Virginia Ecovillage Tour

9 DAYS | Dive deep into community living with this special Virgina experience 

Explore community living in all its forms

Dive into the world of communal living with our specially designed Virginia communities tour, perfect for those looking to explore alternative lifestyles within the comfort of a small, guided group. Experience a variety of community setups including long standing communes, mainstream cohousings, homesteading neighborhoods, elder communities, and spiritually focused enclaves. This tour is your gateway to understanding the rich diversity of communal living, offering a hands-on look at how these communities operate, share, and support one another. This tour includes access to the annual Communities Conference* at Twin Oaks, a vibrant meeting point for people passionate about community living. 

*Admission to the Communities Conference included your tour. 

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Virginia Ecovillage Tour
Save your spot with a $500 deposit

All meals, lodging, and tour transport included.

Aug 29 - Sept 6, 2024

Super early bird sale now!

Apply for a Tour Scholarship: Ecovillage Explorer Exchange

Southeast Tour combo deal!

Combine this tour with the subsequent North Carolina Tour (Sept 8-15) and get an $800 discount. Use code SOUTHEAST at checkout when registering for both tours.

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Tour Highlights

What you can expect to experience during your time in Virginia.

  • Enjoy the Communities Conference: As a tour participant, you’ll have special access to the Communities Conference, an annual event that brings together community-minded people from throughout the southeast. Indoor lodging, all transport, meals, and conference activities are included in your tour. 

  • Journey Through 10 Diverse Communities: From bonafide hippy communes to mainstream cohousing communities, this tour will give you a deep appreciation for the many forms of communal living. Get to know these unique places, ask residents your most pressing questions, and discover if one of them could be your next home!

  • Discover America’s Oldest Communes: Ever wonder what society would look like when designed based on the principles of egalitarianism and deep sharing? Twin Oaks and other communities in Virginia have been proving what’s possible for decades. Get a real look at alternative economic models in action.

  • 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!

  • Experience Senior Living Community: Most of the communities on our tour will be multi-generational, but what about communities that are designed for seniors? Forget the typical retirement home model. These communities honor our elders and show a new way forward for all of us to pay attention to.

  • Understand Resilient Rural Living Community: Get to know intentional communities that live off the land, with homegrown food, renewable energy systems, and proactive mutual support. Find out how you can replicate these systems for your own home or emerging community. 

Featured Communities

Experience the below communities during the ecovillage tour. Subject to change.

Twin Oaks Community 

Location:  Louisa, Virginia

Land: 500 acres

Website: twinoaks.org

Twin Oaks is an intentional community in rural central Virginia, made up of around 80 adult members and 15 children. Since the community's beginning in 1967, their way of life has reflected the values of cooperation, sharing, egalitarianism, income-sharing, nonviolence, and ecological sustainability. Considered the oldest income-sharing community in the country, Twin Oaks has proven a working model for an egalitarian based society for decades. Multiple businesses sustain the community, including hammock making, tofu making, and farming. Twin Oaks now has openings for new members.

Elderspirit Community

Location: Abingdon, Virginia

Land: 3.7 acres

This is a unique intentional, mixed-income, participatory, co-housing community of elders, 55 and older. Recognizing that this is a time in their lives to explore and cultivate the spiritual aspects of their nature, they are committed to aging in community, with spirit. Living closely in community provides many opportunities for personal awareness, growth, and social well-being. ElderSpirit Community was created over a 10-year period via a series of meetings, planning sessions, and soul-searching, involving many of the people who are residents now or who remain involved today. Members were intimately involved in the development process; they planned and implemented their landscaping, and they created the Policies and Procedures and the Bylaws which continue to evolve and by which they govern themselves.

Richmond Cohousing

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Richmond Cohousing is a multi-generational, urban cohousing community. The mission is to create an intentional, diverse, multi-generational community of households who are good neighbors and conscientious environmental stewards. Living in close proximity and sharing resources, they increase quality of life by caring for one another, celebrating together, reducing consumption, decreasing their impact on the environment, and offering Richmond a new model of vibrant neighborhood design. Their solar-panel-topped, condo-style building has 19 units on four floors with additional common spaces, community kitchen, workshop, and foot rooftop deck with views of downtown Richmond.

Cambia Community

Location: Louisa, Virginia

Land: 5 acres

Cambia aspires to be a small and stable community with a high level of sharing and connection. They are inspired by the nature around them as they attempt to create human habitat that emulates the beauty and complexity of living systems. Cambia seeks to intertwine reason and intuition, aesthetics and efficiency. They are interested in increasing their skills and education through experience, mentorship, sharing, and study, and growing as individuals. Within a thriving cluster of neighboring income-sharing communities, Cambia is creating a viable, regenerative alternative to the mainstream.

