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Join us as we travel high into the Indian Himalayas to learn the art of natural dyeing, spinning & weaving alongside masters who are preserving this region's vibrant traditions.
> > > Ladakh is a tiny Buddhist kingdom perched on the far western edge of the Tibetan Plateau. It remains among the most pristine and sparsely populated regions of India. Its clear, high desert landscape is dotted with the bright green fields of farming communities, and ornate monasteries and temples.
It's here that we'll be joining our hosts at Lena Ladakh—a group of truly inspiring women whose mission is to revitalize & preserve Ladakh's unique fibercraft heritage.
We'll begin in Ladakh's historical capital city of Leh where we'll get our first introduction to the many facets of what makes Ladakh so unique—from painting and architecture to its distinct culinary heritage. We'll meet with the artists and social entrepreneurs who are spearheading efforts to not only preserve but revitalize Ladakh's traditions.
With our friends at Lena Ladakh as our ultimate guides, the hands-on part of our adventure then begins...
> > > We'll be welcomed into Lena's studio where we'll be introduced to the traditional Ladakhi practice of spinning with a willow spindle. Together, we'll try our hand at carding, spinning and plying sheep's wool and pashmina. Ladakh is home to the pashmina goat and its ultra fine, highly-prized fiber. We'll be learning all about this material and exploring its role in spinning and weaving techniques.
> > > We'll settle into Ladakhi village life with a stay in Thikse. Here, in a quiet meadow of a family farm, we'll be gathering among fresh dye baths. Together, we'll be mordanting pashmina and wool yarn and creating botanical pigments from such local plants as Himalayan marigold. We'll also utilize our dye baths to explore shibori and tie-dye techniques. You'll be welcome to bring apparel from home that you'd love to see in new shades of botanical color.
> > > Using our freshly-dyed yarn, we'll spend the day in a sunny poplar grove weaving our own tapestries. Ideal for both beginner and experienced weavers, we'll be working with our local fibers and incorporating the designs we've learned from Ladakhi artisans along the way. We'll also learn about traditional uses of woven textiles and explore efforts to preserve Ladakh's woven textile heritage through the creation of women-led artisan groups.
> > > We'll also be exploring some of the most unique and rare textile traditions that are being preserved by nomad artisan groups. We'll be welcomed into these artisans' homes where we can try our hand at Ladakhi backstrap weaving and Zanskari spuruk-making, a form of felting that creates a fleece-like fabric. We'll learn about the issues currently facing nomad communities as they, and their traditions, face rapid change.
> > > Buddhism is woven into so much of daily life in Ladakh. We'll have the chance to explore several of the region's most significant and stunning temples along our way, and learn about Tibetan Buddhist beliefs, practices and iconography.
We'll finish our trip in Ladakh's capital with a farewell celebration with our new friends
• Early Bird: $2,450 (available until March 15)
• Full price cost after March 15: $2,650
• All accommodation during our time together. Trip pricing is based on double occupancy but a single room supplement can be added on with registration.
• All local transportation
• All meals and chai breaks (of which there will be many)
• All workshop supplies, entrance fees & local permits
• Pre-trip logistical support, advice & prep materials
• Airfare to India & Leh, Indian visa
> > > We'll be meeting in Leh, which can be easily reached from Delhi airport (among others). Round-trip flights from the US to Delhi cost approximately $1,200 - $1,800. Round-trip flights to Leh from Delhi cost approximately $70-$200.
• Travel Insurance: We require that all participants have personal travel insurance; this will cover any potential issues such as flight cancellations or medical emergencies.
• Much of Ladakh’s beauty is in its rugged, high desert setting. Unfortunately that means this trip is not a good fit for those who experience altitude sickness or have existing health conditions. There will be a moderate degree of walking up to monasteries and temples over rough terrain which is a consideration for any mobility limitations.
• Ladakh is also an area that has its development challenges; while we're out and about, we won't always have access to clean bathroom facilities and we may be in situations where the over stimulation of India takes hold. It'll be a go with the flow kind of trip at times, as it always has to be with travel in the region.
Owner & Chief String Slinger, Love Fest Fibers
Britt has spent much of the past two decades living and working on the Tibetan Plateau and founded Love Fest Fibers out of her dedication to supporting the region’s communities of pastoralists and fiber craft artisans. Britt’s first trip to Ladakh was in 1999 for a year-long anthropological research grant and she’s been returning ever since. Britt has organized and led multiple experiential travel groups to the Himalayas over the years, including a 3-week trek in Ladakh. Britt received a BA in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Pitzer College, an MA in Environment & Development from King's College London and completed Tibet University's two-year Tibetan Language Program in Lhasa.
Co-Founders, Lena Ladakh Pashmina
After completing masters degrees from Delhi and Pune University, Sonam and Stanzin made the decision to return to their community in Ladakh with the aim of revitalizing and preserving Ladakh’s textile heritage. The duo set their focus on pashmina, a local resource of which the profits rarely stay local. Together they founded Lena Ladakh in 2016 with a commitment to the creation of hand-spun, hand-woven and botanically-dyed pashmina that creates sustainable and dignified livelihoods for the women who, for generations, have quietly kept these local traditions alive. Sonam and Stanzin will be opening the world of Ladakh's textile heritage to us throughout our trip.
