Textile Travel

Many times, we are asked to recommend travel companies who specialize in textile tours. Some of the following are people we have traveled with and can personally recommend; others are recommended by those we trust. The list is limited to those who offer textile-specific trips and are focused specifically on cultural and/or traditional techniques, locations, or activities. Most of the companies only offer textile tours, but we added a couple of broader travel companies who have textile tours as one of their product offerings. If there is someone who you think should be included, please contact us so we can put them through our travel gauntlet. But with all travel, we are not liable in any way for your own personal experience. Note: We have added a * by those companies who we have traveled with or highly recommend.

Transportation along the Mekong River in Luang Prabang, Laos

Festival night in Luang Prabang, Laos

All Things India        https://atitravel.nz/tours/

Joji and Shani Jacob     joji@atitravel.nz
Country: India
Specialty: textiles and handcrafts; customized small group tours

*Andean Textile Arts           http://www.andeantextilearts.org
info@andeantextilearts.org
Country: Peruvian and Bolivian Highlands
Specialty: backstrap weaving, spinning, natural dyeing, plus visit to archeological sites including Machu Picchu, weaving villages; benefit tour for the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco

Art Workshops in Guatemala             http://www.artguat.org            612-825-0747
info@artguat.org                        Liza Fourré
Countries: Guatemala, USA
Specialty: backstrap weaving, ikat, Navajo weaving

*Behind the Scenes Adventures           
http://btsadventures.com            707-939-8874
info@btsadventures.com             Cynthia LeCount Samake
Countries: Turkey, India, Morocco, Ghana, Bali, Uzbekistan, Bhutan, Laos, Cambodia.
Specialty: ikat weaving & dyeing, wood-block printing, embroidery, felting, carpets, festivals and cuisine. BTSA donates school supplies/books in villages.

Dancing during an anniversary celebration in Sallac, Peru.

A view of Machu Picchu in the morning hours.

Creative Arts Safaris            http://www.creative-arts-safaris.com          +91 [0] 998 203 2755
fiona@creative-arts-safaris.com             Fiona Wright
Countries: India, Ghana, Morocco, Vietnam, France
Specialty: embroidery, indigo, dyeing, block printing, cooking, weaving, batik, beading

Eat Your Heart Out Tours
shila@eyhotours.com                       Shila Desai              +1-647-801-3946
Countries: India, Uzbekistan
Specialty: overview of textile and culture with visits to artisans and villages

*Esprit Travel & Tours            http://www.esprittravel.com           800-377-7481
info@esprittravel.com                         Nancy Craft
Countries: Japan
Specialty: custom itineraries, indigo, basketry, ceramics, silk, woodblock printing, weaving, dyeing

Traditional house in Kanazawa, Japan

Marilyn and Linda in Kyoto, Japan.

From Lost to Found Travel         http://www.fromlosttofoundtravel.com     215-731-9553 info@fromlosttofoundtravel.com                  Allison Rulon-Miller
Countries: India, Sri Lanka
Specialty: weaving, silk, ikat, batik, leather, pottery, custom itineraries

Handcrafted Holidays  http://www.handcraftedholidays.com                  253-677-7375 or 253-476-3040
handcraftedholidays@yahoo.com                         Kathy Brassill
Countries: UK, Ireland
Specialty: quilting, knitting, crochet, weaving, basketry

Teaching design in India (photo credit Judy Frater)

Women prepping weaving on floor looms in India

*International Folk Art Market: Passport to Folk Art Trips

https://folkartmarket.org/passport-to-folk-art-trips
Countries: Various
Specialty: focus on folk art but many include textiles

Loomdancer Weaving Odysseys            http://loomdancerodysseys.com        800-369-3033
loomdance@aol.com                          Cari-Ann Sample-Malver
Countries: USA, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Scotland, Africa
Specialty: cultural, Navajo weaving, backstrap weaving, natural dyeing, ravenstail weaving, Zapotec weaving

Spinning brown cotton in Huazolotitlan, Oaxaca

Backstrap weaving in Zinacantan, Chiapas.

