Throughout 2025, travelers have shifted their preferences from jam-packed itineraries to calmcations, prioritizing immersive wellness-centered retreats. In response to this leading travel trend, luxury ski resorts have redefined the typical après-ski experience, replacing late nights with holistic treatments designed to help guests unwind and recharge. Across Europe, these properties have implemented their own twist on ways to après.
Cape of Senses in Lake Garda, Italy
Travelers are redefining what apres-ski can look like, treating themselves to lux wellness escapes after a day on the slopes. Lake Garda, Italy welcomes skiers to explore the mountains of Monte Baldo, home to seven ski lifts and 25 miles of snow-covered trails. The area is the only ski resort of Lago di Garda in Italy with red and black trails, some of which are used in Italian Winter Sports Association competitions. Following a day on the slopes, guests are welcomed back to the warmth of Cape of Senses, just an hour from the Monte Baldo and perched 600 feet above the lake, to unwind amidst breathtaking vistas of the surrounding mountains. In a twist on traditional apres ski, the adult-only hideaway offers a selection of specialty mocktails that include the regions vibrant flavors. Menu highlights include ItaliaNo, a more bitter drink made with Martini Floreale 0% and the Bellino which is a more sweet creation made with white peach puree. Guests can also unwind at the property's 21,000 square-foot Senses Spa which embodies a holistic approach, offering a balanced escape. The spa features pools, saunas, a fitness area, treatment rooms, and relaxation areas, alongside a spa library and garden, for guests to recharge their mind and bodies.
The Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa, Switzerland
The Tschuggen Grand Hotel, set in the Alpine region of Arosa, Switzerland, provides a unique alternative to the common après-ski experience—one rooted in holistic well-being. Through its signature Moving Mountains program, the hotel invites guests to embrace natural healing, movement, and well-being throughout their stay. After a day on the slopes, guests are encouraged to unwind through various restorative offerings. At the heart of this is the Tschuggen Bergoase Spa, spanning four floors and renowned for its distinctive architecture as it is carved directly into the mountain, and offers diverse wellness experiences focusing on mind and body renewal. Guests can also benefit from personalized one-on-one or small-group fitness instruction and guided yoga sessions overlooking the spectacular surrounding landscape to deeply connect with their inner selves. To conclude an adventure-filled day, the hotel can arrange their private lake offering, where guests can experience Europe’s first-ever ‘Eisbadi,’ ice bathing and sauna facility located nearby at Untersee. Here, visitors can enjoy a refreshing dip in the clear, cold water before relaxing in the sauna, accompanied by a soothing aromatic infusion.
Forsthofgut Nature Hotel in Leogang, Austria (pictured)
Forsthofgut Nature Hotel in Leogang, Austria redefines the après-ski ritual through recovery and restoration. After skiing the 168 miles of trails across the Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn network, guests can transition directly from the slopes into the waldSPA, a 61,000 sqft spa designed for both relaxation and performance. Panoramic saunas, thermal and onsen-style pools, and forest-view treatment rooms are complemented by fascia therapy, deep-tissue massage, and herbal compress rituals that target post-ski muscle recovery. The adjoining waldSPA Health wing introduces a preventative approach with cryotherapy cooled to -166°F, metabolic analysis, and performance diagnostics guided by medical and wellness professionals. Together, they create a spa experience that balances alpine energy with evidence-based restoration.
Après-ski continues at the Botanist Bar, where non-alcoholic cocktails and tonics are crafted in collaboration with Saint Charles Apothek & Pharmacy in Vienna. The menu highlights functional ingredients and adaptogens, with drinks such as the Beauty Drink made with Microbiome Beauty, honey syrup, ginger, and lemon; Immun Complex with Microbiome Immun, lemongrass syrup, mango, ginger, and lemon; and Calm Breeze with fresh ashwagandha juice, anti-stress complex, honey, mango, peach, and lemon. Each beverage is designed to support recovery and hydration after skiing.
