Retreat
Sardinia Aromatic Journey
An Immersive 7-Day Experience in the Heart of the Mediterranean
Nuoro, Sardinia 2027
New dates for 2027.
Registration to open in the Summer of 2026.
Discover the ancient wisdom of Sardinian aromatic plants through hands-on distillation, wild harvesting, and deep connection to the Mediterranean landscape.
Join distiller and farm owner Maria Luisa for an unforgettable journey where helichrysum blooms golden across wild hillsides, essential oils are born from fresh-harvested plants, and every meal celebrates the island’s rich culinary traditions.
Aromatic Journey Dates:
Nuoro, Sardinia •
Dates for 2027! Will open in Autumn of 2026.
Journey to an island where time moves differently, where the scent of immortelle (helichrysum) perfumes the June breeze, and where ancient traditions of plant medicine are still woven into daily life. This is not a retreat—it’s an aromatic journey, an immersion into the soul of Sardinia through its plants, people, and landscapes.
Over eight transformative days, you’ll harvest and distill helichrysum in sun-drenched fields, visit herbalists and farmers who carry forward generations of botanical wisdom, explore archaeological wonders dating back millennia, and witness firsthand the profound relationship between plants and their territorio—their native land.
This journey is designed for anyone who loves plants, essential oils, and authentic travel: aromatherapists seeking to deepen their understanding of Mediterranean oils, distillers eager to learn traditional techniques, herbalists drawn to wild botanicals, botanical perfumers inspired by terroir, and aromatic enthusiasts who want to experience essential oils at their source.
The pace is intentional—slow, spacious, and nourishing. Time to harvest with your hands. Time to watch the still. Time to wander archaeological sites. Time to share meals that last for hours. This is aromatherapy learned directly from nature herself.
WHAT MAKES THIS JOURNEY UNIQUE
Hands-On Helichrysum Distillation
Experience the complete journey from field to bottle. Harvest wild helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) in its native Sardinian habitat during peak bloom season, then participate in traditional steam distillation. Understand the terroir that makes Sardinian helichrysum so prized in aromatherapy.
Small Group & Intimate Setting
Travel with a small, passionate group of aromatic enthusiasts. Stay in carefully chosen accommodations that reflect Sardinian hospitality—from a charming guesthouse in Nuoro’s historic center to a mountain hostel overlooking the Mediterranean landscape.
Authentic Cultural Immersion
Farm-Based Learning
Spend time at Maria Luisa’s own farm, where cork oak trees and native Mediterranean plants thrive. Witness cork harvesting, walk among aromatic shrubs in their natural habitat, and learn how observing plants in place transforms your relationship with their essential oils.
Aromatherapy Education in Nature
Study Sardinian essential oils and CO2 extracts with Italian aromatherapist Chiara Benati in the place where these plants actually grow. This is aromatherapy education beyond books—visceral, sensory, and deeply rooted in the land.
WHO THIS JOURNEY IS FOR
This aromatic journey welcomes:
- Aromatherapists seeking to deepen their understanding of Mediterranean essential oils by experiencing them at their source, in their native landscape and cultural context.
- Distillers interested in traditional distillation methods, terroir’s influence on essential oil quality, and learning from practitioners who work with wild-harvested and cultivated plants.
- Herbalists drawn to Mediterranean botanical traditions, wild plant identification, and understanding how traditional knowledge informs contemporary practice.
- Botanical Perfumers inspired by terroir, seeking to understand how place, season, and harvest timing influence aromatic profiles.
- Aromatic Enthusiasts at any level who love plants, essential oils, authentic travel, and cultural immersion.
Requirements: No prerequisites are needed. This journey is designed to accommodate all levels, from curious beginners to experienced practitioners. What matters most is genuine curiosity about aromatic plants and openness to experiencing them in new ways.
Sardinia Aromatic Journey Schedule
Day 1: ARRIVAL & WELCOME
DAY 2: HELICHRYSUM HARVEST & DISTILLATION
Travel to the countryside near Bitti (40 km from Nuoro) for the heart of this journey—harvesting and distilling wild helichrysum. Spend the morning in golden fields, learning to identify and hand-harvest this precious plant at its peak.
