Becky is an avid rock climber and outdoor enthusiast and is now living in France as an expat. When she is not writing about travel gear and various destinations she has visited during her travels, you can find her playing with her two dogs.
The Inle Lake region is one of Myanmar’s most hyped up destinations. However, unlike many top sites, Inle Lake always lives up to its expectations. Imagine a vast, idyllic lake lined with marshes and floating gardens. Home to stilt-house villages and Buddhist temples rising above the water, you will see a whole community of Intha fisherfolk getting around by boat. If this isn’t fascinating enough, the colorful floating markets are a must visit. Local people from the surrounding hill tribes descend into the town for the markets so it is a real cultural and fascinating experience. To help you experience the best of Inle Lake, we’ve put together a list of the best hotels and hostels.
The Song of Travel Hostel is the friendliest, comfiest and most chilled out hostel you will ever stay at, even if you’ve stayed in your fair share of hostels! This huge hostel is fairly new with a super cool backpacker community. The staff are ridiculously friendly, knowing everybody by name and they set up activities every night for travellers to mix and have fun. The dorm rooms are just as modern, with all bunks having their own power sockets, reading lights and private curtains. As if this wasn’t enough, the hostel also offers a trendy rooftop lounging area, free bikes to rent and a complimentary breakfast! (Prices start at $15 a night for a bed in a dorm)
Bright Hotel is very basic but has everything you need at a budget price. Located just a 5 minute walk from Nyaung Shwe Jetty, you are close to Inle lake as well as the local village market. As well as localization, the hotel should also be praised for its service. The staff are very attentive, making sure that the rooms are kept clean and that you enjoy your homemade breakfast (they have pancakes!). Rooms are simple but large and comfortable, complete with powerful fans and good WI-FI. (Prices start at $10 a night for a dorm bed)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
Although one of the cheapest stays in Niang Shew, Manaw Thukha Hotel provides you with high quality and comfort. Each accommodation unit at the hotel is equipped with big rooms, complete with AC and private en-suites. The rooms are also quite colourful with a very country-feel to the decoration. Located just a 10 minute walk from town, you can spend your days at the Nyaung Shwe Market or exploring the beautiful scenery at the lake. The hotel offers free bike rental for a fun way to get around! (Prices start at $9 a night for a dorm bed)
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The Inle Apex Hotel is a great affordable option for accommodation by Inle Lake. The hotel has recently been refurbished so both outside and in are in great condition, yet the furnishings are still traditional. This is especially true for the charming rooms; each room is spacious with comfortable beds and rattan furniture, which will make you feel at home. The staff will also make you feel like family, whether they are helping you organise boat tours and taxis at a local price or bringing you drinks while you watch the sunset on the roof terrace. (Prices start at $35 a night for a standard double or twin room)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
Yar Pyae Hotel
Room Type:Â Standard|Superior|Double|Twin Rooms
WI-FI: Yes
Near:Â Hlaing Gu Kyaung
Price Range: $30-35 a night
For a more central location, Yar Pyae Hotel is situated in town just off the main street. Here you get all the benefits of being close to Inle Lake, the Aye Tharyar Golf Course and Nyaung Shwe Market, while also benefiting from the peacefulness of the countryside. The hotel has a very relaxed atmosphere, the highlight being the rooftop bar where you can kick back and have a drink. It also offers bike rental at $1/day, an a la carte breakfast and help to arrange boat trips and night buses. The rooms here are comfortable with almost a nautical theme about them. The highlight is the big door that leads to your private balcony! (Prices start at $30 a night for a standard double or twin room)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
If you see a big cabin on stilts in the centre of a village, you’ve reached The Manor Hotel! A beautiful building with great character, the hotel and rooms are kitted out with soft wooden furnishings that make the term ‘glamping’ come to mind. The rooms are like sizeable cabins themselves, with minimal wood furnishings, a comfortable bed and en-suite. Being located in a village, you are never far away from great local restaurants and bars, and the impressive Mingala Market. To explore further you can hire a bike or car from the hotel. (Prices start at $30 a night for a standard double or twin room)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
Best Luxurious Places to Stay in Inle Lake, Myanmar
If you’re looking for true luxury by Inle Lake or want to splurge after the long hike from Kalaw? ViewPoint Lodge & Fine Cuisines will give you exactly what you need. Located 15 minutes away from Inle Lake by boat, this truly unique hotel is suspended over water. The cottages at the hotel, linked by a bridge, have a lot of character with impressive interior architecture and private balconies. Being so close to where the Inle Lake boat tours start, you can organise your trip earlier so that you beat the crowds! As well as the rooms and the beautiful and quiet location, the main luxury is the Burmese food. Whether you fancy local, French or Western, the food and local wine is outstanding! (Prices start at $130 a night for a superior double or twin room)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
If you want a luxury hotel where you can really chill out, Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort should be at the top of your list. Suspended over water with its bungalows linked by a bridge, the rooms facing outwards have stunning views of Inle Lake. Each spacious bungalow offers rustic-style rooms and private balconies with a view (sunset is particularly stunning!). After a long day of site seeing you can kick back in the outdoor pool, take a trip to the spa centre or relax in your private bathtub. If this bewildering place still hasn’t captured your heart, then maybe its location will. You are only 15 minutes away from The Floating Market of Heya Ywama Village! (Prices start at $95 a night for a deluxe double or twin room)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
A peaceful retreat, Inle Lake View Resort & Spa is accessible only via canal. Set amongst the lush greenery of Nyaung Shwe with the backdrop of rolling mountains, you can’t get much more private than this! To get around, the staff will help you plan your day depending on what’s going on and where, and you can even hire a boatman for the day for your own private tour! With days filled with sightseeing and canoeing, you can come back to the resort for a soothing massage or relax in your room with stunning lake views. The suites in the resort are lavish, yet still providing a comfortable and cosy feel. (Prices start at $200 a night for a deluxe double room)
To compare prices and read reviews, check:  Booking.com | Agoda
