Lembata & Sumba Textiles & Handcrafts tour
28 June – 11 July 2026
Register your interest HERE
Scroll down to view testimonials from our Lembata and Sumba travellers.
Join us as we explore Lembata and Sumba in Indonesia’s Nusa Tenggara Archipelago. These two very special islands are rich in ancient handcraft traditions and have a fascinating history and cultural heritage.
Superb natural dyeing, intricate single and double ikat weaving, beautiful basketry, cotton spinning, warm village welcomes with dance and singing and the hospitality of generous people who live in harsh, unforgiving environments.
Be wowed by stunning coastal, mountainous and savannah landscapes, explore villages with tall, grass roofs and megalithic tombs, visit a coastal village which is one of the last places on earth where traditional whaling is still practiced (using sail boats and manual harpoons), take part in a traditional festival, snorkel over a coral reef where multi-coloured fish are abundant and dugong are occasionally seen, and observe the existence of indigenous marapu (spiritual beliefs and forces) and sacrificial rites, alongside contrasting Catholic and Protestant beliefs. Plus much, much more!
This BRAND NEW handcrafts exploration of Lembata and Sumba is not to be missed. We do hope you’ll join us!
Click HERE to register your Expression of Interest (EOI) for future trips or enquire about a private group tour for you and your friends.
This tour exceeded my expectations in every regard. The experiences at a cultural level were unique, the locations incredible and the real and respectful interactions with our women teachers were heartwarming and unforgettable. Lead and coordinated by a “dream team” of very capable people with excellent communication skills complimented by a relaxed style and a sense of humour. This made the group experience much more fun and got us through a few challenges. I feel very fortunate to have had this team on the trip as well as my fellow adventurers who were all wonderful women. Gail – Lembata & Sumba, 2025
The Lembata & Sumba 2025 tour was my fourth with retreat|recreate and it did not disappoint. Two weeks went by in a heartbeat as we experienced warm, often dance accompanied, village welcomes, their textile culture and history. Natural dyeing demonstrations and weaving skills beyond comprehension coupled with mostly limited conversation but always good humour were at the absolute forefront of this tour. Add in sunset dinners on beautiful beaches, volcano watching at night, market visits and wandering historic villages and you have just a glimpse of what this tour offers. Facilities are often simple (think squat toilets), walking surfaces uneven and activities floor based, so bring your ability to deal with all of that. As always, a shared interest in textiles has the power to bring women with varied backgrounds and interests together, an integral part of the retreat|recreate travel experience and one not to be missed. Kim E – Lembata and Sumba 2025 (India Textiles 2019, Morocco Textiles 2022 and Japan Blue 2024)
The Lembata and Sumba tour was absolutely wonderful, a trip of a lifetime. We were warmly welcomed into local villages with traditional ceremonies, singing and dancing, such fun! It was great to see their beautiful crafts thriving and have a go at these centuries old practices. Thank you Susan for curating a unique tour in a spectacular, unspoilt part of the world. Special thanks to our local guide, Tony, and his wonderful team for looking after us with such grace and enormous hospitality. If you love textiles or anything textile this is a wonderful way to travel. The tours are thoughtfully curated to give participants a taste of local life, a fine appreciation of local arts and crafts and an authentic experience of local custom and traditions. Deb – Lembata & Sumba 2025 (Top End 2022, Japan Blue 2023, Japan Handcrafts 2024, Japan Blue 2026)
This was the most marvellous tour, taking us to remote parts of Lembata and Sumba to work with locals and be amazed at their skill, technique and willingness to share. It was a rare privilege to visit isolated communities and participate in their daily life – a real eye opener to observe first hand activities and rituals previously seen only in documentary films. An absolute thrill for any textile tragic who is fit and well and who has a keen sense of adventure and the ability to flex with the inevitable changes and challenges of such an off beat trip. Jane – Lembata & Sumba 2025
This is my 3rd tour with retreat|recreate and it would have to be my favourite! The islands of Lembata and Sumba are amazing, spectacular and rugged. The differences in textile/ikat design is unique not only to the different islands, but from village to village. This tour is not for those seeking a luxury experience, it is rough, ready and honest. You get hot and dirty, but you get to see some of the most spectacular places on Earth, meet some of the most amazing people, eat fantastic local food and learn new skills along the way. Kim G – Lembata & Sumba 2025 (also Vietnam 2016 and India 2023)
This has been my third tour and a fourth is booked for 2026. Lembata and Sumba were very special islands to visit as most people haven’t heard of them. Tourist infrastructure is in its infancy but this is one of the reasons they are so special. The local people are kind and very willing to share their culture. Overall the tour was well paced with lots of hands-on activities. The local guide Tony was organised and quickly reacted to local barriers to our travels due to unforeseen local events (eg. a cancelled flight). I have come home with lots of memories and beautiful textiles. Susan the retreat/recreate representative was the glue in the group ensuring our needs were met and sharing her knowledge with us. As with all my experiences on these tours I come away with increased knowledge about textiles, new friends and a sense of excitement about my next adventure with retreat/recreate. Cathrine – Lembata & Sumba 2025 (also Morocco 2024, India 2025 and South India 2026)
This trip was amazing. Lots of different and new experiences. A feast for all the senses. Highly recommended. Alison – Lembata & Sumba, 2025
The generosity of everyone we met was amazing and the expertise of the (mostly) women spinners, dyers and weavers was outstanding. Pack a sense of adventure and engage with the locals and you will be rewarded with a lifetime of memories. As an Indonesian speaker I loved being able to find out about their lives and crafts. One of the highlights for me was eating a delicious dinner of freshly caught fish on a beach while watching a volcano ‘cough’ in the distance! Judy – Lembata & Sumba 2025 (and Morocco 2022)
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