Participate in a traditional distillation, witnessing the transformation of fresh flowers into essential oil and hydrosol. Enjoy lunch at a typical agriturismo featuring authentic Sardinian cuisine. In the afternoon, explore the remarkable Romanzesu archaeological complex, one of Sardinia’s most important nuragic sites, and observe helichrysum growing wild in its native landscape.
DAY 3: FREE TIME & MONTRICOS FARM
Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring Nuoro at your own pace—perhaps visiting local artisan shops, the renowned Museo del Costume, or simply savoring an espresso in a piazza. After lunch, venture to Montricos farm, owned by a family of herbalists.
Tour their extensive botanical gardens, learn about their cultivation and extraction methods, participate in distillation demonstrations, and share a special dinner prepared with farm-grown herbs and aromatic plants.
DAY 4: WEST COAST ADVENTURE
Journey west to Seneghe to meet Raimondo Usai, a remarkable herbalist and musician who creates aromatic wines, liqueurs, perfumes, and remedies from local plants—and even crafts ancient musical instruments from native materials.
Continue to the stunning west coast for lunch overlooking the Mediterranean, then explore Tharros, an ancient Phoenician-Roman city with ruins stretching to the sea. Spend time at a nearby beach before traveling to Cabras for the night. Dinner at an authentic local restaurant specializing in regional specialties.
DAY 5: GREEN MYRTLE & ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS
Visit a spectacular 7-hectare green myrtle (Myrtus communis) field in Senorbì, where you’ll learn about essential oil production, berry harvesting for traditional Mirto liqueur, and leaf drying.
Explore two extraordinary archaeological sites: the sacred well of Santa Cristina, with its perfectly preserved nuragic architecture, and Nuraghe Losa, one of Sardinia’s finest fortress towers.
Enjoy lunch at Su Carduleu, a renowned restaurant celebrating Sardinian culinary traditions. Return to Nuoro and settle into your final accommodations at Locanda ‘e Monte, a unique hostel nestled on Monte Ortobene with panoramic views.
DAY 6: COASTAL PARADISE
Spend a glorious day exploring the Golfo di Orosei by boat—widely considered one of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular coastlines.
Visit hidden coves, turquoise waters, and limestone cliffs accessible only by sea. Enjoy a picnic lunch on pristine beaches. This day offers pure rejuvenation, allowing the week’s experiences to integrate while surrounded by natural beauty. Return for pizza and relaxed evening conversation.
DAY 7: FARM VISIT & CLOSING CELEBRATION
Visit Maria Luisa’s own farm for an intimate experience of Sardinian agricultural traditions. Witness cork being harvested from ancient Quercus suber (cork oak) trees, walk among native Mediterranean plants and aromatic shrubs, and deepen your understanding of this unique ecosystem.
After lunch at the farm, participate in an aromatherapy lesson with Chiara Benati focusing specifically on Sardinian essential oils and CO2 extracts. As the sun sets, gather for a cooking lesson where you’ll prepare traditional Sardinian dishes together, then share a farewell dinner celebrating the journey you’ve shared.
DAY 8: DEPARTURES
Partenze—Departures. Leave with bottles of distilled helichrysum, new friends, and a transformed relationship with Mediterranean aromatics.
ReTreat
Accomodations
Carrales Guesthouse (Nights 1-3)
Located in the historic center of Nuoro, Carrales offers a perfect base for exploring the cultural heart of Sardinia. This charming guesthouse combines traditional architecture with modern comfort, putting you steps from local restaurants, shops, and the town’s vibrant piazzas.
Learn more: https://carrales.it
Hotel in Oristano Province (Night 4)
Spend one night on the west coast in a hotel to be announced, perfectly positioned for exploring the coastal region and Tharros archaeological site.
