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Golden Island Cottages, a floating hotel, is built on stilts in the middle of dreamy Inle lake. All the bungalows have scenic lake views. They are built of local bamboo and comfortably furnished to blend with the traditional atmosphere of the region. GIC offers a fine dining room and delightful entertainment, as well as easy access by small power boats to ancient archaeological sites, a variety of shops and colorful markets overflowing with handmade local products.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
The boat ride is not far from the Nampan Jetty to the hotel but you may have to negotiate the cost with the boat driver beforehand, otherwise, they really charge you a lot.
The room we chose (Room 301) is decorated with wood and is very spacious. The balcony lets you sit outside your room with a peaceful view and is noise free (comparing to the other side of the hotel room). The bathroom is spacious as well.
We got traditional Inle food for breakfast that the hotel staff had prepared for us from the morning market.
The hotel is near a famous resrautant and the restaurant provides a boat ride to and from the hotel should you make a reservation there.
It's quite a nice hotel and I wouldn't hesitate to lodge there again.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Situated next to the Nampan village on Inle Lake, this hotel has spectacular views from all around.
We were welcomed by many of the team playing drums and symbols, which is something I will never forget! It became part of the day as each new guest was welcomed.
Our room / cottage was large and airy with a spacious balcony overlooking the lake. We looked onto a large area of water lilies, and I never tired of the view from sunrise to sunset. A traditional fisherman was often in front of our balcony, which was incredible to watch.
We chose to spend a day there relaxing after many days of continuous travelling. I believe we were the only guests there for the day....bliss.
The breakfast was not the best, and the evening menu limited, especially for vegetarians, but the prices were reasonable.
This hotel mainly caters for large touring groups, and so is really a base to see the Lake for a day or two nights, as opposed to taking time to relax. Therefore there were no public areas to sunbath, sit and read a book or swim. You can do so on your private deck, but it was often in shade due to the layout of the cottages.
For most people who are literally on the Lake with a day to see the sites, this is a perfect place to stay.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I can enjoy local food and local culture and hospitality at Inlay Lake. It also attracts photographer especially for sunrise. Also a place for pre-wedding photo shoots. Quite a amazing place at mountain top lake.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I visited Inle Lake during low season and the hottest time of year - May - so there were only a few other guests in the hotel. My first impression was that it was a rustic hotel on stilts, with some bugs, spiderwebs, etc. but okay. The electricity was not on for the first few hours, but since it was light out, it didn't seem to be a problem.
After dinner at the hotel, we went to our room and I heard a noise, it was a rat on top of our closet. We had them patch up the holes in the thatched bamboo walls, and went to bed but found flies in our bed. I asked our guide to switch hotels (to Inle Princess or another on lakeside rather than on the lake). However, no boats have lights and we were stranded at this hotel.
The were nice about switching our room to another bungalow (i ignored the cockroach) which had no holes in the walls (we checked), but an hour or two later (when they turned off the generator), we heard another mouse biting through the wall, scratching our luggage, etc. We burned the 2 little candles they gave us which seemed to make it go away, but the rest of the night was endless. With no electricity, the phones also did not work, and I walked in the dark to the front desk and called out but no one was there. It was the longest night, and finally when the generator went on at 5am could I get a little sleep.
Later, I found that they knew about the rat problem (it's from the floating gardens in the lake) and it's everywhere. I can't say that Inle Lake was wonderful enough to make up for the awful experience.
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Date of stay: May 2005
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We were cheated by our travel agent, Birma.com, who promised the 4-star Inle Princess Resort and other top hotels during our trip. After the money had been transferred, they downgraded our hotel rooms and/or changed our hotels. Having been to Myanmar and stayed on Inle Lake before, we thought we knew what to expect but not this! We found ourselves staying 2 nights at Golden Island Cottages on Inle Lake where it was impossible to sleep as we heard Buddist chanting all night long in the monastry close by and then got the very noisy lake boat traffic starting at 4am. We were rather exhausted by the time we left! It gets hot during the day and very cold during the night on the lake. There is no heating and only an electric fan in the rooms so it gets challenging to stay cool then warm at night. The damp seeps up from the water during the night and chills you and sets your teeth chattering as the hotel rooms are on stilts. Fortunately, they had extra blankets! We tried to sit outside our rooms in the evening after getting back to the hotel before dinner but got attacked by swarms of midges. Inle Lake was wonderful and traveling around on the boat visiting all the different areas was a treat. The sunset over the lake is very pretty.
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Date of stay: March 2014
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is for GIC 1 at the south of Inle lake. There is a GIC 2 which is also on the lake, but half way from shore.
Location: Not very convenience, you will need to take a boat from Nyaungshwe and it costs 15,000 Kyat one way (45 min from shore; during high season you may be able to share the cost of boat ride with other groups). The hotel is right next to the ‘highway’, so you will hear some loud boat engines screaming once in a while. Hotel offers ear plugs for free if you need them. We actually did not have problem sleeping (and we did not use ear plugs).
Security: Since the hotel is very isolated and fenced, you are pretty safe here. Be aware though if you have children. All rooms are on the lake and you need to keep an eye on them at all time.
Physical appearance: Very good looking and charming.
Staff: Very helpful and friendly.
Front desk: Always empty (at low season), so you will be helped the second you show up there.
Food: Breakfast is free and nice. You can ask for traditional Shan noodles (in advance e.g., the night before). Dinner is somehow overpriced (and below avearge compared to other food we had in Myanmar). You could actually ask your driver to wait and take you to other restaurants (it is included in the 15,000 Kyat boat ride), but after a long day you may not want to get on a boat and ride somewhere in the dark. We actually told your driver to go home and had dinner at the hotel which was a big mistake.
