The trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake will most definitely be one of the best things you'll do in Myanmar, so it really pays off to do your research into which trekking company to book with; most companies will take you along the same route which they should explain to you beforehand. We decided to do the two day one night trek, but if you're an avid hiker we would recommend three days! We used 'Jungle King' and couldn't have been happier with the service we received. Our guide was really friendly and chatty which made the whole experience even better.
'Take photos and admire the scenery'
We met in the morning along with another couple and two friends and were driven to our starting point. I guess if you opt to do the three day trek, there is no transport and you start from Kalaw town. When we arrived, there was a small store where we could stock up on water for the day (which is so important!) and set off. Our guide set the pace, which wasn't too fast or too slow, and a lot of the time we lagged behind the rest of the group to take photos and admire the scenery - after all that's what you're doing it for right? We chose Jungle King because although it follows the same general route as the other tours, it takes you slightly off the beaten track.
'he charged at us and I shit myself!'
We walked through chilli farms, rested next to a scenic river and through a field with a particularly aggressive cow (he charged at us, and I shit myself). The first day is the hardest as it is mostly uphill. We stopped for lunch at a place that just seemed to be somebody's house - but it was nice to sit and eat at the hottest part of the day.
When we set off again, we walked through more rice fields, watching locals work the land. We scaled a mountain, which was rewarding when you reach the top to see panoramic views over the plains you've been walking through all day. This was probably the hardest part of the trek, and we both managed! Don't be put off by the distance or how long the walks last - even beginners will enjoy it. We aren't proper trekkers by any means and we found the trek very doable. The guide would stop and offer interesting facts about different plants that we came across - encouraging us to chew leaves and smell seeds along the way. The trek offered an insight into how the people in more remote villages actually live, we saw one man building wicker baskets which he did all day long to make a living.
'the monks were in full swing playing football'
The sun slowly disappears behind the mountains as you arrive at the monastery. When we arrived the monks were in full swing playing football with other groups in the trek, before they all met inside to recite their prayers. The sleeping area is in the main hall of the monastery, and is broken up in sections for your group - so your not sleeping with anybody you're not quite familiar with. Although you're sleeping on the floor, the beds are pretty comfy and they give you nice thick blankets which is a good thing because it gets really cold!
Expect to wake up at the crack of dawn to the sound of prayers, before having pancakes for breakfast. The second day of the trek is mainly walking downhill, and I thought the views of the mountains were much better than the day before.
You reach Inle lake by lunch time, where you can take the tour of the craft villages on the river, which is a pretty nice way to rest your legs and enjoy the scenery - without having to work for it. I would highly recommend taking the boat trip around the villages. It was nice to see the fisherman hanging out of their boats and It was really interesting to see how they made clothes from the fibres of water Lily's. Seeing the process of making handmade cigarettes was also very interesting. My highlight was meeting the two lady's from the Long Necked Tribe which were really friendly, easy to talk to and welcomed photographs. We would definitely recommend the trek as a MUST in Myanmar. It is one of, if not, the best thing we did.
