Learn from the longest-lived
Blue Zone Journeys
Five regions of the world have far more centenarians than they should. A journey there is not a spa week; it is a lesson in how a village eats, walks, rests and holds on to each other.
The five Blue Zones, Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya and Loma Linda, were identified by demographers who found unusual clusters of people over ninety and a hundred. What unites them is not genetics, which explains only about a fifth of lifespan, but environment: plant-heavy food eaten in moderation, movement built into the day, low chronic stress, a purpose, a faith or community, and family that stays close. A Blue Zone journey is a way to see those habits in their natural habitat and to test which ones you can carry home.
The practical shape is simple. Stay in a village, not a resort. Eat what the village eats, at the hours it eats. Walk where people walk. Sit in the square. Join a festival if there is one. Ask old people questions. The point is exposure, not treatment; nothing is measured and nothing is sold. Most travellers report the same three changes on returning: smaller plates, longer walks and more calls to friends.
Best places for this journey
Where a Blue Zone journey works best.
Blue Zone83Japan · East China Sea
Okinawa
hara hachi bu, moai circles and gardens by the sea
Blue Zone84Italy · Ogliastra and Barbagia
Sardinia
shepherds’ hills, cannonau wine and family tables
Blue Zone83Greece · North Aegean
Ikaria
late nights, long naps and wild mountain herbs
Blue Zone82Costa Rica · Nicoya Peninsula, Pacific coast
Nicoya
plan de vida, twelve hours of dark and the three sisters on every plate
Blue Zone79United States · Southern California
Loma Linda
plant-based plates, a weekly day of rest and one of the best hospitals in the country
83Spain · Serra de Tramuntana
Mallorca
mountain villages, sea swims and the Mediterranean plate in its home
84Italy · Val d’Orcia and the thermal towns
Tuscany
hot springs, olive oil and cypress roads made for walking
Good to know
Before you book.
- Go in the shoulder seasons; villages are themselves in May and October and full of second homes in August.
- Learn ten words of the language and use them at every table.
- Leave the itinerary at home. One walk, one meal, one conversation a day is enough.
- Bring home one habit, not a philosophy. Beans three times a week beats a manifesto.
Try it
Vitality ScoreSleep, steps, strength, plants, alcohol, friends, purpose, stress, daylight and breath.Trip DesignerChoose what the trip should do for you, when you can go, how long and how hard.Frequently asked questions
What is a Blue Zone?
A region where people live measurably longer than average, with unusually high numbers of healthy people over ninety. The term was coined by demographers Gianni Pes and Michel Poulain and popularised by Dan Buettner.
Are Blue Zones real or marketing?
The demographic clusters are real and documented, and the lifestyle patterns are well studied. What the label does not mean is that visiting one changes your genes. The lesson is in the habits.
Which Blue Zone is easiest to visit from Europe?
Sardinia and Ikaria: short flights, low costs, familiar food. Okinawa and Nicoya are long-haul; Loma Linda is a town in California with little to see.
Other journeys
Other ways to travel for your health.
Thermal & Spa
mineral springs, thermal towns and the ritual of the bath
Open
Yoga & Mind Retreats
yoga, breath, meditation and silence in beautiful places
Open
Hiking & Alpine Air
walking holidays, mountain air and the altitude effect
Open
Sleep Retreats
circadian resets, dark rooms and the science of rest
Open
Fasting & Reset
supervised fasting, Ayurvedic cleansing and the art of the smaller plate
Open
Cold, Heat & Nordic Rituals
sauna, cold water, geothermal pools and the resilience of the north
Open
Longevity Clinics & Check-ups
preventive diagnostics, VO2max tests and medical longevity programmes
Open