Wai Lin is one of our expert Travel Specialists in Myanmar and he recently embarked on a journey to research one of our exciting new tours ‘A Slice of Sagar: Inle Lake’s Best Kept Secret’. Wai Lin was kind enough to share his thoughts on what he discovered to the south of intriguing Inle Lake:
I was on my way to Loikaw when I stumbled across ‘A Little Lodge’ in Sagar. It might sound a strange thing to anyone who’s never been to Myanmar, but sometimes hotels are completely off the radar until they are fully built, especially in small settlements like Sagar.
Properties literally spring up overnight with little or no fanfare – it’s what can make my job so exciting sometimes, especially when we discover lovely places like ‘A Little Lodge’.
Located less than 3hrs from Nyaung Shwe, Sagar is an undiscovered gem to the south of Inle but prior to the building of this new hotel homestays or monasteries were the only way to spend the night here; which are of course great experiences, but everyone has different travel tastes.
A Little Lodge has opened up this quaint, picturesque Myanmar village to an entirely new market. My favorite feature in the intimate guesthouse is the rooftop terrace which makes the perfect place to dine, especially as the sun rises and shines down across the lake in the morning, illuminating the surrounding plains.
The scenic 3-hour cruise is a treat in itself – I never tire of spending time on Inle Lake. The region still has such a raw feel to it, and the local Pa-O hill tribe children never seem to get bored of demonstrating their diving abilities, showing-off to any boat that passes regardless of who’s on board.
Once in Sagar, there are several intriguing sites to visit. The ‘Sunken Stupas’ are certainly one of the most fascinating local attractions that are rarely seen by visitors to Myanmar. The unique stupas were built in the 16-17th century and are half submerged by the lake for part of the year.
While I was in Sagar I was also able to visit the Thaya Gone settlement which I’ve always heard was one of the best rice wine producers around. There I was able to see behind the scenes as the Pa-O villagers set about their daily production tasks and experienced first-hand how they turn rice into a drinkable liquid.
I was encouraged to try the wine myself, but I’m not a big drinker and it was too early in the morning for me…but I did bring some back to Yangon as a gift for the office.
I was also lucky to have the chance to visit the Sae Khaung Pottery Village and I’m really glad I did as I think it’s a wonderful experience. Locals at the village produce handmade pots and bake them in underground kilns – a fascinating process to observe.
The main attraction of Sagar however, is surely the welcoming locals and spectacular unspoiled natural beauty. Here travelers can find the ‘real’ local experience that will add an unforgettable experience to any Myanmar vacation.
If you would like to experience Sagar, do get in touch with Wai Lin or any one of our local Travel Specialists in Yangon who will be happy to tell you more about the region and our fascinating ‘A Slice of Sagar: Inle Lake’s Best Kept Secret’ Myanmar tour.
