Q: Do I need any dyeing experience?
A: None at all. Most people arrive having never dyed a piece of cloth and we designed both retreats on that assumption. We start with introducing fibres and go from there, so there is nothing you need to catch up on before you come.
Q: Is this suitable if I have never travelled to Indonesia?
A: Yes, many of our participants are first-timers. We meet you at Jakarta CGK and drive you to the farm. You will not need to navigate anything on your own. If you are nervous about the journey, email us and we will walk you through it step by step.
Q: How physically demanding is it?
A: Moderate. You will be on your feet for stretches of the day, walking around the farm, harvesting plants and lifting wet fabric out of dye pots and buckets. There is no hiking requirement and the bamboo forest trek on the last morning is optional, but if you have mobility concerns please tell us before booking so we can talk honestly about whether it will work for you.
Q: Can I come on my own? Will I be the only solo traveller?
A: Most people come alone. By the second day everyone knows each other, and by the third we usually cannot get people to leave the dining table. If you would rather not share a room, there is a private room supplement, though rooms are limited.
Q: How many people will be on the retreat?
A: A maximum of 12 participants and we need at least 8 to run. Accompanying guests come on top of that number and do not join the workshops, so the class size stays the same regardless.
Q: Which airport do I fly into, and when should I book flights for?
A: Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK). Please arrive before 11.00am local time on the first day and depart after 5.00pm local time on the last, as our transfers are arranged around those windows. Wait for our confirmation email before booking anything.
Q: Do I need a visa for Indonesia?
A: Singapore passport holders can enter Indonesia as tourists for up to 30 days under a visa exemption, with no application needed in advance. If you hold another passport, check your own country's requirements early. Your passport must have at least six months of validity from your arrival date.
Q: Are airport transfers included?
A: Yes, both ways, between CGK and Sukasantai Farmstay. Our private transfers are timed around the recommended flights above. Booking outside those windows means you'll need separate transport to and from the farm, at your own cost. Let us know and we will arrange it for you and share the cost beforehand.
Q: What if my flight is delayed?
A: Message us as soon as you know and we will work it out. Short delays are usually fine, as the van waits for the group. If your delay is long enough that you miss the transfer entirely, we will help you arrange a private car, though the cost will be borne by you.
Q: What are the rooms like, and who will I share with?
A: Sukasantai has twin, king and loft rooms, sleeping two or three. We allocate them once the group is confirmed and we pair people thoughtfully. If you are travelling with a friend, partner or family member, leave a note at checkout and we will keep you together.
Q: What if I want a room to myself?
A: Add the private room supplement to your booking. We release a limited number of private rooms each retreat, allocated first come, so it is worth confirming early rather than deciding later.
Q: What is the food like? Can you cater for allergies or dietary needs?
A: Five meals a day, home-cooked and farm to table, with much of it harvested that morning. Free-flow tea and coffee all day. We will send a personal information form closer to departure, in there you can include any dietary needs in there along with other details.
Q: Is there wifi and phone signal?
A: Wi-fi is limited at the farm, you can opt to subscribe data roaming or rent a travel pocket wi-fi from your country's airport. We encourage guests to be in the moment and take a break from devices. There is also no television in the rooms but a large projector screen is available upon request at the common area. No wi-fi = more santai (and crafting).
Q: What is the weather like?
A: The farm sits 1,000m above sea level, so it stays cool and comfortable all year and needs no air-conditioning or heating. Days average around 28°C and nights can drop to 15°C, which surprises people who packed for Jakarta. Bring layers such as a light sweater or jacket, long sleeves and trousers and comfortable shoes for unpaved ground.
Q: Can I pay by card at the farm?
A: No, the farm is cash only and accepts Indonesian Rupiah. Bring some rupiah with you for anything you buy on site, including gratuities if you would like to leave them.
Q: Is there a massage available?
A: Yes, and it is highly recommended especially after a hard day's work at the dye studio.
A local ibu comes to your room for a traditional Javanese massage, kampong style, at around IDR 150-200k for an hour. This is self pay direct to her and cash only, so keep some rupiah aside for it.
We will share the available slots closer to departure. There is no need to sort this out far in advance – booking a day ahead once you are at the farm is fine too.
Q: Are gratuities expected?
A: They are not included and they are entirely optional. If you would like to leave something for the Sukasantai staff, cash in an envelope marked "gratuities" handed to a staff member before departure is the way it is usually done.
Q: Are there mosquitoes and insects?
A: It is an organic working farm, so yes, the lovely ones like fireflies and the less lovely ones too. Most of the farm is mosquito-free, with the exception of the valley area around sunset. Bring repellent if you are prone to bites, there is also farm-made citronella oil in the communal area for everyone.
Q: Is alcohol served? Can I smoke?
A: The farm does not serve alcohol, but you are welcome to bring your own. It is strictly non-smoking within the farmstay premises.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Your own fabric and yarn for your personal project – and for participants from Singapore, your materials pack! Everything else for the workshops is provided, including your apron, gloves and tools. We send a Things To Bring guide when you book so you have plenty of time to source the right fibres.
Q: What fabric and yarn should I buy, and where?
A: Bring undyed fabric or clothing up to 300g in total, or yarn up to 600g. Flat pieces, scarves, yarn, plain t-shirts and socks all work well. It is recommended for beginner dyers to avoid long yardage, tablecloths, jackets, jeans and anything with a lot of construction detail, as they need extra steps and time to dye properly.
