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.
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that → have → activities
At these hotels, higher elevation spells cooler climes — yet still with plenty of sun-drenched charm.
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elevation → spell → charm
Forestis Dolomites, Italy
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.
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Forestis → perch → 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.
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hotel → ski → pines
On my recent stay here, the entire premise was wrapped in a thick mountain fog like a citadel in the clouds.
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premise → wrap → 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.
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guests → break → suites
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.
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guests → treat → 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.
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Lamprecht → shape → capers
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.
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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.
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lines → ’ → 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.
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nature → Set → status
Food, drink and activities are all included, so switch off and surrender to the experience.
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Food → include → experience
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.
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stay → combine → 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.
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which → board → 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.
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you → spend → 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.
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hotel → follow → banner
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.
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you → return → day
Schloss Elmau, Germany
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.
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hotel → run → activities
Twice host to the G7, it’s got the swank and privacy required for jet-setters but still feels homely.
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it → get → setters
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.
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you → ’ → 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.
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you → star → 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.
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who → include → Austria
On the banks of Lake Jasna in the foothills of an alpine pass, boutiquey Milka is a love letter to the north-eastern Kranjska Gora region wrought in beautiful design, exceptional (two-Michelin-starred) food and sustainable ethos.
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Milka → work → design
Lyngen Lodge, Norway
With its waterside setting in the photogenic Lyngen Alps and greenery-topped living roof, family-run Lyngen Lodge in northern Norway looks every bit the Scandi summertime dream.
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Lodge → top → Norway
Ultra-long summer days — the sun doesn’t set at all here between 18 May and 26 July — give opportunity for almost limitless exploration.
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sun → set → exploration
Back at the eight-room home base, you’re given a warm welcome with wood-lined walls, a snowy palette and a social lounge area with crackling fire, plus outdoor jacuzzi for late-night dips in the golden light.
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From the on-site kids’ club to the Splash water park – and the dedicated family spa – this Tyrolean resort, perched 1,438m above sea level in ski resort Serfaus Fiss Ladis, knows how to keep little travellers busy.
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resort → perch → travellers
Courses like trampoline or hip-hop are perfect for older kiddos while parents slip off to lie by the sun-trap pool, or you can make the most of the mountain cable car a five-minute walk away for a serene, grown up hike on one of the many walking trails.
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you → slip → trails
Rooms in greens, greys, whites and naked woods reflect the tones outside and ground the mood at the end of a busy day exploring.
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Casa Cook Madonna, Italy
If you need any proof that coolcations are trending, the opening of the first mountain retreat from adults-only group Casa Cook is it.
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The design-forward getaways have traditionally been in sun-drenched climes (think Greece, Egypt) but the newest location throws open doors 1,550m up in the Italian village of Madonna di Campiglio this 18 July.
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location → drench → Campiglio
Earth-toned rooms with sweeping views will make your pulse slow and shoulders drop – while a cocktail terrace and a restaurant dishing up polished Italian plates will perk you up again.
Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland
This is glamour high up in the Swiss alps.
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At 1,500m Crans-Montana enjoys blue sky and sunshine around 300 days a year, and the luxurious Six Senses helps you make the most of it, arranging everything from paragliding to e-biking and golf.
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you → enjoy → biking
Views stretch out to the iconic Matterhorn, while cooling, coddling rooms in deep greys feel as though they could have been hewn straight from mountain rock.
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Given it’s a Six Senses USP, a visit to the spa is practically mandatory, for laps in the rooftop pool or biohacking treatments that aim to turn back the clock.
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The Chedi, with its pristine, polished and glassy interiors — which wouldn’t look out of the place in a high-end city hotel — has got your back.
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which → look → back
You’ll want for nothing here, whether you’re seeking two-Michelin-starred Japanese dining, a premium cigar (they stock more than 900 options) or a seaweed body wrap in the 2,400-square-metre spa.
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they → want → spa
When (or if) you manage to make it outdoors
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, beautiful alpine panoramas and the golf, luxurious shopping and mountain railways of chic Andermatt await.
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panoramas → await → Andermatt
Architecturally ambitious My Arbor is certainly one-of-a-kind, sitting on stilts in a woodland perch overlooking the purple-hued panorama of South Tyrol peaks.
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Arbor → sit → peaks
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
