More than 25 sustainable ways to enjoy nature and the outdoors while on vacation

Although hiking is one of the healthiest forms of exercise, I understand why some people don’t enjoy it. Not everyone enjoys spending hours walking through the countryside with a heavy backpack. However, we all want to experience nature, and that’s healthy, too! Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do so without hiking.

A gentle exploration of the Croatian island of Iž

The island of Iž is only 17 square kilometers in size and has a population of just over 500. If you stay here at the Hotel Korinjak, you’ll naturally spend all your time outdoors. Swimming at the wild Adriatic beaches, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and going on a boat trip to watch dolphins are just some of the water activities available there. The holistically oriented hotel also offers guided yoga on the terrace or forest meditation under pine and olive trees.

“The island’s gentle landscape is perfect for a leisurely exploration and sensory experience” – Hotel Korinjak

A sustainable, active vacation by the water

Green Pearls® offers a selection of sustainable hotels with direct access to natural bodies of water. In Germany, for instance, you’ll find the luxurious Hotel Der Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort atop a hill in the heart of the Upper Palatinate Lake District. The region has over 800 hectares of water and is the most water-rich area in eastern Bavaria. Enjoy activities such as boating, wakeboarding, water skiing, sailing, rowing, and swimming — no hiking boots required!

The same is true of Lake Constance, the second largest Alpine lake in Europe spanning over 500 square kilometers. On its German shore, you’ll find the Naturresort Gerbehof , surrounded by apple trees and pastures. If hiking, swimming, or boating aren’t your thing, the Nature SPA and its garden area are ideal places to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

If you would prefer to have your own vacation home, we recommend the Summit Lodges Pfunds. These two Tyrolean log cabins have their own fireplace, sauna, and sleeping accommodations for up to six people. The region’s natural beauty and diverse landscapes make it a perfect destination for hiking enthusiasts, but even those less interested in hiking will find activities to enjoy:

“You can go rafting and canyoning in Pfunds. The company is located directly in the village, and the starting point is nearby, depending on the route.” – Summit Lodges Pfunds

Read our article on sustainable water sports to find out how you can make water sports more sustainable and learn whether activities such as water skiing are really recommended.

Take a vacation at a lake in northern italy

At the South Tyrolean Hotel Weihrerhof, you will find yourself in an idyllic setting, situated on the shore of Lake Wolfsgruben. At an elevation of over 1,200 meters, the lake is one of the cleanest swimming lakes in Italy and offers many activities, including swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and rowing. You can even enjoy breakfast on the natural “breakfast island” in the middle of the lake. Your children can experience nature here while you relax with a good book on the lawn.

Sports on the Baltic Sea

The Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand, located on the Baltic Sea, offers more than just a beach vacation. It also supports a wide range of sports on site. Every year, the “Triathlon Heroines” come to the hotel to train for their triathlons with running, swimming, and cycling. Furthermore there ist the German Beach Volleyball Championship and Beach Hockey, as well as the annual Baltic Sea Run, where the winners of the women’s and men’s races receive an overnight stay at the hotel.

A vegan active vacation in South Tyrol

Do you want to be active without hiking or getting wet? And enjoy plant-based cuisine at the same time? Here are some recommendations from our vegan partner hotels in South Tyrol.

“Our hotel is located in the Vinschgau region of South Tyrol. In addition to hiking trails, the surrounding area offers excellent opportunities for running, cycling, climbing, and Nordic walking.” – LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel

By the way, LA VIMEA is not only vegan but also exclusively for adults. For active vacationers, there is a three-day package called the “Active Vegan Getaway,” which includes e-bikes.

The famous Seiser Alm is home to yet another entirely vegan hotel. The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel reports the following:

“Our home is the Seiser Alm, Europe’s largest high alpine pasture located over 2,000 meters above sea level in a UNESCO-protected area. The Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park offers great opportunities for summer and winter sports: skiing and snowboarding in the winter and cycling, mountain biking, e-biking, running, climbing, Nordic walking, golfing, paragliding, and horseback riding in the summer. You can also spend quality time with your children at the barefoot park or meditate in front of picturesque panoramic landscapes. The unique charm and beauty of the Dolomites allow you to enjoy extraordinary energy no matter what you do.” – Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel

Enjoy forest bathing and tranquility at My Arbor

Of course, there are quieter ways to enjoy the outdoors. The Hotel My Arbor, located near Brixen in South Tyrol, recommends that those who are not very keen on hiking simply take the gondola up to the Plose. “Once you reach the top, you can enjoy the fantastic view from the mountain station, grab a bite to eat, and sample some local dishes.” Incidentally, “My Arbor” means “my tree,” and the entire hotel is built among the treetops, fostering a special relationship with the forest. You can experience this during guided forest bathing, forest yoga, or outdoor meditation sessions.

