6 Best Hotels in Inle Lake, Myanmar

This eco-friendly, Swiss-managed property on one of Myanmar's largest lakes lives up to its name: from your over-water bungalow, prepare to be entranced by longboats putting by, barefoot monks walking onshore, and water buffalo being driven over an ancient bridge. Though the hotel's main buildings are all on land, its guest cottages stand right above the lake thanks to their sturdy bamboo stilts—the region's traditional construction from limestone, mud, and rice straw is so supportive and that no concrete was used. Cottages offer a tranquil retreat, but guests who want to do a little mingling will have no problem at the hotel's in-house restaurants—one serving local Shan fare, and another offering French cuisine—where each morning a dynamite breakfast is served.

This immersive hotel experience on one of Myanmar's largest lakes will have you living like a local in a simple over-water cottage built on stilts—even the welcoming public spaces and on-site restaurant serving local cuisine are suspended over the water. Run by the Pa-O minority group as a cooperative project, there are two outposts of cottages: the 25-room Thale-U branch, at the southern tip of the lake about an hour ride from the jetty; and the 52-room Nampan outpost, which is 10 miles from the jetty. Both locations have simple, charming, thatched-roofed, wicker-walled bungalows, and comfortable public spaces. Cabins are a bit rustic, but there's ample electricity, on-site dining, and even (very slow) Wi-Fi, and amenities like earplugs (to block out the boat motors) and bottled water are thoughtfully provided.

In the village of Nyaung Shwe, a 15-minute walk to the Inle Lake jetty, this hotel is ideally positioned for those who want to stretch their sea and land legs. Rooms are clean and spacious, decorated with simple, tasteful wooden furniture in line with the Shan State's decor style. The hotel's outdoor restaurant, which overlooks a little canal—don't be fooled, it's not a pool—is lovely and a quite decent breakfast spread is served here. Book an upper level room if you're a light sleeper.

The quaint bungalows that make up this hotel are removed from the main lake to give you a quieter, more peaceful experience; rather than using noisy outboard motors to dock, boat drivers row. Like all hotels on the lake itself, this one's far from restaurants, but the in-house food is excellent, especially the breakfast spread. Rooms are large, airy, and furnished in traditional Shan style. They're enormously comfortable and welcoming after a long day on the lake.

Though by no means budget, this is one of the less expensive hotels on the lake proper. All buildings here are on stilts, and the charming bungalows are teak with thatched roofs. The hotel is surrounded by floating greenery, which breaks up the otherwise infinite expanse of water. As with the other hotels far from the jetty, what you lose in nighttime activities and eating options you make up for in gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. The food at the restaurant is fine—nothing mind-blowing, but plenty to choose from, all of it pleasant. Lake-facing rooms offer the best view but are noisy because of boats motoring up at 6 am. If you're a light sleeper, get a garden view room, take in sunset at the restaurant, and pop in ear plugs.