Looking to escape the crowds, reconnect with nature, experience something authentic and put your money in the right place? Look no further than The Inle Sanctuary at Phayartaung.
A typical morning wake up at The Inle Sanctuary at Phayartaung
Managed by Aung Min, an enthusiastic responsible tourism advocate from the Pa’O ethnic group, this suspended lakeside paradise is one of the most exciting accommodation and experiential developments in Myanmar to date; here’s 10 reasons backing up that big claim.
LOCATION
By going off the name alone, you’d be forgiven for thinking that The Inle Sanctuary at Phayartaung was located on Inle Lake itself. That’s not the case. Inle Sanctuary, as it’s known for short, can be found to the north-east of Samkar Lake, a glorious expanse of shimmering water that’s over double the size of its more famous next-door neighbour. Having somehow managed to escape mass tourism, and the associated development, Samkar continues to remain relatively untouched. Whilst some tourists are lucky enough to visit this as part of an ‘off the beaten track’ day trip from Inle Lake—the two lakes are connected by a narrow waterway—it’s not possible to experience the true beauty of Samkar until you stay overnight (for a minimum of two nights ideally).
Inle Sanctuary, at one with nature
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Suspended over water, each of Inle Sanctuary’s six stilted bungalows offer sweeping views of Samkar Lake with a backdrop of rolling Shan hills. This can best be appreciated from the rear balcony or shower, with the latter most likely being the one you’ll go home talking about.
A private balcony overlooking Samkar Lake
If only every shower had a view like this
FAMILY OWNED
Whilst it’s technically not a homestay–this is not yet permitted in Myanmar–it’s about as close as you can currently get. Aung Min and his wife, Gaw, live onsite, so the friendly and attentive couple will always be around to assist. Aung Min’s responsible for the operational side of things, leaving Gaw in-charge of the most important task of all, cooking (more on this shortly). Working alongside Aung Min and Gaw is a small team of enthusiastic local staff, most of whom come from Phayartaung village. They may not be family by blood, but the small size and close-knit nature of the team certainly gives that impression.
Aung Min, the proud owner of The Inle Sanctuary at Phayartaung
SINGLE-USE PLASTIC FREE
Like us, Inle Sanctuary wants to encourage all of its guests to go single-use plastic free. Inside the bungalows you’ll only find pop-top glass bottles and a couple of tumblers to drink water from. When empty, these will be refilled at turndown, or you can opt to refill yourself using the communal dispenser in the restaurant. This isn’t just any old water either; all of Inle Sanctuary’s water is sourced from a nearby natural spring, which is then filtered and bottled at Phayartaung Monastery.
It’s easy to go single-use plastic free at Inle Sanctuary
100% SOLAR POWERED
Inle Sanctuary is truly off-the-grid, relying on solar power for all energy needs.
Harnessing the power of the sun
A CULINARY DELIGHT
Being full-board, home-cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner is conveniently factored into the room rate. Waking up to a steaming bowl of Shan noodles followed by unlimited honey drizzled banana and coconut pancakes was heavenly. What’s served for lunch and dinner will depend entirely on what’s in season and what’s in stock at the adjacent five day rotating market. Dietary restrictions can be catered for, but we’ll need to give Ma Gaw and her team plenty of notice.
A steaming bowl of Shan noodles and condiments
A banana pancake with grated coconut and drizzled honey
ONE-LEGGED ROWING
Unless you’re blessed with Intha genes, expect to fall into the water multiple times before it’s possible to complete a single one-legged leg row. In contrary to what many tour operators suggest, Inle Lake is NOT the best place to practise this trademarked Intha skill; it’s busy with motorboats and the water’s full of pesticides and other undesirables. The area in front of Inle Sanctuary however is completely private, and fewer floating gardens and less commercial development, means the water’s relatively clean too. This is one of the most exhilarating Inle Sanctuary excursions by far, although you’re likely to need a few follow-up lessons before you can call yourself an expert.
Attempting to one-legged row; it’s a lot more difficult than it looks!
GENUINELY OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Using locally based community guides, it’s possible to explore Inle Sanctuary’s bountiful surrounds. The ultimate full-day tour, in our opinion, works as follows*:
- Having polished off your Shan noodles and pancakes, set out by boat and enjoy the best of what Samkar Lake has to offer
Setting out to Samkar Lake on a crisp morning
The side of Samkar Lake few get to see
- Travel from A to B on-foot, boat and bicycle
Exploring Samkar Lake’s surrounds on foot
- Bake some rice crackers with one of the most kind-hearted, energetic and life-loving ladies you’ll ever meet
Learn how to make traditional rice crackers
- Learn about the production of fireworks with a seasonal pyrotechnician
A local firework factory
- Step inside a rice wine distillery and invigorate your senses with a shot of this freshly-brewed fiery tipple
Bottoms up! Aung Min assures us it’s safe to drink
- Trek up a small mountain to meet with novice monks and enjoy an elevated 360-degree view of the surrounding countryside
Novice monks greet us as we admire the breath-taking view
- Meet with the members of a small Kayah community, drink (more) rice wine and learn about animistic tradition
A Kayah shrine used for animist worship
Meeting with members of a close-knit Kayah community
- Stop for lunch at the house of a Shan elder, meet with her family and turn the pages of an ancient Shan book
Introducing our wonderful Shan host
Ancient Shan script that only a small number of people can read
- Return to Inle Sanctuary for a short rest followed by canoeing with villagers or an ox-cart tour.
*Please note that the above is merely an outline of what’s possible and we may be required to adapt the itinerary if local conditions and availability of the people dictate. Tourism is not the main profession for any of the local community members featured and we need to respect that.
PHOTOGRAPHY
With jaw-dropping sunrise and sunset vistas, architecturally unique accommodation, colourful cuisine, a five day rotating market, Shan, Intha, Lisu, Kayah and Pa’O communities, Samkar Lake and rolling Shan Hills, Inle Sanctuary is a photographer’s dream. Just be sure to bring some spare batteries as we bet you won’t be able to charge them fast enough!
The photography opportunities at Inle Sanctuary are endless
COMMUNITY INVOLVED TOURISM
To explore Inle Phayartaung and its surrounds, Aung Min employs locally based guides and service staff only. This is a great way of ensuring your money makes its way to the communities in question, aspiring guides and service staff in remote locations benefit from invaluable first-hand experience, and the people you come face-to-face with feel immediately at ease (it’s better to be introduced by someone they know than a stranger). Inle Sanctuary also donates 10% of its income to the monastic school in the village, which provides international standard education to over one thousand children**.
Our one-legged rowing instructor from Phayartaung village
**Whilst we have a lot of respect for what this monastic school has accomplished—it’s even recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama(!)—we will be unable to facilitate tours here. At Tour Mandalay, we believe that children are NOT tourist attractions and their homes should remain private, safe and off-limits to strangers at all times, no matter how good an individual’s intention is. To learn more about this contentious issue, we would encourage you to visit www.thinkchildsafe.org and www.unicef.org/myanmar/protection.html.
To book a stay at Inle Sanctuary, please contact us by writing to info@tourmandalay.travel now.