There is so much to consider when travelling to a new place – getting the lay of the land, finding the best attractions to visit, discovering where the great food and coffee is etc. The list is personal, but as a lifelong traveler, going for nature walks is my favourite way of connecting to new places. I love breathing in the surroundings, admiring the views and finding stillness amongst the local flora and fauna. The sights, sounds and smells of a forest, or the openness of the sky against a backdrop of mountains are experiences that I treasure. The Japanese have a wonderful term called ‘forest bathing’, and this practice has been found to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of harmful stress hormones. Being amongst nature can help put you in a more calm and relaxed state.
One of my favourite places to do just this is in the Dharamsala area of India. The deodar forests and walking tracks take in the Himalayas as a magnificent backdrop to any day or overnight walk.
We have partnered with local company Dharamsala Adventures and now offer unique nature walks as part of out Bespoke Experiences.