For many of us, one of the highlights of world travel is getting the opportunity to meet new people and experience different cultures. And if that's something that appeals to you, you'll doubtless be delighted to hear about Traidcraft Meet the People Tours, which offer the opportunity to meet and make friends with the people behind fair-trade products.

Each tour provides a unique and authentic insight into a country's population and culture - with fascinating far-flung destinations including Cuba, Chile, South Africa, Peru, Bangladesh, Thailand, India, Malawi and Zambia. You'll get to go to places ordinary tourists never see - which means you'll largely be steering clear of busy beaches and bars but experiencing something far more valuable instead.

The Thailand Weaving Tour, for example, gives you the chance to learn the arts of weaving and dying from the artisans themselves in a traditional Thai village. You'll be staying in the home of a weaver from the Prae Pan cooperative, and developing your own weaving style in a series of workshops led by your hosts.

But you do get to see some of the rest of the country, too: on leaving the village, the tour heads for the mountainous national park of Thailand's north east, before returning to Bangkok where you can soak up the city's famous sights. The 14-day trip costs £1,395, excluding international flights. Most meals are included; outside the village, accommodation is in hotels or guest houses.

Alternatively, if you're partial to a nice cuppa, why not join the Southern Indian Tea Tour to find out where your favourite tipple comes from? The 16-day trip starts in the city of Chennai, from where you take a train to the Nilgiri Hills, an area famous for its tea. Having visited a variety of projects and producers, you'll also spend time in Kerala's stunning coastal backwaters and visit the famous shore temple at Mahabalipuram. The price of the tour, excluding flights, is £1,295.

To find out more about Traidcraft Meet the People tours, go to www.traidcraft-tours.com.