Announcing Fall 2025
An immersive, intimate trip into the craft culture of Portugal’s Alentejo
We just returned from our first In Hand Trip—a week in Portugal’s Alentejo region—and we could not have imagined a more dynamic and engaged group of kind, funny, curious travelers. We were an intimate group of 11 (plus Christine and I), and the week was a blur of fast friendships, talented and generous craftspeople, beautiful heritage traditions, and a few very special serendipitous travel moments you can’t plan or replicate or even know to hope for—but once they happen, lightening in a bottle, the imprint is like nothing else.
For those of you who are new here, In Hand Travels is our recently launched offering of intimate, expertly planned and personally designed small group trips with an emphasis on traditional craft and design. Next fall (Oct. 3-9, 2025), we’ll be heading into the Alentejo once again to explore the incredible traditional craft landscape, where the history of clay and textiles runs deep. Fall is a perfect time to visit — just after the summer crowds ebb, when those glorious, less harried weeks stretch summer into October with sunshine and temps that still allow a dip in the pool.
IN HAND x CHRISTINE CHITNIS
For these trips, In Hand partners with travel writer and photographer Christine Chitnis, whose beautiful new book, Patterns of Portugal, offers a roadmap for our travels. We’ll trace the footsteps of her meticulous research, as well as our own deep-dive into the craft landscape of this cultural-rich region.
A HANDCRAFTED ITINERARY
During this week-long trip to the artisan heart of Portugal, we will visit the soulful, slow-paced Alentejo (sometimes referred to as the Tuscany of Portugal) with its cork forests, olive groves, ancient castle ruins, and people and places holding fast to the old ways of making things by hand. With a small, intimate group, we will crisscross this stunning countryside, visiting back-alley olarias (pottery studios), magic-making textile mills, and villages and museums dedicated to telling the stories of traditional Portuguese craft.
In keeping with the rhythms of the countryside, we will take our time. When we’re not exploring the regional crafts, there will be ample downtime for delighting in the beauty of our surroundings. We’ve picked our two favorite storied hotels in the Alentejo, local restaurants with just the right balance of tradition and innovation, and have made connections with artisans who are ready to welcome you into their studios.
IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU?
This trip is for those with a boundless passion for craft, design and cultural exploration, a fascination for the history and beauty of generations of artisans who’ve been perfecting their craft for centuries; and who long to explore this Portugal with a friendly cadre of like-minded souls. Highlights include craft villages, antique markets and small but mighty museums and studios dedicated to pottery, folk art, clay figures, Azulejos tiles, rugs, tapestries, and more.
A MANIFESTO OF SORTS
In Hand offers a different kind of travel experience: Our trips are intentionally small and intimate— an ideal group size for learning and creating relationships. Each day has been planned with extraordinary thoughtfulness and attention to detail. There is no filler. In fact, we purposely build in downtime, so you can enjoy the slow-motion blur of real time. We will never rush you. We love spontaneity; we live for those moments of travel magic that unfold in the unplanned in-between. We don’t do gimmicks. We don’t up-sell. We place authenticity before luxury and soulfulness before perfection. We don’t hire out the important role of tour guide; we do it ourselves! We are at every group dinner, every outing.
If you have any questions about this trip that aren’t addressed on the registration page, please do not hesitate to reach out via email at inhand@substack.com. We will respond quickly to every inquiry. We are here to help, and we are excited to travel with you!
Sounds great!! 👍👍👍