This photo is of the 2025 group in Mann’s crafts garden studio where we became Art by posing for a photo inside a unique Indigo dyed Art paper frame. This has remained a unique memory of the trip.
BOOKINGS APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN ON THE 1st of March at 8am UK time, if you have questions before that please contact me on bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com
INFORMATION PACK:
Below is the first draft of our 2026 retreat program, as time goes by amendments will be made as new more interesting activities might emergent or additional content will be added. The final version of the program will be communicated to the travellers one month before the retreat. In 2025 we were invited at the drop of a hat one week before our retreat started to the International Kram (Indigo) festival in Bangkok on our day 1, it was exciting and unique … In this kind of scenario the proposed change would introduced to the formed group for approval or rejection.
I am so happy you are interested in my 14 days retreat “Colours of Thailand” in November 2026.
You will find below all the information you need, together with an initial itinerary you can print for easy read and a booking form.
If you still have questions please contact me on bettysbeautifullife@bettysbeautifullife
“The Colours of Thailand” is a 14 days, 14 nights private journey in Thailand for 6 participants only visiting 3 unique locations to interact with contemporary artists, dyers, markets, and dye gardens all related to textile art. It is a trip far away from the touristic routes, a dedicated tour organised with my contacts only. A magical time to understand the real “Colours of Thailand”.
It is also a unique opportunity to travel like a local using local transports, eating local food, interacting like one of us instead of being one of them… A unique opportunity to become part of the scene and creating bounds with true Thai artists and craft people. As you get to know my Thai family you become of of them.
I started travelling in South East Asia many years ago and over time Thailand has become my favorite “home from home”. With its glorious climate, food and delighteful Thai people it attracted me at the beginning of my journey but over time I forged relationships with local residents who specialise in dyeing, spinning, weaving and all textile activities.
In the last 5 years my trips I have been more engaged in collaborations … taking part in a Festival, sharing Botanical Printing, spending time in someone’s dye studio testing their local plants. I have visited more local markets like the community “Bamboo market” in Chiangmai, I have eaten more and more very local and delicious food, I have learned more and more about today’s Thai Natural fiber and colour artists.
My Thailand is not the Thailand of the ancient Hill tribes and remote places… my Thailand is the Thailand of today’s people who aim at earning a living in sharing between themselves and the rest of the World their knowledge and ressources. They are today’s dyers, market owners, community leaders… they are people that I respect immensely for working hard and always smiling. They are my family and I want to share them with you…
I have been asked for many years to take a group there and I will this year almost accept… I say almost because I dont want to “lead a tour” in a touristic way and I am not interested by a large party… I will be offering to 6 people (a family group size) to come along with me to a visit to discover my “Colours of Thailand”.
What we will do:
Together we will meet in Bangkok were we will spend a couple of days discover while we recover from the long journey. We will acclimatise to the hot weather, learn to greet in Thai, visit one or two temples and start discover before moving to Sakhon Nakon were we will visit a wonderful dye garden. There we will mingle with the dyers and growers of Cotton and Indigo. We will meet some, work with some and eat good Isan food with the locals, we will visit “Indigo Street” the week end market. In the dye garden we will discover local dye plants and over two days set out to create colours on fabric and embroidery yarn to take home. We will travel to our final destination Chiangmai. In the northern town we will discover local textile and food markets, we will discover the Lanna culture from history to every day life, We will learn about manuscript woven covers and perhaps learn to weave one and many other local customs. Our last day will be spent in Chiangdao dyeing with Indigo some pieces to take home before visiting an Indigo plantation.
I have arranged this trip making sure that not only I share with you the best of my knowledge but my very own friends… Your financial contribution will benefits to local communities and individuals whom I personally know and work with on a regular basis. This trip is very personal to me. This is my way to introduce a very small group to my own network but also giving back to my network to compensate for the beautiful “taking care” they are providing for me year after year.
My family will become your family for the 14 days and 14 nights. Together we will discover the textile and natural colours of Thailand. We will visit museums and galleries, meet contemporary dyers and communities, visit dye gardens, visit Markets and specialised studios. We will taste delicious local food and mix up with local artists.
During our retreat of 14 days and 14 nights we will become a creative community, a family and make unique memories. In 14 days we cant see everything but I hope this will give you an appetite for coming back.
I have calculated the cost of this trip trying to be fair to everyone, that is making it as affordable as I can but making sure that everyone we visit can benefit from our passing by. The prices quoted should cover most of your time with me from the moment we meet in Bangkok until we part in Chiangmai. It will cover your accommodation as described in the itinerary, Most of your food, our local transports, the workshops and entries into the museums we visit. I am making sure to cover sensible fees for all helpers and tipping will be at your discretion. Off course I will be getting a fee for preparing and for leading this tour because a lot of time is going into it.
What about cost of food:
Most of the meals are covered because some of the locations we will be travelling in might make it difficult to find an alternative. When in Chiangmai you decide to take time off, it will be possible but I will not be able to operate any refund for meals you would not take with the group. I will operate on the same basis for the workshops I have planned. However when we visit markets I have planned a free lunch to allow you to explore. If you decide you still want to eat with the group we will grab a few dishes and eat together for little money.
