High end luxury hotels and resorts in Inle

Hotels and resorts in Inle Lake tend to be high-end and expensive. Most of them are in the range of US$ 30 – 60 while a few are as expensive as US$ 150 or more. All hotels are built on stilts like floating villages over Inle Lake. They are in the quiet isolated places and quite far away from Nyaungshwe, thus best suited to the travelers who like a tranquil life far away from busy town life. All the hotels have their own web pages and can be booked online. Reservation is recommended especially in the high season as rooms are filled up quite easily during peak tourist season.

Golden Island Cottages

There are two Golden Island Cottages in Inle Lake, one near the village of Nampan and the other near the village of Tale U. The Golden Island Cottage is, according to Lonely Planet Guide Book, the equivalent of “prime beach-front property”. Golden Island Cottages Nampan occupies 10 acres of water over Inle Lake. All the rooms are single bungalows built of bamboo. Newer bungalows are built of wood and are better value than the older bamboo bungalows. The resort has a fantastic and unobstructed view of Inle Lake and surrounding mountains on both sides of the lake. There is also a swimming area with sandy bottom. Newly built resort at Tale U village is quieter as it is closer to the shore and out of main route for motor-boats in the lake. Both resorts run trekking tours and trips to Kakku and Sankar. The resorts have an affordable (but not cheap) restaurant that serves delicious Shan, Chinese and Pa-O dishes.

The Golden Island Cottages are the effort of the Pa-O co-operative and the profit is used for the development of the Pa-O Community living on and around the Lake.

Price starts at US$ 35. Contact at 081-23136 (Taunggyi, Shan State), 01-549-019 (Yangon), 081-29550, 29552 (Nampan, Shan State), 081-29389, 29702 (Tale U); email: gicinle@myanmar.com.mm. Website: www.gicmyanmar.com.

Inle Princess Resort and Hotel

The most expensive and the most luxurious hotel in Inle Lake region, Inle Prince Resort is the honeymoon material. The individual bungalows have been designed with maximum attention to every detail. Privacy is also a very important issue in the design of the individual bungalows, with each individual bungalow providing maximum privacy to the guest. Interior is designed to give maximum comfort and experience to the guests. Some bungalows have outdoor all-stone showers and baths, while more expensive bungalows have lake views, sun decks and cushioned lounge chairs, while less expensive ones have garden view.

The resort also runs a restaurant which serves delicious, but quite expensive, Western, Chinese and Shan dishes. The dining room is designed after the monastery building in Kengtung.

A few comments on Trip Advisor:

“The Resort is really nice, we stayed in a villa with a view to the lake. The sunset is fantastic and the best choice after is a nice dinner and a drink in the hotel bar because these are the only things you can do here (not even telly in the rooms).”

“The hotel management offers you ear-plugs because the monks use loudspeakers day and night, non stopping. The management argue that the hotel cannot stop real life in the area, and they are right, but I would suggest that they invest in better shutters for the windows.”

“Fantastic beautiful hotel. Secluded and quiet. The perfect place to escape and relaxation. Motorized boats are prohibited near the hotel. Elegant and good spa. A good restaurant, especially a dessert of gingko. An excellent service. Large selection of music from CD directly in the room. We are ecstatic!”

The resort can be contacted at 081-29055 (Inle, Nyaungshwe, Shan State) or 01-211-226. Price starts at US$ 160.

Royal Orchid Hotel

This hotel is situated in Khaung Daing on the north western part of the Lake. The resort comprised of 20 spacious, quiet and tranquil bungalows with private facilities and great view of the lake. The resort is situated 50m from the bank of the lake with 4 standards, 14 superior and 3 deluxe rooms. Each room has satellite television, mini-bar and IDD telephones. The restaurant offers delicious Myanmar (Burmese), Shan, Chinese, Thai and European food. Price starts at US$ 25. Contact at 081-23182 (Inle, Nyaungshwe, Shan State).

Shwe Intha Floating Resort

This floating resort hotel has 37 bungalows, each with individual hot-shower and bath room. Each bungalow is quite spacious and interior designed with traditional Myanmar and Shan arts. A new swimming pool, the first in Inle Lake region was recently opened at the resort. The restaurant serves Shan, Chinese, Myanmar and western food. Hotel staff can arrange tours and trekking to nearby villages such as Kekku and Khaung Daing, as well as boat and canoe trip to Inle Lake. Myanmar traditional massage also available at the hotel. Price starts at US$ 75. Contact at 081-29445, 29313, 09-51-92952 (Inle, Nyaungshwe, Shan State) or 01-552838, 4412590; Fax: 01-543714 (Yangon office). Email at ann@myanmar.com.mm (Inle office) or shweinntha@myanmar.com.mm. Website at http://www.myanmar-inleshweinntha-floatinghotel.com.

Hupin Hotel Inle Khaung Daing Village Resort

Owned and operated by the same owners of Hupin Hotel Nyaungshwe, this resort style hotel in Inle is more like a resort in contrast to the Chinese style hotel in Nyaungshwe. Hupin Hotel (Inle Khaung Daing Village Resort) is situated in the west bank of the Lake, on 28.5 acres of land and water. All the rooms are individual wooden bungalows with private showers and balconies. Each bungalow has satellite TV, mini-bar, hot-shower and IDD telephone. The resort has a restaurant that serves Chinese, Myanmar, Shan and western food. Contact at 081-29291, 29292, 29293, 29294. Email: hupin@myanmar.com.mm.