Immerse yourself in the sounds of the forests, the bird songs and the rustling of the breeze on the leaves and the branches. If you are lucky, you may hear the crashing of the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
How is the experience?
This experience will take place in a 400 year old cedar Forest in the Sintra Cascais Natural Park, Portugal. Thought out the Forest Bathing Experience, I will offer a series of invitations. We use the word invitations very consciously as there is no right or wrong way of doing them. They are essentially sensory invitations where we will explore what if feels like to engage with the world though our sensing qualities as humans. We start with an two invitations that offer the possibility for us to slow down and drop into the present moment offering a threshold of connection. Following those, there is a series of invitations that offer the possibility for a connection with the different beings that are in the forest, trees, plants, birds, animals.
After each invitation, we will have the opportunity to share our experiences in a sharing circle. Drawing upon the wisdom of sharing circles that have been in our culture for centuries, each participant can offer their story. Just like with invitations, everything is welcome. Participants are free to share with words, with silence or in any way that feels good to them.
The experience will end with the sharing of a tea prepared with plants foraged during the walk. This is an opportunity to taste the forest and complete the experience.
Who is the host?
Geeta Stilwell is an ANFT Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Mentor and Trainer based in Portugal. She is the founder of the company Renature where she creates and facilitates restorative programs that promote wellbeing and health through Forest Bathing, Nature Connection Practices, Clean eating and Self-care. She works all over the world with various populations that range from the general public, corporate teams, schools, families, mental health populations and individuals recovering from situations of excess stress and burn out.
Her passion is to bring human beings back to nature and support the reconnection to the restorative potency of the natural world, especially through the healing potency of nature sounds and silence. Based on her own recovery journey, she creates a safe space for the nature connection and self-care journey to unfold. Over the past 20 years she has dedicated a great part of her time and resources to her own development and self-care journey and this life experience is the foundation for her work.
She is trained in Forest Therapy, Embodied Mindfulness and Conscious Resting and in the field of Healthcare as a Pharmacist. She is trained in Council and Active Meditation Techniques and is currently training to be a Life Coach. She holds a Masters in Business Management and is fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
What are people saying?
My partner and I went on the Forest Therapy Walk with Geeta one week ago, and the experience has very much continued to stay with us, in wonderful ways! Geeta is an incredibly skilled, mindful and friendly guide, who has the ability to invite everyone to have their own unique experience, connecting with not only themselves, but the immense nature of Sintra. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in spending a couple of hours having a beautifully thoughtful experience and to do something that they may not have otherwise had the opportunity to participate in. Really lovely, thank you Geeta.
Tessa, Melbourne, Australia
Great walk, very balancing, stimulating all senses. Experiencing silence. Enjoying nature to the fullest. Calming down thoroughly. Very experienced lady guiding through this wonderful walk.
Dorothea, Brussels, Belgium
Absolutely wonderful experience in a magical setting. Geeta is a warm and experienced guide who can take you out of the everyday and help you reset and recharge with a little help from Mother Nature!
Helen, Lisbon, Portugal
The forest therapy walk with Geeta connected me with nature in a deep way using all of my senses. I came away with a sense of peace and a renewed desire to spend more time in natural settings. Geeta was a warm, inviting host and also enjoyable and interesting to talk to. I would highly recommend this activity.
Karen, San Francisco, USA
Amazing experience. Geeta is very thoughtful and caring. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk which left me feeling both inspired and at peace. Geeta provided new perspectives that will help me connect more deeply to nature also in the future.
Hanna, Stockholm, Sweden
We had an unforgettable experience in the woods with Geeta. It was an adventure which we will never forget and always take with us. From now on, we will be more aware of the nature around us and the souls that all the trees have. Geeta has shown us a different outlook on nature and on life in general. Thank you, Geeta, for all that you have given to us. We will never forget you and what you taught us. Blessings,
Naomi and Sheyna, Amsterdam
Geeta is a caring host. She brought me a sweater to keep me warm in the wood. This forest therapy experience is new to me. It strengthens my belief in the nature power that most of us as human beings have forgotten or neglected. I felt that my connection with the nature is rebuilt, and I can carry on some of the practices we did together in my daily life. Highly recommended, especially for those living a busy life.
Sunny, Hong Kong
I am so happy that my husband and I found this experience and that we were able to have it with Geeta. We both felt very relaxed and connected with nature during this experience and I definitely would like to learning more about it when I get home! Geeta was an amazing guide and had a wonderful calming presence. If you are in the area, I would highly recommend this experience. It’s a wonderful way to reconnect with nature and to see a beautiful part of Sintra! Thanks for the wonderful day, Geeta! ❤️
Veronica and Adam, Toronto, Canada
Beautiful experience guided by Geeta. We found the forest therapy so peaceful and hope to be able to continue the practice at home in London. Geeta will tell you about the origins and concept of forest therapy and gently guide you through various steps in different parts of the forest. The walk itself is gentle and not too demanding. I recommend this if you want to discover something new and also see a different side of Portugal!
