Driving in a new country always fascinates me. It allows me to discover things unseen by foreigners and visit rural places that are not on the usual tourist path. But Myanmar was not a country where I could take the risk of self-driving, so we rented a car with a driver.
I said goodbye to Mandalay, leaving all my good memories behind, and started our journey towards my next destination in Myanmar, Inle Lake. Our road trip started from Mandalay to Inle Lake, Taunggyi, and headed straight to the Heho Airport. The distance between Mandalay and Inle Lake is only 256 km, but it took us about 7 hours, with a few interesting short stops in between.
Road Trip Itinerary
- From Mandalay to Inle Lake, 256 km, We made it in 7 hours.
- Inle Lake to Sulamuni Pagoda in Taunggyi, 40 km, took us about 50 minutes.
- Inle Lake to Heho Airport is about 35 km, and the driver made it in about 45 minutes.
We pass through flat farmlands, scenic mountainous regions, small towns, and bazaars pretty interesting trip. However, the most remarkable moment was to meet Abdul, a Rohingya. He escaped from the massacre in Mrauk-U, now a roadside vendor selling dried meat with an innocent smile.
On our way, we saw a rest area ideal for a brake and having our lunch. In addition, there are a couple of restaurants with decent local food. We stopped there for over an hour. I have posted a few pictures here for better understanding. After a long break, we continue our journey to Inle Lake.
Lunch at a Rest Area
Halfway through the trip, I felt a little uneasy when we had to roll down the window as the AC gave up on us. It was hot and dusty, and sweat contributed to additional discomfort. So highly recommend climate control transportation if you are new to or not used to the local environment.
Road Side Vendors
We arrived in a small town Nyaung Shwe little north of the lake, where we were going to park our car and start our boat trip on the lake. Most of the hotels are located in this town, so we did not expect to have any problem finding accommodation once we returned from the boat trip. It was already 3:00 pm by the time we arrived at Nyaung Shwe, so we did not waste much time on hotel shopping; instead straightway went to the pier.
Where to stay in Inle Lake, Nyaung Shwe
KMA Inle Hotel, Inle Lake
KMA Inle Hotel offers relaxing holidays with its spa and wellness center. In addition, the property has an on-site restaurant serving Asian food throughout the day. Located in Nyaung Shwe, KMA Inle Hotel is a 25-minute boat ride to Nyaung Shwe Jetty and a 45-minute boat ride to Paung Daw Oo Pagoda. Heho Airport is a 30-minute drive from the property. The complex has lake and mountain views from all units.
Thanakha Inle Hotel, Nyaung Shwe
Located in the village of Nyaung Shwe, Thanakha Inle Hotel offers modern air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. In addition, the hotel features a 24-hour front desk, outdoor swimming pool, and tour desk. The property is a 35-minute drive from Heho Airport. Services include currency exchange, shuttle service, laundry, luggage storage, and babysitting.
My Opinion and Last Word
Have you been to Inle Lake, Myanmar? Any cool tips to share?
I loved being in Inle Lake Myanmar, and want to go back again. I hope my story has motivated you to visit Myanmar.
Please leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from you to improve my knowledge.
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