Inle Lake

Inle Lake is a large freshwater lake in Myanmar’s Shan State, renowned for its floating villages, gardens and unique leg-rowing fishermen. The lake sits at roughly 880 meters elevation and covers an area of about 116 square kilometers.

The lake basin is home to the Intha people for centuries; a long-standing freshwater fishing and farming culture developed on the lake’s floating gardens. Modern tourism expanded from the late 20th century, centered on boat-based visits and local crafts.

Inle Lake lies in southern Shan State, accessible via the nearby town of Nyaung Shwe which serves as the main gateway for visitors and boat departures.

• Size and access: The lake sits at about 880 meters above sea level and covers roughly 116 square kilometers, requiring boat travel between most sites.
• Market schedule and transport: Local markets rotate among lakeside towns on a multi-day schedule; boat trips are the standard way to move around and visit attractions.

What to See #

• Floating gardens: Extensive floating gardens where vegetables are cultivated on buoyant beds and supplied to lake communities year-round.
• Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda: A principal pilgrimage site that houses five small gold-covered images and is the focus of an annual pagoda festival.
• Inle stilt villages and markets: A stilt-village cluster with narrow channels, traditional wooden houses and a local market frequented by Intha and Pa-O communities.