The most common questions about the iboga retreat in Zanzibar — cost, safety, the experience and how enrolment works.
See the 1–8 November 2026 retreat →€2,500 per person during early booking (1 July – 14 September 2026), payable in stages: €1,000 on booking (after the interview), €900 by 1 October 2026, €600 in cash at check-in in Zanzibar. After 14 September the price is €2,800.
7 nights' accommodation at Ananda Villa Zanzibar in deluxe double rooms, all meals (no alcohol), return airport transfers, psychotherapy and integration, one iboga ceremony, 2 excursions and a massage. Not included: flights, visa, travel insurance (~$44) and offerings (~2 × €50).
Enrolment is by interview. You leave your contact details, we reach out for an initial video interview, and if there is a good fit you pay the €1,000 deposit and book your own flights. The process is not for everyone — we want you to be in the right place for your needs.
Iboga requires cardiac screening. Every applicant goes through an interview and a health questionnaire, and a recent electrocardiogram (ECG) is required before departure. Antidepressants (SSRIs), sleeping pills and certain medical or psychological conditions may contraindicate participation.
At Ananda Villa, in Zanzibar, Tanzania — a property with a garden and pool, a ceremony hall and a wellness space, close to the Indian Ocean. Romanian citizens do not need a visa.
Groups are intimate — a maximum of 12 participants, together with 6–10 staff (facilitators, translator, assistants) who look after your wellbeing and support the process. The 1–8 November 2026 edition is limited to 12 participants.
The experience unfolds in stages. The first 4–8 hours are the most intense — a visionary, dreamlike state, often with vivid imagery and memories from your own life. A longer, introspective phase of deep reflection follows, and in the days after you may feel sensitive and need rest. Every journey is different — the facilitators and integration sessions help you make sense of it.
Iboga's legal status differs from country to country — restricted in some, unregulated in others. Our retreat takes place in Tanzania, within the Bwiti tradition. We do not ship or sell iboga; the ceremony takes place only on-site, under supervision. Check the laws of your own country before travelling.
Ibogaine is the most active alkaloid isolated from the iboga plant. Iboga refers to the whole root bark used in the Bwiti tradition, which contains ibogaine alongside other alkaloids. Our ceremony works with iboga in the traditional way, not with isolated pharmaceutical ibogaine.
Iboga is widely discussed for its potential to interrupt patterns of addiction, and many people come seeking support with alcohol, substances or compulsive behaviours. It is not a guaranteed cure and it does not replace medical treatment — but alongside psychotherapy and integration it can be a powerful turning point. Certain substances and medications must be stopped safely before the ceremony; we discuss this in the interview.
After acceptance you receive a preparation guide: diet (lighter, cleaner eating in the weeks before), medications to taper under guidance, and the ECG and health checks. Mental and spiritual preparation — setting your intention — matters just as much. We support you from the first interview until you are home. See the full preparation guide.
All the details of the next edition — dates, price, what's included, who guides you and how to apply — are on the main page.
The 1–8 November 2026 retreat →