Directions to Inle Lake and Nyaung Shwe, Myanmar

Directions to Inle Lake and Nyaung Shwe, Myanmar

A quick and easy guide on how to get to Inle Lake from Yangon, Mandalay or Bagan. This guide will also help you plan other transportation options and itineraries in Myanmar.

Located in the Shan Hills of Myanmar, Inle Lake attracts visitors from far and wide for its unique and authentic cultural charm. From the capital Nyaung Shwe, visitors can explore vast floating communities and admire the bamboo houses on stilts and stunning floating gardens.

Inle Lake is truly a cultural gem of Myanmar, which is also home to one of the world's most unique lake settlements. The fishermen of Intha practice their bizarrely efficient leg-rowing techniques as they propel their boats across the lake, past bustling floating markets and fields of golden towers that dominate the distant shores.

Backpackers and travelers looking for an authentic Southeast Asia destination will appreciate the fact that Myanmar is still a relatively unexplored wonder that has yet to fully feel the pressures of mass tourism. However, you may have noticed that this doesn't make getting from A to B as easy or convenient. Well, at least if you don't know where to start.

alt="INLE LAKE MARKETS">
alt="PAGODA AT INLE LAKE, MYANMAR">
alt="INLE LAKE BOAT, NYAUNG SHWE">

How to get to Inle Lake

So, what are the best options to get to Inle Lake? The cheapest and easiest way is to take an intercity bus. Luckily, there are several well-connected bus routes to Inle Lake, departing from popular hubs throughout Myanmar.

Alternatively, you can take a domestic flight to Heho Airport. However, this airport is a 1-hour taxi ride from Nyaung Shwe and Inle Lake. Airport taxis are also usually expensive, costing an additional 25,000 kyat.

So if you don't have much time or are just not a fan of long journeys then I would recommend taking a bus.
alt=“FLOATING BOAT MARKETS ON INLE LAKE, MYANMAR”>Floating markets on Inle Lake

RELATED: Inle Lake Boat Trip – Everything You Need to Know

Backpacker option: Getting around Myanmar by bus

Again, the best way to get to Inle Lake and all of Myanmar in general is by intercity buses. I strongly recommend taking the night buses on “VIP” liners for a cheap and comfortable trip.

In this guide, I will detail how to get to Inle Lake from most of the popular ports of entry in Myanmar using one of the best online transportation resources. BookAway.

BookAway works with local transport agents and networks to list and compare the best ground transport options. This meant that I could find the best prices for buses and also plan my route flexibly without the risk of being slapped with a “tourist tax” by some opportunistic booking agencies.

One advantage of BookAway in Myanmar is that they can connect you with local buses, meaning you will always get the local price and can share the ride with locals as well as other tourists.

You know me by now, I always prefer local transport to an organized tour. So the ability to check, compare and independently book local transport in Myanmar online was a no-brainer for me.

Private transportation to Inle Lake

Honestly, I found most intercity buses in Myanmar to be surprisingly comfortable and spacious. This was particularly true compared to some in India and Sri Lanka.

But if you're still not convinced, you can also use BookAway to find private transfers to Inle Lake as well as many other destinations in Myanmar.

These private transportation options are typically minivans that can accommodate up to 9 people. These can also be quite affordable when shared among a large group.

I have found that private vans are usually less comfortable compared to long-distance buses in Myanmar. This is certainly the case if you choose the “VIP” buses for the few dollars more.

Domestic flights in Myanmar

If you don't feel like taking long bus rides, you can also take domestic flights. Typically, flights from one city to another in Myanmar cost between $70 and $120.

However, you must take into account that airports are usually a good distance from the main tourist centers. This means you will also need to consider additional airport buses, taxis or a Grab to reach your final destination.
alt="INLE LAKE PAGODA">

Bus routes to Inle Lake

Below I've summarized everything you need to know about getting to Inle Lake from most tourist and transportation hubs in Myanmar.

While there are several options to choose from, be sure to check what's included in your fare before booking. On most long-distance and overnight buses in Myanmar you can usually expect:

• Liegesitze
• Klimaanlage
• Decken (manchmal – warme Kleidung mitbringen)
• Wasserflasche
• Freigepäck (in der Regel nicht zu streng, mit ausreichend Stauraum für Rucksäcke und Koffer im Untergestell)

Arrival from Yangon to Inle Lake

Yangon is one of the first destinations on most Myanmar trips as it is well connected to several international airports in Asia.

