A 10-day IMMERSION with the longest lived people on the planet.
Hosted by Chiropractor Damian Kristof and wellness researcher Marcus Pearce.
Get ready for the bucket list experience of a lifetime!
Registrations close January 30, 2017
From June 26 to July 5 this year, The Wellness Couch’s Dr Damian Kristof and Marcus Pearce are taking a select group of people on an intimate 10-day longevity tour of the idyllic Greek Island of Ikaria.
Already renowned as one of the world’s five official Blue Zones for it’s superior longevity, Ikaria is home to over 8000 people, 90 of them over 100 and in robust health. Ikaria has more healthy people over the age of 90 than anyone else in the entire world (per capita).
This remarkable portrait of living a great QUALITY of life in older age is the primary reason for running this retreat. We are dedicated to learning from the Ikarians and helping people apply the core elements of the lifestyle wherever they live.
PARADISE AWAITS
Itinerary
The 2017 100 Not Out Longevity Retreat takes place from June 26 to July 5, 2017. Here are just some of the highlights of what you can expect to enjoy and experience over 10 magnificent days in Ikaria.
Registrations close January 30, 2017!
Ikarian Diet & Food Preparation
The Ikarian diet is your quintessential Mediterranean diet
See how Ikarian food really get from soil to plate by visiting Thea and her husband Ilias’s family farm. Not only will Ilias take us on a farm hike but we will harvest our 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.
Our trip to Ikaria will include a visit to a traditional vineyard to learn and experience just why the Ikarians are one of the Blue Zone regions who regularly enjoy red wine.
We will also visit a local beekeeper and learn the history of Ikarian honey and just what makes it so special!
Ikarian Exercise
During our Longevity Tour we will go on a number 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.
Ikarian Lifestyle
Each day begins with a sumptuous and nutritious breakfast at Thea’s Restaurant. Activities will include a visit to the traditional mountain village of Christos Raches, before retuning home for a traditional Ikarian cooking class with Thea and Athina. The food we cook will form part of dinner that evening.
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!
You can also look forward to learning and living the traditional Ikarian lifestyle by spending time on Thea’s farm, enjoying the local honey, wine, herbal tea and fresh produce.
Rest, Relaxation & Rejuvenation – Greek Island Style!
There will be plenty of time to enjoy some quality rest and relaxation whilst in Ikaria. One of the highlights will be our trip to the Therma Hot Springs for some serious Greek Island rejuvenation. 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. 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.
ready to join us?
Your enrolment to the 2017 100 Not Out Greek Island Longevity Retreat includes –
- 9 nights accommodation at Thea’s Inn
- Locally grown and prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire retreat
- Locally grown and harvested wine
- All activities we undertake during the retreat
- BONUS #1 – Lifetime access to the 100 Not Out Lifestyle Program – an online 10-module program designed to help you integrate the wisdom of the Ikarian lifestyle. Value $297
- Bonus #2 – Lifetime access to the photo and video library from the 2016 100 Not Out Greek Island Longevity Retreat. Value $497
- Bonus #3 – Digital downloads of our 2013, 2014 & 2015 Wellness Summits (60 hours total) Value $788
Total Value $8997 AUD
Early Bird Registration $6997 AUD or 6 monthly payments of $1227
The 5 Blue Zones
The small Greek Island of Ikaria began its rise to prominence thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Oprah interviewed Dan Beuttner, author of The Blue Zones, which highlighted 5 regions in the world where extraordinary longevity was regularly achieved.
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.
Ikaria in the Media
We want to show you that living a healthy, happy, long life is not just about eating well or meditating. We want to show you, through the eyes of the Ikarians, that the “fountain of long and healthy life” is a much richer, diverse and fulfilling stream than we could ever have imagined.
And finally, we want you to leave Ikaria knowing that you can create this type of life for yourself and your loved ones when you return home!
Frequently Asked Questions
Registrations close January 30, 2017!
When is the 100 Not Out Longevity Retreat taking place?
The retreat begins on Monday June 26 2017 and we will say farewell on Wednesday July 5. You may decide to extend your trip to either more Greek Islands or other European destinations to enjoy more of the European Summer.
How does accommodation work?
