Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort
by the TopOfHotel team
Shwe Inn Tha is the only mid-lake resort with a swimming pool and a poolside cocktail bar — built for travelers who want classic resort downtime alongside the Inle experience.
Shwe Inn Tha is the only mid-lake resort with a swimming pool and a poolside cocktail bar — built for travelers who want classic resort downtime alongside the Inle experience.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Shwe Inn Tha Floating Resort has one selling point that clearly sets it apart from every other overwater stay on Inle Lake — it was the first resort in the region to put in a swimming pool with a cocktail bar at the edge. The bungalows are large teak rooms on stilts over the water, with king-size wooden beds, private balconies kitted out with lounge chairs, and roomy bathrooms holding both an open-air shower and a bathtub. Reviewers call out the cleanliness and the romantic feel. The lake-facing Deluxe Bungalow is the one to ask for. It scores 8.5/10 on Booking.com, and rates start at about $71 a night.
Food and amenities
The outdoor pool is the highlight — ringed with loungers and a cocktail bar, looking out at the mountains and the lake, open 7 AM to 7 PM and free for guests. The restaurant serves both Burmese plates and an international menu. Wi-Fi exists but it is unstable, so this is a place to unplug rather than stay online. Traditional in-room massage is available on request. There is no separate kids' zone at the pool, so families with young swimmers should keep an eye out.
Location and getting there
The resort sits mid-lake in the Ywama area, a 45-minute boat ride from Nyaungshwe, with easy access to the floating villages and Phaung Daw Oo temple. From Heho airport it is roughly 35 km, a 45-minute drive to Nyaungshwe and then the boat transfer out. The main downside of being on the water is the noise: fisherman and tour boats start their engines by 5-6 AM every morning, so pack ear plugs.
Things to know before booking
This is a boat-access-only resort, so heading into town for dinner each night is not realistic — plan to eat and drink on site. In-room Wi-Fi is slow and patchy. Rooms can warm up, and the early boat engines are the most common complaint, which the ear plugs at check-in are there to solve. The pool has no children's section, so it suits kids who already swim well rather than toddlers.
Our take
Shwe Inn Tha is built for couples and families who want a classic overwater resort with a swimming pool — the familiar shape of a southeast-Asian resort stay, drinks by the water included, layered onto the one-of-a-kind setting of Inle Lake. If a pool and a poolside cocktail matter to you out here, this is the resort that has them. If you would rather be a short hop from town or need fast Wi-Fi, look elsewhere on the list.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- One of the very few overwater resorts here with a swimming pool and a poolside cocktail bar — the pool is open 7 AM to 7 PM and free for guests, lined with loungers and a bar that looks out at the mountains and lake.
- Large teak bungalows sit on stilts over the water, each with a private balcony and lounge chairs facing the Shan mountains.
- Bathrooms are generous, with both an open-air shower and a bathtub — reviewers single out the clean, romantic feel.
- Friendly staff who help arrange boat tours across the lake, from half-day to full-day runs to the floating villages and Phaung Daw Oo temple.
- Sits mid-lake in the Ywama area, so the floating villages and the main lake sights are an easy boat hop away.
- Fisherman and tour boats fire up their engines by 5-6 AM every morning, and the noise carries across the water — pack ear plugs.
- In-room Wi-Fi is slow and unstable; treat this as a place to unplug rather than work from.
- Boat access only, about 45 minutes from Nyaungshwe, so popping into town for dinner is impractical — plan to eat and drink at the resort each evening.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Hit the pool between 4 and 6 PM — the light softens and the sunset starts painting the sky over the lake.
- Ask for ear plugs at check-in; the early-morning boat engines can wake you otherwise.
- Book a lake-facing Deluxe Bungalow rather than a canal-facing one — bigger balcony, better view, and quieter.