India's Textiles, Crafts & Design

This well-balanced tour combines well-known iconic sights with some lesser visited corners for a rare opportunity to become genuinely immersed in a profoundly alluring part of India.

With textiles as our focus, we travel off the beaten track to vibrant cities and rural communities. Not just for textile enthusiasts, the entry into this world reveals a more authentic, fascinating side of India.

Begin in energizing Mumbai to tour the notable textile collection and the largest hand laundry facility in the world! Move into Gujarat, a highly reward step off the tourist trail. Fly to the entrancing city of Bhuj to explore the heart of Gujarat’s vibrant textile tradition. Over a full week here, meet with artisans of gotadi quilts, Bandhani, Ajrakh prints, ikat patola weaving, and pachedi shrine cloths. Our meetings take us to tribal villages, chilled-out seaside towns, and to Ahmedabad’s incredible mix of centuries old and cutting-edge contemporary design. Gujarat is also where Mahatma Gandhi was born and where many monuments to his legacy remain.

A highlight of our tour is the Rann Utsav Arts & Crafts Festival, celebrating traditional culture in the spectacular setting of the White Desert. We stay overnight in the Rann Utsav tented accommodation taking in the folk artist performances and meeting artisans of handcrafted textiles.

The next five days are spent in the dramatic desert state of Rajasthan, where we visit workshops in and around the colourful cities of Jodphur and Jaipur. Weaving cooperatives, museums, and contemporary studios are all part of our exploration, as are the grand forts and lusciously decorated havelis (family mansions).

Explore a very personal side of the culture and architecture of Gujarat and Rajasthan through its textiles, crafts, and design.