Inle Lake made for you

Tucked away under the ‘Blue Mountains’ of the Shan Plateau along the eastern shores of Lake Inle, the Villa Inle Resort offers a private and romantic experience, with some wonderful cultural attractions in the nearby area. The 27 spacious villas of the resort are made to blend in harmoniously with the natural environment, favouring a traditional design and local materials. High ceilings, sweeping silk curtains and expansive teak flooring give these villas a luxurious feel and make for a blissful couple’s hideaway; large bathtubs, private terraces with lake views and soft lighting complete the experience. This resort also proudly participates in a conservation programme, planting trees in the nearby area, using recycled materials wherever possible and growing their own organic plants for use in the kitchen.

Take a boat ride and a wander along wooden walkways, past gurgling streams, to reach your hillside villa here at the peaceful Pristine Lotus. Strewn throughout verdant gardens which creep down into the lake, the blissful villas are accompanied by a natural spa and a teak-canopied restaurant. Enjoy splendid views from your private balcony and bundles of space with your own unique attic room. All standalone villas are furnished to a high standard with teakwood and designer furniture of four poster beds plus handcrafted indigenous touches. The top-class Padonna Lotus Spa uses healing and relaxing therapies to create a haven of rejuvenation, while the restaurant, which is beautifully lit up at night, serves an array of Asian and European dishes. What’s more, the terrace makes the perfect place for a spot of afternoon tea.

Located in Maing Thauk Village, half of which is set on dry land while the other half sits on stilts over the waters on Inle Lake, the Inle Sanctum Resort blends a minimalist monastic style with all manner of modern comforts. 96 bedrooms range from stand-alone villas located in the resort grounds to rooms within the main building. All are beautifully designed featuring natural wood floors, high ceilings and spacious bathrooms. The Cloister is part-bar, part-lounge, serving traditional favourites and a wide selection of Myanmar-brewed beers or enjoy an afternoon cocktail, whilst The Refectory serves a delicious menu from noodles to fresh garden salads, taking inspiration from traditional Myanmar dishes. After a day exploring the lake and its fascinating surroundings, the Sanctuary Spa offers a chance to fully unwind with a range of treatments and therapies.

Found on the eastside of Inle Lake, this traditionally designed resort houses idyllic wooden chalets with magnificently scenic views. While some look out to the flourishing garden and others overlook the mountains, many of the rooms enjoy lovely lake terraces where you can sit back and watch fisherman pass by. Besides scenic vistas, the accommodation also provides cosy comfort thanks to fireplaces and lots of mod cons. All culinary tastes are covered here with the restaurant serving a range of Chinese, vegetarian, European, Thai and traditional Shan dishes. However for a truly atmospheric experience, you can dine in the resort’s wine cave where an Inle Long Boat acts as a table and romantic seclusion is perfectly created. With an on-site artisan’s village there’s heaps to get involved with at this environmentally conscious property. Try your hand at Shan Paper making, wood carving or meditation – what’s more the lake offers plenty to do and the town of Nyaung Shwe is just a twenty minute boat ride away.

Off the tourist track, Inle Heritage Stilt is a boutique retreat located in the heart of the lake community, run by a not-for-profit organisation that strives to preserve the cultural and natural wealth of the Inle region. There are six bungalows beautifully integrated into their surroundings. Rooms are built on stilts in the middle of the magnificent lake and furnished with traditional Shan paper and locally woven fabrics, all surrounded by organic vegetable gardens. A private deck gives a prime view of Inle’s spectacular sunsets, while a wooden walkway connects the rooms to the renowned restaurant and lounge. Here you can dine on wonderful Inthar and Shan cuisine for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, where old family recipes are given modern twists, all made with fresh produce from the gardens and neighbouring farms. It has been built to the highest environmental standard and water is heated by solar energy, and while there are modern conveniences and comforts such as Wi-Fi, the aim is to keep guests in contact with the diverse cultures found on and around the lake’s waters. You can learn about traditional fishing techniques and efforts to preserve the practice and the lake’s endemic wildlife, take a cooking class, and even meet pure breed Burmese cats who are being reintroduced to their homeland.