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Welcome to the final group tour page for the retreat|recreate
SOUTH INDIA TEXTILES & HANDCRAFTS TOUR
22 February – 9 March 2027
Your tour page comprises the following documents:
- Itinerary
- Trip Notes
- To Do List (includes bank details for paying your deposit and tour balance)
- Travel Details form – complete and submit ASAP and before 31 Oct 2026
- Booking Conditions
- Packing List
- Visa Application Information and Instructions – to be uploaded closer to departure
- Useful Information booklet – to be uploaded closer to departure
- Map showing ATMs (red symbols) near our Chennai starting point hotel
Our list of pre-trip reading and viewing suggestions for India is HERE
PLEASE WAIT TO BE ADVISED THAT WE’VE REACHED OUR MINIMUM GROUP SIZE AND THE TOUR WILL PROCEED BEFORE BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS. In the meantime, you’re welcome to start researching flight options.
IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS:
- Complete and submit your Travel Details Form ASAP and no later than 31 October
- Your tour balance is due no later than 7 November 2026 (AEDT)
- Refer also to the To Do List for other important dates and reminders
THINGS TO NOTE:
Our welcome briefing meeting is at 6pm on 22 February 2027 at The Residency, Chennai (see address below)
Our STARTING POINT HOTEL IN CHENNAI: The Residency – 49, GN Chetty Road, T. Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Our FINISHING POINT HOTEL IN KOCHI is: Abad Dutch Bungalow – Napier Street, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala
OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR ACTIVITIES: As each requires a minimum of 2 participants to proceed, please indicate your interest (by sending us a quick email) and your preferred date/time sooner rather than later to allow coordination with others in the group. These activities include return transfers from our Chennai hotel. Confirm your interest on your Travel Details Form. Pre-tour activities will be added to the invoice for your tour balance. Booking requests will be indicated below in red as they’re received.
- Cooking class and meal with a local family (lunch or dinner) @ A$145 per person. 11.30AM departure for lunch OR 5.30pm departure for dinner. Class duration = 2.5 – 3 hours plus travel time from/to our tour hotel.
- EOIs:
- Culinary tour of Chennai @ A$130 per person. Depart from our tour hotel at 3pm. Tour duration = 2.5 – 3 hours plus travel time from/to our tour hotel. Bustling, chaotic, fragrant, and unapologetically indulgent, Chennai’s Sowcarpet neighborhood is a feast for the senses. Arrive curious, leave enlightened but most importantly, come hungry. From buttery pav bhaji and melt-in-the-mouth palkova to fluffy thattu idlis and the wildly addictive murukku sandwich, this is a trail designed for those who believe food is best enjoyed with stories. Wander through the vibrant lanes of Chennai’s Sowcarpet, where every bite carries memories of migration, family traditions, secret spice blends, and culinary obsessions that are equal parts amusing and fascinating. This immersive food walk is not merely about tasting local favourites; it is about understanding the people and cultures that shaped them. Discover why certain flavours became fiercely spicy, why sweets hold such emotional significance, and how age-old recipes continue to survive in hidden kitchens and tiny eateries.
- EOIs: 21 Feb – Susan K
OPTIONAL ON-TOUR ACTIVITIES: require a minimum of 2 participants to proceed. Indicate your request now and pay cash to our tour leader two days prior.
- 2 March – Early morning basic yoga class A$50 per person – indicate your interest on the Travel Details Form and pay cash to our tour leader two days prior.
- EOIs:
ITINERARY
TRIP NOTES
BOOKING CONDITIONS
TO DO LIST
TRAVEL DETAILS FORM
PACKING LIST
eVISA – INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS – to be uploaded closer to departure
USEFUL INFORMATION – to be uploaded closer to departure
ATMs near our starting point hotel, The Residency, Chennai (centre of image)
retreat | recreate 