North Carolina Ecovillage Tour
8 DAYS | Explore community living across the Appalachian landscape
Discover working models for regenerative living
Embark on an eight-day adventure that takes you through the Appalachian region of Western North Carolina — from the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains to the rolling hills of the Piedmont Region — all while exploring working models of community living and sustainability.
This expedition offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore a variety of established ecovillages, each with its distinct approach to ecological building, permaculture, renewable energy, and cooperative culture. This tour isn't just about observing — it's about experiencing what it means to live in greater connection with nature and each other.
North Carolina Ecovillage Tour
All-inclusive small group travel.
Next tour dates to be announced.
By joining the waiting list, you’ll be the first to know when this tour is open for booking.
Tour Highlights
What you can expect to experience during your time in North Carolina
Experience Working Ecovillages and Communities: This tour is all about going deep into five established intentional communities in North Carolina — ranging from communities that are more than 90-years-old to ones that have started within the recent decade. Plus many of these communities have openings for new members right now!
Learn from Community Living Experts: Participate in workshops focused on community living skills from people who have been practicing this lifestyle for decades. Gain deeper understanding for community governance models, conflict resolution, participatory decision making, authentic communication, and more.
Enjoy the Beauty of Appalachia in North Carolina: Starting in Asheville, we’ll soak in the grandeur of the Blue Ridge Mountains, before traveling east to the Piedmont foothills, making plenty of stops for nature strolls, river dips, and simply taking in the views.
Get Inspiration and Connections to Fuel Your Own Work: This tour is designed for people who want to take action on their community living journey. Whether you’re looking to join an existing community or start a new project or just get inspiration for whatever’s next on your path —this tour could be the pivotal experience you’ve been looking for.
Enjoy Community Within Our Traveling Group: Our tour will evolve into a mobile intentional community, fostering deep connections and a culture of cooperation among participants. Oftentimes what participants say is their favorite part of the experience — getting to connect with each other!
Featured Communities
Experience the below communities during the ecovillage tour. Subject to change.
Earthaven Ecovillage
Location: Black Mountain, North Carolina
Land: 329 acres
Website: earthaven.org
Founded in 1994, Earthaven is located on 329 acres in culturally rich, biologically diverse western North Carolina, about 45 minutes southeast of Asheville. They are dedicated to caring for people and the Earth by learning and demonstrating a holistic, sustainable culture. In recent years, the community has consisted of about 75 adult residents and 25 children. They intend to become a village of at least 150 people on 56 homesites. They govern themselves with a consensus decision-making process and a Council and committee structure, with a Homeowners Association board. The HOA owns title to common land, which was financed with private loans from members. Most of the neighborhoods are incorporated as housing cooperatives.
Village Hearth
Location: Durham
Land: 15 acres
Website: villagehearthcohousing.com/
We are an LGBTQIA+, 55+ community in Durham, NC, a vibrant city of about 288,000 people. Gay, straight, single, coupled, working and retired, we live in 28 environmentally friendly, universally designed, one story units clustered together on the front 5 acres of our 15 acres of wooded property. We are a short 15 minute ride from downtown Durham which offers excellent medical care, restaurants, theatres, concerts, sports and parks. Our Vision is to live in an active, caring and collaborative community with the infrastructure to age in place, balancing the privacy of smaller sustainable dwellings with opportunities for social engagement and the support of the larger community.
Adawehi Wellness Village
Location: Columbus, North Carolina
Land: 125 acres
Website: adawehi.com
Founded by Jackie Woods, the Adawehi community has been together for over 25 years. They have found that living in community, surrounded by loving people, ensures ample opportunities to really get to know yourself and embrace the real in others. The community is a place for people to immerse themselves in an environment that encourages growth. From their organic grocery and greenhouses to their resale shops and labyrinth, they invite visitors to share their expressions and explore the undiscovered parts of themselves.
Living Well Ecovillage
Location: Franklinville, North Carolina
Land: 128 acres
Website: TheLivingWellCommunity.com
Living Well Ecovillage is a neighborhood that values social, cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability. They commit to working together to create a community that restores harmony and minimizes harm through physical design and personal and community practices. The property spans 126 acres bordered by about a mile of frontage on the Deep River on one side and almost a mile of frontage on Sandy Creek on the other side. The community features a combination of private and shared spaces, a community garden, a Greenway/Railtrail along the Deep River, a neighborhood park, and 53 acres of natural area buffering the creek and river. The Living Well Earth Stewards, a separate nonprofit organization, offers a monthly Folk School. The property boasts mountain-like topography, the river, rock outcroppings, high areas, the creek, trails, beautiful woods, and abundant wild edible and medicinal plants.
