TMT Forest Bathing Retreat Thailand

Meet your host and wellness therapist

Nongnapat Neuman

Owner of the Healing Garden and Wellness Therapist

Over the last 18 years I have pursued training and education in Wellness therapies as a practitioner
while also working in the training field. I have worked in spa operations, menu and product development, and co-created the in-house training academy for Kamalaya Koh Samui. 

My focus in on the interface of the physical and energetic bodies, using both Eastern (Chi Nei Tsang, and Reiki) and Western therapies (Lymphatic Drainage Therapy and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy). My approach is to listen to the client’s system, and aid it to release blockages and come back to the wholeness built into our original patterns.

Each session is bespoke to address their needs, with restoration of energetic flows, balancing of blood, lymph, nerve and organ functioning the ultimate goal.
Some of the issues helped by a session might include digestive problems, adrenal burnout, emotional blockage, localized lymph drainage dis function, TMJ and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Meet your guide

Milena A. Guziak,

CEO, Co-Founder, Program Creative Director, and Head Instructor of The Mindful Tourist 

Milena spent nearly 17 years abroad, including 10 years in Japan. She first encountered Japanese culture when she went on a one-year internship in Japan during her studies in England. That year changed her life. After graduating with a degree in chemistry, she relocated to Japan with the purpose of embarking on a PhD course in engineering. During that time, explored the forests and cultural corners of Japan and taught at universities using ‘reflective education’ and a ‘student-centered approach’.

It was in the forest that she found her path and ‘befriended’ her past filled with sexual abuse. It was there that she found her creative soul and the goodness within herself that still accompanies her until these days.

Her belief in the goodness of people and connection to nature, her academic background, knowledge of teaching methods and the Japanese language have allowed her to create informative trainings. She is the author of the guide and instructor courses; until now she has trained almost 50 guides worldwide. 

Meet your guide 

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Thanaporn Trakuldit

TMT Guide and Instructor

Mint, a shy girl who grew up in housing estate with protected-family. Fortunately, she has some memories with nature in childhood when she lived with grandma & grandpa at countryside.
Her life change when she got brokenhearted. It leads to the beginning of her inner journey. She had deep experience with nature when practiced touching the earth (plum village practice), reconnect with ‘Mother Nature’ through earthing. She collected a lot of experiences for self-development by inner work, meditation, diverse-workshop and spiritual practices. 

Unfortunately, she graduated forestry with less academic potential. However, she is so lucky to raise awareness of nature with direct experience through her heart.

Nowadays, she is a forester & freelance-facilitator who love to encourage human-human & human-nature relationship by forest bathing. Her belief is we are one (human is a part of nature), interbeing. If we reconnect to ourselves, we can take care of nature surroundings. She really believes that human being is the most important key for change, a gentle relationship with nature leads to positive changes from individual to society.

She still exploring and learning about herself, nature of humanity (Anthroposophy Foundation, Waldorf Education), Goethean science etc., to collaborate with forest bathing on the way of barefoot facilitator.

About Location

Private Transfer

The retreat is organized at a private boutique homestay named, Healing Garden in Chiang Dao, Thailand.

We can arrange a private transfer, at a fee, for you and your family / friends to our retreat venue.

Please contact us for more information.

tmtretreatthailand@themindfultourist.org

Healing Garden, located in the mountain area in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai, Thailand, was built from genuine love for nature, passion for holistic wellness and eco-friendly living by a Thai – American couple.

Welcoming only a small group of guests each time, Healing Garden provides a truly personalized nature immersion experience and guests can only unlock the beauty of this place by staying with us on a retreat program. This is not a typical homestay where you can book only the room. Our Forest Bathing retreat program allows you to connect with the spirit of Healing Garden through all your senses in a mindful manner.

Your Forest Bathing experience here is curated by The Mindful Tourist and Pla Nongnapat. Our aim is to share the essence of being close to nature with you and guide you how being one with nature is a cure for your lifestyle-induced health problems.