For this reason, several night and day buses run from Aung Mingalar Bus Station in Yangon to Inle Lake. This trip usually takes about 12 hours and covers an overland distance of 570 km to reach Inle Lake.

One thing you need to consider when planning a trip from Yangon to Inle Lake is that it can take up to an hour to reach this depot from the city, and sometimes even longer during rush hour.

Remember that if you take a night bus that leaves at 7 or 8 p.m., allow at least 2 hours to get to Aung Mingalar Station.

Tip: There are local shared minibuses that run from Sula Pagoda to Aung Mingalar for around 2000 kyat.

I have had good experiences with JJ Express. The bus was clean, the seats were wide and the air conditioning was cool. I paid about 26,000 Kyat for the trip.
alt="INLE LAKE SUNSET">

Arrival from Mandalay to Inle Lake

Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city and the ancient royal capital of the Konbaung Dynasty, is another must-visit destination close to several waterfalls and unmissable pagoda wonders.

Getting to Inle Lake from Mandalay is another popular travel route to Myanmar, departing from Chan Mya Shwe Pyi Highway Station. Although this bus stop is much closer to most hotels and hostels in Mandalay than the one in Yangon, I would still allow at least an hour to get here by taxi, Grab or motorbike taxi.

Most buses run overnight and take approximately 11 hours and cover a total distance of almost 300 km.

I actually did this part of the trip in reverse, again using JJ Express, which cost me about 23,000 Kyat.
alt=“INLE LAKE MARKETS”>Markets on Inle Lake

Arrival from Bagan to Inle Lake

Bagan is perhaps the most scenic and epic place to explore in Myanmar.

A common travel route for Myanmar is to travel from Mandalay > Bagan > Inle Lake > Yangon, meaning there are numerous overland options to get from Bagan to Inle Lake.

All Bagan long-distance buses depart from Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Station, which is just 10-15 minutes from New Bagan. It is possible to walk this route, but most people take a taxi or motorbike taxi.

The drive from Bagan to Inle Lake takes approximately 7 hours over 330 km. Additionally, there are usually both night and day options to choose from.

If you can't tell, I've had great experiences with JJ Express buses and have no problem recommending them. Again I decided to book one of their overnight buses from Bagan to Inle Lake.

Tip: The bus ride from Bagan to Inle Lake is a little shorter than the others. This may mean a very early arrival in Nyaung Shwe. Consider booking an accommodation that includes early check-in or one that lets you sleep in the common area.
alt="INLE LAKE BOATS">

Inle Zone Tourist Fee

Similar to Bagan, entering the Inle Lake area requires paying a tourist fee. This will be collected at a checkpoint outside Nyaung Shwe. Your bus driver will stop here and a pickup person will board the bus and ask you to pay for the entrance fee.

INLE ZONE FEE: All international tourists must pay an Inle Zone fee of 15,000 Myanmar Kyat (±10 USD).

Remember, this fee goes a long way to supporting Inle Lake communities.
alt="TRADITIONAL INLE LAKE BOATS">

Overnight accommodation in Nyaung Shwe and Inle Lake

Now that you've arrived in Nyaung Shwe, it's time to book accommodation. Below are some of the best places to stay on Inle Lake.

• Viewpoint EcoLodge – Dieses erstaunliche schwimmende Hotel ist eine der besten Möglichkeiten, um in den Inle-See und die wunderschöne Flussstadt Nyaung Shwe einzutauchen.
• Spring Lodge Inle – Dies ist eines der am besten bewerteten Hotels am Inle-See. Ganz in der Nähe des Mingala-Marktes ist dieses Hostel ideal für größere Zimmer mit Klimaanlage und gutem WLAN.
• Sanctun Inle Resort – Für diejenigen, die das Beste vom Besten wollen, ist das Sanctun Inle Resort unschlagbar. Dies wird als eines der besten Resorts in Myanmar eingestuft und es ist nicht schwer zu verstehen, warum.

alt="River hotel with pool">

More Myanmar travel guides and blogs

I hope this guide was helpful in answering your questions about getting to Inle Lake. If you have any questions or updated information, please help other travelers by leaving a comment below.

For now, check out more Myanmar travel and adventure guides from the list below.

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