If you decide to go to Myanmar, the Inle lake trek is one activity you will see mentioned time and time again. You're biggest decision won't be whether or not to do it, it'll be whether to do the 2 or 3 day trek.
We were short on time, so decided on the 2 day trek. There were 6 of us, a group of friends, and that seemed like the ideal number.
We contacted Ko Min, a trekking guide with great reviews on Trip Advisor, but he was already booked, so sent us his friend Puta. Puta was lovely and about our age (27). He picked us up at about 8am and we headed out ready for a day of trekking.
Since we had decided to do the 2 day trek, we got driven the first part that people usually walk on the 3 day trek. I don't think we missed out on too much by driving this part...it was about a 45 minute drive.
The driver dropped us off on a gravel road in a small village, and the walking began. Thankfully Kalaw is a lot cooler than the rest of Myanmar...I would've died if we had been walking in Yangon temperatures.
The trekking company you choose will organise to take your bags to your hotel at Inle Lake, so you only need to take a day bag with a change of clothes.
We were short on time, so decided on the 2 day trek. There were 6 of us, a group of friends, and that seemed like the ideal number.
We contacted Ko Min, a trekking guide with great reviews on Trip Advisor, but he was already booked, so sent us his friend Puta. Puta was lovely and about our age (27). He picked us up at about 8am and we headed out ready for a day of trekking.
Since we had decided to do the 2 day trek, we got driven the first part that people usually walk on the 3 day trek. I don't think we missed out on too much by driving this part...it was about a 45 minute drive.
The driver dropped us off on a gravel road in a small village, and the walking began. Thankfully Kalaw is a lot cooler than the rest of Myanmar...I would've died if we had been walking in Yangon temperatures.
The trekking company you choose will organise to take your bags to your hotel at Inle Lake, so you only need to take a day bag with a change of clothes.
The first half of the day was pretty easy. I think you would only need an average fitness level...I'm definitely not fit! Exercise would cut into my drinking time. We meandered through fields of sesame and rice. It was quite relaxing really, and definitely a different change of pace to Yangon.
We watched the farmers work the land manually, no fancy machines here! Puta even asked some local boys if our boys could join in and help with the rice harvesting. They were tired after five minutes...the locals do it all day long! I think they were grateful for the help though.
We watched the farmers work the land manually, no fancy machines here! Puta even asked some local boys if our boys could join in and help with the rice harvesting. They were tired after five minutes...the locals do it all day long! I think they were grateful for the help though.
We stopped in a little village for morning tea and watched an old lady making bags. She was in her late 80s I think, and she sits there all day sewing bags and hats and scarves. We were treated to some delicious tea and treats - the jaggery was my favourite! Brown sugar deliciousness.
We walked for a few more hours and then it was time for lunch. This was about a two hour break and it was so good! There was so much food. We were stuffed. This was some of the best food we had eaten in the whole of Myanmar. I think Puta cooked it. He sourced it all from the Kalaw market when we got picked up in the morning, so it was fresh! Though we were a bit worried when he told us it was chicken...because we saw loads of flies on the chickens at the markets. But we didn't die! We ate and then played cards, before heading off for another few hours of walking.
The afternoon was a bit harder. It had rained recently and we had to be careful not to slip on the mud. Definitely wear good walking shoes!
The last bit was probably the hardest, but also the most interesting! It was the final part through the mountain, and we had to help a farmer get his buffalo and cart up the hill through the sticky mud. We gave him a push. Ok the boys did....I stood there and watched.
After a long day of walking, we arrived at our little village for the night. We went and organised our hut, and got ready for dinner. It was going to be an early night because there is no electricity, so as soon as its dark its time for bed. That suited us fine though, we were tired after walking 18 kilometres!
The room was pretty basic, with mattresses laid out on the floor. That was all we needed though. And there were lots of blankets around if we got cold. It did feel a bit damp, but hey, you're in a thatched hut, what do you expect?
The room was pretty basic, with mattresses laid out on the floor. That was all we needed though. And there were lots of blankets around if we got cold. It did feel a bit damp, but hey, you're in a thatched hut, what do you expect?
We got changed and 'showered'. There are two local 'showers' in the villages that everyone uses. Each 'shower' is a giant bucket of water in a little wooden room with a curtain. A door would have been nice...Bridget gave a village kid a nice surprise when he jerked open the curtain while she was showering!
My advice - take loads of wet wipes. I used these repeatedly during the trek to mop up my sweat or wipe mud off my legs. And it was nice to be able to freshen up before lunch too. I also used these for a shower.
