Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TREKKING TO INLE LAKE
If there's one must-do activity in Eastern Myanmar, it's taking a
multi-day trek
from
Kalaw to Inle Lake. Even more enjoyable than taking a boat ride on the lake itself, it'll
give you a gentle workout, striking countryside views and a peek into minority culture, all
in one. While it's quite possible to walk from the lake to Kalaw, almost nobody does it this
way - heading from west to east, it's downhill most of the way, and you get the lake as a
reward at the end.
ARRANGING A TRIP
come with a guide, super-simple village or farmhouse accommodation (the monastery
manyoperatorsonceusedgetswaytoobusythesedays,andisnolongerapleasantplaceto
sleep), and three meals per full day. Your main choice will be whether to plump for a
two-
or
three-day
trip; these are essentially identical bar the first day of the three-day course,
with those on two-day trips usually taken by vehicle to the trailhead. Some operators have
four-day options, though three is enough for most travellers. Also think about where you'd
like to
finish
the trip; there are numerous termination points on the western side of Inle
Lake.
Prices
vary depending upon how many there are in your group; agencies will usually
be able to lump you in with others, or you could try hunting trek-mates at your hotel or
Kalaw's restaurants. Figure on K12,000-16,000 per person per day, and ask whether your
fee includes the boat ride across the lake (K15,000-18,000, depending on places visited
on the way across), the transport of baggage (typically K3000 per person) and the Inle en-
trance fee (K10,000). The walk is long but pretty easy, so all you need is decent
footwear
- in the dry season, it's just about possible to make the trek in flip-flops. Also useful are
a
hat
,
sunblock
and
mosquito repellent
(the area was malaria-free at the time of writing,
but better safe than sorry). Lastly, a
torch
comes in handy when making night-time toilet
visits, and you'll need a
towel
to dry yourself after what passes for a shower in these parts.
THE WALK
Those on three-day courses will spend their
firstday
on a semicircular route around town.
This contains the only real forest on the trail, a small section that's only ever tricky after
rain. Once through this, you'll emerge into a swathe of tea plantations, and weave from
village to village along country trails -
Pa-O
and
Danu
people are most numerous in this
area. The
second day
(or the first, if you're on a two-day trip) is mostly flat, with more
villagestovisitandplentyofagriculturalactivitytospot:rice,chilli,sesameandpotatoare
among the crops grown in these parts, though if you're lucky you may be able to cull your
own tasty treat from a tamarind tree or sugar-cane patch. The
final day
sees the big drop
