AMAZON CHALLENGE
Travel into the heart of the rainforest and learn how to survive in this challenging habitat on Travel Local’s North Amazon adventure. Local inhabitants will teach you how to source water from vines and forage for food, you’ll journey along the River Amazon, swim with the renowned pink dolphins, fish for piranha, explore caves and waterfalls in the paradise of Maruaga Park and visit local community projects. Life back home will never seem the same again!
PRICE: from £2,190pp (two sharing) for a 14-daytour, including accommodation, most meals, transfers, excursions and the services of a local guide; travellocal.com.
SILENT RETREATS
With noise pollution at an all-time high and the added disruption of digital distraction, resorts are coming to the rescue with retreats that offer a break from 24/7 stimulation and force you to reconnect with yourself and the world around you, to help reset your body and mind and truly recharge your batteries.
Japan Travel – Japan Tourism Guide and Travel Map Photo Gallery
BUDDHIST BLESSING
A silent retreat offers you the opportunity to become more mindful in a supported environment. Teacher-led group retreats at Gaia House in Devon offer Buddhist Insight meditation, suitable for seasoned meditators as well as those with no previous meditation experience. Once the retreat begins, you’re asked to refrain from all types of verbal or written communication, apart from with retreat teachers.
With mental health being such a hot topic, finding ways to combat issues such as anxiety, stress and depression has become more of an option than ever before. The rise of nature immersion getaways is a result of scientific research showing that being outdoors reduces cortisol levels (the hormone responsible for stress) and depression. These wellness trips allow you to get some much-needed vitamin D while you explore and discover, allowing your mind to clear.
Glamping in Japan
OUTDOOR ACTION
Get active and re-connect with the great outdoors in the heart of the French Alps on The Back to Nature Escape at Quintessence Sports and Health Retreat. In between exhilarating activities and functional fitness classes, you’ll enjoy tailored energy boosting meals, snacks and smoothies in a social setting. When you’ve had your till or exercise, end your day with a pamper-tilled session at the spa or curled programme, and return private transfer.
FOREST BATHING IN JAPAN
Unplug and unwind at Japan’s first glamping resort, HOSHINOYA Fuji, nestled on a hillside overlooking Lake Kawaguchi, near Mount Fuji. Slender paths meander through a landscape of soil, grass, and tree up by the fireplace for a wellness break that revives the mind, body and soul.
PRICE: seven nights at Quintessence Retreats from £1,895pp (£2,590 for single occupancy) including full board, wellness roots while the resort’s 40 luxurious cabins are hidden in a red pine forest connected by a series of platforms. Swap your smartphone for the glow of campfire cooking and do outdoor activities designed to reconnect you with nature, including canoeing on the lake or napping in a hammock on the cloud terrace.
Co-ordinators (in the event of a practical issue). The schedule of sitting and walking meditation, silence, group support and instruction, creates an atmosphere of sensitivity, mindfulness and stillness. Food is healthy, balanced vegetarian, with vegan options available. You’ll contribute to the running of the centre by offering one hour’s work a day. PRICE: £64pp a night for a three-night stay including two main meals and a light supper each day; gaiahouse.co.uk.
DIGITAL DETOX
Tune in and switch off on a Sri Lankan digital detox haven. At the Santani resort, technology is banned in public areas. You’ll sense the difference the moment you step in. Leave your smart phone behind and remember what it’s like to fully engage, doing group activities including yoga and meditation, guided nature hikes and mountain biking.
Whilst decluttering your mind, you can cleanse your body with Santani’s detox programme, together with tailored meals and pampering spa treatments.