Accommodation is twin share at Thea’s Inn. All rooms are air-conditioned with an inspiring view of the Aegean Sea. If you are flying solo at the 100 Not Out Longevity Retreat you can choose to either pay a bit more to stay by yourself or get to know one of your fellow attendees! The single supplement for the tour is $500.
Does my enrolment include flights?
No. Everyone will be travelling to Ikaria from many different parts of the world so it’s much easier to book your own flights to Ikaria. We suggest flying to Athens and then boarding the 45 minute flight from Athens to Ikaria.
Can I bring my children?
Absolutely! If you feel that your kids are old, fit and mature enough to be on this retreat, then we encourage your children to be a part of this experience. The rate for children is €2797 (age 12-17 inclusive) and includes everything the adults receive. We feel that if your children are ready, then they will participate and learn as much, if not more, than the rest of us!
Why do you charge in Australian dollars?
We are an Australian-based business whose merchant facility only allows charging in single currency. If this causes any challenge for you simply email [email protected] with any questions.
Is food included?
All meals (that is, breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be provided during the 100 Not Out Longevity Tour. All meals will be served at Thea’s Restaurant and are included in the price of the tour. This will be no ordinary “tour food” though. No stale croissants and mouldy cucumber. Instead, you will be subjected to life-extending and life-enriching traditional Ikarian food and wine, lovingly cooked by Thea and her team at the #1 Trip Advisor Thea’s Restaurant.
How do I get to this Blue Zone called Ikaria?
You don’t have to be an adventurer like Dan Buettner to find Ikaria. Simply fly to Athens and get the daily 50-minute flight to Ikaria (departs Athens at 1pm and arrives in Ikaria at 1:55pm). If you want to take the scenic route you can get a ferry from Athens or if you want to be super tricky you can get a ferry from Turkey, but flying from Athens will be the quickest. We do NOT recommend the ferry option, as it is considered far less reliable.
Is wine included?
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.
Is there a couples discount?
There is no couples discount for this retreat. Each spot at the 100 Not Out Greek Island Longevity Retreat is $6997. The only exception is children under the age of 16, who are charged at $3997.
Are all dietary requirements and allergies respected?
Absolutely! Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or have any allergies, you will be well and truly looked after. We had a number of attendees at our 2016 retreat who had varied dietary preferences, and the feedback on the food was sensational!
Is my ticket refundable?
Your registration to the 100 Not Out Longevity Retreat is fully transferrable right up to the day of the event. However there will be no refunds provided for the tour. We highly recommend obtaining travel insurance and Trip Cancellation Insurance that provides for extenuating circumstances happening before an event such as car accidents or illness occurs. TCI covers your flights and accommodation costs too. The official insurer of the 100 Not Out Longevity Tour is Travel Insurance Direct.
Can you tell me more about Thea's Inn?
Thea Parikos is the founder and owner of the Trip Advisor #1 rated Thea’s Inn. Thea moved to Ikaria from Detroit for a simpler life and lives with her husband and two children. Renowned for it’s “close to nature” ambience, all of the rooms at Thea’s Inn and for the retreat have views of the Aegean Sea and act as an ideal base to conduct our retreat. Thea has been featured globally on the wisdom of the Ikarian lifestyle, including ABC, CNN, NBC, and in Australian on 60 Minutes. She is a wealth of knowledge and acts as a great bridge between learning what makes the Ikarian lifestyle so special, and how we can apply much of it to our own modern lifestyle.
I have a question that's not on here.
No problem! Just email [email protected] and Marcus will return your email as quickly as you can say Ikaria!
ready to join us?
Your enrolment to the 2017 100 Not Out Greek Island Longevity Retreat includes –
- 9 nights accommodation at Thea’s Inn
- Locally grown and prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire retreat
- Locally grown and harvested wine
- All activities we undertake during the retreat
- BONUS #1 – Lifetime access to the 100 Not Out Lifestyle Program – an online 10-module program designed to help you integrate the wisdom of the Ikarian lifestyle. Value $297
- Bonus #2 – Lifetime access to the photo and video library from the 2016 100 Not Out Greek Island Longevity Retreat. Value $497
- Bonus #3 – Digital downloads of our 2013, 2014 & 2015 Wellness Summits (60 hours total) Value $788
Total Value $8997 AUD
Early Bird Registration $6997 AUD or 6 monthly payments of $1227
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.