Owner, Yama Treks
Namgial is the owner of Yama Treks and has been leading groups since 1990. His expertise is in Ladakhi culture and Buddhism with extensive knowledge of Ladakh’s many regions. He has also led treks in Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet, and has traveled extensively in other parts of India as well as Nepal and Bhutan. Namgial graduated from Jammu University and is comfortable conversing in many languages including English, German, Tibetan, Hindi, Nepali, and his own native Ladakhi. Namgial is also a local entrepreneur with not only his own trekking agency, but a cafe, restaurant and guest house in Leh. He will be the master of all things travel, logistics and local knowledge-related during our trip.
$ 2,650.00
During our immersive 7-days together, we'll…
• Learn to spin, dye & weave locally-sourced pashmina and wool fibers
• Meet with local artisans, NGO and social enterprise leaders who are working to preserve Ladakhi culture
• Check out Leh's modern art scene, meet with Ladakh's newest generation of artists & wander through their galleries
• Explore local Buddhist temples, monasteries and palaces
• Stay in a Ladakhi village and learn from farmers about agrarian traditions
• Just slow down & enjoy long chai breaks in artisan studios and flower-filled meadows
Deposit: $500 of your payment is marked as your deposit. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable at any point after receipt.
The following conditions apply to refunds for cancellations:
• If the trip participant cancels before May 15, the $500 non-refundable deposit will be retained but any other payments already made will be refunded in full
• If the trip participant cancels after May 15, all payments made by the trip participant will not be eligible for refund
Travelers must agree to Love Fest Fibers’ Booking Terms and Conditions in order to join this experience. Here’s all the necessary legal stuff…
Definitions:
“Agreement” shall mean these terms and conditions and the Love Fest Fibers Booking Agreement between Love Fest Fibers and the Participant;
“Trip Participant” shall mean the client of or individual receiving Booking Services pursuant to this Agreement;>
“Love Fest Fibers” or “LFF” shall mean Love Fest Fibers, a company licensed to do and doing business in the State of California.
“Love Fest Fibers Booking Agreement” shall mean any agreement entered into by Love Fest Fibers and the Participant that related to the provision of Booking Services by Love Fest Fibers;
“Personnel” shall mean the members, employees, agents, and/or representatives of Love Fest Fibers who are to be engaged in providing the Services;
Provision of Services:
Love Fest Fibers shall provide the Booking Services to the Trip Participant in accordance with the provisions of these Booking Terms and Conditions. All bookings are made directly with Love Fest Fibers. By booking a trip with us the Trip Participant agrees to these Booking Terms and Conditions. This document constitutes the entire agreement between the Trip Participant and Love Fest Fibers, and your booking will be accepted on this basis.
Please read the following carefully:
Travel Insurance
LFF requires comprehensive travel insurance for all Trip Participants. It is solely the responsibility of the Trip Participant to secure such coverage. Love Fest Fibers recommends that it cover trip cancellations, trip interruptions, medical emergencies abroad, emergency evacuation, loss of baggage or personal items and flight delays. Emergency and medical coverage are the most essential.
Passports and Visas:
Each Trip Participant is required to carry a valid passport and obtain all required visas and/or permits for countries visited. All passports must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of your trip. For example, if the Trip Participant departs on July 1, her/his passport must be valid until at least January 2. Love Fest Fibers is not responsible for travel interruptions or cancellations due to the Trip Participant’s failure to obtain or secure proper travel documentation prior to departure.
Participant Information:
In order to efficiently facilitate Love Fest Fibers trips, Love Fest Fibers requires specific details from each Trip Participant no less than two (2) weeks prior to departure. Each Trip Participant must provide to LFF: (1) his/her full name as it appears in his/her passport, (2) his/her passport number and issue/expiration date, (3) his/her date of birth, (4) nationality, (5) any and all allergies (food or otherwise), (6) dietary preferences, (7) flight itinerary, and (8) any and all pre-existing medical conditions regardless of severity or duration of such condition. The foregoing information must be submitted to info@lovefestfibers.com no later than two (2) weeks prior to departure.
Deposit Requirement: $500 of your payment is marked as your deposit. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Trip Payment:
Love Fest Fibers offers the option to pay an early bird rate until March 1, 2024 then the full rate until registration closes on June 15, 2024.
Cancellations + Refunds:
In the event that a Trip Participant wishes to cancel his/her Love Fest Fibers Booking the following terms and conditions shall apply:
The Trip Participant must notify Love Fest Fibers, in writing, of his/her desire to cancel. The following conditions shall apply with respect to refunds for cancellations:
If the Trip Participant cancels before May 15, 2024 her/his $500 non-refundable deposit is retained, but any other payments already made by the Trip Participant will be refunded in full. If the Trip Participant cancels after May 15, 2024, all payments made by the Trip Participant will not be eligable for refund.