The worst part of this whole trek for me was the toilet. I'm okay at peeing in squat toilets now...but pooping...pooping is another story. I tried to hold it in, but my stomach was really sore. So I put on my headlamp and headed to the village toilet to give it a go. If only there was a shewee for pooping. A shepoo? I wish I had gone to the gym before we left and had worked on my squats. My legs just couldn't hold me....and having only one hand was a bit of a struggle when it came to holding on. I gave up. I'd try again in the morning (also unsuccessful).
Time for beers! And dinner! And holy moly, I got a 175ml bottle of Mandalay Rum and it was only 80c or something ridiculous. The beers were cheap too. It was heaven.
We sat outside and watched the villagers bring all their buffalos home from farming, before heading inside for dinner.
My advice - take loads of wet wipes. I used these repeatedly during the trek to mop up my sweat or wipe mud off my legs. And it was nice to be able to freshen up before lunch too. I also used these for a shower.
The worst part of this whole trek for me was the toilet. I'm okay at peeing in squat toilets now...but pooping...pooping is another story. I tried to hold it in, but my stomach was really sore. So I put on my headlamp and headed to the village toilet to give it a go. If only there was a shewee for pooping. A shepoo? I wish I had gone to the gym before we left and had worked on my squats. My legs just couldn't hold me....and having only one hand was a bit of a struggle when it came to holding on. I gave up. I'd try again in the morning (also unsuccessful).
Time for beers! And dinner! And holy moly, I got a 175ml bottle of Mandalay Rum and it was only 80c or something ridiculous. The beers were cheap too. It was heaven.
We sat outside and watched the villagers bring all their buffalos home from farming, before heading inside for dinner.
The food was just ridiculous. There was so much of it. It was traditional Myanmar food, and it was delicious. Thankfully it looked like this was not a village that was short in food, or else I would have felt really guilty. So many veges! And there were fries...that was odd.
We headed off to bed after playing some more cards. Puta joined us for a wee while and it was nice to talk to him about his life in Myanmar. He was passionate about Myanmar politics, and it was interesting to hear his views on such a controversial topic, especially given the election had just been.
The next day we woke early and packed up, and began day two. It was a peaceful start to the day, with a low fog hanging around.
The next day we woke early and packed up, and began day two. It was a peaceful start to the day, with a low fog hanging around.
Honestly, the two days kind of merge into one. They were quite similar - walking through mostly farm land. It was great, but I think two days is plenty. Day two is a lot shorter. We finished the walking part by about lunch time. We got to stop at a local school on the way, that was cool to see the kids running around in their crisp white blouses and greek skirts and shorts. I don't know how they keep those shirts so white. I'm constantly puzzled by that in Asia.
Also, be prepared to pay when you enter the Inle Lake area. There is a tourist tax of 12500 Kyat. Make sure you have some cash!
The last hour was the hardest. It was basically a whole lot of climbing down slippery, wet rocks. It was fun...but I was close to falling a couple of times. It would be really easy to roll an ankle so take it slow. I have no pictures of this because I was too busy trying to not seriously injure myself.
We finally reached the end, and sat down at a roadside restaurant for lunch. This was the most rewarding lunch ever!
Also, cats.
The last hour was the hardest. It was basically a whole lot of climbing down slippery, wet rocks. It was fun...but I was close to falling a couple of times. It would be really easy to roll an ankle so take it slow. I have no pictures of this because I was too busy trying to not seriously injure myself.
We finally reached the end, and sat down at a roadside restaurant for lunch. This was the most rewarding lunch ever!
Also, cats.
After lunch we bid farewell to Puta, who did the whole trek in jeans by the way, and were taken to a small boat in the canal which was our ride to our hotel.
Here we got to chill out in the boat for half an hour or so and enjoy the beauty of Inle Lake, before arriving in the lake side town of Nyaung Shwe (which I loved).
Don't miss the Kalaw to Inle Lake trek. It was great to see the countryside. Something like 90% of the Burmese live rurally, so you do get to see the real Myanmar. Unfortunately it is quite touristy, so you don't get that much interaction with the locals. But hey, it's not so touristy that you are constantly hassled to buy things. The boat ride across Inle Lake was the perfect way to end it.
Here we got to chill out in the boat for half an hour or so and enjoy the beauty of Inle Lake, before arriving in the lake side town of Nyaung Shwe (which I loved).
Don't miss the Kalaw to Inle Lake trek. It was great to see the countryside. Something like 90% of the Burmese live rurally, so you do get to see the real Myanmar. Unfortunately it is quite touristy, so you don't get that much interaction with the locals. But hey, it's not so touristy that you are constantly hassled to buy things. The boat ride across Inle Lake was the perfect way to end it.
