A number of ethnic minority populations reside in the hills surrounding Inle Lake, including the Shan, Pa-O, Taung Yo, Danu, Kayah and Danaw peoples. The unique crafts produced in their villages are showcased daily on the lake through the many floating markets.
While visitors here won't be able to find the modern malls or commercial shopping areas available in large cities, they will not be disappointed with the vast array of exquisite goods available for purchase at Inle Lake.
Hand-woven textiles made of silk and lotus root, items from gold and silversmith workshops, and yet more ethnic crafts await shoppers.
Asia Highlights promises that guests will never be taken on unexpected or undesired shopping detours. Our organization is dedicated to providing quality, customized travel experiences, carefully tailored to meet your demands.
Markets
Because there are no large supermarkets or shopping centers in the area, the local Inthar people purchase everything they need in the markets set up around the lake. For travelers in the Inle Lake area who are looking to bring home some authentic souvenirs, your shopping needs will be satisfied with a trip to one of the many markets available here.
Merchants from the nearby villages travel down to the water in order to conduct business, frequently hawking wares directly from their boats. In fact, the markets are such a central part of daily life here that the canals sometimes experience heavy boat-to-boat traffic jams.
Markets may be held on the shore areas surrounding the lake, but are most vibrant and alive when held on the lake itself.
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Excellent planned and executed Myanmar excursion
Asia Highlights and their local Myanmar partner "mAsia" did an excellent job in planning and execution of a one week trip to Myanmar.The various tour guides and drivers had good knowledge and good command over English. More
Gerd,
Jan 2018
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My experience in Thai
All of this was well organized by the local office. The holiday was wonderful. Our guide, Mr. Longdy( Siem Reap)were exceptional. He shared his extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. Thank you so much .shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. More
kelli,
Jul 2023
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Seamless Planning
From the day I submitted an inquiry request, I instantly received a response from Monica asking my preferences for my trip. She has been attentive and responsive to our every needs and we very much appreciate it. Looking forward to our trip in November but many thanks to Monica for making this experience to seamless thus far. More
Sana Samhouri,
Jul 2023
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Very professional agency for a memorable trip to Asia
A special thanks to Albee who worked with us and helped to tailor the itinerary to our taste, she was amazing and always available for whatever we needed. The trip would not have been the same without her and her team. Thank you! More
Daniela,
Jul 2023
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It was our first time in Cambodia and …
It was our first time in Cambodia and we had a wonderful time. The accommodations, food, and sites were really beautiful. We ended our trip with a relaxing massage. Sam was very accommodating to our needs and knowledgeable. Thank you for the laughter and for being so kind. More
Amy Oakes Moon,
Jun 2023
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Our guide Borin - never boring!
Our guide Borin, in Cambodia, was knowledgeable, understanding and thoughtful in every aspect of the plan he put together for our trip to Siem Reap and in its execution. He can read the room, and knew exactly how to pace the tour, when to pause, when to break, and how to prepare us for the maximum benefit. He is extremely kind and caring, and it showed at every turn. He also is a dab hand with the camera, and we have a lot of great pictures to show for it. Kudos to my Asia Highlights coordinator - Cathy Chen, for picking Borin. Borin works with a driver (007) who was also very kind and caring. Whenever we returned to the car, he would have cold towel rolls and chilled water to refresh us. So amazingly considerate. It was an unforgettable experience More
David Muliyil,
Jun 2023
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Great visit!
Our guide, Anna, was fantastic! She was highly informative and a delight to spend our days with. Would request her again if we were to return! More
Alejandra M Almonte,
Jun 2023
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We've had such a great experience…
We've had such a great experience planning our honeymoon with Alisa at Asia Highlights! We gave her our dream itinerary, thinking that it might be impossible to do all the things we wanted, but Alisa made our dreams a reality! She's gone so far above and beyond to answer ALL of our questions and make little adjustments that will make a huge impact on our experience. More
Lauren,
Jun 2023
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Alisa knows how to work fast and please a customer.
