Germany Ecovillage Tour
7 DAYS | Max group size: 14
Right after the Ecovillage Gathering (July 13–18), join Ecovillage Tours for an immersive week exploring Germany’s living laboratories of cooperation and sustainability. This curated tour is designed to be a meaningful continuation of your Gathering experience.
You’ll visit 5 diverse ecovillages and intentional communities, including some of the largest and most established in Europe. From re-inhabited ancient castles to thriving permaculture gardens, experience the real-world application of ideas explored during the Gathering.
Tour departs directly from the Gathering site at Nature Community and concludes at the airport in Munich. Tickets to the GEN Europe Ecovillage Gathering sold separately. Learn more and get your tickets here.
Extend your Gathering experience with an ecovillage journey across Germany
Germany Ecovillage Tour
Next tour dates:
July 18 – 24, 2026
Early bird sale now through March 1, 2026. Place your deposit now to save!
Tour Highlights
What you can expect to experience during your time in Germany.
An easy add-on to your trip
This tour begins right after the GEN Europe Ecovillage Gathering. Travel with a small group and experienced guides. Deepen what you learned at the Gathering by seeing real communities in action.
Visit Germany’s most established ecovillages
Explore 5 long-standing ecovillages and intentional communities, including some of the largest in Europe. See a wide range of models, from castle-based villages to shared-economy and ecological communities.
Learn directly from community members
Spend time with residents and hear how community life actually works. Learn about decision-making, shared finances, housing, and pathways into membership… while enjoying the landscapes and culture of rural Germany.
Featured Communities
Explore the communities you’ll visit on the trip. Subject to change.
Schloss Tonndorf
Location: Schloss Tonndorf is part of the village Tonndorf near Weimar and Erfurt in Thüringen
Land: 15 hectares of land
Accepting new members: Yes
Website: www.schloss-tonndorf.de/
Schloss Tonndorf is a renovated old castle (under monument protection) with a 40 m high castle tower, adjacent buildings, gardens, orchards, meadows and a little forest. Next to the Tonndorf village it is a real gem in its cultural landscape nested at the edge of a forest with stunning views over the valley. Since 2005 about 65 adults and children live as an intergenerational community renovating and bringing the place to new life - developing diverse aspects of a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable life. They are creating a space for living and working together for self-sufficiency including café, seminar center, catering, dairy products, beekeeping, fruit tree care, naturopathy, or forest kindergarten. What is inspirational is their wider engagement in the region through the Talkvolk (“valley folk”) association, a village school, film screenings, sustainable mobility, orchards, and ecologically cultivated landscape.
ZEGG
ZEGG was founded as a "research and seminar place for a non-violent earth". About 13 years of intensive community life in the "Bauhütte" were the preparation for this. In the social experiment led by Dieter Duhm, foundations were laid for a new culture. To develop this further, the community bought the ZEGG site in 1991 and moved there. ZEGG was set up as a cultural laboratory, developing and using specific social tools like “Forum”. Living in community serves as a laboratory in which the foundations of an aware, authentic, sustainable and cooperative culture are developed and lived. Transformational community is a path, not the goal. The combination of living community and educational centre is at the heart of ZEGG as a social, ecological model project. Their educational offerings focus on topics such as communication and social competence, art and ecology, love and relationships and community building.
Sieben Linden
Location: Beetzendorf in the Altmark – District Salzwedel, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
Land: 115 h land, including 71 h forest, 9h building ground, 35 h leased farm land and 6h garden
Website: www.siebenlinden.org/en/
The Ecovillage Sieben Linden, situated in the community Beetzendorf in the Altmark, was established in 1997. It has the aim to realize collaborative and holistic sustainable lifestyles that connect a small ecological footprint with a high quality of life. A recent study of the university of Torino proves that we are on a successful way to this call. Currently a little more than one hundred adults and forty children and adolescents are living in eleven straw-bale houses and about forty well insulated construction trailers.
The core of the cooperatively organised village is a half timbered ecologically restored farmhouse, that accommodates the community and seminar rooms. In the garden fruits and vegetables are cultivated for self-sufficiency. Composting toilets, a sewage treatment plant and solar panel provide local energy and closed material cycles.
The lean structures of the village offer the possibility to shape social, ecological, economical and cultural aspects. In the interaction of all those areas may develop a sustainable entity that offers space for the diversity, creativity and the different needs of their residents.
