April 28 – May 10, 2007

Join Rosemary Gladstar, Robert Chartier and Shelly Browning as we travel into the mystical and exotically aromatic land of Morocco. We will experience some of the most varied topography North Africa has to offer in dramatic juxtaposition of rock, sand and sea. We will journey from the bustling medieval market place of Marrakech, to the calming shores of the Atlantic. Next we will move into the Atlas Mountains verdant with wild medicinals and ribbons of river worn gorges. Finally we will explore date palm oases and the mesmerizing Arabian nights allure of the Sahara Desert. This promises to be a wondrous journey shared with our friends in Morocco whose generosity knows no bounds. Sharing in the pleasures of Moroccan culture is only a pot of mint tea away.

Experience a rich variety of cultural, geographical, and botanical delights

Join Rosemary Gladstar, Dr. Richard Liebmann & Robert Chartier for the Art of Good Living in a Beautiful Italian Villa in Northern Italy

May, 2008

Our next Italy trip will be in May 2008. The following information is from our 2005 trip. We will revist many of the same places in 2008. For an updated itinerary and trip dates, please contact our office at (802).479.9825. Note: The full brochure will not be available until fall, 2006.

Experience the Art of Good Living in Italy. Atop a broad hill in the countryside of Tuscany stands a sixteenth century villa, Certano, owned by Mario Baldassarrini and his wife Hedy. This expansively warm Siennese elder and his Swiss born wife will welcome us into their timeless and magnificent home. We will experience an enchanting and romantic week focused on herbs, health, culture, and rejuvenation. Beautiful grape vineyards, olive groves, beehives, vegetable and flower gardens roll gracefully through the hills surrounding the villa as they have for 500 years. The hills are still actively tended, produce harvested and made into exquisitely delicious wines, olive oil, honey and food for the table. A church built over 1200 years ago rests between the winery and villa. The ancient walled city of Siena is just minutes away and Florence, one of the most renowned cities for art in the world, is an hour’s drive.

Pilgrimage is an age-old journey to sacred spaces and places. We will be making pilgrimage throughout our journey, searching for the authentic, searching for the inner meaning and the interconnectedness. There are natural hot springs and spas to experience, walks through the bucolic countryside, teachings from local people, walled castles to wander in, and the profoundly exquisite art and architecture of Italy to lose oneself in.

With Rosemary Gladstar & Robert Chartier

We are planning another Indochina Trip in the fall of 2008. Please inquire if interested.

Sacred Gifts of the Earth, a Plant Lover's Journey to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia promises to be the trip of a lifetime. South East Asia is a region of tremendous natural beauty, diverse cultures, ancient religions and magnificent temples. Though we'll be visiting some of the more renowned sites such as Angkor Watt (the ancient Khmer capitol), the Mekong River, Chiang Mai (Thailand's principal northern City), and Laung Prabang (a World Heritage Site), we'll be spending most of our time in small villages meeting with the local people, immersing ourselves in village life, and learning directly from the local people about their culture and traditions. The area is renowned for its traditional healers, healing practices and natural therapies. We'll have the opportunity to experience these first hand; the trip will include Thai massage and spa treatments, meditation and yoga, Thai natural food cooking classes, herb classes and herb walks into the surrounding countryside with local herbalists. We'll also bathe ourselves in the biological richness of South East Asia and experience the world as a group of caring loving nature/plant lovers walking gently upon the earth.

A Plant Lovers Journey to Hawaii

With Rosemary Gladstar

Sorry, we wont be offering this wonderful trip in 2007, but stay tuned... We'll be offering it again for sure in the near future...

Join Rosemary Gladstar for an unforgettable experience on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Big Isle, home to humpback whales, a huge variety of plant life, and the world’s most active volcano is a place filled with the spirit of Aloha and a haven for nature lovers. The islands’ diverse climate zones and wide range of habitats provide an ideal setting for us to explore the remarkable diversity of nature, our relationship to the healing world of plants, and our innate place in the great web of life. While enjoying the tranquility and beauty of Hawaii, we’ll meet with local herbalists and traditional healers, pilgrimage to sacred sites, and participate in the traditional culture of Hawaii.

Hawaii offers one of the most diverse eco-systems in the world

A Plant Lover's Journey to Provençe

Sorry, we wont be offering this wonderful trip in 2007, but stay tuned... We'll be offering it again for sure in the near future...

Provence: picture hillsides cut by the gnarled trunks of olive trees, fields blanketed in wildflowers, and air perfumed by rosemary and lavender. This is the region the Impressionists loved, where poplar trees line country roads, and vines heavy with grapes roast in the Mediterranean sun. Here, the Mistral wind flows down from the Alps, cooling the land on its way to the sea. A timeless agricultural tradition has flourished in Provence, passed from generation to generation by farmers who take pride in the terroir that lends its distinct character to their products. We will venture into the countryside to learn from these small farmers, as they lead us through their gardens, workshops, and homes, inviting us to touch, smell, and taste some of their products while they share their knowledge and demonstrate centuries-old techniques, or more recent innovations. Accompanied by Rosemary Gladstar and Robert Chartier from Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center and Botanical Sanctuary, and supported by a staff of local guides, we will experience Provence in a way rarely available to independent travelers.