden thresholds of their stilted houses.
But what I loved most was that I saw the lake in its serene glory and at a time of the day when the light reflected and gave colour to the hard work of the people who call this place home, the structures that thrive there, the protective landscape that surrounds it and the locals who regularly pass through its waters…

Reflections on the Inle Lake Tour: Myanmar’s Biggest Tourist Attraction
Things to Know About Inle Lake Tours:
Boat hire on Inle Lake costs approximately 15,000 Kyat ($16) for the full day. Half-day options will only save you around $3.
Bartering takes a very long time.
Martin says
Myanmar (Burma) is so beautiful; your photos do it justice. I am aiming to be back in that part of the world soon and your photos are helping me realize that I am making the right decision by leaving England and taking on a brand new adventure – thanks
Backpacker Becki says
I can’t WAIT to get back to Myanmar. It really is my most incredible trip so far. And…a new adventure is always a good excuse to leave home 🙂
jesvin says
hi there…im from india.recently i developed the desire for backpacking… But you know people here dont backpack often. So i tried gather info by reading blogs of travellers…thats when i came across your blog about how to overcome the excuses
one of the excuses that pop into my mind is the language problem.. how do you tackle it?..then secondly cheap accomodations..how do you find them? what if you cant find a place to stay ??
hope you will answer me
all best for your future endeavors…cheers
tyanajones says
Very beautiful image captured..thanks
TammyOnTheMove says
Aww, this looks gorgeous. Reminds me of the Tonle Bati in Cambodia so much. Even though the fishermen there have a different techique I think. Looks like you had an amazing time in Burma. Will PM you for some more tips. 🙂
Backpacker Becki says
It’s strange as I have been to Tonle Sap three times so the full magic of Inle didn’t hit me like it did to some. But it was still incredible just because it was so vast and open, and I love the paddle technique!