Slavkov Forest · with a certified guide
Forest therapy
Slow down. Take a deep breath. Discover the power of nature.
Two and a half to three hours in the forest, with no hurry and no destination at the end of the path. A certified guide leads you through the woods around Mariánské Lázně and, with gentle invitations, lets you take in the forest with all your senses — listening to its sounds, breathing in the scent of the trees, touching moss and bark. The session closes with tea.
What is forest therapy?
Forest therapy is inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, “forest bathing”. It means spending time in the forest mindfully: slowly, without hurry and with all your senses. You listen to the sounds of the forest, breathe in the scent of the trees, connect with nature through touch and simply slow down.
The walk is led by a certified forest therapy guide who keeps an eye on time and space, offers the group a series of “invitations” — short prompts on how to perceive the forest — and leaves room for sharing after each one. The point is not performance or distance, but to slow down and be here and now for a while.
What forest therapy is not
- A walk or a hike — the route is short and the pace very slow.
- Exercise or meditation in nature.
- A medical treatment — it is not prescribed by a doctor; you book it yourself at the spa reception.
How forest therapy works
Every forest therapy session follows the same outline: it opens with two fixed invitations, continues with one to three more and ends with tea.
- 1
Opening the senses
15–20 min
You pause in a quiet spot, take a few deep breaths and turn your attention to each sense in turn — taste, smell, hearing, touch and finally sight.
- 2
Very slow walking
15–20 min
You move through the forest much more slowly than you are used to, and in silence, noticing everything that moves around you. When everyday thoughts surface, you simply return to walking.
- 3
One to three invitations
15–20 min each
The guide offers one to three further invitations — prompts to approach the forest through another sense or from another angle. You can leave your backpack at the starting point.
- 4
Sharing
after each invitation
Each invitation is followed by a short round of sharing: what did you feel, what did you notice? If you would rather not speak, silence is fine — that is sharing too.
- 5
Tea ceremony
to close
The session ends with tea. The first cup is for the forest, the second for you.
There is always time for a drink between invitations. The forest floor is uneven and can be slippery in places.
What to bring
- Comfortable outdoor shoes suitable for forest trails
- Comfortable clothing appropriate for the weather — you will spend most of the time still or walking very slowly, so bring an extra layer
- A bottle of water
- A seat pad — if you do not have one, your guide will lend you one
Please keep your mobile phone switched off or on silent.
Practical information
Forest therapy is offered by the Ensana hotels in Mariánské Lázně; you book your place at their spa reception.
- Duration
- approximately 2.5–3 hours
- Route
- 2–3 km on moderately challenging forest trails
- Guide
- certified forest therapy guide
- Booking
- at the spa reception of the Ensana hotels in Mariánské Lázně
- Price, dates and meeting point
- the spa reception will tell you when you book; the current price is also given in the downloadable leaflet
- Bad weather
- if the weather does not allow the session to go ahead, an alternative date will be arranged
The forest around Mariánské Lázně
Forest bathing and mindfulness
The shinrin-yoku method, quiet spots in the spa parks and what studies say about time spent in the forest.
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