About your time before and after the retreat:
We will start in Bangkok because it will be most travellers’ port of entry in Thailand and our hotel is only a short taxi journey from the main airport. I will share advice on possible ways to commute to our hotel but I will not take responsibility for your arrival in Thailand nor your transfer, our hotel has however to organise a transfer if you do not want to brave the local taxis, it will be up to you to approach me to request it. Our retreat will start on the 19th November at 6pm at our hotel (in the Siam part of Bangkok), you will be able to check into your hotel from 2pm and leave your luggage there before if you arrive very early.
track
Please check the time difference with your own country and assess if you need an extra time to get over jet lag. Although we will start slow some people need an extra day or so to recover from long haul. It will be possible for you to arrange additional days accommodation directly with our hotel. I will not be able to do this for you but you could request contact details.
We will part company in Chiangmai because it is just possible you decide to extend your trip once there and the North offers many option for more travelling further (visiting temples, going into Laos, visiting the Golden Triangle). The SEN festival (4th to 7th of December 2026) and Chiangmai Design Week (2nd week of December 2026) this year kick in a few days after we part. I will not be able to organise further accommodation but I can point you to the relevant websites and I will communicate dates of relevant events to those who booked on the retreat.
INSURANCE:
This is always a very important subject for me when travelling in South East Asia.
This retreat does not include any cover for well being or attendance for the participants, nor for any accident you might have if you tripped or crossed the road without looking… I will only be able to accept participants who have contracted a travel insurance that will cover them for any health issues, and for your own benefit you should seek cover in case you have to cancel your attendance before the trip. I will request the detail from you before I welcome you in Bangkok.
BOOKINGS and CANCELLATION:
BOOKING requests will open on the 10th of February until the retreat is full. A booking form will be added on that day above for you to fill up and email back to me.
The total cost of the retreat is £4000 all included, that is from Bangkok to Chiangmai all accomodation, activities, Most of the good and all the internal transport. You will be liable for the drinks, a couple of meals when you have time off and off course ALL YOUR SHOPPING…
In order to secure a space after your booking request has been accepted you will be asked for an initial deposit of £1000 that is non refundable, you will have 48 hours to make the payment (by bank transfer or by credit card) . The final payment of £3000 will be due 12 weeks before the trip starts. A request will be issued on the due date and you will have 48 hours to make the payment. Bank transfers using the platform Wise will be suggested. PLEASE NOTE NO CREDIT CARD NOR PAYPAL PAYMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY CHARGES THEY CREATE.
Refund conditions are:
- From time of booking to 12 weeks before trip date = Loss of initial deposit but balance due will be cancelled.
- From 12 weeks before trip date, cancellations will be accepted, the cost of the cancellation will be of 100% of the cost of the trip unless you can substitute a new participant in which case the cost will be of £500 for administrative and the amount refunded will be what was invoiced to you less £500.
- Substitution will be accepted only after the payment has been made by the alternative participant or your balance transferred to them if that is a better option to you. Please note the refund would be make in £ British which might result in a slight loss/gain due to exchange rate with your own currency.
INFORMATION:
Please find below the relevant information and details to allow you to register interest.
Please note that bookings will be taken from the 10th February at 10am GMT, until the trip is filled. There are only 6 spaces and I need them filled for us to go ahead. All bookings are final please make sure to contract a travel insurance in case you need to cancel. You can not just book a space you have to submit a request. I want to make sure you will definitively enjoy the trip and are fit to take part.
You will be able to secure a space with a deposit of £1000. Below you will find all relevant information concerning price and payment conditions for single and shared rooms.
You will find here:
Please READ AGAIN AND NOTE the following information:
- The tour price and conditions are available on the Booking form page.
- A deposit of £1000 (UK pound sterling) is necessary to secure a booking together with a fully filled booking form. On reception of your booking form and when request has been accepted I will send you information for payment. You will have a week to make payment of the deposit. The balance will be due 12 weeks before the retreat. Delay in final payment will be followed by cancellation of your booking.
- We need 6 bookings for the trip to go ahead and you will be advised when that is secured so that you can make your travel arrangements. The final deadline will be on the 1st October 2026 but if we have reached enough bookings I will confirm that the trip is going after the second payment has been made to allow you to make your travel arrangements.
- Please make sure you only apply for a space if you have a good level of fitness and mobility as in our trip we will be using local transport, use buildings that don’t have lifts or escalators and some days walk little distance etc… If you are vegetarian please note that fish and fish sauce are used in most Thai cuisine, please I can not control the cooking methods.
- If I dont reach the minimum number of bookings I will have to cancel the trip and you will be advised before the 12th of August. In that case you will receive a full refund of the amount you were invoiced in £ sterling. If you have made a bank transfer it will be reversed and it is possible that in the conversion the amount refunded is slighly different.
- Places will be allocated on a first come first served. All rooms are single.
- A final itinerary including hotels and stopping points will be sent to the booked participants after full payment.
Please read the notes and if you decide to apply for a place in the retreat use the Booking Application here. Email it to bettysbeautifullife@gmail.com using the subject “Colours of Thailand” after the 10th February.
See you soon in Thailand.
Betty x
THE LANSDOWNE HOUSE 