Swimming, sauna, massages, balanced meals and skiing every day – an active holiday in the mountains can be perfectly combined with an individual wellness programme. Thanks to the continuing health trend, the ski & wellness offers are manifold.
Lots of resorts and accommodations with wellness offers
A winter holiday in the mountains should be one thing above all: relaxation for body and soul. The decisive factor is the feeling of escaping from everyday life for a while and “letting your soul dangle”. Where could this work better than in the fresh mountain air in front of a breath taking natural landscape? Alpine conditions are the best basis for a feel-good holiday far away from everyday life. At the same time, winter sports enthusiasts want to get active, let off steam and have fun on the slopes.
In the Alps there are numerous state-recognised climatic health resorts and spas that have focused on health tourism in addition to winter sports. Where thermal springs bubble up from the ground, you will find thermal baths, spa centres and spas. Moreover, there is hardly a hotel in the alpine holiday regions in Germany, Austria or Italy that does not offer at least a small sauna in the basement. Even apartment complexes, especially in France have that little bit of wellness and provide their own outdoor pool or fitness rooms.
In contrast, there are more and more luxury and spa hotels in ski resorts that specialise in the holistic wellness experience. Here, the focus is not only on relaxation in the sauna and spa area, but also on a balanced diet and a healthy body balance. In the course of this, bio-hotels are becoming more and more popular, which even focus on sustainability in the individual ingredients of their cuisine or in the energy supply of the building.
More than just saunas
If you only think of sauna and massage when you hear the term “wellness”, you are about to experience a whole new world. Because a holistic recovery programme consists of much more than just loosening up the muscles. It is about bringing body and soul into harmony and promoting the health of both parts. The mind should breathe deeply, the body regenerate. There are many ways to achieve this goal with different methods. Spa centres, spas and wellness hotels follow this holistic approach and offer a wealth of options – also in ski resorts.
The offers to achieve this goal are varied. Standard in larger spa facilities have Kneipp facilities, which stimulate the metabolism and refresh the body, massages or even yoga courses. In many places, there is also Tibetan singing bowl therapy and nutritional counselling. Some places also offer Thalasso treatments. Depending on the type of treatment, the cures serve to reduce stress, offer an anti-aging effect and can alleviate chronic pain.
Time out in the thermal spa: thermal spa tips
If you don’t want to book yourself into a posh spa right away, you can do yourself some good by bathing in warm thermal water. Various ski resorts in the mountains have sulphurous springs that bubble up naturally from the ground. Some ski regions have large thermal baths that invite you to swim, take a sauna and feel good after a day of skiing:
Felsen- und Alpentherme in Gastein (Austria)
The Gastein Valley is a paradise for wellness and ski fans alike. There are 2 thermal baths within a radius of less than 10 km. One of the most famous regions for thermal springs is the Gastein Valley, the “Valley of Thermal Baths”. The Felsentherme in Bad Hofgastein and the Alpentherme in Bad Gastein offer the full programme from radon and electrotherapy to nutritional advice and beauty treatments. In addition, stays in the Gasteiner Heilstollen are offered in the Gastein Valley.
Skiing area nearby: Gastein
Aquadome in Längenfeld (Austria)
The floating brine and sulphur outdoor pools of the Aqua Dome are reminiscent of UFOs at first glance. The Aquadome is the top address for thermal spa wellness in the Ötztal and here, too, the healing springs bubble up from the earth. The large sauna-spa complex is characterised by its special architecture with a glass spire and cup-shaped outdoor pools. Together with a noble hotel, the complex forms the perfect combination for a relaxing skiing holiday – and only a few minutes’ drive north of the popular winter sports resort of Sölden with its 150 top kilometres of pistes.
Skiing area nearby: Sölden
Therme Amadé in Zauchensee (Austria)
Therme Amadé is located in the ski resort of Zauchensee, about 45 minutes’ drive from Salzburg. In the 30,000 m² complex, the focus is on a large bathing and sauna landscape. The brine pool with massage jets, the only wave pool in the region or an Ayurvedic full-body massage are all great ways to relax.
Skiing area nearby: Salzburg Sports World
La Piscine in Les Arcs (France)
In the middle of the Les Arcs ski area at an altitude of 1,800 m, the “Mille 8” fun zone opened in 2014, the centrepiece of which is the “La Piscine” swimming & wellness centre. Here, in addition to aqua fitness and an outdoor pool, hammam steam baths and a tea relaxation room are offered. The large panoramic windows of the swimming pool offer a view of the magnificent Mont Blanc.
Ski area nearby: Les Arcs/Peisey-Vallandry
Therme St. Kathrein, Römerbad and Karlbad in Bad Kleinkirchheim (Austria)
Visitors to the idyllic village of Bad Kleinkirchheim are also spoilt for choice: skiing on the 103 kilometres of pistes or would you rather go straight to one of the 3 large wellness facilities? The St. Kathrein thermal baths are ideal for families, as they are a family bath, spa and health world at the same time with wellness at the highest level. The Römerbad thermal baths cover 12,000 m². Thermal pools and saunas in Roman style are spread over 3 levels. The bath also has a massage and beauty area. The Karlbad stands in contrast to these modern wellness temples. It is a 500-year-old farmer’s bath, one of the last of its kind, where seductive moments of relaxation await the bather.
Skiing area nearby: Bad Kleinkirchheim
Merano Thermal Baths
In the spa town of Merano you can relax in the Merano Thermal Baths, a modern cube designed by star architect Matteo Thun. On 52,000 m², those seeking relaxation can swim in 25 pools with Kneipp, fitness and brine pools and cool off in the snow room (-10°C) after the steam bath or the bio hay sauna. In the hotel’s medical spa, specialist staff look after spa patients.
Skiing area nearby: Merano 2000
Bialka and Bukowina Tatrzánska: Bania Spa and Bukowina Spa (Poland)
The two resorts of Bialka Tatrzánska and Bukowina Tatrzánska are not far apart and are the quieter variants to the top ski centre of Zakopane. Not only because the two ski areas are smaller, with 25 and 12 kilometres of pistes, but also because relaxation is a priority in both resorts. Both have modern thermal spas. The Bania Spa in Bialka was only opened in 2011 and scores points with its large panoramic windows from which guests can virtually see right down to the slopes.
Skiing area nearby: Zakopane
Berchtesgadener Land: Rupertustherme and Watzmann Therme (Germany)
A total of 6 ski areas – and thus 60 kilometres of pistes – are included in the Berchtesgadener Land ski pass. And holidaymakers also have a choice when it comes to wellness: natural treasures such as Alpine salt, Alpine brine, mountain pine and laist are at the forefront in the RupertusTherme – whether in cosmetic treatments or in the steam bath. In addition to the bathing and sauna area, the Watzmann Therme also has a brine area with a healing gallery.
Skiing area nearby: Berchtesgaden region
Bormio: Bagni Vecchi & Nuovi (Italy)
In Bormio you can not only ski like a world champion, but also relax. The main attraction of the spa town is the Bagni Vecchi and the Bagni Nuovi with 30 spas. There are 36 different thermal water offers in the “old baths” and in 6 areas wellness fans will find, among other things, Roman baths and a purification course. In the “new baths” there are, for example, outdoor pools in the garden and anti-aging offers.
Ski area nearby: Bormio
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