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Explore historic Oslo, charming Bergen, and the surrounding spectacular countryside with knitters and crafters from across the US. Itinerary also includes two optional spa days at one of Norway's most highly rate properties, a 3-dimensional needle felting workshop, a day-long tour and workshop at the Hardanger Folk Museum and a trunk show and class with Oslo-based knitwear designer Sidsel Hoivik. Go behind the scenes with visits and factory store shopping at the Hillesvag yarn mill and Oleana sweater knitting company. In an effort to lighten the carbon footprint/climate impact of our tour, we are eliminating use of private motorcoach for part of the time and relying on walking and mass transit. As such, this will be a more physically active trip than some. Comfortable walking shoes and a commitment by all participants to traveling light will be important.
Extend your journey with one, two, three or four unforgettable nights in the City of Light following the close of our Rhône River cruise in Lyon. Departing Lyon April 8 by private coach, we'll wind through Burgundy's storied wine country with a stop in Beaune for a guided tour of the Cité des Climats & Vins de Bourgogne, followed by a leisurely lunch paired with local wines, before arriving in Paris for a welcome dinner in the historic Saint-Germain Quarter at our beloved Hôtel des Grands Voyageurs. The days that follow are yours to savor at your own pace — with morning guidance on Day Two on navigating Paris's transit system and insider recommendations from Andrew — leaving plenty of time to explore museums, boutiques, and cafés, or simply wander the city's timeless streets. With up to four nights at our favorite Left Bank hotel, this "choose your own adventure" extension is the perfect coda to your textile-focused Rhône adventure.
Celebrating Battenkill Textile Tours 20th Year of International Travel
Picture yourself gliding along the sun-drenched Rhône River, wine glass in hand, as charming Provençal villages drift by your window. This isn't just any cruise—it's Battenkill Textile Tours' 20th anniversary celebration, and we're pulling out all the stops!
You'll start with two luxurious nights in Nice exploring either the Matisse or Chagall museum, and more, with the group. Then board the AMA Waterways Kristina in Arles for a week of pure indulgence. From wild truffle hunting and tasting to Roman ruins, Van Gogh walking tours to red wine and chocolate pairing classes, you'll experience the very best of Southern France. On top of that, there's shopping at the legendary Souleiado textile factory, a visit to Lyon's silk museum, and potentially even a hands-on silk printing workshop. Plus, you'll learn two knitting techniques, with accompanying project ideas, in on-board knitting classes taught by Julie Dubreaux (aka Julie Knits in Paris), designer and well-known European designer—the perfect way to spend an afternoon while the ship glides upriver.
But here's the real magic: while you're knitting brioche shawls with your classmates, swapping pattern tips between excursions, sipping wine on the sun deck, and debating whether to hit the spa or join the yoga class, you'll be surrounded by fellow fiber enthusiasts who totally get your yarn obsession. There's something about sharing knitting projects, excursion stories, and "just one more glass" over dinner that turns strangers into friends faster than you can cast on. Whether you're exploring a morning market in Lyon, hunting for yarn shops in Avignon, or simply relaxing with your knitting as the French countryside rolls by, you'll be creating memories—and friendships—that last long after you've bound off that final stitch.
What to expect for activity level?
You'll be on your feet most days, but there are different levels of activity depending on the shore excursions you pick. At a minimum, plan on being able to walk a mile a day at a stroll on uneven surfaces. Also plan on standing in tours of museums/workshops and in lines for up to two hours a day. And finally, you should be able to climb two flights of stairs at a time.
Picture yourself spending twelve unforgettable days exploring the wild beauty of eastern Scotland and the magical Orkney Islands—all while diving deep into the fiber arts traditions that have flourished in these ancient lands for centuries. This isn't just a tour; it's a hands-on adventure where you'll learn traditional Gansey techniques with renowned instructor Di Gilpin in her cozy Fife studio, meet author Jane Cooper and her rare Orkney Boreray sheep on her island farm, and try your hand at everything from block printing to tapestry making. Plus, we'll shop with local indie dyers, visit Judith Glue's famous design studio and café, and fill our suitcases with gorgeous Scottish yarn to inspire projects for years to come.
Between workshops, we'll feast our eyes on Scotland's most dramatic scenery—from the towering cliffs and standing stones of Orkney to the misty Cairngorms, from Highland distilleries to neolithic tombs. We'll cross the windswept Pentland Firth by ferry, stand at the northernmost point of mainland Britain, wander through living history at the Highland Folk Museum, and toast our adventures over group dinners and the occasional wee dram. Whether you're an experienced knitter eager to master new techniques or simply love the idea of combining gorgeous landscapes with creative workshops and fellow fiber enthusiasts, this trip promises to weave together culture, craft, and coastal magic into one incredible Scottish journey.
Spinning and weaving mill visits, farm to fashion experiences in the rich green countryside, knitting workshops with internationally known instructors, exclusive spa opportunities, beautiful national forest reserves and oceanside cliffs, and so much more awaits our group in stunning Northern Ireland. Historic and cultural experiences are on-tap as well - Book of Kells, Hill of Tara Heritage Site, historic Belfast - NI's capital city, and Guinness Storehouse - to name a few.
