As autumn arrives, hotels are rolling out a succession of relaxation programmes centred on woodland walks, tea and meditation. These wellness experiences are designed to help guests slow down for a while as they stroll along forest paths and brew and drink tea. What stands out in this autumn’s offerings is that meditation is no longer a standalone class, but part of a sequence that includes a cup of tea and a walk.
Time to walk, read and listen in the forest
Walkerhill Hotels & Resorts has introduced six ‘camknic’ packages combining a camping atmosphere with picnics in woodland in the heart of the city. Grand Walkerhill Seoul, Vista Walkerhill Seoul and Douglas House each offer packages with different features. In the forest, the newly refurbished Forest Caravan – Forest Bookshop offers a place to unwind. It has around 120 books selected by independent bookshop THANKS BOOKS, so guests can take their time reading among the trees. The hotel also runs Healing Forest and guided forest experience programmes, inviting guests to walk woodland paths, hear stories about nature and notice the changing seasons.
Choose your tea and focus on the process of brewing it
Haevichi Hotel & Resort has teamed up with tea brand BUBUTI for its autumn campaign, Blended Autumn. Its theme is slow wellness: paying attention to the aroma, temperature and flavour while choosing, brewing and drinking tea. Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju and Rolling Hills Hotel are selling a limited run of packages for 50 rooms to Instagram followers from the 12th to the 21st, with guests receiving a portable tea set from BUBUTI.
Rolling Hills Hotel will hold four outdoor tea classes, Find Your Blend, on the 17th and 18th and again on the 24th and 25th. The sessions take place in the autumn garden and include an introduction to tea, a chance to brew it, and meditation to finish. DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo is running its Autumn Tea Harmony afternoon tea in partnership with German tea brand Ronnefeldt from September to the end of November, and is offering a tea class for customers who make a purchase, introducing pairings of tea and desserts.
Meditation that flows from the tea table
The hotel that brings tea and meditation together most closely is Potalaka Naksan Beach Wellness Hotel, which opened in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, this July. Its tea wellness sessions invite guests to brew and savour green, matcha, white, oolong, black and pu-erh teas at an unhurried pace, followed by meditation focused on breathing and the senses. The hotel also offers programmes combining singing bowls with tea meditation, sunrise yoga, sleep meditation and aromatherapy.
An accessible starting point for those who find it hard to sit still and clear their minds
In an age of ceaseless information and notifications, sitting quietly and emptying the mind can feel daunting for many people. Choosing tea leaves, adjusting the water temperature and noticing the aroma are activities that engage both the hands and the senses. For those new to meditation, focusing attention on something physical in this way can be a relatively easy entry point. Taking a slow walk along a forest path, listening to the sound of singing bowls or stretching in the morning sunshine with yoga are other ways to explore what works for you.
The trend of bringing tea and meditation into the hotel stay shows how meditation is moving beyond dedicated practice spaces and becoming part of travel and everyday life. The industry is broadening its autumn offerings by adding walks and picnics to existing spaces such as forests and gardens, and incorporating tea and meditation into stays. The chance to take time and savour the season is itself becoming a selling point for hotels.