GUJARAT Textiles & Handcrafts tour 24 Jan – 7 Feb 2026 – Group tour page

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Welcome to the final group tour page for the retreat|recreate

GUJARAT TEXTILES & HANDCRAFTS TOUR

24 January – 7 February 2026

Your tour page comprises the following documents.

Detailed Itinerary (as at 25 November 2025) *Please don’t share
Trip Notes (updated 3 Jan 2026)
To Do List (updated 23 Oct 2025)
Travel Details form (updated 30 Sep 2025)
Booking Conditions (as at May 2025)
Packing List (as at 19 Nov 2025)
Visa Application Information, instructions (as at Oct 2025) – For 30 day eVisas, do not apply earlier than 28 days. Please also refer to the official eVisa website provided on the information and instructions page as requirements can change without notice.
Useful Information booklet (updated 18 Dec 2025) *Please don’t share
Map showing ATMs (red symbols) near our starting point hotel, Mani Mansion, Ahmedabad (6 Jan 2026)

Our list of pre-trip reading and viewing suggestions for India is HERE

If you have a friend, family member or colleague who may be interested in this tour, there, new bookings are now on request and subject to availability of hotels. Please don’t share this page. The tour information documents for new enquiries and bookings can be found HERE

IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS:

Refer also to the To Do List for other important dates and reminders
Our welcome briefing meeting is at 6pm on 24 January at Mani Mansion.
Our starting point hotel in Ahmedabad is Mani Mansion – Behind Mehdi Nawaz Jung Hall, Paldi Cross Roads, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad
Our finishing point hotel in Ahmedabad is Bloom Suites – 34, Surdhara Rd, opp. Kolkata Kulture, Nilmani Society, Thaltej, Ahmedabad.
Complete and submit your eVisa application no earlier than 28 days (and no later than 7 days) prior to your arrival in India. Please follow the instructions on the visa information page (scroll down to the bottom of this page)
Complete and submit your e-Arrival card within 72 hours prior to your arrival in India HERE
Arrange to have internet access throughout the tour, not just when we’re at hotels. Refer to the Trip Notes and To Do List for options. If you purchase an Airalo e-SIM, you’re welcome to use the code SUSAN1062 to receive a small discount. A discount link for Holafly e-SIMs is HERE.
Install WhatsApp on your phone at least two weeks prior to departure. The WhatsApp group for this tour will be created approximately one week prior to departure.
The amount to budget for the tipping kitty is approximately INR 9000 per person (TBC). Contributions will be collected on days 1-2. The tipping kitty INCLUDES tips for on-tour hotel porters, reception, cleaners and wait staff, restaurant wait staff for included meals, specialist guides, workshop leaders and drivers.
The tipping kitty DOES NOT include tips for 1) our local tour leader who will be with us for all 15 days of the tour and 2) our specialist guide in Kutch for 4 days (days 8-11) so you may wish to set aside some funds for this. It is customary to tip your tour leader at the end of the tour, for outstanding service provided throughout your trip. We suggest around INR700-850 (= USD7-10/AUD12-15/EUR7-9/GBP6-8/NZ12-15) per person, per day. Please tip in INR if possible. You are free to tip the above-mentioned guides an amount more or less than indicated above, depending on your perception of service quality. We generally collect/combine everyone’s tip and present the tip to each guide on behalf of the group at the end of their time with us. You are of course welcome to hand your own tip to each of the two guides if you prefer.
As at 28 December: Unfortunately our previously assigned tour leader is no longer able to travel with us due to health reasons. Our tour leader for all 15 days of the tour will now be Mr Gajendra Singh Rathore. Mr Gajendra will be added to our WhatsApp group on day 1 of the tour.

OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR SIGHTSEEING TOURS are listed on the Travel Details Form and below. As each requires a minimum of 2 participants to proceed, please indicate your interest (and preferred date/time) sooner rather than later to allow coordination with others in the group. These activities include return transfers from our Ahmedabad starting point hotel. These pre-tour activities will be added to the invoice for your tour balance. Bookings are indicated below in red.