• Click here for their weekly program.

Chillin’ in nature

At the Aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol, you can live life at your own pace and enjoy nature, perhaps by sitting on a bench by the Ahr River with a good book. Or, you can visit the horses and cows in the green valley and say hello to the fish in the Thara fishing pond.

The STURM hotel in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve in Germany features a natural swimming pond and a large garden with snacks. Ideal for yoga sessions.

Hotel Das Rübezahl, located in the Allgäu region, has built a yoga platform at its Rohrkopfhütte hut specifically for outdoor yoga. If the climb up there (about an hour) is too strenuous for you (it is more like a hike. . .), the wellness garden with views of the mountains and Neuschwanstein Castle is also a great option.

Scavenger hunts, escape games, and city tours

If you’re interested in exploring the area in a fun way and learning more, you can book a city tour during your vacation. In Freiburg, the “Green City Tour” in the Vauban district will show you what ecologically progressive urban development looks like and demonstrate how nature and the big city can coexist. The Green City Hotel Vauban has been a showcase project for green urban development since its inception, so you can experience this concept firsthand during your stay.

The Hotel Luise in Erlangen offers recommendations for special city tours, such as a night watchman tour or a beer and cellar tour. You can also play the Outdoor Escape Game Erlangen, where you solve a “criminal case” in the city center and discover a treasure.

In Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest, you can also sign up for an outdoor escape game and start your journey to find a monastery’s hidden secret. During the two-hour tour, you will discover and experience various sights in this historic spa town. Then, you can enjoy a slice of cake from the organic kitchen at the Schwarzwald Panorama or relax in the hotel’s thermal baths and sauna.

Discover Peru’s plantations

Vacations often offer a wonderful opportunity to learn about local plants and products. At Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica in Peru, for example, you can visit several rainforest plantations. For instance, you can take a half-day excursion to a cocoa plantation where you can see cocoa plants and follow the entire process of producing chocolate, from roasting and grinding the cocoa beans to tasting the final product. You can also go with a guide to the Brazil nut trees on the hotel grounds. Here, you can learn more about the nuts and try different traditional methods of cracking their hard shells.

• Both excursions are also suitable for children. Visit the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción website for more information.

Bees and api wellness in South Tyrol

If you’re interested in bee colonies and honey, no one in our network can give you a better introduction than Paul Rinner from the APIPURA hotel rinner. Paul is a passionate migratory beekeeper who gives lectures, produces organic honey, and has set up a bee trail on the hotel grounds. He also offers his guests the unique Api Wellness experience, where they can breathe in the air of the beehive. The Api Wellness experience takes place in a cozy wooden hut with a view of nature. The boundary between inside and outside is blurred by natural materials, the buzzing of bees, and a large panoramic window.

Suspension bridge and lunch in East Tyrol

Even at the Naturhotel Outside, a designated hiking hotel in East Tyrol, hiking is by no means a must! If you’re looking for a little adventure, you can cross the suspension bridge over the Isel Gorge, or simply stop for a leisurely lunch at the Kräuterhexenkuchl Strumehof.

Barefoot trail at the Adler Lodge Ritten

How about going barefoot instead of wearing hiking boots? The ADLER Lodge RITTEN just built a barefoot trail in the forest this year. It fits perfectly with the resort’s mindful lifestyle, which includes a natural swimming pond, a farm-to-table concept, and sustainable wooden lodges with fireplaces.

Cycling 

Otherwise, exploring the vacation area by bike is always a great option. At the Klosterhof — Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, you can rent an e-bike right from the hotel and comfortably explore the Berchtesgadener Land with a little extra help. The same is true at the Relais del Maro in Liguria. The Albergo Diffuso is located in the picturesque village of Borgomaro, nestled in the mountains behind the coastal town of Imperia. E-bikes are an ideal, environmentally friendly means of transportation there.

At the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe, Lower Saxony, you can explore the rather flat area on classic bicycles. The Okelmann family’s head is a passionate cyclist himself and is happy to recommend the best cycling routes to his guests — which you can save directly to your phone.

