These chic alpine stays have all the sun and fun, minus the sweltering temperatures
With temperatures currently pushing 40C in traditional Med holiday destinations, it’s time to up the altitude for an escape that combines reliable rays with activities galore.
At these hotels, higher elevation spells cooler climes — yet still with plenty of sun-drenched charm.
Perched on the hillside at 1,800m directly facing the soaring Peitlerkofel peaks in the Dolomites, Forestis is a secluded, Nordic-style mountain retreat 30 minutes from the Tyrolean town of Brixen. This minimalist ski-in/ski-out hotel features in its center a 1912 lodge and three adjacent timber-clad towers, echoing the rustic grace of the alpine pines.
On my recent stay here, the entire premise was wrapped in a thick mountain fog like a citadel in the clouds. When the clouds broke through, guests were treated with a panoramic view of some of the Alps’ most stunning vistas in the comfort of their suites. There's no better place to take in all of this than the hotel’s soul-pampering spa, featuring an indoor-outdoor infinity pool with purifying water from the Plose mountains and five saunas of varying styles and herbal scents. A highlight of my stay here is the daily Aufguss ritual, where guests are treated to detoxifying aromatic steam in a 90°c sauna while admiring the vibrant orange hues at sunset.
In Forestis’ step-shaped restaurant, where chef Roland Lamprecht serves up ‘forest cuisine’ – a creative fusion of Italian recipes, Germanic flavours, and alpine produce, cooking up dishes like the raspberry-infused cacio e pepe, veal magatello with capers and white truffle spinach spätzle. It’s a reflection of the distinct cultural mix in South Tyrol, enjoyed in a private booth assigned to each guest with a floor-to-ceiling frontal view of the surrounding forests. This is the Dolomites at its most serene, cool and therapeutic.
Come for the 20-something-degree sunny weather, stay for the jaw-dropping view: a dramatic panorama of Tyrolean mountains, footed by a carpet of green pines and alpine meadows. At minimalist nine-room hideaway eriro, it’s all about savouring the setting, with clean architectural lines in natural woods defining uncluttered living spaces lined in huge windows.
Set at 1,500m amid the peaks of Ehrwald, this is a place where time slows down, moods shift to the meditative and nature takes on an almost holy status. Food, drink and activities are all included, so switch off and surrender to the experience.
Book it: From £1,315 all-inclusive. eriro.at
Combining old-world alpine charm with contemporary cool, this recently renovated stay by the chic Beaumier group serves up the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland on a plate. Board the Wengernalp cogwheel train and ascend to the Heidi-esque scene with horse-riding trails, paragliding and hikes like the Royal Walk, which squirrels up to the summit of nearby Männlichen.
With sunny but temperate climes you can spend whole days outdoors, sailing on Lake Thun, hot air-ballooning or lazing by the pool overlooking the iconic Jungfrau before heading for a dinner of local beef pithivier in the restaurant.
Following a revamp by Jean-Michel Gathy, Italian ski resort San Cassiano’s premier hotel reopens under the Aman banner later this month — so there’s no cooler time to visit. Featuring classic alpine timber and stone plus Aman’s typically zen Asian-inflected interiors, expect super spacious bedrooms and a double-height lobby bar.
Despite the temptation to linger, be sure to force yourself out to explore the hiking and biking trails, and pretty church-studded centre. If for no other reason than when you return you can delve into the Aman Spa guilt-free, savouring the three swimming pools and Dolomite-inspired treatments for the rest of the day.
Brilliant for families — and even more brilliant for spa-lovers — this long-running hotel in the Elmau Valley, 1000m above sea level, is packed with organised activities, cultural delights and superb food. Twice host to the G7, it’s got the swank and privacy required for jet-setters but still feels homely. It’s perfect if you’re coming for a week of football camp with the kids, an expert-led Pilates retreat, rock-climbing, tennis or one of the concert hall recitals. Nearly a dozen dining options, some Michelin-starred, allow you to quickly restore any calories you’ve burned from constantly being on the move.
With its rugged peaks, medieval towns and glassy lakes — including the famed Lake Bled — the Julian Alps are mountainous eye-candy, ideal for those who’ve already explored the usual peak suspects in Austria and Switzerland.