Common Ground Community
Location: Mebane, North Carolin
Land: 112 acres
Website: CommonGround.eco
Common Ground Ecovillage is a growing intentional community with a deep commitment to both environmental and social justice. The community focuses on cooperative living and regenerative agriculture and forestry. Guided by the principles of sociocracy, and located on 100+ acres of meadow and woodland, the goal is to develop a space where residents can provide for themselves and their families while giving back to the land and the larger communities that sustain them. They are actively seeking new members. It will be a rural village; a close-knit community with space to roam for people of all ages and walks of life.
Itinerary
Get a taste for what awaits you on the tour. Itinerary subject to updates.
Overview
If you haven’t yet experienced the Appalachians, you’re in for a special treat with this tour. Imagine thriving forests, breathtaking views, and communities deeply connected to the land they call home. It’s no wonder that within these pristine valleys we find some of the oldest intentional communities anywhere in the United States, as well as newer communities following in the footsteps of their forebears.
Our journey to experience these resilient communities starts and ends in Asheville, a city known for its vibrant music scene, healing arts, and rich cultural heritage. Asheville serves as the perfect gateway to our exploration, embodying a spirit of creativity, ecological awareness, and community that resonates with the very essence of the ecovillages we'll visit. From Asheville, we’ll circle through the Blue Ridge over to the Piedmont and back again over the course of eight days.
Day 1: Settling in at Earthaven
Our tour will begin in Asheville on the morning of the tour start date. Together we’ll drive up into Black Mountain to reach our home base for this tour, a community called Earthaven Ecovillage. Nestled in a valley among mountains, Earthaven is known for its natural buildings, which you’ll have the chance to stay in during this tour. Settle in and enjoy an evening by the fire getting to know each other.
Day 2: Tour and Community Living Workshops
The second day of our tour will be spent deepening into life at Earthaven. We’ll have an extensive tour in the morning followed by an afternoon learning the different cooperative skills residents have engaged with in the years of co-living at Earthaven. Gain deeper understanding for community governance models, conflict resolution, participatory decision making, authentic communication, and more. We’ll close the day with dinner enjoyed alongside community residents.
Day 3: Off to Visit Adawehi Wellness Village
Our morning starts bright and early so we have time to catch the weekly market at Earthaven, before taking off to visit our next community tour. Adawehi Wellness Village has a strong focus on health, healing, and heart-centered living. This diverse community lives together with the intent to love your neighbor as yourself. There are several activities planned to experience life at this community. You will enjoy a fresh, healthy meal with many items from their organic greenhouses and organic grocery before retiring to your host home.
Day 4: Traveling to the Piedmont Region
Start your day with an optional morning yoga class taught by Adawehi residents, or simply find your own way to reflect and relax on the mid-way point of our journey together. The founder of Adawehi, Jackie Woods, will give a talk about living in community. Today we say goodbye to the western part of the Appalachian Mountain Range and head further east into the Piedmont Region. We'll spend the next two nights at The Eco-Institute at Sanctuary Farm, a center for sustainability education.
Day 5: Touring Living Well Ecovillage
Today is all about experiencing Living Well Ecovillage, a thriving community of tiny and small homes on 128 acres. Enjoy an extensive community tour and garden-to-table lunch with residents. Plus you’ll get an afternoon workshop on the ins and outs of what it takes to start an intentional community from one of this community’s founders.
Day 6: Welcome to Common Ground
Next we’ll visit another ecovillage making inroads on sustainable living. Common Ground Ecovillage has been in development for several years, and despite not yet achieving the permissions necessary to build permanent housing on their 112 acres. They have created a strong community nonetheless. Learn about their working farm, sociocratic decision making process, and what it takes to build a community from the ground up. We’ll return to Earthaven Ecovillage in the afternoon.
Day 7: Rest
Back at Earthaven where our journey began, this last full day of the tour is all about integration. Choose to spend your day at Earthaven, strolling the gardens, taking off on a nature adventure, conversing with new friends, or simply capturing your reflections in your journal.
Day 8: Wrap Up!
After a morning closing session and lunch at Earthaven, we’ll wind our way back down the mountain to Asheville where we started our adventure. Time to say farewell to new friends and prepare for the journey home!
Trip Details
Explore detailed trip information to prepare for your adventure.
Included
All ground transportation from tour start and end point
All lodging in shared rooms (Private surcharge for single room upgrade)
All meals, except when you choose to eat separately or purchase extra drinks
All entrance and tour fees
Not Included
Transportation to/from country
Insurance of any kind
Alcoholic beverages (outside of wine cellar visits)
Optional gratuities to guides
Laundry fees and items of a personal nature
Pick Up & Drop Off
Pick Up
Our tour will begin in Asheville, North Carolina at 11am local time on the tour start date.