Horseback riding

Recently, the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA promoted horseback riding as an eco-friendly outdoor activity. Read more about horseback riding in the Valley of the Temples. (Our colleague Mara, an avid horse rider, wrote this lovely article about sustainable horseback riding vacations.)

The ABCs of sustainable outdoor activities

In the end, we compiled a list in alphabetical order of all the suggestions and ideas from our network. Even the ideas that didn’t make it into the article are included here. Now, you can find inspiration no matter where you are.

 

Barefoot trails

Sightseeing

Bird watching

Archery

Bouldering

Camping

Dolphin watching

E-bike tours

Escape games (outdoor)

Golf

Gondola ride to a viewing platform

Suspension bridge

Outdoor journaling

Kayaking

Canoeing

Climbing

Knipping

Herbal workshops

Reading

Meditation

Mini golf

Visiting plantations

Cycling or MTB

Rafting

Horseback riding

Rowing

Scavenger hunt

Swimming

Sailing

City tours

SUP

Forest bathing

Forest meditation

Whitewater rafting

Outdoor yoga

 

 

Did we forget something?

Most likely! So, help us make the list even longer by adding your ideas in the comments!

Der Beitrag Sustainable outdoor activities for those who don’t feel like hiking erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

What is TCM, exactly?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of healing methods (from different eras) that originated in China. The most famous of these is acupuncture, which is now in widespread use throughout the world. Elements of Taoist philosophy and some perspectives that clearly contradict Western research have not been adopted in the “West”, but a reference to “Qi” as “life energy” has.

Sustainable wellness hotels with a TCM approach

At the following Green PearlsⓇ hotels, you can discover and try TCM and other healing methods. They all share a sustainable approach to human health and, more broadly, to the health of nature.

#1 Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten – TCM expertise on the Mosel

At the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten, everything revolves around your health and relaxation – according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The hotel is fully committed to this healing method and offers a variety of treatments, from acupuncture and cupping to personalized nutrition and exercise programs.

It is best to begin your stay with a personalized analysis. Ingrid Grubisik is the hotel’s experienced TCM therapist. With her extensive training and years of practice, she will help you address your individual needs.

Personalized and sustainable

During a personal interview and physical tests, you will be given a plan for your stay (as well as for the time after you return home). This includes a nutritional plan based on the Five Elements (5 Element cuisine is also part of the hotel concept) and recommendations for appropriate exercises and treatments.

The wellness hotel on the Moselle River has several pools, a large natural swimming pond and a sauna world. The water flows in a cycle developed with a Feng Shui master from Beijing. The hotel itself is designed according to Feng Shui principles and is a confirmed place of power.

#2 SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA: Medical Qigong for Inner Balance

If you are looking for more inner balance, you are also in good hands at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb. Your host, Stephan Bode, has integrated some of Buddha’s maxims into his life and hotel concept and founded a “Selfness Center“. Here you will find a large wellness area with a thermal swimming pool and a view of the Black Forest, in addition to yoga, Black Forest baths and fast diets.

Qigong with Master Khim

Qigong is an important part of TCM. It contains elements of martial arts – but with very slow and mindful movements.

Qigong stimulates the flow of qi, or life energy. External movement and internal stillness merge according to the principle of yin and yang.

At SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA you have the opportunity to book private lessons with Master Khim. He learned Qigong from Grand Master Prof. Li Shao Bo (Zhen-Qi Yun Xing Research Institute China) and is the only official representative of medical Qigong in Germany.

#3 Biohotel Grafenast: Qigong in the Tyrolean Mountains

There is another wonderful Green PearlsⓇ hotel in the Tyrolean mountains that combines Far Eastern healing methods with Western wellness treatments. Like the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten, Biohotel Grafenast was designed according to Feng Shui principles and is considered a place of power along with its surroundings.

Here you can book Qigong with Sabine as a private lesson. Her training focuses on strengthening and relaxing the spine. It stimulates the metabolism and digestion and can also help with insomnia.

• You can find out more by reading this PDF document about the range of treatments offered.

#4 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA: Acupuncture in Sicily

Dr. Letterio Taormina is a specialist in general medicine, but has also studied the “traditional healing methods of the East”. He is trained in Chinese acupuncture and his programs combine Western medicine with TCM. The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located on a WWF protected natural beach and is a wonderfully luxurious yet naturally designed hideaway on the island of Sicily.

