This artisan travel experience is for slow travellers who wish to get a behind-the-scenes look at our approach to ethical and sustainable fashion and have an immersive, purposeful travel experience.

Over 4 days you will learn about traditional Indian handcraft techniques, including embroidery, natural dyeing, weaving, and more, directly from our artisans in our Saheli centre, while being immersed in everyday Indian culture. Your week will be split between Jodhpur and our colourful village centres in Kali Beri and Bhikamkor.

These trips run on a request basis; please let us know your dates and we can accommodate you. The minimum group size is two travellers, maximum is four. Because this is a female-run centre, the artisans are more comfortable with female travellers but men are welcome as

We recommend that you add a day or two before or after your time with Saheli, to explore Jodhpur’s famous old town. Sightseeing could include a visit to Mehrangarh Fort, a walk through the indigo-hued streets of the Old City, a visit to the iconic stepwell, and shopping in the local Clock Tower Bazaar.

Cost: $950 USD per traveller

Please note that a travel visa is required for foreigners to visit India and must be acquired in advance.

The above cost includes:

Accommodation: Hotel in Jodhpur.
Lunches: Food cooked with organic ingredients using fresh local produce and traditional Indian recipes
Transport: We employ a local driver who can safely take us to and from the airport and other destinations.
Educational Workshops: We will provide all the essential materials for the workshops, which can be taken as a souvenir at the end of the trip.
A portion of your fees will go towards funding our girls’ education and skills development program.

This trip is for curious, open-minded travellers who wish to travel slowly, and have immersive experiences that will transform the way they see the world. This is a truly regenerative travel experience, that is helping to resurrect traditional Indian craft techniques.

It empowers not only the female artisans from all castes, and their entire families and villages, but also you as a consumer, by providing you with in-depth knowledge about how the clothes you wear every day are created.

This is also a powerful experience for designers (and aspiring designers) looking to source materials from Indian suppliers, and integrate more ethical, sustainable practices into their business.

Who This Trip is Perfect For:

Designers looking to source materials from Indian suppliers
Fashion Design/International Studies/Business/Social Work university students looking for a short-term experience
Groups of friends and/or family looking for a uniquely Indian cultural experience
Travellers accepted on a rolling basis. Let us know your dates and we can accommodate. We must have at least 2 travelers for a trip to take place.

DAY 1

Arrival in Jodhpur

Upon your afternoon arrival in Jodhpur, enjoy a welcome dinner at Saheli Women founder Madhu Vaishnav’s house and enjoy chai and fresh local food. Meet your host family and transfer to their home.

Meals included: dinner

DAY 2

Kali Beri

Breakfast at your hotel, followed by an Indian cultural and caste workshop. Drive 30 minutes to Saheli Women’s Kali Beri village centre, where you will observe the women at work, and learn natural dyeing and block printing directly from the artisans. Option to create a tie-dyed scarf with you.

Meals included: breakfast and lunch

DAY 3

Bhikamkor

After breakfast at your hotel you will checkout and drive 90 minutes to Saheli Women’s Bhikamkor village centre, which specialises in traditional Indian handloom techniques and embroidery. Observe these dedicated, energetic ladies at work, relax and enjoy chai breaks and a tiffin lunch box while talking with the women, and create your own embroidered hand towel on traditional khadi cotton. Tonight you will have the unique experience of staying in the village. Watch the sunset over the Thar Desert sand dunes, enjoy a traditional village meal, then sleep either under the stars in a rustic rooftop tent (weather dependant), or a conventional charpai bed laid with handwoven textiles inside the centre.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner

DAY 4

Back to Jodhpur

After a morning walk over the dunes, enjoy breakfast, followed by another visit to Saheli Women’s Bhikamkor village centre.

This will allow you more time to understand women’s role in sustainable, ethical fashion, and to get to know the women more deeply. It will also be a chance for you to debrief with Madhu about what you have learned during your time with Saheli Women!

In the afternoon, take a stroll through the village and sip chai in a local home, before driving 90 minutes back to Jodhpur.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch.

Artisan Immersion.