As we embrace the spirit of the plant savers community, 2026 offers a wonderful opportunity to deepen our connection with nature through herbal travel and adventure. This year, to encourage dedicating more time to exploring nature and deepening herbal knowledge we warmly invite you to visit the Sanctuary in Ohio, but wherever your travels may take you, let 2026 be filled with enriching herbal experiences to energize the year of the fire horse.
Bucket List Journeys
Last year, I (Susan Leopold, Executive Director of United Plant Savers) fulfilled a lifelong dream with a bucket list trip to Bhutan. I highly recommend the Bhutan Mushroom Tour for anyone seeking an unforgettable forest adventure. Another fungi experience is the Mycelium Mysteries tour in Oaxaca, Mexico. For those still building their travel wish lists, Korea remains an enticing destination. Be sure to explore the various trips and herbal gatherings available, including herb camp in Oregon at Oshala herb farm and the inaugural Wild Indigo Herb Fest in Kentucky. Travel to Italy with Penny from the Ginko Tree Botanical Sanctuary in Ontario or feel called to discover the rich landscapes of Ireland on the Living Landscapes trip. This list came about from an IG post, so we hope you enjoy what folks suggested and we are sure there are many more adventures out there that didn’t not make this list.
The upcoming calendar offers a range of immersive herbal and nature-focused journeys across the globe and locally as well. These unique experiences invite participants to connect with local landscapes, traditions, and healing practices.
Herbal Conferences and Gatherings
Several exciting herbal conferences are on the horizon, with United Plant Savers participating in many of them:
- Florida Herbal Conference: March 14, 2026, at Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake, Orlando, FL
- Medicines from the Earth Herb Symposium: May 15-17, 2026, at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC
- Wild Indigo Herb Fest: June 12-14, 2026, at Terrapin Hill Farm, Harrodsburg, KY
- Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference: May 22-24, Almond, Wisconsin
- Oshala Farm’s Herb Camp: June 26-28, Oregon
- Rock Island Trip with Moon Wise Herbs: August 20-24, Wisconsin
- Misty Meadows Women’s Herbal Conference: August 28-30, Thetford, Vermont
- Great Lakes Herb Faire: September 11-23th Chelsea, Michigan
- Mycelium Mysteries – Women’s Mushroom Conference: September 19-21, Almond, Wisconsin
International Trips
Bhutan
Mushroom-focused tours in Bhutan, with two sets of tour dates to choose from: August 7–17, 2026 or August 20–31, 2026. Highly recommended from personal experience.
Learn More About Mushroom Tours
Ireland
The Living Landscapes Turas Samhradh Tour invites participants to deepen their connection with Ireland’s sacred and mystical sites from June 29–July 9, 2026. This journey traverses’ Western shorelines, ancient oak woodlands, the liminal limestone landscapes of The Burren, and the Cailleach’s craggy peaks of the Beara Peninsula. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover and explore Ireland’s wild and wonderful landscapes, as well as the potent medicine these places offer. Follow updates and stories at @wildroutesireland.
Learn More About Living Landscapes
Italy
From May 30–une 10, 2026, join a 12-day/11-night journey in Tuscany, Italy. The first eight nights are spent at Villa Certano, located in the heart of Tuscany, just minutes from Siena. The final nights will be at the Domus Laetitiae Monastery in Assisi.
Learn More About The Tuscan Journey
Costa Rica
Just around the corner, travel to Costa Rica with me and Rosemary Gladstar among others for Floresta, an intimate gathering of kindred spirits coming together to dream, remember, and weave a more beautiful world. This gathering takes place January 30–February 1, 2026.
Experience “The Alchemy of Pleasure,” a women’s retreat in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, from March 3–10, 2026. (Another retreat is also planned for Mexico from October 30–November 5, 2026.)
Learn more about The Alchemy of Pleasure
Many of you enjoyed the classes taught by Jonathan Sparrow Miller at the International Herb Symposium, you can book his ecolodge in Costa Rica and explore the amazing ethnobotanical garden located in the Osa Peninsula. Check out the Ocean Forest Lodge for organized plant journeys as well as individual bookings.
Learn More About Ocean Forest Lodge
Connect with @twinstartribe and @wildgingerherbalcenter for more Costa Rica retreats too.
Guatemala
Casa Curativa is an herbal education, retreat center and apothecary, we offer courses to educate and foster connection between humans and the plant world.
Learn More About Casa Curativa
Peru
Opportunities for herbal and cultural exploration are available in Peru by @dancingsagewellness, in the Sacred Valley March 28-April 6, 2026.
Mexico
“Mycellium Mysteries in Mexico” takes place August 1–9, 2026. This journey is guided by local mushroom foragers, herbalists, silk artisans, and more, with leadership from Kim Hunter (The Fungivore/Traveling Traders Bazaar) and Linda Conroy (Mycelium Mysteries/Midwest Women’s Herbal). Participants are immersed in a living culture of fungi, craft, and a deep relationship with nature.
Learn More About Mycelium Mysteries
Korea
The Korean Tea Culture & Culinary Journey runs from April 30–May 6, 2026. This seven-day retreat includes travel from coastal beaches to wild tea mountains, offering forest healing, foot spas, tea ceremonies, temple life, artisan tea farms, and visits to one or two of Korea’s time-honored tea festivals.
Greece
Travel to the beautiful islands of Lesvos on May 24–30, 2026 and Kythera on June 21–27, 2026 to explore the islands’ botanical heritage and celebrated historical figures.
