Inle Heritage Stilt Houses

Off the tourist track, Inle Heritage Stilt is a boutique retreat located in the heart of the lake community, run by a not-for-profit organisation that strives to preserve the cultural and natural wealth of the Inle region.

There are six bungalows beautifully integrated into their surroundings. Rooms are built on stilts in the middle of the magnificent lake and furnished with traditional Shan paper and locally woven fabrics, all surrounded by organic vegetable gardens.

A private deck gives a prime view of Inle’s spectacular sunsets, while a wooden walkway connects the rooms to the renowned restaurant and lounge. Here you can dine on wonderful Inthar and Shan cuisine for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, where old family recipes are given modern twists, all made with fresh produce from the gardens and neighbouring farms.

It has been built to the highest environmental standard and water is heated by solar energy, and while there are modern conveniences and comforts such as Wi-Fi, the aim is to keep guests in contact with the diverse cultures found on and around the lake’s waters. You can learn about traditional fishing techniques and efforts to preserve the practice and the lake’s endemic wildlife, take a cooking class, and even meet pure breed Burmese cats who are being reintroduced to their homeland.