Botanical Colors × Threads of Life
Bali 2027
Twelve nights in Bali with Botanical Colors and Threads of Life.
We start with village visits in east Bali meeting weavers and dyers where they work, then nine nights in Ubud. Six full days working at the dye studio, where mornings are led by the studio instructors and afternoons are personal studio practice.
What is new for 2027: the trip is geared as an artist retreat creating your own body of work. Give yourself room to experiment working with the colors of Bali, supported by skilled dyers. We have intentionally kept the group size small to facilitate personalized inquiry.
At a glance
- Dates
- 12 to 24 June 2027, twelve nights
- Where
- Alila Manggis, East Bali (nights 1 to 3)
Alam Jiwa, Ubud (nights 4 to 12) - Partner
- Threads of Life
- Group size
- Twelve participants. Seven participants minimum to run the tour.
- Studio days
- Six days at the Threads of Life dye studio
- Meals
- All breakfasts, four group dinners and seven lunches included. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available.
- Level
- Open to all. No prior dye experience required.
The studio program
Four colors from Indonesian dyes
Every process from start to finish: preparing the fiber, building the bath, and letting the colors evolve.
An oil mordant process on yarn, prepared days before the dye bath and revealed at the end of the week. One of the most complex and least documented red processes still in practice.
A 600 liter vat built from paste for us to use, then the full leaf process: 250 kilos of fresh indigo soaked and moved through the transformation from green leaf to blue pigment.
Ceriops tagal, a mangrove bark, worked on cloth. Warm, deep, and fast on cellulose.
Mud dyeing over tannin. The iron-rich river mud does the work, shifting the cloth through gray into black.
Also included: afternoons of personal creative practice with the 600 liter indigo vats, instruction in traditional batik wax resist, a book binding morning with Cinta Bumi Artisans in handmade bark paper, and evening lectures at the Threads of Life gallery in Lungsiakan.
East Bali
Meet the weavers and dyers
Three nights on the east coast at Alila Manggis, visiting weavers. Threads of Life has created lasting relationships with these incredible artists. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet them at their place of work.
Seraya
Rangrang production, an open weft structure in bold color, seen at the source in a fully functioning natural dye studio.
Tenganan
Geringsing double ikat, woven in only one village on earth, where both warp and weft are resist-dyed before weaving.
Sidemen
Endek weft ikat at the Pelangi workshop, then elaborate silk songket and humble but powerful bebali textiles with Dayu Raka and Dayu Puniari.
Also: an evening in Dawan with Gus Gangga for palm sugar, offering making, gamelan practice and an amazing dinner. One of our favorite highlights of the trip.
Day by day
Twelve nights
Please note: our itinerary is subject to change.
Arrival
Airport pick-ups and transfers to Alila Manggis. Pre-dinner gathering at 5:00 p.m.
Seraya
Tour introduction, then to Seraya for rangrang production. Evening film on Tenganan, welcome group dinner.
Tenganan and Dawan
Geringsing double ikat in Tenganan. Afternoon in Dawan with Gus Gangga: palm sugar, offerings, gamelan, dinner.
Endek and songket
Pelangi endek workshop, songket with Dayu Raka, lunch, then bebali textiles with Dayu Puniari. On to Alam Jiwa, Ubud.
Red, blue, brown
Introduction to Indonesia’s natural dyes. Oil mordant process for red. Build a 600 liter indigo vat from paste. Afternoon: indigo practice and Ceriops brown. Evening lecture at the gallery.
Leaf and mud
Soak 250 kilos of indigo leaves. Dye grays and blacks with mud. Afternoon: personal practice.
Paste and pigment
Divide the indigo water: lime and aerate for paste, aerate and filter for pigment. First results of the red process. Evening: Kecak dance at Pura Dalem Ubud.
Gathering the paste
Draw off the liquid, gather the paste, hang to drain. Personal practice through the afternoon.
Rest day
Open. Ubud, the hotel, and various optional activities.
Book binding
Morning workshop with Cinta Bumi Artisans. Afternoon free.
Personal practice
Full day in the studio on your own work. Evening lecture at the Threads of Life gallery.
Last day and closing
Final studio day. Closing celebration at 4:00 p.m., group dinner at the hotel.
Onward
Breakfast and onward travel.
Where you stay
Two welcoming houses
Alila Manggis, a secluded resort
Nights 1 to 3, East Bali. On the east coast between the sea and Mount Agung, a short drive from Tenganan and Sidemen.
Alam Jiwa, the heart of true hospitality
Nights 4 to 12, Ubud. A four star resort in Ubud, modeled after a traditional Balinese compound. Suites and deluxe rooms, one twin.
Included
- Twelve nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast, studio lunches, and group dinners as listed
- All ground transport in Bali, including airport transfers
- Six days of studio program and materials
- All village visits, lectures, and the book binding workshop
- Kecak dance performance
Not included
- International airfare
- Visa, travel insurance, and personal expenses
- Meals not listed on the itinerary
Rates and reservation
Twelve places
Payment schedule
| Date | Payment | Single | Double |
|---|---|---|---|
| At booking | Non-refundable deposit, reserves your place | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| 15 Oct 2026 | Second payment due | 2,900 | 2,700 |
| 15 Dec 2026 | Final payment due | 2,900 | 2,700 |
| Total | Per person, USD | 7,300 | 6,900 |
Full terms and cancellation policy are sent with the deposit. Please read carefully.
Want to join us? Here’s how it works
- Send an email to [email protected] indicating your interest
- We’ll send you a tour contract that includes all of our terms and conditions. You may pay in full or with installments, same price.
- Fill out the contract and send it back to us.
- We invoice you for the tour.
- Please note that the tour is non-cancellable and non-refundable and we recommend you purchase travel insurance soon after signing up so you are protected in case of unforseen events.