Myanmar 7: Inle Lake to Loikaw

Fri 23 Feb 2018
A final breakfast at A Little Eco Lodge, farewell to the friendly team and tuk-tuk driven by the owner’s brother (and young daughter!) to our boat.                  

We had the same excellent driver as yesterday – and set off on the 5 hour / 95km journey down both lakes to Pekon, where a taxi would take us the final leg to Loikaw. It is technically possible to go the whole way by boat, but with the new dam river access times are hard to predict.

It was one of the most stunningly beautiful journeys I have ever done. Remarkably civilised in our own boat, and fantastic views. The breeze travelling at 30kph kept us cool.

In between the two large sections of Inle Lake we were travelling along narrow waterways within huge areas of grass, and sometimes weeds. We only got stuck once!

Narrow lane through the weeds! 

Stuck!!

 

We stopped after three hours to visit an incredible collection of stupas on the side of the lake

It’s quite hard to capture the sheer beauty of this journey with photos
Video to follow when I have time to edit and good wifi!

 

We arrived at the Loikaw Lodge hotel, and were greeted by owner Jens. For our last stop (Yangon aside) we had upped the ante somewhat with this recommended ‘boutique’ hotel.  A wander around the surprisingly smart Kayah State capital – with proper metalled roads – and up the elevator to the Taung Kwe Pagoda with it’s zedis teetering on rocks not doing my vertigo any good!

There was also a dusty old 1912 wooden monastery Han Wan lurking up a side street.

Supper in a surprisingly good Chinese cafe on the river bank, and the manageress kindly arranged a taxi to get us back to the comfort of Loikaw Lodge.  The next two days are going to be guided tours of three remote Kayah villages and meeting the minority’s tribes.