Top places to visit in Nyaungshwe

• Inle Lake Boat Experience

  lake boat tour · 4.8 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  The iconic experience of Inle Lake — a full-day boat trip through the floating gardens, stilt-house villages, and weaving workshops. Watch one-legged Intha fishermen cast their distinctive conical nets at dawn.

• Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

  lake pagoda · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Inle Lake's most sacred shrine — a floating pagoda housing five ancient Buddha images so heavily gilded by centuries of devotees that they have lost all recognisable form, now resembling golden pumpkins.

• Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery

  stilt monastery · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A beautiful teak monastery built entirely on stilts over the lake, home to a colony of cats trained by monks to leap through hoops. The real draw is the superb collection of ancient Shan Buddha images in distinctive styles.

• Indein Pagoda Complex

  pagoda ruins · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  A hillside complex of hundreds of ancient and overgrown stupas shrouded in jungle at the southwest end of Inle Lake. The crumbling mossy pagodas create an extraordinarily atmospheric tableau, especially in morning mist.

• Intha Floating Gardens

  floating agriculture · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Ingenious plots of tomatoes, flowers, and vegetables cultivated on weed and soil mats anchored in the lake, tended by Intha farmers who pole their boats between the rows. A working agricultural system unlike anything else in the world.

• Red Mountain Estate Winery

  winery · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Southeast Asia's most scenic wineries — built on a hillside above Inle Lake with vine-covered terraces and panoramic lake views. The Shan Hills microclimate produces surprisingly good Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.

• Ywama Floating Market

  Market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

• Maing Thauk Village

  Cultural · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

• Nampan Village

  Cultural · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

• Kaung Daing Hot Spring

  Activity · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

• Yadana Man Aung Pagoda

  Temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

• In Dein Five-Day Market

  Market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

Things to do

• Kalaw to Inle Lake 3-Day Village Trek Hiking · 72 h · from MMK 265,000 per person
• Inle Lake Leg-Rower Boat Full-Day Tour Boat · 8 h · from MMK 61,800 per person
• Indein Ancient Stupas & Shan Village Trek Hiking · 5 h · from MMK 48,500 per person
• Red Mountain Estate Winery Sunset Food Drink · 2 h · from MMK 77,200 per person
• Inle Floating Gardens Kayak Water Sports · 3 h · from MMK 70,600 per person

Day trips and tours

• Inle Lake & Stupa Forest Full Day 10 h · from MMK 121,000
• Inle Kayak, Winery & Sunset 8 h · from MMK 150,000

Where to stay in Nyaungshwe

• Nyaungshwe Town about MMK 3,500 per night

  The compact, bike-friendly canal town at the northern tip of Inle Lake is where most travellers base themselves. Dozens of guesthouses and restaurants line the waterways; boat jetties are 5 minutes' walk.

• Inle Lake East Shore about MMK 14,000 per night

  A handful of over-water lodges on stilts offer a direct lake experience with panoramic views of the Shan mountains. Far fewer facilities than Nyaungshwe town but incomparable atmosphere.

Hotels

• Viewpoint Lodge 4-star · MMK 80,000 to MMK 180,000 per night
• Princess Garden Hotel 3-star · MMK 40,000 to MMK 80,000 per night
• Aquarius Inn 2-star · MMK 18,000 to MMK 35,000 per night

Where to eat

• Viewpoint Lodge Restaurant Burmese, Shan · about MMK 12,000 per person
• Green Chilli Restaurant Shan, Burmese · about MMK 3,500 per person
• Thu Maung Restaurant Burmese, Shan · about MMK 4,000 per person
• Inle Heritage Cooking School & Restaurant Burmese, Shan · about MMK 15,000 per person

Getting to Nyaungshwe

Airport: Inle Lake (HEH)

How visitors arrive in Nyaungshwe

• Long-distance bus from Yangon By road from Yangon · common

  Coaches run overland from Yangon to the lake town, usually as an overnight journey. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Long-distance bus from Mandalay By road from Mandalay · common

  Coaches also connect Mandalay with the Inle Lake area. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Fly to Heho, then road transfer By air from Heho · common

  Heho is the closest airport; visitors continue to Nyaungshwe by taxi, often arranged through a guesthouse. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Shwenyaung By train from Shwenyaung · possible

  The nearest station is Shwenyaung; onward travel to the lake is by bus, pick-up or taxi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Pick-up truck from Taunggyi By road from Taunggyi · possible

  Local pick-up trucks link Taunggyi with the lake town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Heho airport

  Heho is the nearest airport, a drive away from Nyaungshwe. Taxis are often shared with other travellers or booked through a guesthouse in advance. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• A government Inle Lake entry fee is collected from visitors on arrival, often at the airport or bus station. Keep the ticket. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bicycle

  Bicycles can be hired in town and used to tour the nearby villages, or for a day trip to the hot springs.

• Boat main way to get around

  Boats are the main way to see Inle Lake, arranged through guesthouses and agencies or chartered directly with stops agreed in advance.

• Motorbike Rental
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Boat tour price inflation

  Nyaungshwe canal jetty

  Touts quote one price for an Inle Lake boat tour and then request more money mid-trip, citing extra stops, fuel costs or "temple fees" not mentioned before.

  How to avoid it: Agree on the total price in writing (or very clearly) before boarding. Carry the correct amount in kyat and do not pay more than agreed. Most legitimate operators are transparent.

• Winery commission circuit

  Nyaungshwe town and surrounding roads

  Motorbike taxi or bicycle rental shop operators steer tourists to the winery or workshops where they earn referral fees, inflating the tour cost or overcharging at the destination.

  How to avoid it: Book Red Mountain Estate directly. The winery is well-signposted and reachable independently by bicycle or motorbike in 20 minutes. No guide is needed.

Best time to visit Nyaungshwe

• Jan 25°C
• Feb 28°C
• Mar 31°C
• Apr 32°C
• May 30°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 27°C
• Aug 27°C
• Sep 28°C
• Oct 27°C
• Nov 26°C
• Dec 25°C

More in Myanmar

• Bagan
• Yangon
• Mandalay
• Kyaiktiyo
• Ngapali
• Hpa-An

Frequently asked questions about Nyaungshwe

How many days do you need in Nyaungshwe?

A typical trip to Nyaungshwe is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Nyaungshwe?

The highest-rated places in our Nyaungshwe guide are Inle Lake Boat Experience, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Indein Pagoda Complex, Intha Floating Gardens, Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery.

Where should I stay in Nyaungshwe?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nyaungshwe: Nyaungshwe Town, Inle Lake East Shore.

How do I get around Nyaungshwe?

Ways to get around Nyaungshwe covered in our guide: Bicycle, Boat, Motorbike rental, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Nyaungshwe?

Scams reported to us for Nyaungshwe include Boat tour price inflation; Winery commission circuit. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Nyaungshwe?

Average daytime highs in Nyaungshwe run from 25°C in Dec to 32°C in Apr.

Which airport is nearest to Nyaungshwe?

The nearest airport to Nyaungshwe has the code HEH.