SONAS – spending time in the Burren
‘Pay what you want’
- 3 Hours
- 10 Maximum
- Burren, Co Clare
Being in the Burren
Let’s go and experience this magical landscape – the Burren. From a distance the Burren looks like it is made of nothing but stone, bizarre and otherworldly. When you get close and take the time to look you will find out why the Burren is a paradise for botanists. Many million years ago Ireland was not an island yet, it was part of a larger landmass lying south of the equator. During that time the Burren surface was the bottom of a tropical sea and it stills holds fragments from that time in its limestone. This karst landscape is ever changing, with every raindrop, every footstep. Many features are hidden in the washed-out stone – caves, underground rivers, deep grikes full of plants. Visible are the remains of a long history of humans in this area, tombs and ringforts, ruins churches, abandoned cottages.
This landscape is a perfect place for a SONAS Experience, slowing down, relaxing and connecting.
Special SONAS Experience – Full Moon in the Burren
On clear nights we ‘bathe’ in the light of the full moon, a special and magical experience.
The NEXT Full Moon outings will take place on the following dates: 2024 – October 17th, November 15th and December 15th, 2025 – January 25th, February 24th and March 25th (subject to favourable weather conditions) contact me to check for meeting point/location. Special Full Moon Price – ‘Pay what you want’
‘Burren Bathing’ / Forest Bathing, what is that? Shinrin-Yoku is Japanese and means ‘taking in the forest atmosphere’ or ‘forest bathing’. I do not know what the Japanese word for Burren would be, I am certain though the atmosphere of the limestone landscape is ideal for bathing! Forest Bathing emerged as a physiological and psychological exercise in the 1980s. The purpose is to offer an eco-antidote to tech-boom burnout and to inspire people to reconnect with nature.
In the 1990s researchers started studying the benefits. Science now supports what we probably already knew all along, spending time in nature is good for us. And this is not only for wilderness lovers, it can be practiced in any natural environment. You can do this on your own, though research shows that connecting with people makes us happy too. So to spend time in a group of likeminded people in nature with some guidance, maybe some meditation or simple breathing exercises, paying attention to the natural world around us is really good for us! I have been practicing shinrin-yoku in combination with my happiness coaching and I find being out in nature in this special way in a small group of likeminded people lets us forget our worries and to-do-lists. We all feel calm, relaxed and happy afterward.
Please bring comfortable, suitable clothing and solid shoes, the ground is uneven. Moderate walking. I recommend bringing a little cushion or mat to sit on.
Meeting point: Colman’s Hermitage at Eagle’s Rock. Special SONAS price ‘Pay what you want’, max 10 participants
For private group bookings please contact us about available dates.
SONAS – a new way of being in places
The Irish word SONAS means happiness, good fortune, bliss. Trying to find what makes us happy we realise more and more that we find happiness in the company of friends, in being in nature. Our lives are so often ruled by an avalanche of information, by looking at screens, going from one appointment to the next. While we are concerned about our jobs, our health, money, we tend to forget how to slow down, how to be aware of ourselves, our surroundings, our life. Happiness – SONAS and how to attain it was already discussed by the earliest philosophers. Over the last decades scientists have directed their research to happiness and wellbeing. Where do we find it? And their research shows it is often in those places where we do not look.
On our SONAS tours and in our SONAS courses we will take our time, be silent and breathe, experience our surroundings and getting to know the history or special features. To be aware and to know a place forms a connection and this is how we find our special places of happiness.
‘Sonas ort – may you be happy’
What's Included
For these tours you will meet your guide at a local meeting point and spend 2 to 3 hours exploring the landscape, the sites, learning something new, experiencing something special. Check out our calendar and book your favourite tour.
Guided by locals
Our vehicle for chauffeured tours is a practically new Volkswagen Transporter for maximum 8 guests, for 2021 we are limiting our guest numbers to 6. Sitting a bit higher than in a limousine you will have a great view and see more of the landscape passing by. For extended tours we have plenty of room for your luggage.
Great Photo Locations
Taking photos has become so easy, we will make sure to stop at the best locations so that you can bring back amazing photos, share them and keep them as a memory of a special trip. For our Sonas Tours we suggest switching off your devices and spend some time 'offline' to be free to experience your surroundings.
Supporting Trees
Sustainable tourism is important to us. One measure to make a difference for climate change is to plant trees. 10 % of our proceeds are going towards native trees being planted in Ireland.
Peace of Mind
Andaire is registered with the Irish Tourist board and you will see the white and green logo of the Covid-19-Safety charter on our website which shows you we have been educated in infection control and adhere to strict hygiene measures and are also subject to spot checks. You can find us on the Directory of Covid-19 Compliant Businesses.