I’m sure at this point, we’ve all been told to “touch grass” – a modern way of telling the terminally online to get off our screens, reconnect with nature and return to reality.

Now, this concept seems to be seeping into the luxury hospitality fold. Many internationally renowned and boutique hospitality groups are taking things one step further as they look to trees and nature to shape next-generation mindfulness experiences, in addition to new stay experiences that go beyond the clinical feel of modern hotel design.

This year, 2026, has seen a slate of new properties rooted in shinrin-yoku, a Japanese philosophy which involves intentionally spending time in the forest to promote inner calm. It’s not as wild as it sounds. Forest bathing is backed by hundreds of scientific studies, which point to how being in nature can strengthen the immune system, reduce cortisol and adrenaline, and help us to breathe better (both metaphorically and physically, thanks to the phytoncides produced by trees).

Forest via unsplash nick-linnen

Forest via unsplash anais-lauret

Clinical trials found that forest bathing can enhance cognitive performance, can improve attention, working memory, and creativity (Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 104, February 2025)

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When the mind quietens, the body feels more present – and isn’t that exactly what we want from a wellness retreat? This shift towards off-the-grid accommodation doesn’t mean wood cabins or jungle huts, but fully immersive, five-star forest escapes. Imagine ‘invisible’ cabins in the heart of Toronto’s woodland, elephant sanctuaries in Phuket, and sprawling coffee plantations in India.

For the discerning traveller who wants to explore wellness well beyond the spa, LIST has collated the world’s most enchanting forest resorts:

The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary, India

The Leela Forest Sanctuary

Image: The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary

When you imagine a forest, your mind might not automatically spring to India – but The Leela proves that assumption wrong with its latest acquisition. The Leela Coorg Forest Sanctuary is made up of 71 private villas set across 76 acres of wilderness, sprawling coffee plantations, lakes and waterfalls. Immersive wellness experiences include forest bathing, breath-work, and outdoor movement – powered by estate botanicals and local Ayurvedic techniques. Luxury here is expressed through the natural rhythms of the day, inviting a deeper connection to the land and oneself.

Book your experience here
@theleela

Keemala, Phuket, Thailand

Keemala phuket forest escape 3

Keemala Phuket Thailand

Images: IG @keemalaphuket

Keemala is made for ‘Khon-Jorn,’ or ‘true wanderers.’ With its rainforest-covered hills, thatched “tree-house” villas, skywalk bridges and cascading waterfalls, the word Edenic doesn’t even cover it. Guests can reconnect with nature through guided jungle walks, outdoor rain baths, Himalayan singing bowls, Thai herbal baths, and much more. Even the award-winning interiors are shaped by this deep sense of place, echoing the natural lines and handwoven textures of the jungle.

Book your experience here
@keemalaphuket

Arcana, Toronto, Canada

Find Arcana Toronto Canada via ig 3

Find Arcana Toronto Canada via ig 4

Images: IG @findarcana

Less than two hours from central Toronto, in a secret location only disclosed to guests, this wilderness retreat is part-campground, part-disappearing act. Designed to be almost invisible amidst ancient deciduous forests, stainless steel, mirrored cabins allow guests to feel as close to nature as possible and get lost in what matters. The journey at Arcana is intentionally self-directed, allowing guests to choose from seasonally immersive, science-based experiences such as forest bathing, meditative sound journeys, hydrotherapy, and hiking or snowshoeing trails. Contactless check-in allows for ultimate seclusion, with nothing to distract from the surrounding environment.

Book your experience here
@findarcana

Treehotel, Sweden

Treehotel, Sweden oasis

Treehotel sweden bird nest suite

Images: IG @treehotel

From forest foraging to chasing the Northern lights, Sweden’s Treehotel welcomes the imagination to run wild in the Arctic circle. The resort is made up of several unique, private suites and villas nestled in the treetops. Our favourite? The Bird’s Nest, where the twig-laden exterior camouflages seamlessly into the forest and guests are granted a birds-eye view of Luleå River. Whilst just a temporary stay for human guests, the design supports local ecology and offers a permanent home for declining bird populations.

Book your experience here
@treehotel

Santani, Sri Lanka

Santani, Sri Lanka 3

Santani, Sri Lanka 1

Images: IG @santani_wellness

Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘in harmony with,’ Santani aligns its everyday rhythms with Kandy’s lush highlands and the nearby Hulu river. Rising from this idyllic jungle setting is a dramatic, modern building of metal and glass – replete with open-air spa treatment rooms, an expansive yoga pavilion, mineral pools and mountain-view chalets. No two guest experiences are the same, as Santani’s in-house doctors and therapists tailor each stay around your individual goals, and each treatment is accompanied by the hum of butterflies, the pitter-patter of tropical rain and the occasional shriek of macaques thanks to the resort’s open-air jungle setting.

Book your experience here
@santani_wellness

If you’ve never heard of shinrin-yoku before, it’s time to join the growing community of forest bathers reconnecting with nature on their own terms.

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