On offer are: Detox, Mediterranean Health, Stress Management, Sleep Therapy and Longeviti Booster

• Click here to view the health and wellness programs at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA 

Green PearlsⓇ Hotels with other traditional healing methods

There are many more sustainable hotels among our partners that offer traditional or alternative healing methods. So if TCM is not for you, but you are still looking for alternatives or complements to conventional medicine, you may find what you are looking for.

#5 OCÉANO F. X. Mayr Center: Detoxification and Regeneration

The OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel on Tenerife combines F.X. Mayr’s therapeutic fasting with naturopathic methods such as acupuncture and oxygen therapy (as complementary treatments). Located on the north coast, the hotel offers a perfect environment for relaxation, tranquility and inner cleansing in a less touristy corner of the island. Facing the Atlantic Ocean and with a large seawater pool, the hotel has a close relationship with the sea, which is reflected in the thalassotherapy services offered at the HEALTH SPA. You will also be able to work out an exercise program with a therapist. The Health Hotel has a large fitness center and offers personal training, yoga classes and other exercise programs.

• Learn more about the F. X. Mayr program.

#6 LA VIMEA: Ayurveda and energy work in a vegan hotel

The vegan hotel LA VIMEA in South Tyrol focuses on Ayurveda, meditation and chakra work. This adults-only hotel has a swimming pond, indoor saltwater pool, and barrel sauna where you can relax. Daily yoga classes are offered (outdoors when the weather is nice), and you can also participate in singing bowl massages and forest bathing.

• Here you will find LA VIMEA’s yoga and meditation offers. You can also book various massages with Sylwia Patriok.
  

The hotel focuses on healthy and tasty plant-based cuisine. This can be an interesting experience even for non-vegans.

#7 STURM: Shiatsu and energetic massages

At STURM in Mellrichstadt, shiatsu treatments and holistic energetic massages help to balance the flow of energy. Shiatsu is a Japanese finger pressure massage technique and is performed at STURM by shiatsu practitioners Carmen and Sabine.

Nestled in the Rhön, the hotel is an ideal place to relax and recharge your batteries. The STURM has a large wellness area with a garden sauna, a house of silence and a swimming pond.

• Here you will find the wellness treatment program such as 1:1 breathing sessions or day retreats.

#8 Keemala, Phuket: Thai Rainforest Retreats

Keemala Resort offers customized retreats with holistic healing treatments, soothing massages and movement exercises. The tranquil setting in the middle of a tropical rainforest promotes sustainable healing. A leader in plastic-free and zero-waste practices, the resort also offers healthy, creative cuisine sourced from its own garden.

• Learn more about the retreats: Purify, Energize, Unwind and Rejuvenate

Why should you combine your vacation with TCM?

A vacation is the perfect opportunity to take care of yourself and balance your body and mind. In our busy lives, we often neglect to take the time to really listen to our needs, but this is the key to long-term wellness. According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, health is regained when inner harmony and balance are restored. This is what you can experience at a hotel specializing in TCM (or other healing modalities).

We hope that you have found the right place among the hotels presented here – for a break that will have an impact not only on your vacation, but also on your everyday life.

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Peace and relaxation through singing bowls

“The massages bring about a state of absolute relaxation that is unique. Even highly stressed people find peace within a short time.” That is how Maren Geisler-Okelmann of the Yoga-Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe describes the effect of the singing bowls. The hostess is a trained yoga teacher and conducts sound therapy according to Peter HessⓇ in her courses and retreats. The Peter HessⓇ Institute is only 7 km from Warpe!

Singing bowl massage according to Peter HessⓇ

The singing bowl massage, which is a wellness trend in many places today, was developed by Peter Hess about 30 years ago. The German engineer for physical technology came into contact with singing bowls during his travels in Nepal.

According to the institute’s website, he “succeeded in adapting ancient Far Eastern knowledge from the Himalayas about sound and rhythm and their healing effects on body, mind, and soul to the needs of people in Western societies.”

It is not entirely clear how singing bowls were originally used. Some researchers even suggest that they were simply used as cooking utensils and that the tradition was “invented” later on. Others suggest that singing bowls once played an important role in Buddhism – but that the tradition has been lost.

The Peter HessⓇ Institute (PHI) now has 16 academies in 14 countries and claims to have trained approximately 10,000 people in the Peter Hess Sound Massage Method (protected in Europe).

How does a singing bowl massage work?

