Question 1

What will I do on a Forest Bathing walk?

Accepted Answer

With the help of a certified guide, guests are led through a series of nature invitations during a leisurely walk on a gentle trail or pathway. The focus will be on mindfulness practices and opportunities to slow down, unplug, and soak up the magic of our wild places. The experience typically lasts 2.5 hours and culminates in a tea ceremony with snacks.

Question 2

What will I do on a Forest Bathing walk?

Accepted Answer

With the help of a certified guide, guests are led through a series of nature invitations during a leisurely walk on a gentle trail or pathway. The focus will be on mindfulness practices and opportunities to slow down, unplug, and soak up the magic of our wild places. The experience typically lasts 2.5-3 hours and culminates in a tea ceremony with snacks.

Question 3

What on earth is Forest Bathing?

Accepted Answer

Forest Bathing is simply a guided walk in nature. Your guide will share mindfulness practices and invitations designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, forest bathing walks invite guests to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

This is essentially a mindful, rejuvenating walk in the forest…no actual “bathing” required.

Question 4

What is the trail like?

Accepted Answer

The trails visited on a Forest Bathing walk are gentle and rated easy, though you should expect uneven terrain (like roots and rocks) and may encounter slight inclines along the way. We walk less than a mile. This is a mindful, gentle journey through the forest.

Question 5

What should I bring?

Accepted Answer

Bring sun protection, bug repellent, water, an open heart and mind and anything else you need to be comfortable on this short, gentle stroll. We recommend close-toed shoes and long pants. Be sure to wear weather-appropriate clothing and remember that layers are your key to comfort. Rain protection is essential. Please remember that temperatures in higher elevations can be significantly lower than in town and rain is always a possibility.

Question 6

Do I need a bathing suit to participate in Forest Bathing?

Accepted Answer

Nope! We’ll be immersing ourselves in the restorative forest atmosphere and aren’t bathing in the traditional rubber-ducky-in-the-bathtub sense. On warm days, we might have the opportunity to dip our feet in a mountain stream and a rain shower is always possible but you can otherwise expect not to get wet.

Question 7

Who is my guide?

Accepted Answer

Your guide is certified as a forest therapy guide by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and holds current certifications in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. They look forward to sharing the practice of forest bathing with you!

Question 8

Where do these Forest Bathing walks take place?

Accepted Answer

Regularly scheduled walks (join in with other guests on specific dates) are held at the NC Arboretum on select Saturdays year round.

Private Walks: Due to the customized nature of Private Walks, we’ll tailor the trail selection to your group! An Asheville Wellness Tours concierge will reach out to you to ask:

What part of town you’ll be traveling from
Age range of your group
Any needs/preferences (time constraints, transportation limitations, etc)
With that information, your guide will select the best trail for your group. All of the trails we visit for Forest Bathing are within approximately 50mins (an hour or less drive time) of downtown Asheville and are chosen based on the gentleness of the terrain, proximity to town, and your guide’s geographic area of expertise.

One of our favorite trails is accessed by driving along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway while another is located in a peaceful private Preserve. We can even meet you in the Botanical Gardens or NC Arboretum just outside of downtown Asheville if you need a more convenient option (private forest bathing walks only!).  Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. 

Full Moon walks take place on private land just 30 mins from downtown Asheville. Detailed arrival instructions will be provided upon booking.

Blue Ghost Firefly Forest Bathing Tours: Due to the fragility of the environment we’re visiting and the elusive nature of the Blue Ghosts, the secret location will be shared a few days prior to the event – for now, we can alert guests that it’s about 1hr from downtown Asheville w/ the option to take the Blue Ridge Parkway on the way for a scenic ride

Question 9

What about transportation?

Accepted Answer

If you are reserving a private Forest Bathing session, the trail location will be tailored to your group. If you would like to add transportation to your private booking, let us know! With advance notice, we can arrange your transportation for an additional fee.

If you are joining a public Forest Bathing session, you are responsible for getting yourself to/from the trailhead. You can generally plan on the trail head being about an hour from Asheville and will receive detailed driving instructions in your confirmation email. It is important to note that, while an Uber/Lyft may bring you to the trail, they will NOT pick you up from the trail head.

If you do not have transportation, we recommend reaching out to AVL Ride several days in advance of your arrival. The team there is familiar with the trailhead and will pre-arrange round trip transportation for some of the most reasonable rates in town.

Relaxing Forest Bathing Walk in Asheville's Blue Ridge Mountains

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