Does anyone know if it%26#39;s worth flying into Helo, and then going to Pindaya and spending overnight at Pindaya Inle Inn or Kalaw Amara Resort? I like NICE hotels .... I am not crazy about driving all day ';to see something'; ...... I truly have been all over the world ... is Pindaya worth it or should I just focus on the ';Inle Lake : area ...... I have no real dislikes or likes except I like to see something NOTEWORTHY ... Lester ... I can '; hear you'; ...... but I have an extra day and want it on my itinerary ........ I can say no if I am tired ..... is it worth going to Pindaya?
THis is my itinerary in brief
Itinerary in brief:
Feb 15 ( Friday)- Day 1 JFK – RGN on board
Feb 16 Day 2 Still in transit arrive BKK 5 PM and leave for Yangon 6: 10 – arrive in Yangon 7 PM ( Traders Hotel with view of pagodas) 3 nights at YGN
Feb 17 Day 3 Yangon ( to detox after long plane flight- afternoon touring
Feb 18 Day 4 Yangon (F/D visits)
Feb 19 Day 5 Bagan from Yangon (Hotel @Tharabar Gate) which is closer to temples 3 nights at Bagan
Feb 20 Day 6 Bagon (F/D visits)
Feb 21 Day 7 Bagon (F/D visits)
Feb 22 Day 8 Bagon to Inle Lake; drive to Pindaya and visits, overnight at either Pindaya Inle Inn or Kalaw Amara Resort 1 night at PDY or KAL
Feb 23 Day 9 Continue to Inle Lake. Check-in into Inle Princess Resort. PM boat excursion on Inle Lake (Inle Princess with Lake Views) 3 nights at Inle
Feb 24 Day 10 Inle Lake (Inle Princess)
Feb 25 Day 11 Inle Lake (Inle Princess)
Feb 26 Day 12 Inle Lake- Ngapali Beach (in transit) (Sandoway beach front cottage or Amati Spa and Resort ( similar water front cottage/room) 3 nights at Ngapali
Feb 27 Day 13 Ngapali Beach
Feb 28 Day 14 Ngapali Beach
Feb 29 Day 15 Ngapali Beach to Yangon (approximately 14:00 - 15:30); Yangon to Bangkok (TG 306; 20:00 local time from YGN to 21:45 local time at BKK) transit
March 01 Day 16 TG 790; 00:40 local time from BKK to 06:35 local time at NewYork (Home) on the same day because traveling from east so that time is gained on board.
Inle Area?I can not really give you advice on your specific question... My thoughts would be that unless you are ';in to'; trekking I would perhaps just leave out ';drive to Pindaya and visits, overnight at either Pindaya Inle Inn or Kalaw Amara Resort';.. bit... and head straight for Inle.
My comments are these... you have a very light on itinerary...
meaning that you are leaving out some very interesting places.. such as the ancient cities around Mandalay... which are far more interesting that the area that you are inquiring about.. as are some other terrific areas.. but you%26#39;ve no doubt done this for a reason.
The Princess resort is one of the Lake resorts... very isolated from any real interaction with anyone but fellow tourists.. so your main, and only, real experience of the lake area would be the ';lake tour';..????
Your transit time in Bangkok on arrival is very tight.. but if your flight from JFK is on time.. you should make it. If not, I guess an overnighter in Bangkok is not a big deal?
You mention the pagoda view from Traders... do be aware you are in the middle of Yangon and the Swee Dagon pagoda is a fair way from there.. Its a nice enough hotel, (a modern concrete box)... in a fine location.. but don%26#39;t have too high expectations of the view.. I would describe it as '; looking at rusted old tin rooves';.
Inle Area?Hi Mosegrisen
I know my transfer time into Yangon upon arrival in BKK is tight but it is with the same airline ( Thai Air) out of JFK. JFK to BKK, and BKK to Yangon .... I have to assume that they will get us on that plane?
I didn%26#39;t pick Mandalay because I didn%26#39;t want to ';run around'; like a chicken without a head. Plus, the flights are early in the AM around Myanmar and I HATE to get up at 5 AM when I am on vacation.
I think you did answer my question though. Maybe I won%26#39;t go to Pindaya because I DONT like to trekk ...... I did read that although the Inle Princess is on a lake, and one must an an hour gettting to and from it via boat. However, the trip across the lake itself was lovely and peaceful. Is this not right?
If I add in Mandalay, then I have to cut down on my time in some of the other places as I only have two weeks vacation.
Any thoughts?
Thanks
Bette
Hi again,
the Thai air connection should be ok... as you write.. Thai air will do their best to get you on the Yangon bound flight. I wasn%26#39;t trying to scare you.. merely an observation.
Re: Inle Lake... the main reason for it being such an unusual and attractive place to go it the lake area itself and the boat tour(s) on the lake. If you are staying in Nyaung Shwe.. the town close to the lake you probably have more choice and control over how you spend your time and what you do.... having said this.. the resorts on the lake are undoubtedly a better standard than most hotels in town.
Flights in Myanmar typically do ';triangle routes';... say you are taking a flight between Yangon and Heho... the morning flights go Yangon to Mandalay or Bagan and then on the Heho before returning to Yangon. Afternoon flights typically go Yangon to Heho and then on to Bagan or Mandalay... so inadvertently... there%26#39;s a high probability that you%26#39;ll stray through Mandalay .. no matter what you do. Trouble with Mandalay airport is that its 40 km out of town so a one hour and USD15.00 ride each way into town.
Heho is a bit the same.. albeit a bit closer to Inle.... Whereas Bagan airport is very close to town(s)... Yangon is not too bad either.. about USD 6.00 or 7.00 and less than a half hour ride.
