Burma forum

Yes it is definatel worth while. You should try to visit Sagar and Kakku.

Highly recommend to go. If you do not have enough time, skip Mandalay. There are daily bus from Bagan to Inle. Unfortunately only one bus. But at least two flights daily from Bagan to Inle and will cost about US$55.

Hi,

Of course this all depends on what you are interested in seeing and doing, but I don't think 12 days is enough time to see all of these places, especially if you plan on traveling by bus/taxi/train/boat. Each of these places is, at least, one full day away from each other. You would most likely be looking at approximately 4-5 full days (Yangon to Inle takes longer than the other trips) of just moving from Point A to Point B. But, it is possible. You won't see much, but it's possible.

When I was there a good section of the highway leading to Nyaungschwe at Inle Lake was not paved and a large stretch of highway, especially leading up into the mountains, had been pounded into a fine dust (like talcum powder) by all the buses and trucks. Considering that June is the rainy season, this particular journey could be a very long, tough slog, if not treacherous or not possible at all. Maybe someone who has made the trip recently and in the rainy season has different info?

The buses I took were clean, but very tight on space. All experienced mechanical breakdowns and/or flat tires along the way. The only exception was a bus I took from Kyaiktiyo to Yangon, but that was only a 4 hour trip.

You can do a good loop that consists of Yangon - Mawlamyaing - Hpa-an - Kyaiktiyo - Bago - Yangon. You'll get great temples in Bago, Burma's second most sacred place at Kyaiktiyo, an excellent and interesting town (Mawlamyaing), and boat travel (from Mawlamyaing to Hpa-an). You'll be able to put more time into checking places out, rather than spending that time on long, cramped bus trips.

If you're dead-set on going to Bagan, I'd consider skipping Inle and would spend more time in Bagan and in/around Mandalay and Yangon.

Good luck.

Tilapia raised a very good point about the state of the road to Inle Lake in June. December is supposed to be dry season but it rained heavily when I and mudslides blocked the road for 3 days when I was there in 2005.

Here is a picture of what the road that goes to Inle looked like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8675349@N06/684878223/in/set-72157600304909011/

Major traffic jams the whole way ... if you've only got 12 days and don't want to fly then it's going to be problematic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8675349@N06/3728532075/

And here is a picture of the bus I took from Kalaw to Bagan... Kalaw is on the road to Inle. I'm not sure why it says Mandalay-Bagan on the bus because it didn't even go via Mandalay!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8675349@N06/3728535399/in/photostream/

And I another sip of a very nice Languedoc!

Hi linjingyi,

You cannot fly to Nyaungschwe. You have to fly to Heho and then go to Nyaungschwe by taxi or bus (or pick-up or ox cart or bicycle.) This means that you will still have to take that bad road across the mountains to get to Inle.

Considering that it will be the rainy season, you might want to wait until you are in Yangon before getting a flight. It's possible that the roads will be good and dry, but if they are not you will not waste your time or money trying to get there. That's just my suggestion. If you are going to feel better buying your ticket online then Air Bagan will get you there.