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Start early in Nyaung Shwe and go counterclockwise in direction to the hot springs (sign posts). There is a nice viewpoint just 200 m before the Hot springs (where road bends 90°, look for stairs and climb them). Go south and follow the main road. When you feel like it, branch off and have a look around in the villages. After some time (3-4h, 30 km in total) you will reach a bridge that crosses a canal branching in two (it's the only bridge on the way). Right after the bridge they will ask for a high entrance fee and/or a camera fee of 500 kyat, but Indein is free and the fee might only apply for the tourist shop. Just follow the main asphalt street after the bridge and turn right 50 m after the bridge, cycle up the hill where you can see broken stupas to your right. And straight ahead are the tops of the Indein stupas sticking out between the trees. So continue for about 2 min. When you see the stupas to your right look for a spot where you can pass between the bush. Explore. To go back to Nyaung Shwe go to the bridge again and ask for the jetty. Find a boat to Maing Thauk or Nyaung Shwe (1 or 1.5 h). But beware that prices rise the closer it gets to sunset. People know that you can't make it back cycling and that you depend on the boat service. Prices are around 15,000-18,000 kyat per boat. From Maing Thauk go north (ask for Nyaung Shwe). Nyaung Shwe - Hot Springs: 10 km, Hot Springs - Indein: 20 km, Maing Thauk - Nyaung Shwe: 11 km. Mountain bike not necessary. Sun screen and head cover recommended.
2,000 Buddhist pagodas dating back to the 12th century, and an important religious site for the Pa-O ethnic group. South east of the lake in the hills and quite isolated and tricky to get to. Foreigners are required to be accompanied by a local Pa-O guide to access the site, who can be hired at the Tourism Office in Taunggyi. Closes at 17:00.
A small fishermen's village reachable by bicycle. Hot springs & mountain monastery 1 km to the north. There will be boat drivers offering to take you across the lake to Maing Thauk (max 8,000 kyat per boat, 30 minute).
20-30 minutes walk up the hill from Maing Thauk village
A stupa forest. Broken down stupas, some still intact, overgrown with plants, hidden somewhere in the forest around Inle Lake, near Tone Le. You will most likely be the only one there and may feel like you're the first person to ever see them – although there are now shops all along the path. Free entrance, but a 500 kyat camera fee at the bottom. From Nyuang Shwe this is about 90 mins drive. A return taxi will cost in the region of 40,000 kyat. You can also reach it by boat (include it in your daytrip boat tour on the lake, for about 5,000 kyat). Possibly reachable by bicycle as well.
One of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar. Contains 5 small Buddha statues covered with so much gold leaf that they look like golden snowmen. There are pictures on the walls that show their original appearance. There are also colourful depictions on the walls of tales from Buddha's life, and the story of how the Buddha statues were brought here through an adventurous route. An annual 18-day festival is held, usually in October (sometimes in September), during which four of the Buddhas are carried in a colourful royal barge around 14 villages on the lake. The barge is towed by the boats of leg-rowers and hundreds of boats follow the procession. Large crowds from all the villages nearby gather on the lake's shores to pay homage to the Buddhas and celebrate the occasion. The festival is held on a grand scale with great magnificence and pageantry and is the biggest occasion held on Inle Lake. It is really a splendid sight. Among the dance shows and fun-fairs, the most interesting event of the festival, especially for foreigners, is the traditional Shan boat race – due to their unique leg rowing. It is the only place in the world that one can see such marvelous act.
Also known as "The Burmese Cat House", run by a foundation. Good lunch, and many Burmese cats.