Batik Making Class in Lagoi: Create Your Own Design

Master wax-resist dyeing and walk out with a one-of-a-kind fabric you made yourself

A 3-hour batik-making class in Ekang Village, Lagoi, where you learn traditional wax-resist techniques from a live English-speaking guide, work with cotton fabric and dyes in a studio setting, and take home your finished piece. Private transport from Bintan Resort Area is included, along with a welcome drink, all materials, and snacks. Children from age 3 are welcome.

The experience

You'll start with a 20-minute drive from Bintan Resort Area to a studio in Ekang Village, arriving with time to settle in. A welcome drink and your cotton fabric await, along with the tools and dyes you'll use for the next three hours. The guide walks you through the wax-resist method (the ancient technique that makes batik distinctive), and then you choose your direction: follow a classic or contemporary design from the studio's selection, or sketch your own pattern and bring it to life.

The work itself is hands-on and deliberate. You apply hot wax to fabric using traditional tools, dip the cloth into dye baths, and watch the colors take hold where the wax hasn't sealed the fibers. The pace is yours to set. This is a creative workshop, not a race. An English-speaking instructor is there to answer questions and help you troubleshoot if a line doesn't hold or a color pools differently than you expected. Most people find the repetition meditative: the focus required to keep lines clean, the small satisfactions of watching a pattern emerge.

By the end of the class, your fabric is finished and ready to travel home with you. The studio provides photo documentation of your work, and you leave with both the physical piece and a record of making it. The return journey includes the same air-conditioned transport and driver who brought you out.

What’s included

• Private transport from Bintan Resort Area to Ekang Village studio and back.
• English-speaking guide.
• cotton fabric, wax, dyes and all tools needed for the class.
• welcome drink and snacks.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• photo documentation of your finished batik.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 15:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Traveling Bintan

Is this one for you?You do the work yourself under the guide's instruction, so this suits anyone who wants to learn a skill hands-on rather than watch a demonstration. The small-group format and private transport mean you're not waiting for a van to fill or following a fixed schedule. The class moves at the pace that lets you focus on the technique and your own design.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 9 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly is batik and how does the wax-resist technique work?

Batik is an ancient dyeing method where hot wax is applied to fabric to block dye from reaching certain areas. You paint or stamp the wax onto cotton, then submerge the cloth in dye. The wax-covered sections stay the original color while everything else absorbs the dye. When the wax is removed, it reveals crisp patterns underneath. The technique originated in Java and remains central to Indonesian textile art.

Can I design my own pattern, or do I have to follow an existing one?

You can do either. The studio offers a selection of classic and contemporary batik designs you can reproduce, or you can sketch your own pattern and work from that. The guide will help you translate your idea onto the fabric and execute it with the wax and dye.

How much of the 3 hours is actually spent making batik versus instruction or setup?

The full three hours covers the entire experience: arrival, welcome drink, introduction to techniques, and your hands-on work with the fabric. Most of that time is spent actually applying wax and dyeing, with instruction woven in as you work rather than delivered all at once at the start.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

Private transport from Bintan Resort Area, the guide, all materials (fabric, wax, dyes, tools), a welcome drink, snacks, and water are included. You'll cover your own lunch if you want one, and tips are at your discretion.

Do I need any artistic experience or special skills to do this?

No. The class is designed as an introduction to batik, and the guide teaches you the techniques from scratch. You don't need to be able to draw or have any prior textile experience. The focus is on learning the method and enjoying the creative process.