Kommune Niederkaufungen
Location: Niederkaufungen, near Kassel in Germany
Accepting new members: Yes - process to join community
Website: www.kommune-niederkaufungen.de
The commune Niederkaufungen left-political, ecological living and working community founded in 1986 with currently 60+ adults and 20 children. Their main land is in the idyllic village center of Niederkaufungen. They practise shared economy and have multiple shared fields of work such as agriculture, kindergarten, day-care centre, seminar house, catering, construction and education. The community shares many resources e.g. machines, tools, spaces, operates joint administration and car-sharing. People live in shared flats of different sizes and intensities, work together in the community’s economic activities, so daily life is filled with encounters and cooperation. They have a well organised social structure for community building, collective organisation and decision making and live in an environmentally friendly and resource efficient way e.g. thermal power station for electricity and heat, wood-fired heating, solar for hot water, rainwater collection, and recycling materials.
Schloss Tempelhof
Location: Tempelhof is one of 23 villages in the municipality of Kreßberg, in Baden-Württemberg
Land: 34 hectares of land
Accepting new members: Yes - pathways into the community
Website: www.schloss-tempelhof.de/
Schloss Tempehof founded in 2010 is an ecovillage and future workshop situated amidst a beautiful, rolling rural landscape near Schwäbisch Hall, in Baden-Württemberg. The community includes 130 residents as well as others who work in or use their enterprises from the region. They enjoy social and cultural intergenerational encounters daily, foster collective decision making and a culture of cooperation. The community is known for its diverse businesses and projects such as a community-supported agriculture, farm store, free school, Schloss Café, community kitchen and seminar house, workshop with large production hall, car sharing, library, earthship, other experimental buildings and a castle. They experiment and research how to cultivate human cooperation and relationship with nature in a way that creates a sustainable life and a future worth living for generations to come.
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 (except during wine tours)
Optional gratuities to guides
Laundry fees and items of a personal nature
Pricing
Click “Book Now” to see current pricing and available discounts. Payment plans available. Pricing subject to change, but your rate is guaranteed with your deposit. All prices listed in USD.
$1,499 + $500 deposit Early bird through Mar 1, 2026 (save 10%)
$1,699 + $500 deposit Normal price
Travel Planning
Tour departs directly from the Gathering site at Nature Community and concludes at the airport in Munich. Tickets to the GEN Europe Ecovillage Gathering sold separately. Learn more and get your tickets here.
Our tour will begin at 10am local time on Saturday, July 18 at Nature Community, site of the GEN Europe Ecovillage Gathering. Meeting near the parking lot. Please be ready to go with bags packed on time.
Our tour will will end at noon local time on Friday, July 24 at the Munich MUC International Airport. Please plan your departing flight for later that afternoon or request a drop off at another nearby location in Munich.
Weather
The Germany Ecovillage Tour takes place in July, one of the most pleasant times of year to travel through Central and Southern Germany.
Expect warm, comfortable summer weather, with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 20°C to 26°C (68°F to 79°F). Occasional warmer days can reach the high 20s (low 80s°F), especially in inland areas, while forests and rural regions often feel cooler and fresh.
Evenings are generally mild, around 12°C to 16°C (54°F to 61°F), perfect for shared dinners, evening walks, and time outdoors. July also brings long daylight hours, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the landscapes, villages, and community life.
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.
We recommend packing breathable clothing, a sun hat, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes to stay cool and enjoy the tour's immersive experiences. Best to pack a sweater for the evenings.
Meet Your Guide
Embark on your journey with confidence – get to know your experienced guide.
Laura Kaestele
Laura works as a network weaver, facilitator, designer and project coordinator in network and community development, ecological regeneration, permaculture, and holistic ecological living with 15 years of practical experience contributing to an eco-social just transition. Together with colleagues and 58+ member organisations at ECOLISE she works to cultivate a thriving impact network for community-led initiatives working towards regeneration, localisation, solidarity and resilience in Europe.
Living nomadic for over 10 years, she has visited 100+ ecovillage, intentional communities and regenerative projects around the world, mainly in Europe and Asia plus Central & South America and the Middle East. Her community journey started as a teenager when she lived several years in a small sustainable community called “Höllbachhof” in the Bavarian Forest, Southeast region of Germany and has shaped a deep commitment for earth and people care.
With a passion for nature, clear sense of evolutionary possibilities, and joy in creative collaboration Laura has supported networks, non-profits, communities, and eco-projects to synergize, build capacities and take transformative action. She is actively engaged in the Global Ecovillage Network, Permaculture, Ecosystem Restoration Communities, and the Evolutionary Collective.
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Laura was a coordinator for NextGEN Europe (youth ecovillage network), served as trustee for GEN International and currently is a member of GEN’s network steward circle. Through NextGEN and a shared passion for ecovillage exploration Cynthia (Ecovillage Tours Founder) and Laura became friends 10 years ago and she is excited to support the team as a tour guide.
Laura holds an Master’s degree in Regenerative Development and a Bachelor in Integrative Ecosocial Design from Gaia University, alongside certificates in permaculture and ecovillage design as well as design thinking, participatory leadership, facilitation, coaching, and sustainability education training.
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!
Ready to go?
The communities are excited to welcome you. Let your adventure begin.