*Mayan Hands               http://www.mayanhands.org/mayan-hands-tours            518-729-1900
weavingfutures2012@gmail.com            Deborah Chandler
Countries: Guatemala
Specialty: backstrap weaving

*Oaxaca Cultural Navigator
oaxacaculture@me.com                             Norma Schafer
Country: Mexico
Specialty: natural dyeing, folk art, weaving

Velvet ikat weaving in Uzbekistan.

Shearing goats in Tajikistan.

Textile Journeys: Shetland 2018

http://www.globalyell.org/textiles/textile-tours
Andy Ross  GlobalYell Ltd Shetland   01957 744 355
andy@globalyell.org or kirsty@globalyell.org.
Country: Scotland
Specialty: knitting, textile history, weaving

*Textile Odyssey Tours            http://textileodyssey.com                        415-666-3636
textile_odyssey5@yahoo.com             Serena Lee
Countries: China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar
Specialty: acheik weaving, ikat, lacquerwork, basketry, wood carving, papermaking

Embroidering clothing in India.

Stirring the lac dye pots in Laos

*Textile Society of America      http://textilesocietyofamerica.org/events       510-353-4541
tsa@textilesociety.org
Countries: Various
Specialty: all textile focused; open to members

*Textile Trails    https://textiletrails.com.au/2018/03/23/2018-textile-tour-of-bhutan/
textiletrails@gmail.com           Wendy Garrity
Country: Bhutan
Specialty: weaving

The Icelandic Knitter      http://icelandicknitter.com/en/knitting-tours            +354  661623
dagny@mountainguides.is             Helene Magnusson
Countries: Iceland
Specialty: knitting, sheep, dyeing, spinning, hiking

Thread Caravan
hello@threadcaravan.com                  Caitlin Ahern
Countries: Guatemala, Mexico, Panama
Specialty: workshops in embroidery, natural dyeing, weaving, other

Threads of India   http://classicsafaricompany.com.au                +612 9327 0666
ali@classicsafaricompany.com.au     Ali Anderson, Christina Sumner
Country: India
Specialty: handwoven, embroidered and printed textiles, arts, history and culture, specially-designed itineraries, small groups

Threads of Peru   https://threadsofperu.com
ariana@threadsofperu.com                   Ariana Svenson
http:/www.facebook.com/threadsofperu
Country: Peru
Specialty: cultural experiences and visits with artisans; hands on workshops in natural dyeing and weaving; small groups and family tours

Men dressed in traditional clothing in Tenejapa, Chiapas, Mexico

Spinning brown cotton in Huazolotitlan, Oaxaca

*Tia Stephanie Tours      734-769-7839
info@tiastephanietours.com        Stephanie Schneiderman
Countries: Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico
Specialty: crafts, cultural, dyeing, embroidery, weaving

Touch of Spirit Tours      1 300 722 932
mela@touchofspirittours.com.au          Mela Joy
Countries: India
Specialty:  dyeing, tie-dyeing, embroidery, hand block printing, mirror work, weaving, quilting, cultural

*Traditions Mexico              http://www.traditionsmexico.com            011 52 (951) 571-3695
traditionsmexico@yahoo.com             Eric Mindling
Countries: Mexico
Specialty: dyeing, backstrap weaving, cotton spinning, silk

*Tribal Weaving of the Lesser Sunda Islands
Expert Cruise led by David and Susan Richardson
davidandsue@asiantextilestudies.com
Country: Indonesia
Specialty: cotton spinning, ikat weaving and natural dyeing

*Wild Fibers Magazine            http://www.wildfibersmagazine.com            207-594-9455
editor@wildfibersmagazine.com            Linda Cortright
Countries: India
Specialty: cultural, cashmere, yaks, camels, spinning, weaving

*Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada            http://www.yoshikowada.com            510-527-3432
info@yoshikowada.com                         Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada
Countries: Japan, India, Italy, France
Specialty: slow fiber, custom itineraries