Textiles of India Tour

9^th February 2027      

Fly overnight from the UK to Bangalore. (Flights are not included in the holiday cost, but we are happy to provide suitable options and a quote for you).

10^th & 11^th February 2027    

Arrive in Bangalore and transfer to your hotel. After time to relax, meet your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner to mark the start of this wonderful Textiles of India Tour.

The next day, visit Tharangini Studio, a heritage block-printing centre known for sustainable textiles. Learn natural dye-making, then try wood-block printing using one of India’s largest collections of hand-carved blocks. Under expert guidance, experiment with colours and patterns to create your own unique fabric – a hands-on introduction to South India’s rich textile traditions.

Accommodation: A stylish first-class hotel with spacious rooms and central location.

Meals Included: Dinner on Day 2, Breakfast & Lunch on Day 3

12^th February 2027

The drive to Mysore includes a stop at the bustling Ramanagara Silk Cocoon Market and a vineyard lunch with wine tasting, before visiting Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace.

Spend the next day meeting silk cocoon farmers in a nearby village, with the chance to see sericulture (the rearing of silkworms for silk) up close. Visit the Government Silk Factory (subject to operation), then explore Mysore Palace and the colourful Devaraja Market.

Accommodation: The Metropole Hotel, a charming heritage property for a two-night stay.

Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

14^th February 2027

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Mysore before transferring to the railway station at midday to board the train to Chennai.

Spend the following day at Kalakshetra Foundation, a centre dedicated to preserving South India’s cultural and textile heritage. Learn the intricate art of Kalamkari (hand-painted and block-printed textiles) and create your own piece under the guidance of skilled artisans.

Accommodation: Two nights at The Residency Towers, a first-class modern hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast on Day 6, Lunch on Day 7

16^th February 2027

Drive to Pondicherry, stopping at Mahabalipuram to see Pallava monuments, including cave temples, bas-reliefs, monolithic rathas and structural temples, and at DakshinaChitra, a heritage centre showcasing South India’s crafts and traditions.

Spend a day at a peaceful farmhouse on the outskirts for a hands-on eco-printing workshop, creating natural patterns on fabric using local leaves, and enjoy a traditional Tamil lunch. On another day, visit Colours of Nature in Auroville, a pioneering studio specialising in natural indigo dyeing, and explore the township with a guide to discover its eco-friendly industries, crafts and the striking Matrimandir.

Accommodation: Three nights at The Residency Towers, a superior modern hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast daily, plus lunch on Days 9–10

19^th February 2027

Travel to the temple town of Kumbakonam and check in at your resort. Explore nearby villages to meet master weavers and see the creation of exquisite silk sarees, renowned for their fine quality, intricate motifs and luxurious texture.

Take an excursion to Darasuram and Tanjore to admire Chola temples with intricately carved pillars and stone idols, and visit a traditional bronze-casting workshop where artisans use the ancient lost-wax process to create sacred sculptures.

Accommodation: Mantra Koodam, a first-class resort designed in the style of a traditional Tamil village.

Meals Included: Breakfast daily, with lunch on Day 12

21^st February 2027

Drive to Madurai, one of South India’s most vibrant and sacred cities, and check in for an overnight stay. In the afternoon, explore the bustling flower market and narrow lanes of the old town, then visit the magnificent Meenakshi Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of India’s most important Hindu pilgrimage sites.

Accommodation: Mantra Koodam, a first-class resort designed in the style of a traditional Tamil village.

Meals Included: Breakfast

22^nd February 2027

Drive into the cool, misty hills of Munnar and check in at your hotel.

Visit a tea estate and factory to learn about Munnar’s long history of tea cultivation. Spend the following day at Srishti, a community development project supporting people with disabilities, where you’ll take a hands-on workshop at Aranya Naturals, preparing natural dyes from local plants and creating your own textiles.

Accommodation: Fragrant Nature Munnar, a stylish first-class boutique hotel with sweeping views of the surrounding hills.

Meals Included: Breakfast daily, Lunch Day 15

24^th – 27^th February 2027

Drive through scenic tea estates, pineapple plantations, tapioca fields and rubber farms to Cochin.

Enjoy a sunset harbour cruise, gliding past the iconic Chinese fishing nets. Visit Alleppey, the “Venice of the East,” for a four-hour houseboat cruise through Kerala’s serene backwaters, with freshly prepared lunch and afternoon tea onboard.

Back in Cochin, explore Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on a guided tuk-tuk tour, weaving through spice markets, winding lanes and colonial streets. The remainder of your time is at leisure to browse boutiques, antique shops or pick up last-minute treasures.

Accommodation: Three nights at Fragrant Nature Fort Cochin, a stylish first-class boutique hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

27 February 2027

Transfer to Cochin Airport for your return flight to the UK, taking with you lasting memories of South India’s rich textile traditions, warm hospitality and timeless artistry.

Meals Included: Breakfast