Arrival Heho – Inle Lake                                                                                                 [L, D]

Guests will be warmly welcomed upon their arrival at Heho Airport by our representative before guided to their air-conditioned vehicle. The short ride from the airport to your Inle Lake resort is a combination of a car and boat transfer via Nyaung Shwe will take approximately 1, 5 hours.

Crossing the lake bring you up and close with the lives of the Inthar people, better known as the ‘one-legged rowers’, which you will see practicing their art with agility and a well-defined balance. The surrounding scenery with mountain ranges, small villages dotted around the east and west banks of Inle Lake, and its vast floating grounds where fruits and vegetables are grown fill the morning with some jaw-dropping moments. Inle Lake has a few interesting pagodas and monasteries which will be included during this tour. The Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, one of the region’s most important ones and dating back to the 18th century and the Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, an important place for monks and novices to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Buddha are among the places included in this day.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant

Handicraft traditions on Inle Lake still thrive. One of the best examples is the weaving community at Inpawkhon, where local weavers continue respecting ancient techniques to create stunning examples of fabric and passing these time-honoured traditions to next generations. Finally, a day without seeing Inle Lake’s trading grounds at one of the local wet markets is a sight to behold. Vendors and buyers show off their skills to get the best price for what’s in season. Bear in mind that markets only operate on so called ‘market days’ as defined by the local market regulations.

It is time to make your way to your booked resort along the shores of Inle Lake. One of these fine establishments with its own managed spa and wellness centre where a moment of respite ends an exhilarating day on and off Inle Lake. Before dinner is served, enjoy a soothing, 1-hour Aroma Massage by professional therapists.

Dinner and overnight at your booked Inle Lake resort

Inle Lake                                                                                                                                [B, L, D]

Boats form the most efficient and effective means to see landmarks and important sight on and around Inle Lake. With resorts primarily constructed along the eastern and western shores (the sunset and sunrise side), a day without seeing this natural phenomenon should not be forgotten. After breakfast, your boat captain and guide welcome you back for another day of exploring what Inle Lake has in store.

We first head to the Inn Thein Pagoda; it is one of these hidden treasures that take some steps and walking but reaching this sight in the morning makes it all worthwhile. A collection of hundreds of small pagodas, covered with vegetation and moss, form an almost indescribable landscape of spiritual amazement. From here, we continue on foot to a nearby local farming settlement where several crops are cultivated and grown without the use of modern technology and farming equipment. The walking path we follow this morning ends at the village of Sae Ma, where rice paddy fields and creeks form the outdoor décor. Time to make our way back to Inle Lake and what better means than by slowly sailing in a small wooden boat over a narrow creek.

Lunch is included at a local restaurant

After lunch, you will be brought back your accommodation along Inle Lake where you will not only enjoy a fabulous afternoon at leisure but also will submerge into the art of a reflexology foot massage for 60 minutes. The benefits of foot massages do not only give you the feeling like you walk on clouds: using designated pressure points on the soles of your feet, the whole body actually will benefit from this treatment.

Dinner and overnight at your booked Inle Lake resort

Inle Lake                                                                                                                                [B, L, D]

Right after breakfast, your guide welcomes you for the last full day of exploring and experiencing Inle Lake from a wellness and wellbeing perspective. Like many of its surrounding countries in South East Asia, Buddhism plays an important role in the lives of its residents. Monks and novices roam the streets, following in the footsteps and teachings of the Lord Buddha and where mindfulness plays an important role. Intertwined with this philosophy is captured in this morning exploration of meditation and peace of mind.

At the small settlement of Maing Tauk, we visit a meditation centre where one actually can see, feel and experience the calmness of what Buddhism stands for. Under the guidance of a resident mink, you will gain a deeper insight in the art of meditation and how it benefits the mind, body and soul. After this short introduction, you are guided to your own private meditation room overlooking Inle Lake for a moment for yourself and practice what you’ve just learned. The serenity will flow through your mind as soon as you are left alone

A simple lunch is served at the meditation centre

Time to head back to your booked resort along the lakeshores of Inle for more relaxation and time to reflect on this immersive morning experience in Maing Tauk. Nothing adds more serenity to your stay with a 60-minute Myanmar Traditional Massage. Using pressure points, your therapist will strive to maintain a balanced pressure movement throughout the treatment to harmonize mind, body and spirit in delivering nature healing powers. Improved energy flow and enhanced physical and mental well-being is the end result.

Dinner and overnight at your booked Inle Lake resort

Inle Lake – Nyaung Shwe – Heho Airport                                                                [B]

Matching breakfast with your scheduled departure time from your Inle Lake resort to our next destination will be something worth considering on the final day of this wellness experience at Inle Lake. Following the resort’s check-out times and conditions, your boat and car ride back to the mainland will take approximately 1.5 hours to Heho Airport or to next destination in the vicinity.