Our exact meet up point is to be determined, but please plan your arrival in Asheville before the start time of the tour. After orientation, we will drive together up to Earthaven Ecovillage, our homebase during the tour.
See the “flights” section for travel recommendations. We are able to provide transport from the Asheville Regional Airport or another location in Asheville if needed.
Drop Off
Our formal programming will end in Asheville, back where the tour began on the last day of the tour at 3pm, after lunch at Earthaven. We are able to provide transport from the Asheville Regional Airport or another location in Asheville if needed.
Please be in touch with any questions regarding your travel planning. We’re happy to help!
Flights
You are responsible for booking your own flight, which we recommend you book as far in advance as possible to get the best price.
We recommend flying in/out of Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) located in Fletcher, North Carolina. Alternatively, you may find cheaper flights from the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) located in Greer, South Carolina, about an hour’s drive outside Asheville.
We are able to provide transport from the AVL or another location in Asheville if needed. We can help you find transport to/from GSP Airport if needed.
Lodging
Lodging will be rustic and often in a beautiful rural setting. We ask you to be respectful and open to new experiences, such as using a composting toilet and sharing bathroom facilities. Some accommodations may have limited to no wifi, or wifi in only common areas. There will be no air conditioning.
Rooms will be shared with fellow travelers. If possible, couples can have their private double room. We will separate male and female rooms, unless your preferences are to stay together.
Private Room Upgrades
Please note that while we offer the option to upgrade to a private room for accommodations, it's important to understand that this upgrade is not guaranteed. Given the nature and locations of our tours, many of the accommodations we utilize may be unable to provide private room upgrades. However, when available, we will make every effort to assign you to a private room. Please be aware that refunds for unfulfilled room upgrade requests are not provided, as this upgrade is subject to availability and the discretion of the accommodation providers. Your comfort and satisfaction are our priorities, and we strive to accommodate all requests to the best of our ability.
Meals
As much as possible our meals will be fresh, local and organic, with produce grown on-site. Most meals will be vegetarian. When eating out at restaurants, we will have a fixed menu with a few options of local specialties. One beverage is usually included with lunch and dinner. Extra dishes and drinks are on you. We can accommodate a range of dietary requirements, to a point, so please contact us to inform us about any food allergies and come prepared with your own specialty food or supplement needs. We will stop at grocery stores where you can purchase your own snacks.
Weather
Visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains and Piedmont Region of North Carolina in early September offers a delightful experience with the weather transitioning from the warm summer days to the cooler, crisp beginnings of fall. During this time, daytime temperatures are pleasantly mild, usually ranging from the mid-70s to low 80s (°F), while evenings can cool down, especially in the higher elevations of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where temperatures can dip into the 50s (°F).
For your visit, it's recommended to pack a versatile wardrobe including breathable, lightweight clothing for the warmer daytime hours, and layers such as sweaters or light jackets for the cooler mornings and evenings. Don't forget a sturdy pair of walking or hiking shoes to comfortably explore the diverse terrains, and consider bringing a rain jacket or umbrella, as early September can still see occasional showers.
Packing
A full packing list will be provided after booking the tour. Laundry service will be available at some of our locations. We ask that you only bring a day pack and one carry-on sized luggage due to limited space in our vehicle.
Physical Requirements
This trip will include several day hikes and walks up hills and on uneven terrain. We will visit a few waterfalls and rivers with slippery footing. Some of our accommodations have narrow stairs and no elevators. You will be responsible to carry your luggage to and from your rooms, which will not always be paved surfaces.
Please consider your physical fitness before registering for the tour. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Unfortunately, due the nature of the tour we cannot accommodate anyone with mobility requirements.
Traveling with Children
It is possible to bring children on this tour, however not all children and families may be suited to this adventure. Kindly contact us if you are thinking of bringing any children under the age of 12 years old.
This tour includes long periods of sitting for presentations, strenuous walking, uneven terrain, some long car rides, and moving among multiple locations for sleeping. Laundry services are limited. We want to encourage families to join, so long as they are prepared for these challenges. We look forward to speaking with you about if your family is a good fit for the opportunity.
If we decide that this tour is a fit for your family, please know that we have limited reduced rate tickets for children under 12 years of age. Parents or guardians assume full responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of their children throughout the tour.
Children 4-6 years old need a booster seat if they are under 1.5 meters tall. Please be sure to bring a car seat if your child needs one, or you may rent one at cost.
Payment & Cancellation Policy
A refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time of booking to secure your space. Full payment is required 60 days before the departure date.
