Warp&Weft Textile Tours - by Active Travel
Shunning the 21st century technological age, skilled artisans around the world, proud of their heritage produce beautiful traditional textiles and provide for us the focus of our Warp&Weft Textile Tours.
These same people, generally from minority groups, display ancient culture and traditions and are mainly located in remote regions, making any journey to meet them a lifelong experience. Once we reach their remote communities we are their guests and receive tremendous hospitality along with a free exchange of textile skills, techniques, dye processing, and design.
Many minority people still produce and wear colourful fabrics using generations old techniques. Crafts skills are very strong and our guests see textile skills such as embroidery, dyeing, weaving and fashion, as well as many other crafts including basketwork, ceramics, lacquer, and painting. Apart from contemporary fabrics we have the opportunity of seeing rare and valuable pieces during our many museum visits and when viewing private collections.
Our programs are comprehensive and we don’t forget the important historical and cultural sites at each destination. Our highly acclaimed Guest Lecturers provide an opportunity to meet wonderful people and learn of their skills, introduce excellent local cuisine, and show you the great sights, which when combined, provide a truly rewarding travel experience.
At Active Travel we have a passionate interest in our tour destinations and take great care to design itineraries that have a good mix of organised activities and free-time. Past participants have praised our itineraries, quality, and information and we are confident of continuing to provide a wonderful and fulfilling travel experience.
Accommodation, meals, and vehicles are of a high standard and our local guides assist to provide the best possible service on an excellent value journey.
In 2010, we present a range of tours to Bhutan (September 10), India (September 10) Egypt (October 2009), Vietnam and Lao (January 2011), West Timor (June 2011). We are also developing a program to Japan - stay tuned for details. To find out more about these tours, click on the links below to download a brochure.
NEW - West Timor Textiles and Crafts - with Ruth Hadlow (June 2010) - Only two places left on this tour - book now!
West Timor is the centre of a strong regional textile tradition featuring an extraordinarily wide range of hand loomed textiles including ikat, sotis (songket), and buna (supplementary weft), indigo and morinda dyeing, basket work and pottery. Crafts, especially textiles feature strongly in all aspects of life for the Timorese, and neighbouring islands of Flores, Sumba and the lesser islands. Our aim is to immerse you into these traditions through observation and hands-on demonstrations, and above all by meeting the artists and seeing them at work. Click here to download our brochure on West Timor
Textiles and Crafts of Bhutan - with Christine Pearson (October 2010)
There is no doubt Bhutan is the magical Himalayan Kingdom closest to fulfilling the image of the mythical Shangri‐La. Culturally it is a treasure trove. Scenically it is superb. Spiritually it is beyond comparison. Our program begins in Eastern Bhutan, rich in textiles and crafts, yet sees very few visitors and visits Thimpu in time to coincide with their fantastic festival or tsechu, where hundreds of people dress in their finest traditional costumes to attend, providing for us a smorgasbord of beautiful weavings. This program highlights so much – cultural immersion, wonderful mountain and river scenery, superb hand loomed textiles, wildlife, and local cuisine, with overnight stops at comfortable lodges. Click here to download our brochure on Bhutan
Textiles and Rural Villages of Gujarat - with Valerie Kirk (September 2010)
We travel in the western Indian state of Gujarat, often overshadowed by its better known neighbour of Rajasthan, but no less impressive. The first six-day section of our tour begins in Delhi and includes Jaipur and Udaipur. Apart from seeing iconic India we are introduced to the foundations of Indian art, textiles and culture. The full range of textile traditions will be covered and we include opportunities for hands-on experiences. We have selected a wonderful range of accommodation including heritage hotels, safari lodges, and contemporary boutique establishments. Most meals, transport, entrance fees, services of Valerie Kirk as your Guest Lecturer and gratuities are included in what promises to be an exceptional programme. Click here to download the tour brochure.
The Textiles of Egypt - with Nancy Hoskins (November 2010)
Egypt has been a producer and exporter of cotton, linen, wool, and silk for thousands of years. Linen was made from flax during the Pharaonic period, and fine textiles were produced during the Ptolemaic, Coptic and Islamic periods. Up until the early 1800’s Egyptian textile production was characterized by small workshops, guild organizations of craft workers, and a highly specialized division of labour. Cottons and linens were exported – primarily to other provinces of the Ottoman Empire and neighbouring Muslim regions. Today, Egypt is still one of the major exporters of cotton in the Middle East and it also boasts a thriving cottage industry. Tour Host Nancy Hoskins is an author, artist and teacher and has lectured and researched Egyptian textiles, particularly the Coptic contribution there. Three decades of research led to her monumenatal publication, 'The Coptic Tapestry Albums' . Click here to download the 4-page brochure for this tour.
Vietnam and Laos - with Valerie Kirk (January 2011)
Join Valerie Kirk, renowned tapestry weaver and Head of Textiles from the Australian National University, School of Art for this superb 18-day tour program to Lao and northern Vietnam. We focus on textiles and crafts, but there is so much more to see in this remote and intriguing region. Wonderful Buddhist culture, fabulous scenery, excellent food and the delightful people make for a truly memorable experience. Valerie's tours sell out every year - testament to the quality and variety of this enjoyable travel programme. Click here to download our brochure on Vietnam and Laos