Amalia, London, UK
Our forest therapy walk was perfect. Geeta was so helpful and knowledgeable and made the experience enjoyable and memorable. This was our first experience of forest therapy and won’t be the last - Geeta's enthusiasm and love of nature is infectious and we will definitely be in a forest again soon. The experience left us relaxed and renewed and is a great antidote to anyone wanting to connect with nature, slow things down and feel restored. Highly recommended!!!
Richard and Paul, Brighton, UK
This was such a special and unique experience and perfect for people who want to connect with nature and relax and soothe yourself while traveling to an amazing place. Definitely take the time to explore sintra town and include this forest tour for an amazing experience! Geeta is a wonderful person and will guide you through the forest and help you connect with yourself and nature in a new way.
Nicole, Hamburg, Germany
We had an amazing experience with Geeta. Originally, I expected a longer walk, like a hike through the forest. However, as I came to learn, forest therapy uses a slower pace with lots of time for perceiving, receiving and reflection. It was a unique and intimate experience. Just what we needed to slow down and recharge in the middle of a tiring week of travel and exploring. Would definitely recommend for those with open minds and a love of nature.
Miranda, Toronto, Canada.
A freeing experience. Free of thoughts crowding your mind, free of the mass of tourists, and free of sound pollution. Relaxing and tranquil. Perfect before my return home.
Erica, Texas, USA
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the Forest Therapy Walk. Geeta has a wonderful personality and explained each phase of the walk very well. There were three other folks from the U.S. on our walk, which added another positive dimension to the experience. The walk was slow paced and easy for us, and we are in our 50’s and 60’s. At the end of the activity, Geeta had a pleasant surprise for everyone, which added a nice touch. We now have a new way of looking at the forest, and we will treasure the time we spent relaxing in nature. Thank you Geeta.
Adrienne, Washington DC, USA
What an experience. Geeta was so generous and was the perfect guide for my first forest therapy walk. Her calm demeanour was enough to ease me into being in the moment and she helped me to connect with nature very deeply. I would highly recommend her.
Kwadwo, London, UK
Geeta is a sweet sweet woman! She lead us to a very unique experience with nature. It was amazing, definitely one of the highlights of our trip. She helped us connect to the forest and to all that surrounds us and was very open, loving and respecting. This is a very special gift to give yourselves.
Shahaf, Tel Aviv, Israel.
I've gifted Forest Therapy to my wife for her birthday. It was everything I've expected it to be and so much more. Geeta invites you into the tranquility of the forest and holds your hand through such a magical journey into the depths of the shades of green, that it is difficult to come out of it without having been moved somewhere inside. Geeta, herself, is a delight to get to know too as the way she views our world is as moving as the experience she takes you into. I would recommend this experience that aims to reconnect us to nature.
Natalie and Burak, London, UK
Cost
26€ per participant
Group size: 1 to up to 20 participants
Schedule
Total duration: 2.5 hours
Arrive and introduce at meeting point at Santuário da Peninha, Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
Next 15 minutes: Start the Forest Therapy Experience through a series of Invitations
Next 2 hours (approx.): Tea Ceremony to complete the experience
Return to meeting point
Intrusions
There will be a passing airplane occasionally, and sometimes human noises from other people in the forest.
Contact Host
Terms and Conditions: Please note that by submitting this form you agree:
In the event of a cancellation, the customer will be notified by Mello Stilwell Lda/Host as soon as it is possible. After the cancellation you will receive alternative dates for participation or a total refund of all monies paid to date. Mello Stilwell Lda reserves the right to cancel or modify experiences and/or events in the following situations:
Unfavourable climate conditions that render the activity non doable;
The minimum safety conditions are not complied with
Other conditions that render the activity non doable (fires, strong winds, fallen trees, etc.)
Force Majeure: In the case of circumstances beyond normal control, such as war, civil or political unrest, actions and orders from the authorities, strikes, catastrophes, epidemics and/or pandemics or other severe damages or highly unexpected factors, Mello Stilwell Lda may cancel the experiences and/or events, and the amounts received to date will not be refunded.
In case of cancellation of reservations by the customer, the total refund (minus the QPI service charge) of monies will depend on the following conditions:
3 Hour Experiences - Total refund (minus the QPI service charge) when the cancellation is made 72 hours prior to the date of the activity.
1 Day Events - Total refund (minus the QPI service charge) when the cancellation is made 7 days prior to the date of the activity.
2 Day and 5 Day events - Total refund (minus the QPI service charge) when cancellation is made 2 weeks before the date of the activity.