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Return to the Earth: Stories of Sustainable Living
Join content creator and eco-communicator Bernardo Cumbo on a transformative road trip through Germany, discovering some of the most inspiring ecovillages in Europe and learning how sustainable living is not only possible - but already real.
HIGHLIGHTS
- A road trip to the future
From Berlin to Bavaria to Saxony-Anhalt, we’ll travel together across Germany to visit three different ecovillages—each a living experiment in ecological design, cooperation and shared responsibility. It's a collective journey of curiosity and transformation. - Inside the village life
We’ll explore ZEGG, a hub for emotional education and social innovation; Nature Community, a vibrant multigenerational vegan ecovillage born from a luxury hotel; and Sieben Linden, a straw-bale village with one of the lowest ecological footprints in Europe. These places aren’t just sustainable—they’re inspiring. - Living, learning, and advocating change
This isn’t just about visiting places. It’s about questioning how we live, consuming less, connecting more, and imagining new ways to build community and reduce impact. Science, emotions, politics and ecology will mix in open conversations, shared meals and lived experiences.
Note: The trip will be conducted in Italian, with some activities in English. Make sure to pack warm clothes: late September in Germany can get chilly at night!
TRIP PURPOSE
This journey is an act of storytelling, activism and discovery: it’s about exploring radically different ways of living that challenge the status quo. Through community, ecology and cooperation, we’ll learn that sustainable lifestyles are not utopias—they exist, they work, and they might just be the answer. Together with Bernardo, who lived in an ecovillage and now documents stories of change, we’ll meet people who are building a future where humans thrive with nature - not against it.
This trip has been designed based on the following principles:
- Environmental and Social Education
- Zero-Waste
- Local Human Fabric
- Promotion of Local Economy
What's included
- Food: All meals - breakfasts, lunches, and dinners - except for lunch and dinner during the day in Stuttgart, and meals on the first and last day while traveling.
- Accomodation: 6 nights in eco-villages, in simple accommodations such as huts and tents, and 1 night in a hostel during our urban stopover.
- Transportation: All internal transportation from the meeting point in Berlin until the return to the city is covered, and will be by car or van.
- Other: Support from an ORMA coordinator throughout the entire trip.
- Insurance: Medical and baggage insurance.
What's not included
- Food: Lunch on the first and last day, as well as lunch and dinner during the day in Stuttgart, are not included.
- Accomodation: Any applicable tourist taxes are not included.
- Transporation: Transportation to and from Berlin - such as flights, trains, or buses - is not included.
- Other: Trip cancellation insurance.
- Anything not specified under "What's included".
Payment Terms
30% down payment at the time of booking and the remaining 70% due 30 days prior to departure.
If the booking is made within 30 days of departure, the full amount is due at checkout.
Bank transfers or credit cards can be used to make payments.
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Berlin → ZEGG Ecovillage
We’ll meet in Berlin in late morning, hop into the van, and hit the road. Our first stop is the renowned ZEGG ecovillage. Founded in 1991, ZEGG is a community and educational center focused on social innovation, emotional intelligence, and ecological living. It's a place where over 100 people live and work together to promote a culture of care—for each other and for the Earth.
Day 2 – Full day at ZEGG
We’ll immerse ourselves in the community life of ZEGG, exploring their values, practices and daily rhythms. From nonviolent communication to permaculture, we’ll discover how intentional living can be both deeply human and deeply sustainable.
Day 3 – ZEGG → Nature Community
We drive south to Bavaria to reach the Nature Community, a former luxury hotel turned into a colorful and thriving vegan ecovillage. Home to more than 50 people ranging from toddlers to elders, this community is built on values of trust, joy, and deep connection.
Day 4 – Full day at Nature Community
We spend the day living alongside the residents, engaging in conversations and reflecting on how communal living can lead to personal and collective growth. We’ll learn how experimentation and adaptability are essential tools for building a more conscious society.
Day 5 – Nature Community → Stuttgart
Urban stop: we leave the tranquility of the village and head to Stuttgart.
Here, we’ll meet Klemens, who chose to live in an 18 m² fully off-grid tiny house, entirely self-built. Solar panels provide electricity, a phytodepuration system collects and purifies rainwater, and an efficient heating system keeps the space warm during winter.
But where did it all begin? How much does a lifestyle like this cost? And what challenges did he have to overcome along the way?
Day 6 – Stuttgart → Sieben Linden Ecovillage
Our last ecovillage stop is Sieben Linden, in Saxony-Anhalt. With over 100 adults and 40 children living in straw-bale houses and low-impact structures, this ecovillage is one of the most advanced in Europe in terms of sustainability. It integrates ecology, economy, social life and culture as one.
Day 7 – Full day at Sieben Linden
We’ll explore their gardens, compost systems, solar infrastructure and community model. Conversations will focus on how to balance individuality and interdependence in a way that serves both people and the planet.
Day 8 – Return to Berlin
We wrap up our journey heading back to Berlin in the morning, arriving around lunch time. After one last group hug (or eco-handshake), we say our goodbyes - hopefully a little changed, and definitely more inspired.
Bernardo Cumbo is a content creator and storyteller sharing stories of an Italy in transformation. After living for two years in an ecovillage, he began traveling to document sustainable communities, alternative education projects, and people building a better future. He founded Viva Viva Fest, which reached thousands, and in 2025 launched Eutopia, a platform for those ready to change their lives. His motto is #sepofa’.
Booking Info
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We set out with the curiosity of explorers and return as traveling companions united by those who have found common passions and true friendships.
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