The Amarylidacea alkaloid galanthamine (1a) is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that has been evaluated as a potential agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We report a very efficient synthesis of (+/-)-galanthamine [(+/-)-1a] from readily available isovanillin and tyramine. We have separated racemic galanthamine into its diastereoisomeric (1S)-camphanate esters and obtained both natural (-)- and unnatural (+)-galanthamine by lithium aluminum hydride removal of the acyl group.