During a Peter HessⓇ singing bowl massage, several singing bowls are placed on the (clothed) body and sounded. The bowls, which are cast in brass or bronze, produce a gong-like sound with fine vibrations. These vibrations are transmitted to the body and are said to “release blockages” and lead to relaxation. Both physical (muscle relaxation) and mental. A singing bowl massage usually lasts between 30 and 90 minutes.

“Circling thoughts come to rest,” reports Maren vom Okelmann’s. One enters a “pleasant state in which one can let go.” The vibrations emanating from the singing bowls spread through the skin, tissues, bones, organs, and fluids of the body, creating a “gentle, internal massage.”

“Experiencing sound is a wonderful and healing thing.” – Maren Geisler-Okelmann

👉Here you can book a sound massage at Okelmann’s.

Difference between singing bowl massage and a sound bath

In some wellness and yoga hotels, you can have a sound bath in addition to a singing bowl massage. The difference is:

For a singing bowl massage, the bowls are placed on the body, while for a sound bath, the bowls are placed in the room.

A sound bath is especially suitable for groups. The vibrations of the gong are transferred from the bowl to the body.

At the Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol, a sound bath in small groups is part of the weekly program, and you can also book a “singing bowl massage with Sabine” at any time. 60 minutes cost 85 Euro and 90 minutes 120 Euro.

At Biohotel Grafenast you can experience a great combination of a Tyrolean nature vacation with an Alpine panorama and Far Eastern relaxation methods. The family-run hotel and its surroundings have been designed according to Feng Shui as a place of power, and yoga and Qigong classes are also available.

As part of its in-house treatments, the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu offers both a sound bath and a sound massage. The cost for a 50-minute sound bath is 120 euros alone and 180 euros with another person.

The sustainable hotel in Balderschwang practices an “Ayurvedic lifestyle” – both in the wellness area and in the culinary arts. The sounds and vibrations of the singing bowls are considered to be energy that “can set every single cell in the body vibrating.” This is believed to have a healing effect.

👉For more information, visit HUBERTUS Ayurveda.

Sound baths in the Italian ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges weekly program

The sustainable and luxurious ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges in Italy also believe in the benefits of sound baths and have made them an integral part of their wellness programs.

“At ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, we offer the ‘Gong Sound’ experience every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday,” the team explains. “This treatment uses the slow, rhythmic beats of the gong, punctuated by brief moments of silence.”

At the ADLER Lodge Ritten* the Klangbad takes place every Wednesday and Saturday. The location on the Ritten plateau in South Tyrol is ideal for combining an active vacation in nature with wellness.

“You may find yourself taking a short but sweet nap during the sound treatments. The gentle sounds promote such a deep relaxation that a relaxed sleep is simply part of the experience, making it even more intense.” – ADLER Lodge RITTEN

Sound bath as an included service

The German hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region, like ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges, offers sound baths as an included weekly program. In addition to the sound massage sessions, yoga and Qigong are also offered.

Meditation with singing bowls

Some Green PearlsⓇ hotels combine singing bowls with meditation. For example, the spa at CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt in Switzerland offers a “singing bowl meditation” as part of its weekly yoga and meditation program. The sound bath helps calm the mind and release tension in the body. Guests leave feeling “more balanced and serene.”

My Arbor* near Brixen in South Tyrol offers both singing bowl massage and singing bowl meditation.

“It is a special form of relaxation that many of our guests love. They report feeling a deep sense of calm and lightness during the singing bowl treatment.” – Hotel My Arbor

What is the difference between a singing bowl massage and a singing bowl meditation?

The Keemala Resort on the island of Phuket in Thailand has answered this question. According to the resort, singing bowl massage is more about relaxing the muscles and stimulating circulation, while singing bowl meditation focuses on the mind. The goal of meditation is to achieve “mental clarity” through sounds and vibrations.

Sound Healing Retreats

If you want to delve deeper into the world of singing bowl healing, there are also a few retreats available. The Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa hosted its first “Sound Healing Retreat” with Lisa Schuster, a physician and sound therapist from Munich. The three-night retreat included various sound baths, singing bowl massage, singing bowl meditation, toning exercises, yoga, and a cocoa ceremony.

At the Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich, Germany, singing bowls and cocoa ceremonies were also combined during the “Finding Peace Day Retreat” held in the fall of 2024. The retreat was led by Thails de la Paz, who works regularly with the Sonnenhausen Estate.

