WHEN -

They have a tropical monsoon climate with cool, hot and wet seasons.

November to March is the cool season and the best for weather and the busiest for tourists. September and October are the busiest months.

April to June is the hot season. Good news is it's a bit cooler here and prices and tourist numbers are down.

July to October is the wet season and it gets over 400mm (or 16 inches) in August alone.

STAY -

Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort ***** - 

Overwater Villa on the Lake - first row - private terrace with daybed and incredible lake view.

ABOUT -

This amazing lake has to be seen to be believed. It is 21km long by 11 km wide and is like an Asian version of  Venice. There are 17 villages scattered around the lake. 

Fisherman pull protein out of the lake while vegetables are grown in amazing floating market gardens. There are houses, very large temples including around 100 pagodas and 1,000 stupas, stores, work shops, restaurants, museums, hotels, resorts all making a living out on the water.

You could spend all your time at the resort and do as much or as little as you like. Or you could add a few nights at the gateway town of Nyaungshwe which is also very pleasant.

ADD ONS -

Spend a few nights in Yangon when you arrive.

Some of the attractions of Yangon include - 

Shwedagon Pagoda - UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site

BBQ Street - 19th St Chinatown

Chinatown - aka Tayote Tan

Sule Pagoda

Kandawgyi Lake

The Strand Hotel - another Sarkies brother's gem

Yangon Circular Train

Bogyoke Aung San Market 

If you're feeling energetic do the fantastic 3 day trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake

Also there is a pretty special train ride from Kalaw (just pick up your tickets from the station the day before. You don't need to do a tour). Kalaw was an old Hill Station in the days of the British Raj and worth a couple of nights as well.

See Kalaw Heritage Hotel in Hotels.

Spend a few nights in Nyaungshwe. I highly recommend the Viewpoint Lodge & Fine Cuisines

Plenty of things to do there including a winery and some hot springs. See Viewpoint Lodge in Hotels.

ROMANCE -

4 poster beds / indoor jacuzzis

Be greeted by Kinnara and Kinnari mythical ideal lovers and the perfect couple

In room couples massage

SUNRISES & SUNSETS -

Hot Air Balloon Flight

Spectacular sunsets and sundowners on the pool terrace

BUDGET -

Myanmar is a relatively cheap country to travel in. The luxury and pampering you can enjoy here would cost you a fortune in many other places. The hotels are good value and transport is generally cheap.

HIGHLIGHTS -

Famous Inntha (Sons of the Lake) Leg Rowers

4 Hands massage

Swimming Pool by the lake

PAMPER -

Spa Treatments

RELAXING -

Massages

VIEWS -

Inle Lake

FOOD -

INLE RESTAUARANT -  Shan, Myanmar and International Cuisine

Have Lunch on the balcony at the Inthar Heritage House

Have lunch at the Red Mountain Estate Vineyards with fabulous views over the vines

Have lunch at Khaung Daing Village

DRINKS -

INLE POOLSIDE BAR - Myanmar, Asian and European Cuisine

ENTERTAINMENT CLUB & KARAOKE

SIGHTS -

Indein - hundreds of ancient stupas

Boat tour of the many amazing things to see on the lake - Floating market gardens - many temples - black smiths -  gold smiths - cigar rolling - silversmiths -  silk weaving - Cat Temple - Lacquer ware - The Inthar Heritage House where they are repurifying the Burmese cat breed downstairs and serving wonderful meals upstairs etc etc.

ACTIVITIES -

 Gym

Trekking to Pa-Oh Tribal Village

Table Tennis

Swimming / Canoeing / Fishing / Cycling

Red Mountain Estate Vineyards

Visit Mingala Market

Cooking Classes

SOUVENIRS -

Souvenir shop on site

The Inthar heritage House sells cat themed souvenirs

Around the lake are numerous small industries where you can buy direct from the makers. Jewellery and Lacquer ware  for example. The hand rolled cigars are fantastic and the ladies making them are a lot of fun. Burmese cheroots are very good as well.

Pick up some wine from Red Mountain

Thanaka - good for the skin

Longyi - local sarong

Wind Chimes

Burmese Silk and Puppets

CHEAPER OPTIONS -

There are a dozen or so resorts out on the lake in different price ranges.

Have a look here on Booking.com

You could also stay at Nyaungshwe which is a short canal ride away from the lake. Or do both!

VISAS -

Over 100 countries can get an e-visa online. You will need a passport valid for at least 6 months after your trip, a passport standard digital photo of yourself, an e-mail address and means of online payment. They are US$75 for standard issue. Check with your local embassy to see if you qualify for the e-visa.

Click here for information

TRANSPORT -

Myanmar has 2 international airports. You'll need to connect to Yangon by one of the major Asian hubs including Dubai. Bangkok also connects to Mandalay.

Yangon International Airport (RGN) -

and Mandalay International Airport (MDL)  -

Mandalay is half as far away but odds are your flight will be arriving in Yangon.

Your options from both places are flying to 

Heho Airport (HEH) -

then taxi to Nyaungshwe then Boat to the resort. Or there are car, bus and train options which could mean stopping over somewhere on the way.

Flights do a milk run between 4 of the country's airports including the above 3 and 

Bagan Nyaung U Airport (NYU)

Check here for flights

EXTRA -

See Ngapali in 'Honeymoons'.