Locanda ‘e Monte (Nights 5-7)
Your final three nights are spent at this unique mountain hostel on Monte Ortobene, just outside Nuoro. Surrounded by nature with panoramic views of the Sardinian landscape, Locanda ‘e Monte offers a peaceful retreat setting while remaining close to town. The distinctive architecture and natural setting provide the perfect atmosphere for integrating your journey’s experiences.
NOTE: All rooms are shared doubles.
Traveling to Sardinia
The most convenient airport for Nuoro is Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport which is an hour and 12 minutes away by car (104 km).
The next best option is Alghero Fertilia Airport which is slightly further away, a drive of an hour an 45 minutes (149 km). Further away still but with a similar journey time to Alghero Airport is Cagliari Elmas Airport which is an hour and 47 minutes by car, a distance of 175 kilometres.
There are trains and buses from the airport to Nuoro. You can look at schedules here. Or you can rent a car.
What’s Included in the Retreat?
- 7 nights Accommodation
- Daily meals of breakfast, lunch, & dinner (except for three meals, alcohol not included)
- Island Excursion: Travel to Oristano Province
- Products from Helichrysum distillation
- Fieldtrips
- Transportation to all group activities
- Classes with Maria Luisa and special guest teachers
- Cooking lesson
- Journey into Sardinia and its aromatic plants
REGISTRATION DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Flight to/from Sardinia
- Meals and activities not listed on the itinerary
- Alcohol
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Meet Your Instructor
Maria Luisa is a distiller, farmer, and passionate student of aromatic plants who has devoted herself to understanding the essential oils of her native Sardinia.
Her journey began in 2014 with a regional agriculture course on aromatic plant cultivation and distillation. A transformative trip to visit French distillers ignited her calling—it was, as she describes it, “un coup de foudre” (love at first sight). What followed was years of experimentation, learning, and refining her craft in the field and at the still.
Maria Luisa owns a farm in central Sardinia where cork oaks (Quercus suber and Quercus pubescens) and native Mediterranean plants thrive. In 2017, she studied distillation with renowned aromatherapist Marco Valussi. In 2019, she founded “Funtanamenta oli essenziali,” producing essential oils from both wild-harvested and cultivated Sardinian aromatics.
The pandemic brought an unexpected gift—Maria Luisa discovered The School for Aromatic Studies and began formal aromatherapy education. This deepened her work immeasurably, connecting her practical distillation expertise with therapeutic aromatherapy knowledge. She continues to learn from aromatherapists and distillers worldwide, constantly evolving her understanding of essential oils and hydrosols.
What drives Maria Luisa is the endless discovery inherent in aromatic work: “What I love most is that I can never get bored; every day there’s something new to discover and experiment with. I feel lucky to consider my job a ‘work in progress,’ just like living.”
On this journey, Maria Luisa shares not only her technical knowledge but her profound love for Sardinia’s aromatic landscape—a love rooted in daily attention to plants, seasons, and the particularities of place.
Website: www.agricolafuntanamenta.it
Payment Details
Our Sardinia Retreat has been moved to 2027.
Registration will open in late Summer with new dates and schedule.
Please read
BOOKING AND CANCELLATION POLICY
By enrolling in the Sardinia Aromatic Journey, you confirm
that you have read the Booking and Cancellation Policy and agree to its terms.
FAQs
What is included in the retreat price?
The retreat price includes:
- 7 nights Accommodation
- Daily meals of breakfast, lunch, & dinner (except for three meals, alcohol not included)
- Island Excursion: Travel to Oristano Province
- Products from Helichrysum distillation
- Fieldtrips
- Transportation to all group activities
- Classes with Maria Luisa and special guest teachers
- Cooking lesson
- Journey into Sardinia and its aromatic plants
REGISTRATION DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Flight to/from Sardinia
- Meals and activities not listed on the itinerary
- Alcohol
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
Do I need to speak Italian?
What's the best way to get to Nuoro?
What's the weather like in June?
Can I extend my stay in Sardinia?
Will I need a visa?
What essential oils will we work with?
Will there be free time?
What about travel insurance?
Will Jade be teaching a class?
Yes, Jade will be offering an Aromatic Plant Journey with Helichrysum.