Acorn Community

Location: Mineral, Virginia

Land: 72 acres

Acorn Community Farm is an egalitarian community founded in 1993. They are committed to non-coercive, non-hierarchical, voluntary associations both within their community as well as within the larger community in which they find themselves. Acorn is also committed to income-sharing, sustainable living, and creating a vibrant, eclectic culture.

Acorn holds in common their land, labor, resources, and income, using them for the good of the community as a whole and its members as individuals. While all members must be enthusiastic about a culture of radical sharing and working with one another, they do not share religious, political, or philosophical beliefs. Acorn operates in a non-hierarchical manner, without bosses, owners, investors, or supervisors. While there are structured areas such as membership, they intentionally keep policies to a minimum, preferring a calm anarchy to prevail.

Valley of Light

Location: Independence, Virginia

Land: 23 acres

The Valley of Light (“VOL”) is a sustainable, spiritual community located in the rural town of Independence, Virginia. Their 23-acre campus is situated in the Appalachian Mountains and borders the ancient New River – the oldest river in the Western Hemisphere and possibly the oldest river in the world.

Dedicated to the Principle of Peace and the Universal Laws of Truth, Love, and Light. They seek social architects in all sectors of society – people who want to build a new world and who are in service to humanity. Members see the potential for major paradigm shift that will dramatically alter society. As such, they believe the key to a smooth transition is the adoption of new ways of living based on an awareness of the interconnectedness of all life. To that end, they are seeking committed "Cultural Creatives," who wish to build a model micro-community that operates in every sector of society.  The "Peace Pentagon" serves as the heart of their campus, which is maintained by Oracle Temple, their esoteric and multi-faith church.

Anahata Education Center

Location: Floyd, Virginia

Land: 47 acres

Anahata is an intentional community and gathering place situated along the Little River in Floyd County, Virginia. Since 1995, they have explored the sacred interrelation of people, nature, and the cosmos. Their aim is to create a sustainable and mutually thriving connection with nature and each other. Visitors are invited to explore, learn, and share with them as they live from the Anahata Chakra – a Sanskrit word for heart center. Their core values include co-enlightening kindness, self-discovery, co-empowerment, sacredness, creativity & celebration, learning & evolution, holistic well-being, ecological sustainability, economic thrivance, and connection & sharing.

The community practices deep listening and mutual encouragement, fostering self-reflection and self-healing. They prioritize consensus decision-making and spiritual growth, embracing creativity and promoting holistic well-being while working towards ecological sustainability and economic well-being through shared resources and community gatherings.

Living Energy Farm

Location: Louisa, Virginia

Land: 120 acres

Living Energy Farm is an intentional off-the-grid community whose goal is to develop and promote sustainability technology for the health of the planet.  They serve as a viable demonstration that a fulfilling life is possible without the use of fossil fuel. They actively promote lifestyles and technologies that are truly sustainable, making these sustainable technologies accessible to all persons regardless of their income or social position.

The community operates an organic farm that grows vegetables and commercial grain seeds. They produce all of their own electricity, are transitioning their tractors to run on biofuel, use solar thermal to heat their homes and water, and cook their food with biogas, solar, and wood. Through their outreach programs, LEF teaches about the importance of sustainable technology in context and about when and where such technologies are effective and when they are not.

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Itinerary

Get a taste for what awaits you on the tour. Itinerary subject to updates.

Overview

Virginia is a hub for intentional communities of all kinds, and we’ll get to experience the full spectrum on this tour! We kick off with the Communities Conference, an annual gathering of community-minded folks that's based at Twin Oaks, one of the oldest intentional communities still running in the US. Unlike the other conference attendees, you’ll be going through the event as part of a group of companions. 

From there we’ll journey south towards North Carolina, visiting a variety of communities along the way. Each day will include the chance to reflect on our experiences as a group, ensuring the journey is full, but also properly digested. The tour concludes in Asheville, where participants can choose to continue traveling for the North Carolina tour. 

Get at $800 discount for joining both the Virginia and North Carolina tours. Use code SOUTHEAST at checkout when registering for both tours.

Day 1: Settling In

Our tour will begin in Richmond, Virginia. Participants flying into Richmond should plan their arrival for before our 2pm orientation. Transportation available from the airport to our meeting point. Enjoy a group orientation and settle into your accommodations, before taking off on the big adventure to come in the following days.