When

The retreat is hold all year round between the 1st and 5th every month with a few exceptions.

May 25 – May 29, 2022

June 8 – 13 June, 2022

Forest Bathing Retreat: The 5 Senses Journey

Connect

Awaken all your senses through Shinrin Yoku (森林浴) or Forest Bathing. Experience the healing powers of Mother Nature.

Restored

Experience a profound restorative effect by aligning to the rhythms of nature. Learn to create an environment your immunity can thrive.

Be Well

Find balance, joy and serenity within yourself. Learn ways to incorporate nature and mindfulness practices into your daily life.

2-Night

Discover
USD 899 / person (Add USD 119 for Single Occupancy
  • 2 x Breakfast, 1 x Lunch, 2 x Dinner
  • Forest Bathing experience
  • Morning nature walk & grounding
  • Five senses & emotional connection
  • Garden foraging
  • Mindfulness practice
  • 60-minute Reiki or holistic massage

3-Night

Connection
USD 1399 / person (Add USD 1399 for Single Occupancy
  • 3 x Breakfast, 3 x Lunch, 3 x Dinner
  • Forest Bathing experience
  • Morning nature walk & grounding
  • Five senses & emotional connection
  • Garden foraging
  • A trip to the nearby natural hotspring
  • Mindfulness practice
  • 60-minute Reiki or holistic massage

4-Night

Immersion
USD / 1999 person (Add USD 119 for Single Occupancy)
  • 4 x Breakfast, 4 x Lunch, 4 x Dinner
  • Forest Bathing experience
  • Morning nature walk & grounding
  • Five senses & emotional connection
  • Garden foraging
  • A trip to the nearby natural hotspring
  • A trip to the nearby waterfall
  • Mindfulness practice
  • 60-minute Reiki or holistic massage

Perfect for

  • Those who would like to disconnect from a busy world and reconnect with themselves
  • Those who would like to gain improved sleep, focus, health and combat stress
  • Those who experience or suffer from fatigue, low moods, insomnia, high blood pressure, inactivity, chronic stress and fast-paced lives
  • Those who would like to experience the art of being profoundly present and self-aware
  • Those who would like to get away and explore the nature of the mountain areas in Thailand
  • Families who would like to spend quality time with their children in nature, cultivate outdoor spirit and mindfulness in their children

What to bring

  • A rain jacket
  • A drinking water bottle
  • A pair of trainers
  • A pair of flip flops
  • A mosquito repellent
  • Clothes appropriate for the weather and outdoor activities. In the cool season, a jacket and socks are helpful.
  • Sunglasses and sunscreen
"Many of us who live in urban areas spend more time under artificial lights in an office. It is hard to connect with nature on a daily basis and we are more likely to learn about wildlife ironically from National Geographic channel or YouTube than maybe from a walk in the woods.

Every one of us contains a key that can open the door to attention, harmony with nature, and joy of life. The Mindful Tourist's Forest Bathing retreat and training are not about hiking, camping or wilderness adventure, but rather your opportunity to learn to heighten your awareness, connect and appreciate the beautiful nature around you and the simple joy of life in a profoundly mindful manner, wherever you are".

What is Shinrin Yoku

Shinrin-yoku, literally Forest Bathing, was developed in Japan in the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine. Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest and taking in the forest atmosphere.

We all know how good being in nature can make us feel. We have known it for centuries. The sounds of the forest, the scent of the trees, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.

To bathe in the forest or nature means to bask in it. Your five senses are open to receive nature. You smell the flowers and the natural essential oil from tree barks, you taste the fruits or the air, you see the tall trees and thousand shades of green, you hear the sounds of birds and nature around you, you feel the forest with your palms and sole of the feet, deep within your soul.

When you have been busy at work all week, it can be hard to slow down. You may have been rushing around so much you no longer know how to stand still.

Walking with a guide who is trained can help you feel more comfortable and find the right environment to fit your needs.

This is not hiking or jogging. It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. It doesn’t matter how fit – or unfit – you are. Shinrin-yoku is suitable for any level of fitness.

