We can all agree that the most memorable trips aren’t always the busiest – they’re the ones that leave you feeling different, and rested, when you return. After all, in a world that rarely switches off, travellers are constantly looking for better ways to reset — and it turns out nature might be one of the most effective. Studies are popping up left, right and centre suggesting that even something as simple as immersing yourself in a woodland environment — otherwise known as ‘forest bathing’ — can work wonders for both your mental and physical health.
Luxury travel is leaning into this shift, moving beyond the spa and into the great outdoors, where the setting does just as much of the work as the experience itself. These earth-inspired movements offer a deeper way to experience a destination, and there is no better time than Earth Month to reconnect with Mother Nature and find yourself in the process.
A mindful practice rooted in Japan’s shinrin-yoku, forest bathing sees travellers immerse themselves in woodland environments, where the density of trees, filtered light and naturally occurring compounds released by foliage (known as phytoncides) are believed to play an impressive role in supporting wellbeing. While the mental health benefits are well documented — think reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood and greater mental clarity — 2025 research by Iwao Uehara at Tokyo University of Agriculture and his colleagues also found the unique conditions of the forest environment, from reduced noise levels to cooler, oxygen-rich air, can lower both blood pressure and heart rate. As such, luxury hotels have started to embrace the trend too, offering the likes of guided woodland meditations, sensory nature walks, outdoor yoga and forest-based spa rituals.
Where To Try It
Forestis, Italy
A mountain hideaway perched high in the Dolomites, this luxury hotel’s remote Alpine setting makes it an ideal spot for forest therapy. Guests can join guided forest hikes, take part in tree circle ceremonies in the spa or practise Wyda — an ancient Celtic movement, breathing and mindfulness practice often referred to as the Yoga of the Druids — among the trees, all designed to tune in with the rhythms of the mountainous landscape. Forestis Dolomites, Italy. Book now
Salt of Palmar, Mauritius
An integral part of the new wellness retreats at this dreamy design hotel on the Palmar coast of Mauritius, guides take guests deep into the lush Bras d’Eau forest, strolling slowly along shaded trails and soaking in the stillness. Calm and unhurried, sessions include mindfulness and grounding exercises, and are followed by a fresh and healthy breakfast in the middle of the forest crafted from locally-sourced ingredients. Salt of Palmar, Palmar, Mauritius. Book now
Keemala, Thailand
Set in Phuket’s verdant rainforest-covered hills, Keemala has forest therapy down to a tee. Guests can join guided jungle walks for meditation and breathing exercises, while the hotel’s swish villas — dubbed treehouses — overlook the rainforest, mountains and Andaman Sea, views best enjoyed from the edge of your private pool. Add a spa set in thatched huts among the trees, and it makes for a deeply immersive escape where nature and wellbeing go hand in hand. Keemala, Phuket, Thailand. Book now
Originally published in the April 2026 issue of MOJEH. Subscribe here