At the time of booking you can choose to make your payment in full, just pay the deposit, or pay the deposit and make your remaining payments in three auto-payment installments.
Cancellation and Refunds
Your tour deposit is 100% refundable for 30 days from the date it is received unless noted otherwise. Deposits made 60–90 days before a tour departs become non-refundable on the final payment due date. If you book a tour less than 60 days before its departure date, the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after 7 days but may be creditable in the event of a medical or family emergency. Once your deposit refund date has passed, your deposit will not be refunded under any circumstance. Please read our Tour Conditions for more information.
Meet Your Guide
Embark on your journey with confidence – get to know your experienced guide.
Juliana Birnbaum
Trained as a social scientist and permaculture designer, Juliana was inspired to become an environmental activist after connecting with Benki Piyãko, an indigenous youth leader from the Ashaninka nation in the Brazilian Amazon. She founded a nonprofit project to support and promote his Forest Wisdom School with funding from the Rainforest Action Network. Juliana went on to orchestrate a multi-year research project documenting ecovillages and permaculture initiatives around the world, culminating in the 2014 title Sustainable [R]evolution. Since then she has contributed research and writing on climate solutions to New York Times bestselling books such as Drawdown and Regeneration and written articles for magazines and academic anthologies. She is a founder of Tacotal ecovillage in Costa Rica, where she lived with her family in 2010…
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At Project Regeneration, Juliana leads a research team developing the Nexus database, a comprehensive resource for governments, philanthropists and investors that evaluates climate action strategies and makes recommendations to maximize agency and impact.
Juliana recently studied as a Climatebase Fellow, and holds a Masters degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology. She is multilingual, having lived and worked in Brazil, Costa Rica, Europe, Japan, and Nepal, and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.
Reviews
Read authentic reviews to make informed decisions about your journey.
One of the greatest experiences I have ever had. A completely unique journey to some wondrous ecovillage projects, full of inspirational humans. To share the tours with others with similar visions was enriching and a real privilige. I left feeling fulfilled and educated.
— Adam Bates
Best summer camp ever! A must see!! People, food and lodging were more than I could have hoped for in a travel experience like this!! Definitely will be back.
—Megan Zimmerman
It is an experience worth paying for. You get to know places and people who are on the real hands on effort for bringing change and make local ecosystems more resilient.
— Edward Bryce
Ecovillage Tours has put something really special together. The amount of research and care they have put into this trip is impressive in and of itself and have helped facilitate meaningful connections both within the tour group and with the communities hosting us. This eye opening experience has the potential to change your life by exploring more unique paradigms.
— Nathan Oxenfeld
Is this tour right for me?
On the fence? Discover if this tour is meant for you.
Choosing to embark on an ecovillage tour is an investment in your journey into intentional community living. Thanks to years of relationship building with community founders, we’re able to give you an experience that’s simply not available to the regular traveler.
Still unsure?
Explore if this tour is right for you…
This tour ideal for those who want to:
Join intentional communities: Engage directly in projects that focus on environmental and social regeneration, creating vibrant, sustainable spaces for communal living.
Explore sustainable living: Dive into the world of ecovillages as a lifestyle choice, integrating principles of ecological balance and community harmony into your daily life.
Network with regeneration leaders: Forge deep connections with key figures in the regenerative movement, gaining inspiration and momentum to advance your life's purpose.
Get a true eco-vacation: Embark on adventure travels that support ecovillages, choosing experiences that contribute positively to the planet and align with your values.
Learn from successful projects: Observe and study the approaches of others, applying their strategies and innovations to develop your own land or community initiative effectively.
Why choose this tour?
Knowledgeable guides: Led by experts in ecovillages and intentional communities.
Authentic experience: We partner with local communities for a genuine and unfiltered experience.
All-inclusive: From eco-friendly lodging to local cuisine, we've got you covered.
Small group size: We limit the number of participants to ensure a personalized and intimate experience.
Hassle free travel: We cover all the logistics, so you can get the most out of the experience.
What’s the alternative?
You could try visiting intentional communities on your own, except that…
Many communities are not open to the public and, if they are, the founders will not give you their undivided attention as a just normal passer-through.
Figuring out the logistics of getting yourself around the country is a headache and you’ll have no immediate support if something goes awry.
Traveling alone isn’t as nourishing or nearly as fun journeying with a small group in an intentionally held container for connection.
It’ll take years of relationship building and financial investment to even come close to the experience that Ecovillage Tours is able to offer… because we’ve done all that work for you already!
Still have questions?
We are happy to help! Sign up below to book a discovery call with one of our team members.
Ready to go?
The communities are excited to welcome you.
Let your adventure begin.