Thailand and Laos Textiles & Handcrafts
30 October – 12 November 2025 – SOLD OUT
November 2026 dates – TBC – register your interest HERE
Click HERE to register your interest in future Thailand and Laos tours
Scroll down to read testimonials from our Thailand and Laos travellers
Hmong batik, embroidery and weaving; Karen back-strap loom weaving; Lisu patchwork, appliqué and basketmaking; kheuapiad (jungle vine) fibre craft; indigo and natural dyeing; eco-printing; Tai Lue silk weaving; Kmhmu basketry; traditional ethnic costumes, a private textile collection, textile galleries, fabulous textile markets, artisan studios, textile villages, temples, spectacular scenery, a Mekong River cruise, delicious local cuisine and much, much more!
retreat|recreate is delighted to offer this 14 day/13 night women’s tour exploring northern Thailand and Laos through the lens of their superb and varied traditional textiles and handcrafts.
Our journey begins in Chiang Mai, the buzzing capital and “rose” of Northern Thailand and takes us to several tiny less-known handcraft villages off the tourist trail, past riverside towns as we take a slow-boat along the Mekong, through landscapes featuring soaring mountains and craggy karsts, to beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage listed Luang Prabang, the centre of Buddhism in Laos.
We are privileged to participate in SIX hands-on handcraft workshops: we’ll stitch traditional motifs with Hmong embroiderers and try our hand at Hmong batik, take an eco-printing class with a social enterprise that offers handcraft training to women and young people, explore natural dyeing with the Tai Lue, weave a silk placemat using traditional supplementary weft techniques and work with bamboo to create a Kmhmu-style basket.
Visit the handcraft villages of several culturally diverse ethnic minority groups, engage directly with local artisans and craftspeople in their homes and workshops, observe artisans as they demonstrate their skills and expertise, be inspired by traditional designs and motifs, marvel at the range of superb handcrafts and textiles, deepen our knowledge at textile galleries and cultural museums, shop at fabulous, colourful textile markets, explore serene temples and fascinating cultural sites along the way, be in awe of breath-taking landscapes, experience wonderful local culture, savour delicious cuisine and be humbled by the gentle and generous hospitality for which Thailand and Laos are known.
This immersive foray into the stunning textiles and handcrafts of northern Thailand and Laos is not to be missed! We do hope you’ll join us!
Click HERE to register your interest in future Thailand and Laos tours
Here’s what our Thailand and Laos travellers had to say about this trip:
I can’t recommend this tour to Thailand and Laos more highly. It is the perfect mix of unique textile related activities and experiencing the local cultures. We went beyond the typical tourist route to see amazing scenery and spend time learning from the local people who actually make cotton and silk threads from scratch. Susan K has the incredible knack of ensuring the activities on each day surpass those of the previous day! We met many wonderful local people across Thailand and Laos and had opportunities that you simply don’t get with other tour companies. Leanne – Thailand and Laos Oct-Nov 2025
There is no way I could’ve dreamed up a curated tour like this, let alone coordinated it or had the local know-how and connections to artisans, collectors, guides, and drivers. The itinerary exceeded my expectations, and the feeling of trust and confidence with all aspects of the trip was integral to such an inspiring and phenomenal experience. Kirsten – Thailand and Laos Oct-Nov 2025
This trip to Thailand and Laos was a once in a lifetime time experience. The variety of stops included museums, hands on creative experiences, boat ride down the Mekong River, experiences with villagers, stays in cities and small villages, galleries, village walks, social/NGO/fair trade exposure and more. All of this meticulously planned to optimize the experience. This is not retreat|recreate’s first rodeo and every time they do it there are improvements. Susan Keeble was an excellent tour director and the guides were personable, knowledgeable, efficient and caring. I will definitely go on another tour with them. Betsy – Thailand and Laos Oct-Nov 2025
Love textiles? Travel to off-the-beaten path destinations? Adventuring with women passionate about their craft, other cultures and techniques? Then the Thailand/Laos retreat|recreate tour is for you. Our Australian guide, Susan, was well organised, fun, friendly and informative. We could ask her anything and she would find the answer. Our local guide, Lalada, stuffed us with snacks, took us to ‘fancy’ places, made us laugh. I loved that we contributed to the purchase of water tanks for a village, school supplies for another village, and toiletries for those in hospital. I am grateful for this experience and would highly recommend it to anyone. Carol – Thailand and Laos Oct-Nov 2025
