REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 1
Herbal Rituals & Oracles Tour in Epirus Greece
October 13-19, 2024
Join The Greek Herbalist and Mira Karakitsou of A Temple Wild on a mythical and mystical plant journey in northwestern Greece. This herbal rituals and oracles tour will take us to the traditional stone villages of Metsovo and Zagori, as well as to the ancient Oracle of Dodona.
Learn about the ancient Greek oracular traditions as practiced at Dodona. Reflect on the teachings of the plants and their role in ancient and modern life. Celebrate the autumn season surrounded by the botanical bounty of the majestic Pindus mountains. Activities will include hiking, hands-on herbal medicine workshops, and ceremonies honoring ancient Greek herbal traditions. Indulge in traditional Greek cuisine and experience the unique landscape of Epirus.
Maria and Mira will introduce you to ancient and modern herbal medicine, sharing the mythical, mystical, and medicinal qualities of celebrated plants in Greece and how to apply them to your own practices of self-care. Join us for this holistic exploration into the wisdom of an ancient practice.
This tour involves moderately difficult hikes on maintained trails, cobblestone paths, and stone steps. Participants must be able to hike on uneven, uphill and downhill terrain.
Registration includes:
6 nights in comfortable hotel accommodations (2 nights in Metsovo and 4 nights in Zagori)
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner (excluding alcohol)
Workshops about ancient rituals and oracles, Greek mythology, ancient Greek herbal medicine, and modern applications of Greek herbs
Archaeological sites, museum visits, and sightseeing of one of the most beautiful areas of Greece
Transportation to/from Ioannina airport and transportation to all group activities listed in the final itinerary
The Greek Herbalist tote bag
Registration does NOT include:
Flight to/from Ioannina
Meals, activities, and transfers not listed on the itinerary
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Participation Rates and How to Register
€3,450 for single occupancy
€3,125 for double occupancy / per participant
Submit your non-refundable €500 deposit* and make your room selection (single or shared).
Special discount! Bring a friend and save €150 each. Discount applied to the final invoice.*
REGISTRATION ENDS JUNE 1
Participate on a tour with The Greek Herbalist and receive a 5% discount on your next tour.
*After you submit your non-refundable deposit, two invoices will be sent to you for half of the remaining balance to be paid by April 15, 2024 (invoice #1) and the other half to be paid by July 15, 2024 (invoice #2). Payments are accepted by any credit card or PayPal. Any fees for currency conversion are to be paid by the registrant. For refunds, invoice #1 can be fully refunded by April 30, 2024 or earlier. After April 30, 2024, invoice #1 can be refunded 50% until June 30, 2024. No refunds after June 30, 2024, but transfers to interested participants is possible. All participants must read and agree to our Booking & Cancellation Policy.
Sample Itinerary
We are preparing an exciting tour itinerary that will look somewhat like this.
The itinerary will be finalized closer to the tour dates.
Day 1: Sunday
Pick up from Ioannina airport
Group welcome
Saffron medicine and mythology workshop
Tour of village
Dinner
Day 2: Monday
Breakfast
Saffron crocus farm tour
Lunch
Group hike
Dinner
Day 3: Tuesday
Breakfast
Exploring Metsovo
Greek herbs workshop
Lunch
Transfer to Zagori
Dinner
Day 4: Wednesday
Breakfast
The Natural History Museum of Lazaridis in Koukouli
Lunch
Oracles in ancient Greece workshop
Dinner
Day 5: Thursday
Breakfast
Archaeological Site of Dodoni and oracle ceremony
Archaeological Museum of Ioannina
Lunch
Free time in Ioannina
Dinner
Day 6: Friday
Breakfast
Hike
Lunch
Free time in Zagori villages
Dinner and closing ceremony
Day 7: Saturday
Breakfast
Final reflections
Drop-off at Ioannina airport
Join Us in Epirus
Submit your non-refundable €500 deposit* and make your room selection (single or shared).
Special discount! Bring a friend and save €150 each. Discount applied to the final invoice.
Participate on a tour with The Greek Herbalist and receive a 5% discount on your next tour.
*After you submit your non-refundable deposit, two invoices will be sent to you for half of the remaining balance to be paid by April 15, 2024 (invoice #1) and the other half to be paid by July 15, 2024 (invoice #2). Payments are accepted by any credit card or PayPal. Any fees for currency conversion are to be paid by the registrant. For refunds, invoice #1 can be fully refunded by April 30, 2024 or earlier. After April 30, 2024, invoice #1 can be refunded 50% until June 30, 2024. No refunds after June 30, 2024, but transfers to interested participants is possible. All participants must read and agree to our Booking & Cancellation Policy.
About the Instructors
Tour activities are co-led by Maria Christodoulou (The Greek Herbalist) and Mira Karakitsou (A Temple Wild)
Maria Christodoulou (The Greek Herbalist) is a clinical herbalist exploring the wisdom and whimsy of ancient Greek herbal medicine. Based in Athens, Greece, she offers educational herbal tours throughout the country and virtual courses based on the bounty of medicine and folklore of her ancestors. She is the author of “The Greek Herbalist's Guide to the Mountain” and "The Greek Herbalist's Guide to the National Garden.” In 2022, Maria was the recipient of the Ancient Worlds, Modern Communities Award from the Society of Classical Studies at New York University.
Mira Karakitsou (A Temple Wild) is a Greek-American artist and herbalist who crafts offerings inspired by the landscapes and myths of the ancient Greeks, their stories ripe with Eros and deeply rooted in Mediterranean soil. She is also the host of A Temple Wild, a podcast and show that explores the Greek myths, not just as stories created by humans, but as traditions growing from the landscape itself: grounded in Mediterranean earth and nourished by the sun, sea, and mountains. You can find her online at atemplewild.com, where she re-members ancient Greek plant lore and shares her essays, self-portraiture, poetry, and more.
Join Us in Epirus
Submit your non-refundable €500 deposit* and make your room selection (single or shared).
Special discount! Bring a friend and save €150 each. Discount applied to the final invoice.
Participate on a tour with The Greek Herbalist and receive a 5% discount on your next tour.
*After you submit your non-refundable deposit, two invoices will be sent to you for half of the remaining balance to be paid by April 15, 2024 (invoice #1) and the other half to be paid by July 15, 2024 (invoice #2). Payments are accepted by any credit card or PayPal. Any fees for currency conversion are to be paid by the registrant. For refunds, invoice #1 can be fully refunded by April 30, 2024 or earlier. After April 30, 2024, invoice #1 can be refunded 50% until June 30, 2024. No refunds after June 30, 2024, but transfers to interested participants is possible. All participants must read and agree to our Booking + Cancellation Policy.