If, for any reason, the Trip Participant leaves a trip once it has commenced, Love Fest Fibers is not obliged to issue any refund, credit, or compensation.
If Love Fest Fibers is forced to cancel or significantly alter your trip, we will notify the Trip Participant in writing as soon as possible. When a tour is canceled for foreseeable reasons, Love Fest Fibers will provide the Trip Participant the option for a full refund or full credit of trip payments made. This refund or credit will constitute full settlement of any claims the Trip Participant may have against Love Fest Fibers or our suppliers.
In the rare event that Love Fest Fibers is forced to cancel a trip for any unforeseen circumstance beyond the reasonable control of Love Fest Fibers, such as, but not limited to, acts of nature, war, labor strikes, pandemics, earthquake, flooding, etc., Love Fest Fibers will give the Trip Participant options for a full credit of payments made, or a refund of recoverable costs by Love Fest Fibers. Refunds will not include any unrecoverable costs, such as non-refundable deposits, in the unlikely event any occur.
Love Fest Fibers is not responsible for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable or non-transferable air OR travel tickets. Due to the foregoing cancellation and refund policy, Love Fest Fibers requires that each Trip Participant purchase travel insurance. In the event that the Participant cancels their booking, Love Fest Fibers is not liable for any incidental costs, refunds or damages incurred by the Participant, such as but not limited to, airfare, passport and visa fees, vaccinations, hotel stays, etc.
Optional Activities:
Throughout the course of each trip there will be opportunities to participate in additional and optional activities. The dangers associated with these activities as well those generally inherent to the trip location are accepted by the Trip Participant at his/her own risk. Any assistance given by group leader or local representative in organizing these activities shall not result in any liability of Love Fest Fibers for any bodily injury, illness, or death arising out of, resulting from, related to, and/or caused in whole or in part, by the Trip Participant’s involvement in these optional activities.
Age and Health Requirement:
Trip Participant’s must have reached the age of 16 at the time of departure. Any Trip Participant under the age of 18 (at the time of departure) must be accompanied by an adult.
Love Fest Fibers’s trips are adventurous and can be physically demanding, especially given the altitude of Ladakh. It is the sole responsibility of the Trip Participant to choose a trip that fits his/her personal level of physical fitness, which requires awareness of any personal physical and mental limitations. Love Fest Fibers strongly suggests that Trip Participants research or look into any and all pertinent information with respect to the latest health requirements and recommendations for the destination. This includes obtaining all necessary vaccinations, inoculations and prescription medications as directed by a local doctor or clinic.
Photography:
By agreeing to Love Fest Fibers’s Booking Terms and Conditions, the Trip Participant gives Love Fest Fibers permission to use photos taken of her/him during the trips for promotional purposes and in any other medium Love Fest Fibers chooses.
Code of Conduct:
Each of the Love Fest Fibers destinations have cultural customs unique to each region including attire, food, drink and other social aspects. Though Love Fest Fibers will provide cultural information on each location but it is recommended that Trip Participants research on her/his own as well to ensure all Trip Participants are prepared. Love Fest Fibers reserves the right to remove a Trip Participant from a trip is she/he is found to be engaging in and/or using any illegal activity or drug and/or hazardous behavior. Such removal shall be at the Trip Participant’s own financial expense.
Acceptance of Risk
Love Fest Fibers wants each traveler to experience an unforgettable adventure of discovery, both personal and cultural. Therefore, Love Fest Fibers’ trips involve an inherent degree of personal risk based on cultural, political, and geographical attributes relevant to our destinations. Love Fest Fibers gathers information from foreign departments and our own local contacts to make itinerary decisions; however, it is ultimately the Trip Participant’s responsibility to familiarize himself/herself with relevant travel advisories and information. Visit the U.S. State Department at www.travel.state.gov for updated travel warnings and advisories prior to departure. By booking a trip with Love Fest Fibers, the Trip Participant acknowledges that he/she is aware of associated risks with such unique travel and agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Love Fest Fibers from any and all liability and responsibility arising out of, resulting from, related to, and/or caused in whole or in part, by bodily injury, illness, or death, whether such was the result of intentional or unintentional acts.
Forum and Governing Law
By agreeing to these Love Fest Fibers Terms and Conditions, the Trip Participant acknowledges that he/she is contracting with a business incorporated in the State of California. Thus, any legal action that may arise from this Agreement shall be exclusively litigated in the state of California. This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed according, and governed by, the laws of California excluding any such state or international laws that might direct the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
Severability:
Invalidity or unenforceability of one or more provisions of this Agreement shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement. If possible, any unenforceable provision within this Agreement will be modified to reflect the parties’ original intent.
Updating of Booking Terms and Conditions:
Love Fest Fibers reserves the right to update or alter these Love Fest Fibers Booking Terms and Conditions unilaterally at any time and it shall be the Trip Participant’s responsibility to familiarize himself/herself with them.
