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Textile and Cultural
Small Group Tours
If you would prefer to travel to India in a group with likeminded individuals, then you may wish to consider joining one of our escorted trips. With over a decade worth of first-hand India travel planning experience, Siân curates and escorts small groups on carefully designed journeys across different regions of the country.
Each group journey has been curated with a real focus on authentic textile and craft experiences and with a chance to encounter insightful experts and hosts along the way. Our group tours do not focus on in-depth craft workshops throughout the trip. Instead, we allow our guests to immerse themselves in the culture and life of India, while getting the chance to soak up textiles, crafts and other cultural highlights along the way. ​Most of our groups are small with no more than 6-10 people and our chosen accommodation includes the best small boutiques and independent owner run hotels.
Delhi & Rajasthan
Explore the traditional crafts and textiles of Rajasthan on this small curated group where we will journey through Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur and the rural countryside. We will have the chance to meet with expert artisans, including block printers, bangle makers, tie dyers and dhurrie weavers. Learn about traditional textiles with visits to museums and creative houses as well as trying your hand at some traditional crafts yourself.
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We have also designed the trip to show you India away from the generic tourist excursions so that you can enjoy a true authentic journey . Some of the immersive experiences include enjoying a home cooked meal with an family of artisans, a walk through hidden corners of Jaipur to find local craft makers, an e-rickshaw tour with a woman-led NGO and a chance to experience life in a rural village.
DATES & PRICE
2nd - 12th March 2023
From £1,850 per person
*Fully Booked*
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13th - 23rd March 2023
From £1,980 per person
*Fully Booked*
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2nd - 13th April 2024
From £2,150 per person
*Fully Booked*
HOTELS
During the journey, we will get to stay in small intimate properties that are owner run. This will enable us to really get under the skin of the area, with opportunities to interact with the hosts and experience true authentic Indian hospitality. One of the highlights includes a stay in a 300 year old fort in the middle of the beautiful rural countryside, surrounded by local villages.
Mumbai & Gujarat
Travel off the beaten path on this small curated group where we will journey through the mega city of Mumbai and into the villages and salt tinted landscapes of Gujarat. We will have the opportunity to meet with artisan communities where some of India's finest textiles are produced. From embroidery, tie dye and block printing, to weaving and fabric painting - we will unravel the textile treasures from this corner of India.
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We always believe in designing our tours to show guests unique corners of the country which are not always on the main tourist trail. Some of the immersive experiences on this tour include seeing where cotton is grown, before it is then hand woven by a local community. A visit to a Mumbai bazaar to see women shopping for spice mixes using secret family recipes, as well as meeting with embroiders from the village communities in the Banni Grasslands.
DATES & PRICE
16th - 28th October 2023
From £2,690 per person
*Fully Booked*
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24th Feb - 8th Mar 2024
From £2,750 per person
*Fully Booked*
HOTELS
During the tour, we will stay in a variety of accommodation, including a bustling city hotel with panoramic views of the ocean, a former ancestral palace and one of India's premier boutique heritage hotel's. Each property brings a new perspective on our journey, with charming staff, quirky interiors, comfortable rooms and a chance to sample some of the delicious local cuisine.
Pondicherry & Tamil Nadu
Journey through the historical cities and towns of Tamil Nadu, as we explore the devotion and celebration of this incredible region . During our tour, we will witness age-old traditions in spectacular temples and marvel at incredible architecture that dates back over one thousand years. We will also spend time exploring opulent Chettinadu mansions, dine on mouthwatering cuisine and wander the pretty mustard hued streets of the French Quarter in Pondicherry.
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As we tie together the long history and traditions of the region, the tour will also focus on the unique craftsmanship that can be found in this corner of India. From bronze casting, tile making and sari weaving to natural dyes and embroidery, we will hear the stories of Tamil Nadu's most experienced artisans.
DATES & PRICE
21st Oct - 2nd Nov 2024
From £3,550 per person
*Bookings open*
6 spaces left available
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HOTELS
During the journey, we will stay in a diverse range of accommodation including a luxurious historical hotel in the bustling city of Chennai, along with a couple of charming boutique hotels located in Pondicherry and Chettinad. We will also get to stay in a peaceful rural retreat surrounded by lush greenery where we can soak up traditional village life.
A Journey Around The Golden Triangle
In collaboration with The Art of Process
Curated and hosted by Siân Warren & Stephanie June Ellis
Join us on a unique art exhibition tour to India, where we will journey around the iconic Golden Triangle. Soaking up many highlights of the region, the tour will focus on visiting some of the country's most impressive Mughal and Rajput architecture. Throughout the trip, exclusive art workshops will be conducted in unique locations with Stephanie, who is a renowned international artist, mentor, author and leading specialist in geometric and biomorphic patterns.
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Along with getting immersed in the history and art of the temples, tombs and palaces, we will also take a fascinating exploration into what makes India so intoxicating to visitors. Offering a variety of experiences from block printing, an auto rickshaw ride with a women-led NGO and a visit to one of the country's oldest bustling bazaars, this tour will give you the perfect introduction to India's diverse and complex cultural identity.
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DATES, PRICE & DETAILS
3rd - 14th March 2025
From £2,660 per person
*Bookings opening soon*
*12 spaces available*
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SITES TO BE VISITED
Humayun's Tomb - Delhi
Jama Masjid - Delhi
Agra Fort - Agra
Taj Mahal - Agra
Itmad-ud-daulah - Agra
Fatehpur Sikri
Amber Fort - Jaipur
City Palace - Jaipur
Tour Testimonials
"It was my first trip to India and travelling on my own I wasn’t sure what to expect. I needn’t have worried as Sian and Tuhina’s organisation,
knowledge and attention to detail and their kindness was above and beyond. My trip was everything I’d dreamed of and more. I can’t recommend South Asia Uncovered highly enough."
Kate Sleeman
"I can't recommend Sian highly enough.. the attention to detail and understanding of the way the country works is what sets her apart from the previous company that I used. The hotels selected, were handpicked and charming. The organised experiences, which are what she excels at, were fully immersive and inspiring."
Jo Burnett
"As well as learning about India, its people, the culture and all the wonderful buildings we visited, we also took part in and witnessed many textile related projects - a block printing workshop, indigo dyeing, tie dyeing, dhurrie making, sari wearing etc. It was all so inspiring and so much more than I expected!"