Why Alpine Air And Forest Immersion Are The Top Travel Picks For 2026

The next generation is putting a high priority on travel over consumerism. Experiences such as fresh alpine air and forest immersion are the top travel picks for this year. An article in a news outlet, CNBC, cites how fifty percent of vacationers are traveling to escape or get away. Explaining why experiential adventures, such as forest immersion, outweigh any other type of destination on the travel bucket list.

Forest bathing can be dated back as far as the 1980’s. A Japanese travel publication explains that tech-free forest immersion originated as a Japanese medical practice. Fast forward to the present day. The circumstances still apply. Forest immersion is a wellness experience desired primarily to connect with nature, focus on wellness, and unplug from technology.

Accessibility to nature is not something many people think about. The day-to-day activities of the typical human don’t revolve around nature. Studies conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency show individuals spend about ninety percent of their day indoors. Highlighting why many vacationers are traveling from dense urban areas. Typically with low amounts of natural plant life, to remote, green forest backdrops, and alpine fresh air.

A weekend spent connecting with nature has trackable health benefits. To experience this forest immersion trend, people are using PTO and booking flights to participate in an opportunity that will bring them closer to nature. Choosing isolation from the hustle and bustle of life in the city, all in the name of health.

This generation of vacationers is choosing health and wellness over many other recreational expenses, such as nightlife and clubbing. Long gone are the days of spending money on material “things”. The newest generation of adults is using travel as a way to increase their current quality of life. They are not concerned about saving money to travel later. Budgets are being rearranged to focus on the ability to allocate funds for travel experiences they can enjoy now.

According to an article published by Johns Hopkins University, “Forest bathing has been shown to benefit the nervous system, heart rate, and blood pressure, and those things touch a lot of other medical issues,” says Rosanne Sheinberg, Med ’06 (MD), a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist who has prescribed time in nature to her patients.

With doctors prescribing forest bathing as the anecdote to several ailments, it is no wonder alpine air and dense forests are at the top of travel lists for 2026. The opportunity to increase overall wellness while experiencing nature is a win-win situation.

Modern life includes daily activities surrounding the use of technology and electronics. Our alarms, communication devices, watches, cars, and appliances are all filled with “tech”. The constant contact with blue light from screens, artificial light from indoors, and anxiety from alerts and notifications can throw off the body’s natural rhythm. Reconnecting with nature is a great way to ground and reset.

Forest immersion does more than reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and reconnect you with nature. This health and wellness travel trend is popular for granting individuals the much-needed space to enjoy the present moment. Without a phone in hand, there is no email to respond to, no text message to read, and no timeline to scroll. This gives the participant the opportunity to really live in the now.

The evidence is clear. Individuals interested in placing health and wellness as a priority are investing in alpine air and forest immersion. The health benefits provide value and positively impact the quality of life. If your New Year’s resolutions consisted of health and wellness, digital detoxes, and connecting with nature, forest immersion needs to be at the top of your travel itinerary for 2026.