Just a 1 hour flight from Athens, Ikaria is lush with incredible Mediterranean food, a breath-taking landscape, exquisite beaches, old-world charm and a longevity culture like no other.
The mantra of the 10-day Mediterranean Longevity Experience is to “learn by doing”. Our days are spent LIVING the Ikarian lifestyle. Ensconed in the village of Nas and based at the globally recognised Thea’s Inn, you’ll quickly get used to gourmet breakfasts, long lunches and sunset dinners interspersed with breath-taking walks, dancing the night (or day) away at a panigiri (local festival), farming the land with the locals, preparing incredible food, observing centenarian lifestyles, swimming in the ocean and more.
This is no ordinary “tour”. These 10 days truly are an Experience. Led and facilitated by wellness and longevity authorities Dr Damian Kristof & Marcus Pearce – you’ll learn not just what makes the Ikarians the world’s most graceful agers; you’ll discover how you can do it too.
The Longevity Experience Lifestyle
For 10 days you’ll live LIKE a local, WITH the locals. Immersed in the seaside village of Nas, each day of the Experience begins with a gourmet breakfast of locally grown produce (the pictures on this page tell a thousand words) whilst you take in the majestic Aegean Sea.
Movement and socialising are a large part of the Ikarian culture and lifestyle. On at least one night we will attend a panigiri – a local festival where we feast on goat broth, bread, tzatziki, wine, Greek salad and hot chips! And, most importantly, dance the night away with the locals!
Rest, Relaxation & Rejuvenation – Greek Island Style!
You’ll go back in time (1 century BC to be precise) when you visit the Therma Hot Springs for some serious Ikarian rejuvenation. The infusion of gold, silver, sulphur and other mineral elements from the spring will leave you extremely relaxed, cleansed, and oh so happy to be alive and in the thick of a European Summer.
The history of curative springs dates back more than 2,500 years, spearheaded by Hippocrates, the founder of medical science and the father of hydrotherapy.
Ikarian Diet & Food Preparation
The Ikarian diet is your quintessential Mediterranean diet.
See how Ikarian food really get from soil to plate by visiting the farm of Thea and her husband Ilias. Not only will Ilias take us on a farm hike but we will harvest food for our cooking class with Thea and Athina, and then enjoy the fruits of our labour for dinner all whilst taking in the views of the Aegean Sea.
The Mediterranean Longevity Experience includes many food-related activities, including a visit to one of the world’s oldest vineyards and beekeepers.
Ikarian Movement
During our Longevity Experience we will go on a variety of picturesque mountain walks with a constant view of the Aegean Sea or mountain ranges, and always ending with a sunset dinner, a picnic lunch, or some form of traditional gathering.
In addition, Thea’s Inn is just a five minute walk to the beach where you can enjoy a daily swim. The “goat track” to Armenistis, the next town along, is a great 45-minute round trip walk with a constant view of the ocean.
2020 DATES
The 100 Not Out Mediterranean Longevity Experience begins Sunday August 30 and concludes on the morning of Tuesday September 8, 2020.
Costs & Payment Arrangements
- Twin Share $6997 p/p
- Single Supp + $700 AUD
Your enrolment includes ALL food, drinks, integration workshops and activities.
Enrolment is by application only. Applications are processed on a first-in first-served basis.
Once your application is successful and we have spoken to you personally a non-refundable $100 deposit will be processed. A further $1500 will be processed two weeks after your enrolment is accepted and the balance is due on February 28, 2020.
What’s Included
- 9 nights accommodation in the village of Nas
- Locally grown and prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire retreat
- Locally grown and harvested wine
- All activities we undertake during the Experience
- All workshops facilitated during the Experience
- Special welcome pack on arrival
- If you buy no souvenirs, it’s possible that you won’t spend a cent during the Experience.
Activities Include
- Lunch at Afianes Winery (where Homer wrote his early works)
- Attending a Panygiri (local festival)
- Traditional Essential Oil Workshop (including harvesting your own wild herbs & distilling the oil)
- Mountain & Coastal walks
- Multiple village visits to observe and engage with the locals
- Visit to Therma Hot Springs
- Beach visits
- Cooking classes
- Farming with the locals
- Facilitated workshops led by Damian, Marcus & Thea
- 2 rest days with optional activities or to do as you please
- Surprises and more!
Our Base: Thea’s Inn & Restaurant
Additional Travel Costs & Information
- You will need to purchase your own return flights to Athens and from Athens to Ikaria. The Experience will start on Sunday August 30, and we leave Ikaria on Tuesday September 8.
- Your enrolment includes transfers to and from Ikaria airport to Thea’s Inn.
- You will need to organise your own Travel Insurance.
