As tourists in Bali seek new and immersive ways to experience the island’s natural landscapes and culture, one regenerative tourism project has created a jungle bathing adventure that gives tourists the chance to feel the island’s magic in a whole new way.
Astungkara Way, a regenerative tourism company that also runs a regenerative farming enterprise in Tabanan Regency, has just launched new jungle bathing experiences for tourists to enjoy.
Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, the two-day, one-night Jungle Bathing adventure gives tourists a chance to ‘experience a sense of wonder in nature in this of grid trek through Bali’s last primary jungle.’
Guests traverse over 14km during the two-day adventure through Tamblingan and its surroundings.
Guided by local forest rangers and cultural interpreters, guests come away from the jungle immersion energized by the breath of truly fresh air, stunning rolling panoramic views, and having spent time connecting in a meaningful way with Balinese culture.
The Jungle Bathing program starts at 9 am with an oriental and introductions between the Astungkara Way team and the guests who will henceforth be known as pilgrims.
This forest bathing journey, like all of Astungkara Way’s expeditions, forms an opportunity for a personal pilgrimage for all those who take part. A pilgrimage, after all, can be a journey made through the outside world or through one’s own inner landscape; the jungle bathing experience provides the perfect platform to bring these two journeys together.
On day one of the Jungle Bathing experience, pilgrims will travel a total of 14km, stopping for lunch under the forest canopy during the traverse of the historical trading route through the primary forest that linked Tabanan in the south of Bali to the old capital of Singaraja in the north of the province.
At around 2.30 pm, pilgrims and the ranger team arrive at the newly great mountainside shelter, which will be home and base camp for the overnight stay. The mountainside shelter was created by Astungkara Way, the local community, with the support of Potato Head Bali.
Astungkara Way says, “To support Astungkara Way’s mission to drive Regenerative Tourism in Bali, [Potato Head Bali] designed and donated the sleeping pod where [pilgrims] will spend the night, along with its toilets and showers.”
“The buildings use recycled and up-cycled materials, creating a space that treads lightly on its environment while providing participants a comfortable stay in nature.”
The late afternoon and evening is filled with opportunities to learn about Balinese culture and the surrounding landscape.
Pilgrims are invited to help prepare the evening’s meal with local partners, learning more about the stories behind each ingredients, each dish and the community hosts and their relationship to the jungle and agricultural landscape.
On day two of the expedition, pilgrims only had a short 1km hike. Following a wake-up call initiated by the sun, pilgrims are welcome to take part in a yoga session, which will be followed by breakfast served with jungle views.
Pilgrims visit local coffee farmer Edi to learn about his family’s coffee plantation and the intergenerational stories that are woven through the land.
Pilgrims will walk through the mountainside coffee plantation and take part in an interactive workshop on the magic beans!
The Jungle Bathing experience operates with a minimum of four pilgrims and a maximum of nine participants to help ensure the experience is intimate and intentional. The cost for adults is IDR 2,200,000, and for children, IDR 1,800,000.
Tourism leaders in Bali have been open about their desire to promote more culturally respectful and sustainable tourism activities across the island.
In the coming months and years, tourists can expect to see more village and community-based tourism activities on offer on the island.
While tourist villages like Penglipuran Village in Bangli Regency receive thousands of visitors every day, hundreds of rural communities in Bali are developing cultural tourism programs to help tourists learn about Bali more meaningfully.
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Wayan Bo
Sunday 28th of July 2024
Serpent Kaa’s bathroom 🤣