The Pindaya cave and general area is nice enough.. I just think that you can spend your time seeing more worthwhile places .. that%26#39;s all:-)
I%26#39;m sure that you already know the Ngapali Beach area is also very far from the places mentioned above.. Trouble with it all is the huge country and the time it takes to get from one place to another.
Yangon air, Mandalay air and Bagan air all do more or less the same routes and strangely at almost the same departure times and identical ticket pricing.
Looking at your plan again I%26#39;d like to add the suggestions that you don%26#39;t do the Bagan to Inle leg by road... but take a flight into Heho instead..... and that you spend another night in Yangon after Ngapali.. anything in Myanmar is just so fraud with uncetainty when it comes to transport... It also allows you to return to the Shwe Dagon for one more evening.... to reflect on one of the wonders of the world... For me ... the Hagia Sophia, then the Shwe Dagon, the pyramids (Egypt and Mexico) the Taj Mahal ... in that order.
It just is a different world altogether... for me.. that%26#39;s what makes it worthwhile visiting....
You have 14 nights.... I agree with the time that you allow for in Yangon at the beginning of your trip.. You really do need to rest up.. Traders is a good choice...
Also the time you allow for in Bagan is wise... enough time to spend a day or two with a horsecart... just take it nice and slow...
Inle.. I truly loved it.. we were there for 4 nights. but if I were short on time.. the main focus is one big day on the lake.. start at sun up.. and return after sunset... so you could cut it to 2 nights.... especially if you stick with the lake resort.. (I%26#39;d personaly go stir crazy there.. sorry:-)) I guess 3 nights is better.. allowing you to do 2 not so bid days on the lake... afterall you are on holiday:-)
If you have any spare time (after further fretting over what to do)... spend it at the beach....
I maintain that even 2 nights (one full day in a car around the ancient cities of Mandalay... Not the city itself) would for me be a must... but I do acknowledge that its better to keep it all simple than trying to cram too much in.... Happy travels.
If you like good hotels you will not be disappointed in the Inle Princess - it is luxurious. On a visit in January I regret not visiting the vineyards nearby - I found the Myanmar red wines so good I brought a couple of bottles home.
I concur with mosegrisen%26#39;s comments about the ShweDagon and be sure to visit in the evening when the lighting is at its best and most tourists are away at dinner. Guides want you to go in the afternoon but it is only at night a truly magical setting.
That%26#39;s one huge problem about visiting Myanmar.. there is a beaten track between Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle and Ngapali... but then there is a so many other places too.... so spoilt for choice.. so much to see.. and so little time. All I can say is.. no matter what you end up choosing.... no matter if it is to your liking at first or not.... I do not think you will ever forget the time you spend there, the people, the light, the colours.... and again.. first and last.. the people.
Well I think that%26#39;s a bit boring.
You need more shopping for rugs and things that go om
Maybe a Dosa or two and train ride with some local mice
Epidural.
It%26#39;s definitely worth visiting Kalaw I think. The Amara Resort is very lovely. It%26#39;s a small family-run hill station. It can get a bit chilly at times in this area, but the hotel staff will lit the fireplace in your room or in the lounge if you like. If you want to experience local food, try the Seven Sisters%26#39; Restaurant in Kalaw village. The food is great and you should definitely have a look at the kitchen. If you go there from the Amara Resort, take a taxi driver to bring you back. It%26#39;s very dark in the night and difficult to find but everybody seems to know the Seven Sisters%26#39; and the Amara Resort. The market in Kalaw is also very nice, less touristy than many other markets that you will see on your trip. And if you have done a bit of trekking in the hills and maybe visited a family of one of the ethnic minorities in one of their longhouses, the people will greet you happily if they see you again the next day on the marketplace.
At Inle Lake visit Indein in the morning (less touristy than in the afternoon). You should also take a day trip to the southernmost part of the lake. It%26#39;s beautiful. Don%26#39;t forget to take warm clothes, you%26#39;ll spend hours on one of those speedy little boats and it gets quite cold after a while (we were there in January).
I think it%26#39;s quite ok to skip Mandalay and spend a bit more time in Bagan on your first trip. Bagan is a treasure. Even if you are not of the romantic type, it%26#39;s worth getting up early in the morning to watch the sunsise over the 2800 or so pagodas.
Bagan is also famous for lacquerware. If you are interested in the traditional production process (without chemicals) go to Maung Aung Myin at the Ka Bar Lacquerware Artist Shop in Old Bagan. The owner of the shop is quite famous as he has delivered a ';paravent'; (folding screen or room-divider) to the British Museum. He also has a nice collection of antique lacquerware which he will gladly show you. They have nice little bowls which you can buy as a souvenir and they ship also to all parts of the world. If you order something you%26#39;ll have to be patient. Each layer of lacquerware needs to dry before the next one can be painted and the whole process takes about 10 month. Make sure you have enough cash (new and clean USD notes) just in case.
If you like touristic place,that you should chose eastern bank of Inle lake(Nyaung Shwe,name of the town of Inle lake gote way).
And if you like feel sense of lake stay in lake hotel%26lt;(Expensive and like quiet,chose western bank,I mension Hupin hotel cause all the time I chose for my guests,and that is so near the hill and you can see over view of lake and good sun rise from there.
Welcome to Burma
As others have said it can be COLD at night at Inle Lake. I was there last January and very grateful after dinner to return to my room at the Inle Princess and find an old-fashioned water bottle under the covers on my bed. It was wonderful and the heat lasted til morning. Because Southeast Asia is considered tropical we forget how cool it can be at higher elevations. The same was true in Laos at Luang Prabang where unfortunately there was no water bottle in the bed. At both places by 10:00 all was warm and sunny.
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