What else you should know​

Our programs are held at a few selected locations in the North and the South of Thailand, depending on the seasons. However, our main retreat location is Healing Garden in Chiang Mai. Each place has something unique to offer and we encourage you to experience them with us at different times of the year. We partner with local small-scale home stay owners to make this experience happen. It is authentic, conducive to healing and aims at getting you closer to what really matters.

Locations and the accommodations will be determined by us at the time of your booking. We will then send you an arrival guide, which includes, but not limited to, how to get there, what to bring, etc. The pictures shown below are taken from some of our retreat locations. They are for illustration purposes only and may not reflect your actual room.

  • Price does not include airfare or transportation to Chiang Mai.
  • We require at least 2 participants, on any program, to run a retreat. If you sign up alone, we will communicate with you to confirm.
  • Retreat starts every Friday and ends on Monday/Tuesday. 
    • Some activities are weather permitting and we may adjust our schedule accordingly.
    • Children and families are welcome. Forest Bathing is great for kids and it is healthy for families to connect with nature together. Unlike other kids camps, parents or guardians are expected to participate with your children.
    • Breakfast is included starting from the day after your arrival.
    • We welcome children of 3 years old and above. Children aged 3 – 12 years old get 50% discount, with at least one paying adult, given that the children are accommodated in the same room, without an extra bed. The discounted rate does not include breakfast.

    Book your spot

    What They Say About Us

    The Mindful Tourist’s Day Trip was absolutely awesome! We discovered a part of the Kyoto’s forest we would have never explored otherwise. We had a refreshing hike in the woods and enjoyed delicious snacks. We had a great back massage that was delivered in the woods with the sounds of the birds. Pin was a friendly host and a very interesting person. We would highly recommend! Thanks Pin!
    Rachel
    Great experience with wonderful host. Milena took us to a gentle hike in the beautiful forest in Nara and then gave us a shiatsu massage in nature. Unique experience. Milena and Pin were attentive hosts, responding fast to accommodate my time and location constraints.
    Fernando
    I had a great time with Pin in the beautiful forests of Kyoto. The location was absolutely beautiful and the hike in the woods was very enjoyable. It’s very easy to get to since it’s located right behind the most famous park in Kyoto. Pin was really nice and made me some fresh juice and granola bars. We hiked for about an hour, got to take in some wonderful views, and then stopped at a nice spot in the forest for the reiki session. The session itself was very relaxing, especially given you’re surrounded by so many trees and the sound of birds. After the session we walked a bit further and ended up at the Kiyomizu dera temple. I definitely recommend this experience for anyone who wants to get in touch with nature and have a unique experience with an expert!
    Gabriela
    This experience with Pin was incredible! 🙂 It was one of the BEST days of our entire Japan trip. The hike was absolutely beautiful. It was the perfect way to be surrounded by nature, get physical activity, see stunning temples and shrines, and enjoy some much needed relaxation away from the cities. Pin is a gem. She is so sweet and so kind. I experienced one of the best massages I’ve ever had thanks to her! We had so much fun chatting with Pin, getting to know her, and spending time with her. I highly recommend this experience to everyone. There is a short hike involved but it’s doable for everyone of all skill levels and so worth it to see the beauty of Japan outside of the cities. Getting a massage outside in the middle of the forest was the best! Thank you so much Pin 🙂
    Amanda

    Helping our forests & planet

    The Mindful Tourist.
    Pay it forward.

    Do Good, Feel Good

    How we give back

    At The Mindful Tourist, we believe in creating a world where our forests and animal can thrive without human abuse and where all beings live in harmony. Our world is blessed to have luscious green lands and biodiversity, where us nature lovers can get in touch with ourselves! Our mission is to raise awareness and provide ways for our clients to help keep our earth green and to be kind to all beings.

    Your purchase of all items on The Mindful Store and your registration for our programs help promote the common good and 1% of our profit is donated to Soi Dog Foundation and Elephant Nature Park.
    Be a part of the change!