Rate: We paid high rate ($50) and didn’t mind much because this hotel is owned by community/organization, so money goes there. However, it becomes extremely pricey if you add in boat fees (15,000 Kyat x 2 rides from and to Nyaungshwe), let alone boat tour during the day (20,000 Kyat a day). Note that 760 Kyat=1 USD
Swimming pool: There is an open water fenced swimming pool (you actually swim in the lake). We did not try.
Room: Room is clean and has stunning sunset view. It gets colder at night because it is actually on the lake, so you will not need an A/C. However, during the day, you may find it a little too warm. There is attached bathroom with tub and hot/cold shower.
Safe deposit: There is no safe-deposit box in the room.
Complimentary water: Each day you will get two bottles of water for free (there is a fridge in the room). If you are the person who drinks a lot of water, buy some more when you do boat tour. There is no shop at the hotel (but you can certainly buy some from the restaurant with high price).
TV: There is no TV in the room, so you will need to bring your own entertainment (book, music, cards, etc). After the sun goes down, there is nothing else to see or do.
Shan tea: The room comes with free Shan tea and boiler.
During low season, you will be able to ask for very late check-out for free. Overall, I would recommend this place for couples, friends, families that do not have small children, if you don’t mind the boat fees as stated above.
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Date of stay: July 2011
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's really true, it's paradise! Staying out on the lake might be boring for some, but we stayed a couple of nights in Nyangshwe as well, and our time at Golden Island Cottages just doesn't compare. If you can do it, please do. Waking up to the views and the wildlife is magical. The staff here are gorgeous, and the restaurant is very good (that's the only down side, you have no where else to eat but their restaurant). The cottages were very comfortable and cute. We went into the local village which was great as there were no tourists around. I think this has got to be one of the best lake hotels around - you're right out on the open water - some hotels we saw, their views were the surrounding reeds. Great value for the price.
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Date of stay: January 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
..a bit primitive - sorry some might say charming instead... rooms with woven "rush" walls... and you are on stilts - and its rocks!!!...enough said... woudl suit some - others might find it a bit scary!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The physical location of these cottages (GIC 2) over Inle Lake is stunning. The cottages are a bit rickety, but contain all you would need and are fairly clean.
The staff offer a complimentary drink on arrival and turn down service, and are generally friendly and thoughtful.
One of my criticisms is that once you get there, you are pretty much stuck and at the mercy of the hotel, due to their remoteness. That would appeal to some though, and the people of the nearby village are lovely. The restaurant at the hotel serves tasty food, and isn't unreasonably priced given their monopoly.
Another criticism is that we were confused about how to get there and who is working for whom when it comes to boat operators. It seems that you are essentially stuck with your initial boat driver as a tourguide during your stay. Clarity from the hotel about their relationship to the boat operators would be helpful.
Otherwise a very good hotel.
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Date of stay: March 2012
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are 2 Golden Island hotels. We stayed in the Thale-U hotel (or GIC 2) which is just below the middle of the lake by a bird sanctuary. Whilst other reviewers mention being woken by fishermen we didn't have that problem and I suspect the reviews related to the Nampan resort which is close to a large village. We booked via a local travel agency so for the minimum price listed on the website we got an upgraded room with a large balcony directly overlooking the lake. There was no airconditioning and we were there at the height of the dry and hot season but we didn't really notice the lack as the lake is fairly cool and we wouldn't have used it. The rooms had everything we needed. The staff were very helpful and did everything they could to make the stay entirely pleasurable. Compared with other places we stayed the food and alcohol was expensive, and you don't have a lot of choice about where you eat as the hotel is miles from anywhere and its best not to take boats across the lake at night. Nonetheless there is a really great menu and the food is wonderful. Washing is expensive compared with other places in Myanmar / Burma, but not compared with European prices. The boats organised by the hotel are only slightly more expensive than those elsewhere, and the drivers are really helpful. If you want to go swimming it is possible to do so in the lake just in front of the hotel (as long as you aren't freaked out by plants or fish brushing against you). One really great thing about this hotel is that it is owned by a collective of local people which means you absolutely know that you aren't lining the pocket of some government lackey. This was our favourite hotel in Myanmar / Burma. The birds were loud all the time, we had pigeons nesting n our roof and the rooms were fairly basic but it was a thoroughly enjoyable place to spend time.
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Date of stay: April 2012
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Book through a local travel agent to get an upgraded room at the minimum room price
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are a variety of vegetable dishes to choose from. I cannot remember exactly what they offer but remember the food was simple but well prepared. Of course, having been to India before, it does not compare to your wonderful cuisine! However, you will not be starving.
All the best
Barbara A
Nous y avons séjourné fin janvier de cette année et comme les autres répondants, nous confirmons que la nuit est relativement fraîche sans plus, mais que cela n'empêche pas de bien dormir sans en souffrir sous des couvertures adéquates. Seul le moment salle de bain du matin rappelle cette fraîcheur...pour le reste, très beau temps doux la journée et une situation exceptionnelle ; en vous souhaitant 3 nuages sur l'horizon pour agrémenter le fantastique coucher de soleil. Bon voyage !
There are more places to choose from in the Nampan area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
golden island cottages hotel taunggyi, golden island hotel, golden island resort
LOCATION
MyanmarShan StateNampan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
40
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