The trip to Northern Thailand and Laos exceeded my already high expectations. We went off the beaten path, visiting villages and local museums. Villagers gave workshops on dyeing with natural dyes, Hmong batik and embroidery, weaving, spinning and other textile arts. We visited local museums and shops where experts educated us on ikat weaving, the process of silk making from raising the silk worms to spinning the cocoons into thread to dyeing the thread to setting up the loom to weaving! You will leave with a new appreciation of these complex art forms. You will also laugh, have loads of fun, and enjoy the camaraderie of other textile enthusiasts. This was made possible by the research and care taken by retreat|recreate. From the moment I booked the trip, they impressed me with the thoroughness of their preparation and the care they showed for our enjoyment and well-being. Pre-trip planning information (visas, vaccinations, packing info) was comprehensive and helpful. They responded promptly to each question that I had. They arranged for the best local guides and drivers. Throughout the tour they were a source of valuable information and support. I look forward to further adventures with them. Mary – Thailand and Laos, November 2024
My time in northern Thailand and Laos with retreat|recreate was constantly awe-inspiring! From the amazing landscapes to the amazing guides and the amazing people we got “up close and personal” with throughout the trip, not a moment went by without me learning something new and meaningful on numerous topics and subjects. Spending time with women who are making a real difference for their communities within these two Southeast Asian countries was inspiring. The workshops expanded my understanding of the native crafts and textiles as well as my knowledge of the people who create them. The only downside to the trip was that it ended! Susan K – Thailand and Laos Handcrafts, Nov 2024 (and Morocco 2024 and India 2025)
The textile tour to Thailand and Laos was my second trip with retreat|recreate. All workshops were fantastic and we had enough time to bring home several souvenirs. My favourite workshops were eco-print, silk weaving and indigo/natural cold and hot dyeing in the Tai Lue village with the Baci Ceremony. The highlights were the Lisu village visit and the relaxed Mekong cruise. The accommodations were well selected. I am not a group traveller but retreat|recreate tour groups are always small and with like-minded women. I recommend this tour for all who are interested in culture, art and craft. You will see the real life of the country you visit. Brigitte Z – Thailand and Laos Handcrafts, Nov 2024
My second trip with retreat|recreate was a testament to how well the two Susans organise and run their textile/craft tours. retreat|recreate provided experiences that both educated and enriched the tour participants. It was also so enjoyable to travel with a group of women interested in learning about the textile and craft traditions of other cultures. The tour was well paced with many opportunities to experience the beauty of Northern Thailand and Laos. Marnie – Thailand and Laos, November 2024
The tour to Thailand and Laos was a fabulous opportunity to learn not only textile history, but a glimpse into the social fabric of communities, and the activist work being done to promote the traditional hand work of the various ethnic minority groups. I came away with a better understanding of historical migrations, local customs, land rights (or lack thereof) and political issues facing these groups. Debbie – Thailand and Laos, November 2024
An excellent tour – enjoying many locations, delightful scenery and a variety of crafts. A comprehensive itinerary of many hidden gems, thoughtfully planned for those who delight in cultural experiences, textiles and handcrafts. Bernice – Thailand and Laos, November 2023
I joined the Thailand & Laos textile tour on the recommendation of a friend. We have travelled often together and I value her advice. It was not misplaced! This was a fabulous tour travelling to places that tourists do not usually go, experiencing grassroots life, craft and watching skilled women create beautiful weaving. We stayed in places where we could gather and chat or head off to explore. All the participants were engaged in learning and exploring. Our guides were top notch and brought laughter and learning to us all. Can’t recommend this tour highly enough. Robin – Thailand and Laos, January 2023
Whether you like to travel with a group of fun, like-minded women or like me, think you prefer quietly exploring the world alone, you will absolutely love travelling with retreat|recreate. The Thailand-Laos Textiles Tour of 2023 was my fourth tour. There were so many highlights. Every day there was at least one! The workshops were also amazing. I never had any expectations that I’d find the different crafts easy to execute and I didn’t, but it was wonderful to learn… to see how local fibres were utilised in such a skilled way to create items and textiles so rich in colour and imagery. Being able to explore often remote villages and meet skilled artisans, whether well or less-well known who are largely inaccessible tourists across so many places has been remarkable. I am hugely grateful to retreat|recreate for all the deeply rich, inspiring experiences that I have been privileged to enjoy with them and like-minded fellow travellers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul! Louise – Thailand & Laos, January 2023
This was a WONDERFUL, well planned tour. It was very educational, fun and interesting. The tour guide was amazing. Highlights included a day on a slow-boat on the Mekong River, the workshops, meeting the other women on the tour and of course seeing the incredible textiles and watching them be made. We saw and did so much! Deborah – Thailand and Laos, January 2023
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