Overview

Lose yourself in the hinterland of Myanmar with lush local flora and fauna, and exquisite views of the countryside. Our Myanmar cycling, boat and nature tour feeds off the stunning natural beauty of this country, with hand-selected routes that will challenge and relax you. Push yourself on the off-road cycling track as our guide takes you through the country to traditional villages that have stood the test of time for decades. Life hasn’t changed there for a while and you are guaranteed to find some respite from the hectic city life you left behind. Farming, fishing ​and local workshops and factories offer an insight into the way of life here at Lake Inle. There will be time to rest and relax on the boat rides across the placid water body. Soak in the beautiful backdrop of the Shan hills in the distance and observe traditional stilt homes and peculiar fishing methods. Our Myanmar cycling, boat and nature tour also includes a taste of heritage and history with a visit to the region’s holiest religious site. From beautiful statues and ancient pagodas to delicious local snacks and food, we give you a true taste of Myanmar at Pro Vacation.

6 Nights 7 Days Available on request He Hoe, Shan
Inclusions/Exclusions
What we'll give. What we won't

What is included in the tour

  • Air-conditioned transfers and entrance fees as mentioned
  • Local guides fluent in English for tours
  • Cycles, boat fees, potable water and wet towels
  • Baggage handling, room tax, service charges

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Domestic flights, sedan chair to ascend/descend mountain
  • Visas, travel insurance and personal expenses
  • Throughout guide surcharges (any language)
  • Alcohol and any meals or services not mentioned in the schedule
  • Peak season compulsory gala dinners
Highlights
What makes this tour special
  • Tranquil getaway in pleasant climate
  • Off-road countryside cycling tour
  • Insight into traditional crafts and occupations
  • Visit to ancient pagodas and tribal villages
  • Kayaking on Lake Inle
Itinerary
Day 1: Heho - Lake Inle
  • You will be transferred from Heho airport to your accommodation for the day, and after quickly freshening up, we will drive you to the meeting point for your bike tour. Here, at Nyaung Shwe’s GH bike station, our guide will assist you with a fitting and safety briefing before leading you out of town.
  • The Lake Inle cycling tour begins on an easy surface taking you inland on tarred roads for about 3kms. From here, the trail veers off road to narrow lanes that demand a bit of confidence on your wheels. Still, this challenge makes the trail ride very exciting. As you attempt this, don’t miss out on the amazing natural beauty that surrounds you. 
  • The locals grow seasonal crops and many other occupational activities also change depending on time of year. You could witness anything from harvesting and milling of rice, making of rice crackers or molasses, tofu factories, baking and rice alcohol distilling. Along the way, our guide will lead you to a local restaurant for authentic Shan food and drink as your mid-morning snack.
  • A little later, we will put your cycles on a boat and head 20 minutes away for a tour around the countryside to take in the villages and paddy fields. You will enjoy a 40-minute boat ride before a sumptuous lunch. Now, our Myanmar boating tour brings you to a quiet space on Lake Inle where you can spend time kayaking and exploring the area. At any time, you can return to the accompanying long-tail boat for a rest.
  • We then head back to your hotel in the long-tail boat. Your accommodation for the night is a Deluxe Room at Golden Island Cottages in Nampan or a similar property in the vicinity.
  • Meals: Lunch is provided
  • Note: Helmets, padded riding gloves, water bottles, local snacks and lunch are provided. These tours run through the year so during the monsoons it can get quite wet and/or muddy. It is best to carry a change of clothes.
Day 2: Lake Inle - Indaing
  • Here at Lake Inle, you will find the weather most pleasant and the Intha tribe living in the area dot the landscape with their stilt homes, floating vegetable gardens and canoes. In the background, the Shan Hills rise and they form a beautiful picture of tranquility.
  • Look out for the Intha folk as skim across the water in their traditional flat bottomed boats, propelling themselves along with a unique form of leg rowing. Lunch is served at Golden Kite restaurant in Indaing.
  • A picturesque afternoon awaits on a long-tailed boat to Indaing and the western end of this beautiful water body. You will pass the lake’s largest village - Ywama - with its numerous channels and stilt houses made of local teak. As you drift through a canal bordered by trees, a stunning scene appears of farmers going about their daily work against the majestic backdrop of the Shan Hills.
  • We take you to the jetty at Indaing, from where a 15-minute walk brings you to the village proper. Ruins from the 14th-18th century Nyaung Ohak pagoda are visible here, and other ancient sites add a certain charm to the area, left as they are with plants and even small trees pressing through their structure. Head to Shwe Inn Thein Paya through a shaded walkway bordered by souvenir stalls, to see a zedi complex comprising centuries-old structures and several new ones. After your return to the jetty, we take you back to your hotel by boat.
  • Your accommodation for the night is a Deluxe Room at Golden Island Cottage at Nampan or a similar property in the vicinity.
  • Meals: Lunch is provided
Day 3: Lake Inle
  • Connect with heritage with a visit (if it coincides with the schedule) to the five-da y rotating market where ethnic Pa O, Danu and Intha people conduct their trade. You will see how the Intha grow fruit and vegetables on floating gardens and learn how they fish and lead their lives. Your guide may also lead you to Paukpar, a pretty village that offers some very symmetrical pictures owing to its bamboo homes built in neat rows. You may get the opportunity to visit a local family to taste some delicious Shan tea. A hearty spread awaits for lunch at Green Chilli Restaurant.
  • Today’s tour also includes a stop at the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda, where five Buddha statues are covered in gold, and you can observe locals praying in the region’s holiest religious site. One interesting site not to miss is the Intha Heritage House, where a colony of privately-owned Burmese cats live. The gorgeous creatures were once owned by royal families and those who looked after Myanmar’s temples.
  • In Nampan and Inpawkhon villages by the lakeside, you can watch the traditional way of making boats and weaving silk using wooden looms. A visit to a cheroot workshop and a blacksmith’s forge along the way will give you an insight into the occupations followed by locals for decades. Along the way, we will stop by Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, the oldest monastery on the lake with statues that are hundreds of years old.
  • Meals: Lunch is provided
Day 4: Lake Inle - Heho
  • A picturesque boat ride takes you from your hotel back to Heho where you can catch your outbound flight.
  • Meals: Breakfast in provided

Points To Note

  • December 15 - January 15, and April 13-17 is peak season. There may be additional charges during Christmas, New Year and the Water Festival
  • You will be notified of compulsory gala dinner charges when booking
  • Hotel prices can be adjusted for higher or lower categories on request. Featured hotels are subject to availability during booking, and you will be notified of any deposits when booking
  • Domestic airfares quoted based on averages and are subject to change. The most convenient flight is booked and final price confirmed once tickets are issued based on class of seat and availability
Pickup point
Directions.
Heho, Myanmar (Burma) View on Map