“Do you know why farmers never let babies sleep in the hay?” asks medicinal herb expert Ina Schicker as she arranges jars of dried plants on the table.
“Because it has such a strong sedative effect, small children can be difficult to wake.”
Swiss stone pine shavings, valerian, lavender, hops and rose petals are all known for their sleep-inducing properties, Schicker explains during a workshop where participants sniff small linen pouches until a gentle drowsiness sets in.
“Peace lies in the scent,” Schicker says.
A global sleep boom
Her workshop is part of a five-day sleep-learning programme in the German spa town of Füssen in the southern state of Bavaria, which has embraced the growing trend of sleep tourism.
Here, trained “sleep guides” help exhausted guests rediscover deep, restorative rest.
Sleep tourism is booming worldwide. Hotels are shifting focus from sightseeing and adventure to something simpler: a good night’s sleep.
From wellness hotels to medical sleep retreats, the promise is the same: better sleep, better holidays.
With sleep problems on the rise globally, demand is growing fast - and so is the price.
At the high end, resorts like Six Senses at the foot of the Himalayas offer Tibetan healing therapies, while jungle retreats in Bali focus on nature-based rituals.
The cost can run into thousands of dollars - jet lag included. So what does a good night’s sleep really cost?
A simpler approach
At the Biohotel Eggensberger in Füssen, the approach is more down to earth.
Owner Andreas Eggensberger, one of a handful of certified “sleep hosts,” follows strict standards: high-quality mattresses, blackout curtains, calming lighting and a menu of pillows.
Each room also features a “goodnight switch” that turns off Wi-Fi and reduces electronic interference.
“The body regenerates better in a low-radiation environment,” he says.
As a sleep guide, he also listens to guests’ concerns, whether it’s adjusting a bed frame, swapping a pillow or simply offering herbal tea.
Like many wellness programmes in the region, the course draws on the teachings of Sebastian Kneipp, a 19th-century priest and naturopath who promoted natural healing through water, herbs, exercise and balance.
His philosophy - built on five pillars: water, plants, movement, nutrition and lifestyle balance - remains widely used in European spa culture today.
The search for inner peace
One of the programme’s core ideas is simple: healthy sleep begins with inner balance. For many participants, the search begins outdoors.
In the misty Faulenbach Valley, nature therapist Miriam Kussmaul leads “forest bathing” sessions, encouraging guests to slow down and tune into their surroundings.
“What do you hear? What do you feel? What do you smell?” she asks. Step by step, guests slow their pace, breathe deeply and let their thoughts drift away, immersed in the quiet of the Alpine landscape.
Local guide Sonja Unold, who aims to reveal hidden beauties with her meditative city walk, begins at the place of eternal rest, the Old Cemetery against the mountain backdrop, past a Franciscan monastery.
The route continues down the steps through the more-than-600-year-old Bleichertor gate, to the banks of the Lech, considered one of the last remaining untamed rivers in the Northern Alps.
Here, time seems to briefly stand still. Psychologist Sascha Maurer focuses on another key idea: inner balance.
“Follow your natural rhythm and daily rituals,” he says. “That’s how the mind finds rest.”
When thoughts begin to spiral, he suggests repeating a simple mantra to help: "I am relaxed and looking forward to sleep."
Others find relief in the water, says Kneipp therapist Eggensberger, a long-time advocate of Kneipp-inspired hydrotherapy.
In a study conducted with researchers from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, he found that daily cold-water treatments on the arms and legs can measurably improve sleep quality.
Gradually, across the programme’s 14 elements - from mindfulness and yoga to nutrition, nature walks and scent therapy - participants begin to regain a sense of ease in their sleep.
After five days, Eggensberger’s small in-house sleep lab assesses the results, tracking sleep cycles and overall rest.
If deep sleep, light sleep and dream phases fall into a healthy rhythm, he says, “that’s what good sleep looks like” - and even reveals which nights may have been more restless than others.