Ahmedabad food tour @ A$150 per person (min 2 people) – Explore the delicacies and flavours of Gujarat in Ahmedabad’s old city and Manek chowk area, visiting generational food joints and guided by a culinary expert. Departs at 16:00 hrs. Duration: 2-2.5 hours. NOTE: On 24 January, this tour won’t return to our hotel before our pre-tour briefing meeting so is only available on/before 23 Jan or on/after 7 Feb.
23 Jan – Susan K, Lisa, Siobhan, Teresa
Full-day Ahmedabad sightseeing tour @ A$180 per person (min 2 people) – Includes visits to Hutheesing Jain Temple, Sidi Saiyed Mosque, Bhadra fort and Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. Departs at 09:00 hrs. Duration: approximately 6 hours.
22 Jan – Lisa, Siobhan
23 Jan – Flossie, Rachel, Michele, Jane

OPTIONAL ON-TOUR ACTIVITIES: require a minimum of 2 participants to proceed. Indicate your interest now. The Garba dance class will be invoiced.

Garba dance class on 26 January @ A$60 per person will be added to your invoice
Susan K, Lisa, Toni
Yoga class on 28 January @ A$40 per person to be paid in cash to tour leader on 26 January
Susan K, Siobhan, Jane

OPTIONAL POST-TOUR KANTHA AND WEAVING EXTENSION: 8 – 12 February 2026 (5 days/4 nights) as per the itinerary below. Murshidabad, West Bengal is the centre of Kantha embroidery.

Lois

COST: Approximately AU$2000 per person including 4 nights single room accommodation, all transfers, experiences as described, and one-way economy flight from Ahmedabad to Kolkata. Will proceed with one or more bookings. For all textile workshops and demonstrations on 9^th, 10^th and 11th Feb, there will be a local English-speaking facilitator at each of the organisations and foundations. Your driver will ensure you are collected from your hotel each day and delivered to each of the included locations. An accredited guide is not included and not required as there are no monument visits in this program. A non-refundable deposit of AU$300 per person is required to book this trip. Once your deposit is paid, your air ticket (non-refundable) will be purchased and accommodation reserved. The price may vary depending on the cost of your flight ticket at the time of booking and hotel accommodation availability etc. If you wish to book this extension trip, please get in touch ASAP.

Day 1 – 8th Feb (Sunday)| Arrival in Kolkata
Take a domestic flight from Ahmedabad to Kolkata (09:25 / 12:00 Hrs TBC) including 15kg checked luggage and 7 kg hand luggage.
Arrival at Kolkata Airport, transfer to hotel and check-in.
Afternoon visit to the Textile & Weaving Museum at the Indian Museum
Evening at leisure.
Day 2 – 9th Feb (Monday)| Kolkata to Murshidabad (approx. 220 km / 05 Hrs)
Morning drive to Murshidabad, once the royal seat of Bengal’s Nawabs.
Check in at hotel.
Post-lunch, visit local silk weaving clusters known for fine Murshidabad silk – live demonstration of handloom weaving and interaction with master weavers.
Day 3 – 10th Feb (Tuesday) | Kantha Embroidery Immersion
Full-day visit to a foundation working with over 2000 women artisans specialising in Kantha embroidery.
Hands-on session with artisans, traditional home-cooked lunch.
Spend the second half of the day learning advanced stitches, exploring the craft, and supporting artisans through curated shopping.
Return to the hotel and overnight in Murshidabad.
Day 4 – 11th Feb (Wednesday)| Return to Kolkata & Cultural Exploration
Drive back to Kolkata (approx. 05 Hrs).
Check-in at hotel
Afternoon visit to the Weavers Studio for an insightful session on Bengal’s textile heritage–The visit includes a tour of the workshop showcasing the production of various crafts, a hands-on Shibori Tie & Dye experience, and access to a curated textile archive along with an opportunity for selective shopping.
Evening free for personal exploration or relaxation.
Day 5 – 12th Feb (Thursday) | Departure
Breakfast and check-out.
Transfer to airport for onward flight.

GUJARAT Textiles & Handcrafts tour 24 Jan – 7 Feb 2026 – Group tour page