While a relaxing soak in a deep tub is sine qua non for any luxury hotel stay, there’s another kind of bathing that is making its way into resort lexicon – forest bathing. Hotels are rolling out experiences where guests absorb nature like sponges.
What used to be a plain old walk in the woods has taken on new shades since the ‘80s when Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) was first introduced in Japan. The practice has spread further over the years as people seek an antidote to too much time online. Just like unwinding in a bath, forest bathing is about immersing yourself fully in the present moment. The practice has a myriad of health benefits, from reducing blood pressure to boosting the immune system.
Not all forest bathing is the same, of course. There are many ways to take a bath. Here are a few from Vietnam to Thailand that you might want to dip your toe in.
Walking with Intention in a National Park in Vietnam
Set within 108-square-kilometers of protected natural forest at Ba Vi National Park, Melia Ba Vi Mountain Retreat is one of the first properties in Vietnam to offer this mood-boosting, stress-releasing practice. The guided experience involves walking with intention through the resort’s surrounding tropical forest to a hidden stream. Guests are encouraged to tune into all their senses, noticing everything from bark to birdsong. The expansive park, west of the capital, has subtropical and tropical evergreen forest to bask in and diverse wildlife, including over 150 bird species to provide a one-of-a-kind soundtrack. The whole experience lasts around two hours and is roughly five kilometers.
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