Yangon – Nyaungshwe – Inle Lake – Indein – Yangon

Early morning arrive at NyaungShwe and check in to hotel. After check in, excursion to Inle Lake you’ll venture out to explore Inle Lake with your private motorboat, passing floating garden houses built on stilts inhabited by the local Intha People, and the famous “Leg-Rowing” fishermen who make their living from the lake’s plentiful supply of fish. Along the way you can visit a floating tomato garden – a unique site. Visit PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha Images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. Continue to the famous NgaHpeChaung Monastery, so called “jumping cat’s monastery” famed for its collection of ancient Buddha effigies collected from the lake and surrounding regions. Photograph the long neck family on the way back (Padaung Women). If time permits, there may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages. Overnight at hotel in NyaunShwe.

After breakfast at hotel, your excursion will start at a morning market (the earlier your departure time, the better) that changes its location around the lake on a five-day basis. Here the communities which inhabit the lake region, including local hill tribes such as the Pa-Oh, Intha and Shan people, all come to trade their handmade wares and farmed goods with each other. (Note: Market is daily open except on dark moon day and full moon day). Board your boat to the western shore of the Lake where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the hidden and unknown Indein Pagoda complex. Visit one of the most amazing historical sights on the shore of the lake consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and greens. Continue on foot to a village nearby where several crops are grown in traditional ways. Walk in an easy pace along one of the many creeks passing through rice fields to the village of Sea Ma. Visit the primary school of the village where you will have the possibility to meet the children and teachers to observe their way of learning and teaching. Walk across to the weaving village of Tha Lay where you meet the people in the villages on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities. In the evening transfer to airport for flight back to Yangon. Overnight at hotel in Yangon.