The 5 Blue Zones
The small Greek Island of Ikaria began its rise to prominence thanks to National Geographic and Oprah Winfrey. Oprah interviewed NG journalist Dan Beuttner, author of The Blue Zones. The book identified five regions around the world where extraordinary disease-free longevity was regularly achieved. Ikaria is one of the Blue Zones.
Many of these Blue Zones are traditional in their culture, simple in their lifestyle and laid back in their personality. What The Blue Zones did was begin to investigate their diets, their genetics, their exercise patterns and their values to see if there was an underlying blueprint or pattern that we could all adopt in order to live longer and healthier lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
I want to attend but I need to confirm a few things first. When should I apply?
Are all dietary requirements and allergies respected?
Is there a couples discount?
Can I bring my children?
Absolutely! If you feel that your kids are old, fit and mature enough to be on the Experience, then we encourage your children to be a part of it. We feel that if your children are ready, then they will participate and learn as much, if not more, than the rest of us! Rates for children are discussed during the application (and vary based on age).
How does accommodation work?
Does my enrolment include flights?
How do I get to Ikaria?
Can you tell me more about Thea & Thea's Inn?
Thea has been interviewed multiple times on 100 Not Out. Simply search for “Thea Parikos” or “Ikaria” at www.thewellnesscouch.com to tune in.
When is the 100 Not Out Mediterranean Longevity Experience taking place?
The Experience begins on Sunday August 30 2020 and we will say farewell on Tuesday September 2. You may decide to extend your trip to either more Greek Islands or other European destinations to enjoy more of the European Summer.
Are the payment arrangements flexible?
What's the refund policy?
Is food included?
Is wine included?
A big YES! If you love your wine you will be happy to know that the traditionally cultivated and prepared Ikarian red wine IS included. The Ikarians drink more red wine than any of their Blue Zone counterparts, which some people will love.
And if wine’s not for you, freshly squeezed juices, beer and champagne (and a few other locally produced aperitifs) are also included in the Experience.
In the words of an attendee, “I haven’t spent a cent since I’ve been here.”
I have a question that's not on here.
Damian Kristof
Damian Kristof has been walking the walk and talking the talk of wellness for the better part of the last 20 years as a Naturopath and Chiropractor. His approach and excitement regarding all things healthy and well is contagious. Damian is one of the founders of The Wellness Guys, The founder of Forage Cereal and owner of Vida Lifestyles in Melbourne Victoria Australia. He is the presenter of the New Zealand smash hit TV series Downsize Me, if a regular contributor to health in New Zealand and Australia. He regularly appears on Melbourne’s Triple M during drive time with the Rush Hour. Damian is wrapped to be able to contribute weekly to the Wellness Guys and is excited about the way the Wellness Couch is promising to change the face of health and health care globally. Around Australia, Damian can be seen live speaking on the “Power of Food” and “Crack your Stress Code”.
Marcus Pearce
In a former life Marcus Pearce was a workaholic journalist, radio and television producer. That past life included an obsession with AFL football, which led him to create The Run Home on Victorian all-sports station SEN 1116, and work as an associate producer at Channel Nine’s The Footy Show.
That life also included years as a smoking, binge-drinking, overweight, pimply statistic-waiting-to-happen.
The beginning of the revolution came when he met his now-wife Sarah, a wellness chiropractor. Embarking not just on a magnificent relationship but a complete lifestyle and philosophical change, Marcus began to slowly take away his least healthy habits and replace them with life-extending, empowering ones.
The transformation from an addicted smoker to extreme (not necessarily healthy) vegan (sometimes raw) and now back again to somewhere in the middle has taken him on an incredible journey where he’s met, learnt from and worked with a range of leaders in the health and empowerment world including leading doctors, chiropractors, dentists and Tony Robbins, Dr John Demartini and Eddie McGuire.
Marcus is passionate about teaching people not to silently approve what we read in the papers and online, watch on TV and listen to on the radio. Instead, Marcus is about relentlessly challenging people to be their own person, their own “scientific researcher”, their own creator of health, so that they can live their life on their own terms and not someone else’s.
2020 DATES
The 100 Not Out Mediterranean Longevity Experience begins Sunday August 30 and concludes on the morning of Tuesday September 8, 2020.
Costs & Payment Arrangements
- Twin Share $6997 p/p
- Single Supp + $700 AUD
Your enrolment includes ALL food, drinks, integration workshops and activities.
Enrolment is by application only. Applications are processed on a first-in first-served basis.
Once your application is successful and we have spoken to you personally a non-refundable $100 deposit will be processed. A further $1500 will be processed two weeks after your enrolment is accepted and the balance is due on February 28, 2020.
What’s Included
- 9 nights accommodation in the village of Nas
- Locally grown and prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire retreat
- Locally grown and harvested wine
- All activities we undertake during the Experience
- All workshops facilitated during the Experience
- Special welcome pack on arrival
- If you buy no souvenirs, it’s possible that you won’t spend a cent during the Experience.