Animal fibres such as wool and silk dye rich, vibrant colours, while plant fibres such as cotton and linen result in softer, more muted shades.
You can also order undyed fabric, yarn, scarves and other blanks directly from us. For Singapore residents these arrive with your materials pack, and for overseas participants they will be waiting in your room at the farm. If you prefer not to worry about it now, we will also bring a small selection of yarn and blanks to the farm for anyone who would rather decide when they get there.
If you are unsure about something you already own, send us a photo and we will tell you whether it is suitable for dyeing.
Q: What will I take home?
A: On the Natural Dyes of Asia Retreat, your Dye Atlas of at least 48 swatches, everything you dyed across the week, an eco-printed organic cotton scarf and your finished personal project.
On the Indigo & Batik Immersion Retreat, a graduated indigo-dyed tenugui set, your resist-patterned pieces, hand-drawn batik fabric, a batik scarf you stamped and dyed yourself and your personal project dyed in the indigo vat you built.
And of course, for both retreats, the recipes and the learning that stays with you long after, along with the friendships and the memories. Every group has surprised me with how quickly strangers turn into friends.
Q: Will I be able to keep dyeing once I am back?
A: This is the main reason of why we teach the way we teach. You leave with printed recipes, your own swatch records and the theory behind each process. You can adapt rather than follow instructions, and develop a flow that works for you.
Q: Are the dyes safe to handle?
A: Natural does not mean non-toxic. Some dye plants are poisonous, which is why we work with safer ones and teach the process properly rather than casually. Mordants need care and correct handling, so gloves, masks and aprons are provided and we will show you how to handle everything before you touch it. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a skin condition, please tell us before booking.
Q: What does an accompanying guest actually do all day?
A: Rather a lot, as it turns out. The farm programme includes fishing, harvesting, visiting the cows, mozzarella cheese making, essential oil distillation, bamboo forest and tea plantation trekking. There is also a library and hammocks for anyone who prefers a slower pace. They eat every meal with the group, so nobody has to eat on their own.
Q: Can they join any of the dye sessions?
A: They are welcome to sit in and watch. We will invite them to a small dyeing session to make a keepsake of their own too.
Q: Do they get their own room?
A: They share with the participant they are travelling with. Loft rooms sleep three and work well for a family. Each participant may bring up to two accompanying guests.
Q: How does booking work?
A: Until we reach our minimum of 8 participants, you secure your place with a deposit of SGD 1,200 and pay the balance later. Once the retreat is confirmed as going ahead, any remaining places are sold at full payment only. By that point we are committed to the farm and our suppliers, so we are no longer able to hold a place on a deposit.
Q: What happens if the retreat does not reach minimum numbers?
A: We need 8 participants to run and we will let you know by the date on your retreat's listing page. If we do not reach the minimum, you will be offered a full refund of everything you have paid, or the option to move your place to another retreat. This is why we ask you not to book flights until you hear from us.
Q: What currency are your prices in?
A: All our prices are set in Singapore dollars (SGD). If you are booking from outside Singapore, our store will show prices converted into your local currency and rounded to the nearest dollar for convenience, so the amount you see may shift slightly with exchange rates.
Your payment is taken in the currency shown at checkout. Any refund is calculated against the SGD price and returned in the same currency you paid, at the exchange rate that applied to your original order. Your bank or card issuer may apply their own rate when the money lands, so the final figure may differ a little from what you originally paid.
Q: What is the deposit and when is the balance due?
A: A deposit of SGD 1,200 secures your place. The balance is due on the date shown on your retreat's listing page. We will send you a reminder well ahead of it.
Q: Do you offer payment plans?
A: Yes. If you book at least 3 months before your retreat's balance due date, you can spread the balance across monthly instalments instead of paying it in one go.
Here is an example of how it works for a place at the standard price (SGD 2,680), booked in November 2026 for the 5-10 May 2027 retreat:
| Payment | Amount | When |
| Deposit | SGD 1,200 | On booking |
| Instalment 1 | SGD 500 | 5 December |
| Instalment 2 | SGD 500 | 5 January |
| Final balance | SGD 480 | 5 February (balance due date) |
Payment plans are paid in Singapore dollars via PayNow (Singapore's instant bank transfer service) and need to be arranged when you book – leave a note at checkout or email us. Taking a plan does not affect your price which means if your deposit is paid before the early bird closes you still enjoy the early bird rate.
Banking outside Singapore? Email us before you book and we will work something out.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Of your SGD 1,200 deposit, SGD 500 is non-refundable – it covers the work that begins as soon as you book your place: securing your room, planning materials and turning away other enquiries. Everything beyond it depends on when you inform us.
All refund amounts are calculated in Singapore dollars (SGD) and returned in the currency you paid.
You may transfer your place to someone else at any time up to 14 days before departure, at no charge. Just let us know who is coming.
If we are able to resell your place, we will refund what you paid less the SGD 500 and any transaction fees, whenever you cancelled.
If we cancel because minimum numbers are not met, you receive a full refund of everything you have paid, or you can move your place to join another WithAutumn retreat.
If you need to cancel because of illness or a family emergency, please tell us as soon as you can. These terms still apply. Please check what your travel insurance covers when you buy it, as this is the type of situation it is designed for.
Q: Do I need travel insurance?
A: Yes, travel insurance is compulsory for all participants and accompanying guests. The farm is rural and around three hours from Jakarta, so medical and evacuation cover matters more here than it would for a city trip. We may ask to see your policy details before departure.
Email us and I will answer them myself.
