Trek Kalaw to Inle Lake: How to Plan a Kalaw to Inle Lake 2 or 3 Days Trek

Best Itinerary of Kalaw to Inle Lake 2 or 3 Days Trek

Kalaw is one of the best places in Myanmar for trekking, with cool air and surrounding hills dotted with tribal villages. It will be a delight to hang around Kalaw for a few days before you start the trek.

And while hiking through the trails from Kalaw to Inle Lake, you can get a real insight into the lives of the Shan hill people, meanwhile, enjoy the stunning mountainous scenery. Usually, to trek Kalaw to Inle Lake, there are two options available. You can choose a Kalaw to Inle Lake 2 days trek or a 3 days itinerary.

Kalaw to Inle Lake 2 Days Trek

Day 1: Kalaw to Pattu Village

First take a private car to transfer to Laming Village, where you start the trek. After trekking through the villages of Pinnwe and Pawke, you stop in Kone Hla Village for a lunch break. In the afternoon, continue walking towards Pattu Village, in which, you enjoy your dinner and overnight at a monastery.

In Pattu Village, you enjoy your dinner and overnight at a local monastery.

Day 2: Pattu Village to Tongle Village

After breakfast, trek to Kyauk Su Village to have an exploration. Then continue walking to Nan Yoke Village and have a short break. Finally, arrive at Tongle Village and enjoy your lunch. From here, take a longtail boat and transfer to Nyaung Shwe.

Kalaw to Inle Lake 3 Days Trek

Day 1: Kalaw to Laming Village

Hike up and down the hills to reach Myin Daik Village. Stop to have lunch. In the afternoon, walk to Kalaw Railway Station, where you can see the locals are selling flowers, fruits and food. Then continue trekking through Ywar Pu Village and Sha Pin Village. Finally, you stay overnight in a local family of Laming Village.

Take a homestay in Laming Village to see the authentic village lifestyle.

Day 2: Laming Village to Hti Taing Village

Along the trail, you pass through numerous rice fields and plantations of ginger, chili, potatoes, cabbages and cauliflowers. The tribal villages of Paw Kai, Pa-O, Kone Hla, Da Nu and Pattu Pauk are waiting to explore. In Pattu Pauk Village, you can watch the locals weave baskets with bamboo. Today, you stay overnight at a monastery in Hti Taing village.

Day 3: Hti Taing Village to Inle Lake

Leaving the monastery, trek through the villages of Kyaung Su and Than Kha Mauk. From Than Kha Mauk Village, enjoy a leisure downhill walk to Inle Lake and your trek ends here.

When is the best time to trek Kalaw to Inle Lake?

The best time for visiting Myanmar to trek Kalaw to Inle Lake is from October to May when nature produces lovely colors and the climate is mild. The surrounding hills are green, the skies are blue and temperatures are pleasant.

Nature produces lovely colors in the dry season of Myanmar.

In October and November, you may still hit the tail end of the wet season. Therefore, you can avoid the two months if you don’t want to get wet while walking the dirt trails. From January to March, you can see farmers just start their annual planting season, with farm cattle working in the fields.

The rainy season from May to early October is not recommended as the muddy paths are slippery.

How about the Kalaw to Inle Lake trek cost?

The price depends on how many days you spend on the trek, how many people are in your group, and which travel agency you choose.

Usually, the 2-day Kalaw to Inle Lake trek cost is about 32,000 to 40,000 kyat per person, approximately 22 to 30 US dollars. And trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake for 3 days costs around 40,000 to 45,000 kyat per person, roughly 30 to 35 US dollars.

Guide, accommodation, meals, luggage transfer from Kalaw to Inle Lake, and a boat trip across the lake at the end of the trek are included in the price. The two days one night trek takes you to stay overnight in a monastery. And the three days two nights trek allows you to live in a local family house for one night and a monastery for the other night.

Note that the prices do not cover the cost of drinking water and the entrance fee to of Inle Lake.

Is it difficult to trek Kalaw to Inle Lake?

The trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake is not difficult and people of all ages, including the beginners, can manage it. There are no steep slopes and the elevation changes are small.

The greatest challenge to trek Kalaw to Inle Lake is the dirt paths.

The greatest challenge is probably the uneven and dirt path. The sun is very strong, so pay much attention to sun protection and the preparation of drinking water in advance.

What to pack for trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake?

Although the trek is well-organized, there are some essentials to pack.

A down jacket or a jacket - to cope with the cold air in the early morning and evening
A towel - to clean up your face
One liter of water per person - water is available in the villages you pass through, so there is no need to take more than that before you set out
Sunscreen, cap or hat - to prevent yourself from the strong sunlight
A pair of comfortable sneakers - not need to bring mountain boots

Summary

Trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake will not disappoint you. You will hike through the rustic Burmese countryside in southern Shan State. And you can see the local villagers hard working in the colorful fields with their buffaloes. The fields are planted with ginger, chili, rice, potato, cabbage and cauliflower.

Except for the Kalaw to Inle Lake trek, there are more opportunities for trekking.

For example, to further explore Shan State in the northern part, you can trek to Hsipaw. To discover the mysterious facial-tattooed women, you can trek in Chin hills. Snow-capped mountains are visible in Myanmar as well. To watch the Himalayan mountain ranges, you can trek towards Putao in the north most Myanmar.