A Long Exhale at Bangkok’s Green Lung

My Half-Day Forest Bathing Experience with Healiday

by Ayush Madan 28 February 2026

When was the last time you listened to birdsong? Or the wind breezing through the rustling trees and plants? These sounds happen all around us, all the time, ringing in the dawn of every new day. And yet, hearing is not the same as listening. Just as being present is not the same as being aware. Mentally, I was going through the motions of life. Anxious, unsure, and scattered. My multidisciplinary nature, one of my biggest strengths, started to shift negatively in my head. Was I truly a person of many talents? Or just someone with a mishmash of skills who never picked a lane?

When I arrived at the Wat Khlong Toei Nok Pier, these thoughts of uncertainty weighed on me. I set foot on the boat and heard the gentle rumble of the engine as we started sailing towards Bang Krachao — Bangkok’s green lung. Over the course of the day, following each activity, I felt the things that weighed on me begin to lose their power and influence. By the end, I felt as light as a feather — free, unburdened, and ready to receive the blessings of life. Let me tell you a bit about my transformative experience at Healiday’s Half-Day Forest Bathing Experience.

Arriving at Bang Krachao

Bang Krachao is an island that feels like another world. Getting here via boat is the best way, saving time and adding to the experience. Floating through the Chao Phraya river immediately calms your nervous system, signaling to your body and mind that you are entering a new biome. As you get closer to the island, the breeze along the river cools you down, the sounds of cranes and trucks dampen, and the air smells cleaner and more inviting.

It is a strange and surreal feeling being able to see the iconic Bangkok skyline from the docks of this undeveloped green sanctuary. As you venture deeper, the buildings fade into the distance, along with any other traces of mass civilization. I hitched a ride on a local win motorbike to our meeting point: Suan Rukchaat Bang Ko Bua.

The Forest Ecosystem Tour

The first activity was a guided walk through the arboretum — a living museum of trees and plants. It was led by a Bang Krachao local who walked us through the path, pointing out all the different flora that were native to the island. She mentioned that sometimes when the tide is high, there is so much salt in the water here that it leeches the soil red. Next, she pointed out a tree native to the mangrove forests of Thailand: ต้นจาก (Nipa Palm). This tree is a perfect example of how to fully utilize the resource. The locals here use the leaves and bark of the tree for handicrafts and wall thatching, while the Nipa fruit is tapped to secrete a sweet edible sap. This sap can then be used as a natural sweetener in coffee, or brewed into alcohol. After the walk, she asked all of us if we wanted a tree to take home. I wish I had said yes.

Sitting in a Circle

Following our first walk, we all sat down in a circle on wooden benches. In front of us were two musicians and a shaman, all dressed in loose, ethereal clothing. The musicians were playing a handpan and a flute, providing background music, while one of the leaders of the experience relayed to us the healing benefits of forest bathing in Thai. 

All trees and plants produce phytoncides, anti-microbial compounds like terpenoids to protect against insect and fungi. When we breathe in these phytoncides as humans, research shows it boosts immune function by increasing Natural Killer cells, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep. The guide shared an example with the story of a man who was diagnosed with cancer and only had a few months to live. He sold all of his belongings and bought a house in the countryside, prepared to live out his last few days in a quiet, green, and open space. As it turned out, he lived healthily for years and years in the countryside, defying his prognosis.

Following the talk, the experience began in full bloom. Our host asked us all to close our eyes, and listen to the sound closest to us. For me it was a bird call. Then he asked us to listen to the second closest sound. For me it was the rustling of the trees. And on it went until my hearing reached a distance I did not know it was capable of. I could hear insects and individual leaves falling on the forest floor. As I shut all of my other senses and focused in on just what I could hear I felt liberated. The thoughts I was wrestling with melted away. With every exhale I felt lighter. The session made me feel at ease, and the tension in my shoulders and stomach dropped. All my problems and worries began to feel minute against the grand backdrop of Mother Earth.

Next, the shaman lady led us through some breathwork and conscious movement. This included eye exercises — moving our eyes without moving our heads — as well as mindful stretching and walking in a circle with our shoes off. We were asked to feel the sensations of our feet on the ground, and describe how it felt to the group. This primed all of us for the next chapter, which would be walking barefoot in the forest.

Walking Barefoot Into the Forest 

While not required, it is highly advised to remove your shoes before Forest Bathing. As modern humans, we have gotten so used to walking with shoes that we forget we are supposed to feel the ground beneath us. For me, reuniting with the feeling of the forest floor felt blissful. As we slowly walked into the forest, there was a clear stream running in between two rows of trees. I walked across a narrow bridge made out of a tree trunk to the other side. I sat under a large banyan tree and rested my head and back against its trunk. I closed my eyes and began to sit with my thoughts. Our host asked us to converse with the tree if we felt comfortable, and so I did. While it was a hot day, under the shade of the trees, I felt cool and protected. My mind began to go through the final steps of freeing itself from its own shackles. It’s like the tree behind me was telling me it was all going to be okay. That I could stop white-knuckling life and let go. One of the musicians walked by with a Tibetan singing bowl, harmonizing its frequency right above my head. To my left, there was another musician playing the handpan, filling the forest with a melodic twang. The combination of the weather, the nature, and the music, made for a divine experience, one that made me feel vulnerable but also looked after.

After the experience, we all gathered around a mandala on the forest floor, adding little leaves and sticks to it like a living breathing tapestry.

Coming Back to the Body

After our spiritual and emotional experiences in the forest and the circle, it came time to ease into the evening. We were each given a cool grass jelly dessert and an herbal drink which were both refreshing. At the entrance, there was an island local preparing เมี่ยงคำ (Miang Kham) a traditional Thai snack, but with flower petals instead of herb leaves. The tastes and textures were incredible — sweet, spicy, sour and crunchy.

Afterwards, we all sat down for an herbal foot spa. We soaked our feet in water infused with lemongrass, Thai ginger, galangal, and turmeric. After walking around, it felt perfectly necessary and soothing to my feet and toes. Following the soak, each of us received a foot massage. The masseuse commented that my legs were in good shape — no knots to be found. This made me quite pleased. After the relaxing massage, I joined my friends Sanam and Jenny in the circle. I even got to try playing the handpan and Tibetan singing bowls. It was a soulful and heartwarming end to a beautiful day in nature.

The Power of Nature

I left this experience different than how I began it. As I waited for the return boat on the docks of Bang Krachao, watching the sun set, I realized that its not as simple as becoming a different person. Its about finding a version of yourself you can be patient with, be happy with, and be proud of. Forest Bathing as an experience gave me that. While I’m sure in a month or two those anxious thoughts might return, I know now where I can remind myself of the grandeur of nature, and how minuscule my worries are against the backdrop of life. While there are always public parks and even the little palm tree in my apartment, I have renewed my love for the forests of Bang Krachao, the power of conscious breathing, and live melodic music.

Do you want to find a version of yourself you can be happy with?

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