2nd Annual Herbal Medicine Tour on Kythera Honoring Juliette de Bairacli Levy
June 23-29, 2024
Join us for a 7-day herbal medicine tour on the beautiful Greek island of Kythera, where Juliette de Bairacli Levy once lived.
- with special guests -
Rosemary Gladstar & Tish Streeten
The island of Kythera was once home to Juliette de Bairacli Levy (1912-2009), a celebrated herbalist, traveler, and writer who influenced herbalists and veterinarians around the world. This herbal medicine tour will honor Juliette’s memory and bring together people who wish to learn more about her herbal journey and inspirational life.
We are thrilled to have joining us world-renowned herbalist and educator, Rosemary Gladstar, and celebrated film director of Juliette of the Herbs, Tish Streeten. Rosemary and Tish will share stories about Juliette as we explore Kythera and connect with the treasured memories it holds.
This is an exciting opportunity to join us in celebration of our teachers and their legacy in the herbal community!
Maria Christodoulou, Tour Host
Maria (The Greek Herbalist) is an herbalist offering educational herbal tours throughout Greece and virtual courses based on the bounty of medicine and folklore of her ancestors. Her work is focused on exploring the wisdom and whimsy of ancient Greek herbal medicine.
Rosemary Gladstar, Special Guest
Known as the godmother of modern herbalism, Rosemary is an influential American herbalist, author, and educator who has captivated a global audience with her wealth of knowledge and passion for herbal healing. Rosemary was a student of Juliette’s and introduced Juliette to American herbalists at one of the first International Herb Symposiums.
Tish Streeten (right), Special Guest
Tish Streeten is a documentary filmmaker and herbalist whose film, Juliette of the Herbs (1998), has become a classic in the herbal and holistic healing community. Tish will join us as a special guest on the tour. This photo with Juliette was taken during filming on Kythera in the 1990s.
sold out & our Waitlist is full!
How to Register
Choose from five options for hotel accommodations and submit your €500 non-refundable deposit. All options include the full tour experience.
Limited space available. The maximum group size is 16 participants.
Click on the image to choose your accommodations
Registration includes:
6 nights accommodations in the beautiful village of Avlemonas, one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic fishing villages
Transportation for pick-up / drop-off at airport or ferry port
Transportation to all scheduled and organized group activities listed in the final itinerary
Daily meals of breakfast, lunch, & dinner (except for one lunch and one dinner, alcohol not included)
Herbal medicine activities with local artisans and herbalists
A special pilgrimage to the cottage where Juliette once lived
The Greek Herbalist tote bag
Registration does not include:
Flight or ferry to/from Kythera - we will provide guidance on how to get to Kythera once airline and ferry schedules are announced for the 2024 travel season
Meals and activities not listed on the itinerary
Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Payment Schedule & Terms:
Reserve your spot with a non-refundable deposit of €500. Two invoices will then be sent to you: half of the remaining balance to be paid by February 29, 2024 (invoice #1) and the other half to be paid by April 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.
Refund + Cancellation Policy: The €500 deposit is non-refundable. Invoice #1 can be fully refunded 5 months prior to the tour by January 23, 2024 or earlier. After January 23, 2024, invoice #1 can be refunded 50% until March 23, 2024. No refunds within 3 months of tour (March 23, 2024 or later), but transfers to interested participants is possible. All participants must read and agree to our Booking + Cancellation Policy.
Please read our Booking & Cancellation Policy before making your deposit.
“Our time together on the magical island of Kythera was nurturing, informative, and spiritually satisfying and I recommend time spent with Maria, the Greek Herbalist, to everyone who is pursuing the herbal path. Every day unfolded brilliantly and brought its own energizing experiences.” - 2023 participant
Itinerary Sample
We are preparing an exciting tour itinerary that includes a visit to the seaside cottage that Juliette lived in and a swim at the beach still known as “Juliette’s beach.” The itinerary will be finalized closer to the tour dates.
Day 1: Arrival day
Pick-up from airport / ferry port
Greek herbal tea workshop
Village walk with a local guide
Group welcome dinner
Day 2
Breakfast
Botanical hike and forest meditation
Lunch
Herbal medicine-making workshop at Elixrysos Herbal Apothecary
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Olive oil soap-making workshop
Beach and lunch on own
Free time in Chora
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Olive oil tasting workshop
Picnic lunch
Honey bee workshop
Dinner on own
Day 5
Breakfast
Guided hike to village landmarks
Lunch
Ancient and modern Greek herbal medicine traditions with The Greek Herbalist
Dinner
Day 6: Juliette’s day
Breakfast
Visit to Agia Moni Monastery
Guided hike to beach for swimming
Lunch
Virtual message from Adaya de Bairacli Levy, granddaughter of Juliette
Showing of Juliette of the Herbs film
Swimming at Juliette’s beach
Ceremony at Juliette’s historic cottage
Celebration dinner at Skandeia Restaurant
Day 7: Departure day
Breakfast
Group final reflections
Drop-off at airport / ferry port
This tour involves slow-paced hiking on uneven, uphill and downhill terrain. Participants must be comfortable walking for up to approximately 3 hours for each hiking excursion.
KYTHERA
The island of Kythera is famed as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. The island is located near the southern part of the Peloponnese and offers scenic beaches, green landscapes, and Medieval architecture. From Athens, the island is accessible by plane (50 minutes) or by ferry boat (6.5 hours).
HOW TO GET TO KYTHERA
From outside of Greece, arrange your flight to arrive at Athens International Airport (ATH). From Athens, there are 2 options to get to Kythera island:
Flight from ATH to Kythera (Kithera) with Aegean / Olympic Airways. There is one flight per day, non-stop. Choose these flights:
Sunday, June 23, 2:10pm - 3:05pm (non-stop / 55 min)
Saturday, June 29, 3:30pm - 4:20pm (non-stop / 55 min)
Ferry from Piraeus port in Athens to Kythera (Kithera KTH). The ferry times have not yet been posted for June. Last year's time was 10am departure with arrival at 4:30pm. SeaJets is a useful site to purchase ferry tickets.
Whether you arrive on the island by plane or ferry, we will be there with a van service to pick up everyone and drive you to the hotel.
Read our article, Ten Days on Kythera: Remembering Juliette de Bairacli Levy, in the Journal of Medicinal Plant Conservation by United Plant Savers.
OPTION #1: MARYIANNI APARTMENTS
With a 5-star rating by guests on TripAdvisor, these accommodations offer excellent hospitality, spacious rooms, comfort, and a short walk to Avlemonas Bay for swimming and snorkeling. Rooms include fully equipped kitchens. For more information about the hotel, visit the hotel website.
Room Availability & Registration Rates:
1 Sea view apartment at €3,590 per person
1 Sea view studio at €3,490 per person