Alisa is very helpful and works very fast. I am a very difficult client because Inknow what I want in therm of hotels and comfort. She had a lot of patience with me, and moved a lot the plan of the trip, always following my requests. It was a pleasure organizing my trip with her. I recommend her a lot! Thanks Alisa. Malala from Argentina. More
maria laura artola,
Jun 2023
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Trip-of-a-lifetime
In addition, I want to specifically mention the guides provided in certain locations. Rum, in Siem Reap, made the most memorable experience possible. His positivity was contagious - even when it felt like 1000 degrees and we were tired. He brought it all to life, and created a couple days of Ankor Wat, etc. that we will never forget! He heard my daughter's request for specific Cambodian food, and changed our itinerary to go to a village and eat at a locally known shop. He brought the dessert she asked about to us in the car! Overall, he and his driver "Lucky" were a reason to go to Siem Reap. In addition, the other guides (minus one which was switched out immediately) were stupendous. Mon in Bangkok was friendly and provided a great day there; Eak in Chiang Mai gave us a world-class food-tour and day touring the city and its surrounding temples with lots of laughs; Tommy in Hanoi kept us from getting killed in the traffic and gave a stupendous food and architecture/history tour - so very friendly and funny; the fishing village tour in Hoi An, as well as the side-car tour in Saigon, were both unforgettable! Thank you Sharon, and Asia Highlights. Would definitely use again for future trips! More
Teri Simpson,
Apr 2023
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Cambodia and Vietnam adventure!
Our guide in Cambodia, Meas Darapolaith (Pol), was absolutely amazing. He was knowledgeable, friendly and so helpful. His English was excellent and he shared important insights about history and the magnificent sites we visited. We highly recommend him! More
Jennifer Roth Krieger,
Apr 2023
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My daughter and I wanted to discover SE…
My daughter and I wanted to discover SE Asia. Being the first in that region, we wanted to use a tour service company. We ended up using Asia Highlights. From the beginning we were impressed with their services. We left home with of mind because all the pre-travel arrangements were taking care and communicate to us efficiently. All our questions were answered promptly. Once in the countries, we were welcome by our excellent tour guides. Everything was taking care for us. We did not have one issue. They selected the right tours guides for us, they were highly knowledgeable and so much attentive to our needs. We had Dhat in Vietnam and Borin in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I came back home so much rested, and with plenty of wonderful pictures and memories. I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. More
Isabelle Dessaux,
Apr 2023
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Fabulous tour and guide in Cambodia
We have been touring Cambodia, guided by Borin ( and driver 007) for the last 2 days. What a fabulous experience! Borin has been a wonderful guide, the best so far in Southeast Asia, explaining the history and culture of Cambodia through his tours of the temples in and around Angkor, as well as the Landmine museum. He has answered all our questions, made sure we were comfortable, and that we have had great food. 007 made sure we always had enough water and cool towels for our face/neck.We highly recommend Borin as a tour guide for Cambodia!! More
Monica,
Mar 2023
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Best Travel Service for Asia Travel
Alisa Liu was in charge of making the arrangements and she helped us from the start to make all of the arrangements and also helped us when we had questions and requested some adjustments. Her service is of the highest professional level. We are 100% confident that our trip will be perfect. We’re also 100% confident that, if anything comes up during our trip, that Alisa will be there to guide us through and take care of us. We won’t even consider using another agency for travel around Asia and we would like to have Alisa work for us again. More
Leo Pospichal,
Mar 2023
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Tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand
The tour guides and drivers were another high point. All were very good, friendly, knowledgeable and spoke English well. There were two that I want to call out for their excellence. Chan Sovannarith in Siem Reap was our guide in Cambodia. He really made the experience special. His knowledge, willingness to answer all my questions, helpfulness and general attitude made him fun to be around. In order to praise the second exceptional guide I have to explain about an unfortunate occurrence that I had. I'm normally a very active senior, but after leaving Cambodia for Laos I was suddenly struck by the most intense back pain I've ever experienced, couldn't even roll over in bed (turned out to be sciatica). The guide, Mr. Sonophet, really went the extra mile. He went with my traveling companion and bought a back brace and medications for me. When that didn't help much he took me to a clinic where I was seen by a doctor, given a shot and pain meds. He hand-made a walking stick for me that I'm still using! He made it possible for me to somewhat participate in the activities, i.e. a bed on the boat down the river. When it was time to move on to Bangkok he got me a wheelchair at the airport. I can't thank him enough for these kindnesses! This problem lasted for the remainder of the trip, through Bangkok and Phuket and these guides were also very helpful getting wheelchairs, etc. It was a terrible disappointment to have this wonderful trip disrupted, but it would have been SO much worse without the great help that I received from the guides and my poor travel companion! More
Deb M,
Mar 2023
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In good hands with Sam
Sam Ol took very good care of us - lots of information, listened to and answered all our questions, was passionate about the places we visited and about his people and country. He was kind, had a great sense of humor, and made sure we felt safe and comfortable at all times. He helped us to fall in love with Cambodia in 3 short days. More
Carol Jones,
Feb 2023
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Best tour guide in Cambodia
When we first arrived at the airport in Siem Riep it was so nice to be greeted by Mr Sam Ol. We instantly fell at home when we saw his friendly smile. We were impressed by his great English and knowledge of the temples. On the tour to the temples Sam took care of us every step of the way. He took awesome pictures of us. It felt like we were on a tour given by our brother who is also a professional photographer. Also, we appreciate his humor as well as the fact he had an answer for every question we had. I give Sam 5 stars, best tour guide ever :) More
Len S,
Feb 2023
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Mr. Sam
Mr. Sam our guide in Cambodia, he and the driver out standing service they went above and beyond touring, my wife so amazed beautiful country, we're planning back here near the futures. Thank Mr. Sam,We'll feedback the whole trip next week when we be home in US More
Pho Lover,
Feb 2023
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Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand
We are still in the middle of our trip, but we are just finishing up our time in Cambodia and our guide, Borin, has been AMAZING!!! He has truly made our time here unforgettable and I plan on referring all of my friends and family to come visit this beautiful country! Thank you, Borin, for everything you did to make our trip so fantastic! More
Danielle Blount,
Feb 2023
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Excellent service and Wonderful Guides
All of our guides have been terrific. Mr. Sam in Siem Reip was especially wonderful. Both he and our driver were polite, safe knowledgable and informative. Sam made our trip memorable and enioyable. We will definitely recommend Sam and Asia Highlights to our friends. More
Kaaren,
Feb 2023
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Schedule
Most markets are open five days a week and change location every day, so finding them can sometimes be tricky for tourists traveling without guides. Generally, the markets rotate every five days between Nyaungshwe, Heho, Taunggyi, Minethauk, and Shwenyaung, respectively.