Day 2: Tour Richmond Cohousing

While in Richmond, we’ll get the opportunity to tour this well established cohousing community. Experience an urban flavor community in this intentional, diverse, multi-generational community of households. After our tour, we’ll head off to Cambia, a different sort of community that focuses on collective ownership and income-sharing. We’ll spend the night at Cambia and get ready for the start of the Communities Conference the next day.

Day 3: Communities Conference

Enjoy the kick off of Twin Oak’s Communities Conference! The event begins with the Meet the Communities session, where all the communities in attendance introduce themselves in short presentation rounds. Get a peak at what’s to come during our visits to many of these same communities. The day will continue according to the conference program, with a variety of workshops and sessions to choose from. Plus plenty of people to network with.

Day 4: Conference Celebration

Engage in a full conference line up of workshops, presentations, facilitate connection activities and more. This evening we’ll enjoy dinner at a neighboring intentional community, called Acorn (get it? Twin Oak’s made an Acorn ;) followed by a celebratory party to mark the end of the conference. Don’t stay up too late though, as our next day will be full of community visits. 

Day 5: Exploring the Communities of Lousia County

Lousia County Viginia is home to at least half a dozen intentional communities, many of them income-sharing with a deep commitment to both egalitarianism and ecology. Today will will visit both Living Energy Farm, a sustainable living center, and Little Flower, a “Community of Peace” that’s part of the Catholic Worker Communities Movement.  

Day 6: Floyd, Virginia

Today we hit the road and say goodbye to all our new friends made at Twin Oaks. Afterward, we'll journey southward to Floyd, Virginia, celebrated for its captivating natural scenery and warm hospitality. This charming locale is famous for its dynamic blend of music, arts, and outdoor activities. Here, we'll indulge in moments of relaxation, contemplation, and appreciation for the rich tapestry of experiences we've encountered thus far.

Day 7: Visiting Spiritual Communities

Next we visit two communities that have a stronger spiritual focus. Enjoy a tour and lunch at Anahata Education Center, a yoga and mindfulness inspired community. Then we’ll travel further south to visit the Valley of Light. This community is all about being a model for how we can redesign society based on service to humanity. Filled with inspiration we’ll tuck in for the night and get ready for the final days of the tour.

Day 8: Wrap Up

Our journey concludes in Asheville, North Carolina. Here we’ll say our goodbyes and prepare to return home, filled with inspiration and a collection of new friends. Those of you continuing on for the North Carolina tour can enjoy some time off in Asheville for the next two nights, before meeting up with the group again on Sunday, Sept 8th. 


Find out about the North Carolina Tour and save $800 when you register to join both tours.

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Trip Details

Explore detailed trip information to prepare for your adventure.

Included

  • Admission to the Communities Conference

  • 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

  • Optional gratuities to guides

  • Laundry fees and items of a personal nature

Flights & Pick-up

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 into Richmond International Airport (RIC) located in Sandston, Virginia. Participants wishing to fly out of RIC for their return trip will be responsible for their own transportation from our drop off point in Asheville, North Carolina.

We recommend flying 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.

Transport is available both to/from RIC and AVL airports. If you have a flight at an airport further away, transport may be available for an additional service fee or we will help you find your own transport.

Pick Up 

Our tour will begin in Richmond, Virginia at 2pm local time on the tour start date. 

We’ll begin with an orientation, followed by a group dinner, to prepare for the days to come. 

Please plan your arrival in Richmond before the start time of the tour. See the “flights” section for travel recommendations. We are able to provide transport from the airport or another location in Richmond if needed.  

Drop Off

Our formal programming will end in Asheville, North Carolina on the tour end date at noon local time. 

Participants wishing to return to Richmond (where we started the tour) will be responsible for their own transportation there from our drop off point in Asheville, North Carolina.

Participants staying on for the North Carolina Tour will meet up with the group again in Asheville on Sunday, Sept 8th. 

Please note: Accommodation in between the North Carolina Tour is not included.


Please be in touch with any questions regarding your travel planning. We’re happy to help!

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. Air conditioning may be limited.

Whenever possible, we stay overnight in the intentional communities we visit. If they don’t have enough accommodation, we look first for lodging options that align with our values, such as retreat centers, eco-lodges, and the like. 

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

In Vermont, July is characterized by its warm and pleasant climate. Daytime temperatures across the state usually vary from 60°F to 85°F, though they can occasionally rise to 90°F, especially in more open, sun-exposed areas. While sunny days are common, the mountainous regions may welcome visitors with brief afternoon showers. In the evenings, temperatures in these higher altitudes can cool down to around 50°F or even lower, providing a refreshing contrast to the daytime warmth. Considering the potential for a mix of weather, visitors in July should be prepared with basic rain gear and sun protection, as well as a warm layer for cooler evenings.

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.

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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

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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.