View of Traditional Life at Inle Lake Tour Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          08:00 am @Hotel/NyaungShwe Drop Off:        05:30pm @Hotel/NyaungShwe This morning starts with a walking tour of NyaungShwe. Begin at the canal where boats drop off produce from the lake farms for market and continue to the local market for a stroll through the charming stalls. Visit the ‘tomato house’, the distribution hub for the area’s produce. Next, board a private boat on Inle Lake. As you cross the lake, you will discover the stilted houses and observe the leg-rowing fishermen. Marvel at the floating gardens and visit PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Continue to Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images. For lunch, proceed to a traditional Inthar House at Tharlay village where you will assist the family with lunch preparations. Together you’ll prepare Inle Style Tomato Salad and other Inthar dishes. Join the family on the floor at a low table to enjoy your lunch.  Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and visit a cheroot factory to see Burmese cigars are rolled by hand. Return to Nyaung Shwe in the late afternoon and transfer to Red Mountain Wine Estate for a sunset wine tasting.

Inle Lake and Sagar Trip Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          08:00 am @Hotel Drop Off:        05:00pm @Hotel Set off this morning for Sagar at the far southern region of Inle Lake. The area was only recently opened to tourists in 2003 and very few tourists have visited Sagar. Relax during the 3 hours ride and enjoy the scenic views and the many birds inhabiting the area. Upon arrival, there are several stops that will be made. There is a local monastery and village to be visited here and the famous ‘sunken’stupas of Sagar. 108 stupas from the 16-17th centuries are partially underwater for a few months a year. Continue to the village of Thaya Gone, best known for its production of local rice wine. Watch the process of distillation and sample this local wine. Afterwards, climb to the top of a small hill for great views of the lake and villages. Next, stop at the SaeKhaung Pottery Village. Learn about the natural, underground kilns and watch the crafting of oil and water pots. Lunch will be arranged along the way (either picnic lunch or local lunch at a small restaurant). Around 2.30 the boat will begin its journey back to the main section of Inle Lake. Witness different activities occurring on the water and in the villages during the afternoon hours. Rice noodles and spun cotton can be see hanging out to dry and children returning from school. You’ll reach your hotel early this evening in time to freshen up and watch the sunset.     

Full Day Tour on Inle Lake Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          08:00am @Hotel Drop Off:        06:00pm @Hotel Today you will enjoy a full day excursion on Inle Lake. After breakfast take a private boat to Khaung Dine village on the western shores. Stroll through this village to see the production of tofu, fried soya crackers and soya bean paste. Continue to the centre of the lake passing Intha villages built on stilts over the water and marvel at their floating gardens. You will also see the leg‐rowing fishermen of the lake who steer their boats with incredible balance.  Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains 5 sacred Buddha images, and to the village of Inpawkhone to observe the traditional silk weaving techniques of Innthar people. You will also visit a cheroot factory to see Burmese cigar rolled by hand.   OPTION: Enjoy a unique opportunity to cook with a local Inthar family. Learn to cook traditional dishes such as stuffed Inle fish and tomato salad. Then sit on the floor, local-style, and enjoy your freshly prepared lunch.   Stop for lunch on the lake and sample delicious Inthar or Shan dishes. This afternoon, continue by boat to Indein. Stroll through the village and the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area filled with ancient stupas and magnificent views of the lake. Continue to your hotel on the lake.

Stunning Kekku Day Tour Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          06:00 am @Hotel Drop Off:        04:00 pm @Hotel OPTION: Wake early this morning to watch dozens of red robed monks walk barefoot through Nyaung Shwe to collect their daily alms from the locals. This ritual beginning at 6:30am. After breakfast, drive from Inle Lake to Kekku. You will enjoy this spectacular drive, crossing over rolling hills and small villages inhabited to the Pa-Oh people. Once closed to visitors, you will witness local life that most have not. Along the way, stop at the Taunggyi market, a gathering place for traders from the surrounding hills and villages to sell their produce and wares. As you approach Kekku you will discover breathtaking views of more than 5200 centuries old stupas and several Buddha images. As you explore the temples, notice the intricate carvings and details on the structures. Your knowledgeable Pa-Oh guide will share with you the customs of the people in this area. You will have lunch at a local restaurant near Kekku pagodas and then begin your drive back to NyaungShwe, arriving around 16.00.

Myin Ma Hti Community Exploration Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          07:30 am @Hotel Drop Off:        05:00pm @Hotel Our Community Conductor greets at your hotel in Kalaw in the early morning.  Trek through pine trees to Myinmahti village. Wander around the village before climbing Mt. Myinmahti (5862 feet height) and plant trees near Village Spirit Temple/Village monastery. At the apex of the mountain, explore the surrounding and take time for photos. Have a picnic lunch there. Then, climb down to the foot of the mountain. Afterwards, Ox cart brings you to Myinmahti cave to     Explore natural cave. Stroll through the village and observe the village life along the way to villager’s house. And learn about EM (Effective Micro-Organisms) which assist for organic farming and how to make fertile soil with EM before depart to Kalaw. You will get back to your hotel in Kalaw in the evening. Note: The pickup and drop off time may shift a little on the day of travel. We will confirm you in advance or at the time of your booking confirmation.

The ruins of Indein with local experience Duration:        Half Day Tour Pick Up:          08:30 am @Hotel Drop Off:        01:00 pm @Hotel In the south of the lake the ruins of Indein are certainly worth a visit. Partly covered by vegetation the area looks like a “pagoda forest”. We will walk about 1 hour to enjoy a fantastic view over the lake. A home-made cooked lunch is served in a local house. We continue towards the Nam Pan village for a very interesting trip going local with a small canoe. Whenever you are tired paddling yourself we continue by motorboat back to your hotel.

Discover Inle Lake’s west bank on bike and foot Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          08:30 am @Hotel Drop Off:        05:00 pm @Hotel An active day on the west bank of the lake with fantastic views over the lake and the villages surrounding the lake covering parts of the area not frequently visited by tourists. We start by boat to Indein where we do a short walk in the surrounding where many Pa O people are living (about 2 hours walking). From Indein jetty we start biking to Khaung Dine and continue to Nyaung Shwe passing villages (about 2.5 hour biking). A simple lunch is prepared on the way. 

Biking along the east bank of Inle Lake Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          08:30 am @Hotel Drop Off:        05:00 pm @Hotel Visiting Inle Lake is not just about being on the water but also about discovering the Shan and Intha villages on the banks of the river. From Nyaung Shwe (or any hotel on the east bank of the lake) we bike passing several picturesque villages where we stop for a chat with the local monks at the forest monastery in Maing Thauk for a good view over the lake. We take a traditional Intha lunch at an Intha house and continue from there by boat to visit a local cheroot factory as well as one of the oldest monasteries built on stilts on the lake and of course the famous floating gardens on Nampan. At the end of the day we go back by boat to the hotel.

Happy Biking, Boating and excited Kayaking Duration:        Full Day Tour Pick Up:          07:45 am @Hotel Drop Off:        05:30 pm @Hotel A full day of exploration by bike, boat and kayak, with a fantastic traditional lunch in an exclusive Shan house on the lake. A somewhat challenging day, but filled with the rewards of outstanding scenery & genuine connections. Bike Trails & Forest Tracks Ride alongside fields of flowers tended by friendly villagers, pass remote monasteries and cycle through peaceful bamboo forests. Boating A long-tail boat takes you to secret cycling destinations and to a traditional Shan House for a sumptuous feast of local cuisine. Kayaking Paddle along narrow waterways and through stilt-house villages to gain a new perspective on life in these unique communities.