Ends of the Earth - Textile Tours

Over the years I have visited many crafts people around the world. It gives me great pleasure to develop tours where you too visit these people and have a chance to have hands experience of the craft.

I arrange comfortable accommodation with all amenities so that you can fully enjoy the day which is sometimes taken in, to us, quite primitive conditions. I also arrange a full cultural program visiting museums, archeological sites, markets, local attractions and of course tasting the traditional cuisine.

The tours are suitable for everybody and are not physically exacting. You do not need to be proficient in any craft but you do need to be really interested in textiles and willing to learn more.

We arrive in Bangkok staying two nights in an hotel with a day at leisure to recover from the flight. We then take the short flight to Ventiane (the capital of Laos) where we visit silk weavers,have workshop in tye dyeing with vegetable dyes and weaving in silk. Visit markets and fabulous Buddhist temples. Then travel by private coach through the most beautiful mountain scenery to the world heritage site of Louang Prabang. Here we visit silk and cotton weavers and have workshops in silk weaving and dyeing with lac and papermaking. Again we visit markets and wonderful gleaming temples and the old palace.

We then travel for three days (one day by boat on the river Mekong) through a mountainous region to the Thai border in the north. On the way go to villages of minority groups such as the Thai Lu, Hmong, Khmu and Tia Dam. In Thailand stay in Nan and visit Tai Lu weavers and Hilltribe villages of this area that specialise in batik and embroidery. Visit Yao silver craft village and see silver smiths at work. Travel to Chiangmai, the "crafts capital of the East"and spend a day visiting this lovely city before flying out of Chiangmai international airport.

Stay in traditional guesthouses with modern conveniences and experiment with Eastern cuisine, visit cultural events and try an eastern massage!

The tour starts in the old Seljuk capital of Konya, traditional centre of kilim and carpet weaving and home to the Mevlani whirling dervishes. Herewe stay in Uzeyir Ozyurt's guest house. While in Konya we have hands experience of spinning, dyeing and weaving of kilims as well as felt making. You will be shown how to weave a small kilim for yourself and make a small felt item. We also study the history and meaning of carpet and kilim designs.

During our time in Turkey we will take a three day excursion into the southern Taurus mountains, staying in the high mountain village of Taskent. Here we will see the surviving nomads, their textile arts and their traditional way of life. While in Konya we have a full cultural program of visits to museums, turkish baths and archeological sites and experience traditional cuisine and watch a Sema (a whirling Dervish ceremony).

The cost of the tour is £550 (excluding arrival and departure flights) - full board and accomodation in twin bedded rooms, transport and workshops. I can arrange the flights and an extra three days sightseeing of Istanbul at the end of the tour.