The magic word for rediscovering one’s well-being is “connection with nature.” There’s a growing desire for open spaces, pure air, and lush greenery—a genuine need to disconnect, to resonate with the natural elements, immersed in the silence and sounds of nature, far removed from the daily grind.
This is why the mountains are the ideal place for rejuvenation, precisely through the embrace of nature’s elements. Disciplines like yoga, meditation, and holistic experiences have gracefully ascended to higher altitudes, where they can be practiced on a meadow, facing a peak, or deep within the forest.
Total Immersion in Nature
Up in the mountains, conversations often revolve around forest bathing and tree-hugging. Forest bathing offers detoxification and boosts the immune system through complete immersion in nature—a practice born in Japan that seamlessly melds with the mountainous terrain of Alto Adige / South Tyrol. Sit among the trees, breathe in their essence, and benefit from the essential oils they release. It means taking a woodland stroll and pausing for meditation.
Trees, indeed, are meant to be embraced. They provide strength and energy, making you feel one with them. Alternatively, you can walk barefoot on trails and grass—an exercise known as “barefooting,” which combines physical and mental fortitude through direct contact with the earth.
Water also holds regenerative power. Its force and energy are a wellspring of well-being. This gives rise to Kneipp paths, where, once again, you make contact with natural elements, walking barefoot. There are also “soundwalks,” where you listen to the symphony of streams and waterfalls.
Innovative and Panoramic Spas
In South Tyrol, relaxation and rejuvenation extend to the accommodations themselves, whether it’s a cozy bed and breakfast or a luxurious five-star hotel. All offer a wellness area or a tranquil nook. These spaces are always innovative and exude contemporary design, always in harmony with nature. Unconventional saunas, pools that seem to touch the sky, and charming relaxation spots amidst forests or lakes are all at your disposal.
The latest innovation seamlessly merging modernity and design is the Elements sauna—a new rotating and suspended marvel in San Cassiano, Alta Badia. Located nine meters above ground, it boasts a cylindrical base that rotates 360 degrees, offering a panoramic view of the entire landscape. Also of the latest generation is the floating steel platform in Valdaora—an exclusive retreat with a spectacular view of the Val Pusteria peaks.
You can also swim amidst earth and sky at a guesthouse on the Renon Plateau, above Bolzano. Perched between city and mountain, the roof of this structure hosts a panoramic pool with a serene relaxation area, allowing you to commune with the surrounding peaks. Don’t miss the “sky spa” in San Vigilio di Marebbe, where the mountains are reflected in the heated pool, enabling swimming even as snowflakes fall. In Plan de Corones / Kronplatz, an ozone-purified infinity pool blends seamlessly with the azure sky.
Above Merano, in Avelengo, you can float in water reaching 40 degrees Celsius (104.00°F) and rest on solar platforms nestled among the rocks. On a lake in Ortisei, saunas offer expansive vistas. In 2022, a large platform in the middle of a small lake was created, housing saunas with large windows that make you feel like an integral part of the garden, while catching glimpses of the Sassolungo peaks in the distance.
Finally, there are spas with panoramic views that dissolve the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. Like some hotels above Lana, perched at 1,500 meters (4,921′) above sea level, or in Slingia with a view of Val Venosta, or in Sesto Pusteria and Soprabolzano, on the Renon Plateau. All offer breathtaking mountain views, unconfined by walls or limits.
Check out Dolomite Mountains’ Trip Idea: The Ultimate Wellbeing and Culinary Experience in South Tyrol
Written By Chiara Todesco
About The Author: Born into a family of mountaineers, Chiara Todesco inherited her passion for the peaks as a child. A professional journalist, she has always covered snow and alpine tourism. She currently writes for the newspaper La Stampa, the magazine Scimagazine and collaborates with the website Scigratis.it.
Chiara has published three books, with her beloved peaks as a scenary: Warmth of wool and scent of resin – The mountain of women (MonteRosa Editions); The Ladies of the Peaks – Stories of female mountain guides and the collection of fairy tales for children Winter tales in the Dolomites (both for Trentini Publisher).
Ph. @giovannidesandre