Asia Highlights works closely with our partners in the local communities to ensure an easy, hassle-free shopping experience for our clients, so that your only job is to relax and shop.
Mine Thauk Market
One of the most popular five-day markets, the Mine Thauk is a vibrant market where Inthar people come to purchase daily necessities, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, which are usually carried in from the surrounding hill tribe areas.
Guests will enjoy browsing through the lacquerware crafts, and Buddhist sculptures which can also be found here.
Nampan Market
This market is especially lively and boasts an array of colorful crafts produced by ethnic minority villagers who dwell in the surrounding hills. Travelers will especially appreciate being able to see the Pa-O people dressed in their traditional garb as they display their wares.
Nampan Market is another market that works on the five-day rotation schedule, so shoppers should remember to check its location for the day, before setting off.
Ywama Floating Market
This floating market in Ywama village is the largest and one of the most popular shopping destinations in the area. An abundance of fresh food, as well as a variety of unique souvenirs, can be found here. Remember to make an early morning start when visiting this market, in order to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Hand-Woven Textiles
Textile weaving has been a traditional craft for generations of people who live around Inle Lake. Local craftsmen and women use bamboo looms to produce an array of gorgeous fabrics that are usually made out of lotus root, which grows naturally in the lake itself.
Inn Paw Khon Village
Guests wishing to explore this tradition and purchase some handcrafted textiles should visit Inn Paw Khon village. Located west of Nampan village, this area is home to the most skilled weavers in the area and is one of the most unique shopping destinations that Inle Lake has to offer.
Shoppers here will be able to observe the process of local artisans using silk and lotus root carefully to weave shawls, sarongs, tapestries and other fabrics. The high-quality materials produced through these traditional practices may be a bit pricier than other textile materials in Myanmar.
However, purchasing some textiles is recommended if guests wish to support the local economy and take home a piece of authentic Myanmar culture, purchased directly from source.
Gold and Silversmith Workshops
Gold and silversmithing are also traditional crafts in the Inle Lake area. Travelers will enjoy being able to observe the process of gold and silver metals being processed into jewelry and other crafts at one of the local workshops.
The best place to witness this tradition is Ywama village, where the craft is most alive and accessible. Silversmith shops can be found at most markets in the areas surrounding Inle Lake.
Further Shopping
The Rural Development Society Shop is the retail branch of the Rural Development Society, which aims to improve quality of life of individuals living in the Shan and Pa-O tribal regions around Inle Lake.
Visitors to the RDS can purchase goods such as hand-made paper, clothing and fabric produced by local people, all the while supporting growth in the surrounding community.
The Asia Highlights Experience
Responsible Travel
Asia Highlights is committed to responsible travel so that guests will be guaranteed a positive travel experience. We will tailor your trip in order to suit your interests, schedule and budget.
Our organization also works to foster positive development in the regions we tour. Asia Highlights tours visit many welfare projects and restaurants, so that guests have the opportunity to engage with the local community.
For Travelers
We remind guests to research the political situation of their destination countries, in order to be respectful travelers. Our guides will also gently remind you of any customs that need to be observed when traveling through Myanmar.
Visit Myanmar with Asia Highlights
Asia Highlights is committed to responsible travel so that guests will be guaranteed a positive travel experience. We will tailor your trip in order to suit your interests, schedule and budget.
Get a head start on planning your dream vacation today.
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Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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