STAY: Monastic Splendour
Truth be told, I was coming down with flu when we arrived at Inle. Not only is illness unwelcome holiday baggage, it also changes how you feel about your accommodation.
Sometimes when you make a booking, it’s with this idea in mind: “We’ll be out touring all day, so we just need a room to sleep in”. At other times, you think: “We’ll just want to chill out at the hotel and relax.” Thankfully, I’d opted for the latter, and had also added an extra day to our itinerary, giving us three full nights and days at Inle Lake’s new Sanctum Inle Resort. It proved perfect for laying low with a lurgy – a couple of quiet walks on the edge of the lake, and a few lovely meals before taking the boat trip on the final day were more than satisfying.
This 90-room resort has been designed in Spanish monastery style, complete with cloistered arches and lashings of beautiful teak and raintree wood. The proportions are lavish, and the final flourishes of French designer Brigitte Dumont de Chassart have contributed to making this a beautiful and luxurious retreat.
Rooms range in size from 40 to 150 square metres, and feature lofty ceilings, natural wood floors, plush beds, air-conditioning, Wi-fi and cable TV. There are four different room types and inter-connecting rooms for families and groups, plus larger free-standing villas. The monasticstyle windows and large doors open to wide verandahs that are perfect for contemplating the lake, the rice paddies, the farmers tending water buffalo, and the sun setting behind distant hills.
The in-house spa features a wide range of treatments, including a Burmese massage, which is said to be like a Thai-style treatment but without oil. I opted for the signature treatment, a tamarind full-body scrub, and was lathered in a chunky brown paste consisting of fresh tamarind, herbs and salt; I felt very clean and fragrant afterwards.
There’s a swimming pool to cool off in, but the climate is mild and pleasant year-round owing to Inle Lake’s location on a plateau 800 metres above sea level. Peak season is November to February, and I’m assured it’s something akin to an English winter. They light a fire in the cosy bar, and that’s when the beautiful Scottish wool blankets will be needed as you snuggle up in the sublime lounge with a good book, and possibly a whisky.