Sustainable wellness hotels with a Far Eastern touch

Yoga, mindfulness, TCM, Ayurveda, singing bowls – much of the modern Western lifestyle has its origins in East Asia. In addition to the Okelmann’s, Grafenast, and HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio hotels already mentioned, the Green PearlsⓇ hotels, which are sustainably and individually managed, include many others inspired by Far Eastern culture.

Stephan Bode, owner of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, Germany, draws his personal strength from the words of Buddha and has integrated a Selfness Center into the hotel. Here, guests are offered mindfulness training, resilience, forest bathing, and fasting cures. Singing bowl massages are an optional extra.

Heiner Buckermann designed the entire Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten in Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River according to Feng Shui (with the help of a Chinese master). He also integrated a TCM center into the hotel. He places great importance on the 5 elements and wants the life energy Qi to flow freely throughout the hotel.

Among the treatments available at the TCM Center is a singing bowl massage based on the 5 elements.

“Based on the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine, the goal is to achieve a healing balance of the organs, which stimulates the organism to regenerate itself. By placing and striking the body with singing bowls of different sizes, (…) qi, blood and emotions can flow freely again.” – Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten

A 30-minute sound massage costs 47 euros.

Singing bowl massage in Nepal

The Himalayan region of Nepal is where Peter Hess was introduced to singing bowls and where the trend that is sweeping the West began. At the Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm you can experience the original Nepalese version of the singing bowl treatment.

The sustainably managed resort is known for its yoga classes with Yogi Shyam Gurung, who we featured in our Yoga for pros blog post. His retreats are not only about physical exercises but also about a theoretical, traditional understanding of yoga.

Sound bowls are used here in conjunction with meditation, Reiki, self-healing, and Ayurvedic treatments.

“We offer yoga, meditation, and sound bowl sessions either as individual sessions or in small groups that know each other well,” the resort says.

Singing bowl massage in Cambodia

In Cambodia, you can receive a singing bowl massage at the Farmhouse Smiling Gecko. Buddhism is the state religion and singing bowls have a long tradition in Buddhism. It is said that singing bowls existed at the time of the historical Buddha. However, little is known about their exact origin and original meaning.

At the luxurious Farmhouse Smiling Gecko Resort, you can experience the country authentically while supporting the Smiling Gecko Project. It supports the local population through training centers, a school, organic farming, and fair employment.

Sound bowl meditation and science

Finally, it is important to note that the effectiveness of a singing bowl massage is not scientifically proven and falls within the realm of alternative medicine. However, you may find that sometimes a beautiful sound is more pleasant than a long speech 🙂

*CIN: IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge Ritten)

*CIN: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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Advanced Yoga – What it’s all about

Yoga is a world unto itself, and you can practice and learn it anywhere in the world. Everyone is different. Some see it as a sport, others as a meditative search for the self, and still others as part of their worldview.

If you have been practicing yoga for several years, taking classes and doing exercises at home, you can decide where you want to go next. What you don’t need is a beginner’s yoga class, where the teacher’s attention is focused on explaining the basics and teaching proper posture.

In this article, we present five very different approaches to deepening your yoga practice and combining it with a trip to an inspiring place.

By the way, in addition to yoga classes, our featured and recommended hotels are committed to many sustainable causes, including nature conservation, renewable energy, and local (vegan) organic food.

#1 Yoga for pros in the Alps at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt

“Even as an advanced practitioner, you can ALWAYS learn something new,” says yoga teacher Stefanie from our Swiss Green PearlsⓇ partner. She is part of the Anthamatten host family at the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt and leads yoga retreats as well as private yoga classes.

With advanced students, she often notices that little “mistakes” have crept in over the years. If you are looking for someone with a keen eye for correct asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises), Stefanie is the person to see.

“For me, yoga is a school of life that enables me to live in the present with gratitude, mindfulness and awareness.” – Stefanie

She is trained in Hatha Yoga (300 hours in India, 200 hours in Thailand), Yoga Therapy (100 hours in India), Yoga Chakra Vinyasa (60 hours in Nicaragua), Yin Yoga (50 hours with René Hug), and PreMom Yoga (55 hours with Valeria Almaraes). She is also a certified Ayurveda Lifestyle Coach.

“In my retreats, I focus on small groups of no more than five people,” she says. This gives her the opportunity to provide very personalized attention. The yoga room at Bella Vista is also a highlight, with a direct view of the Matterhorn.

• Next retreat: Thursday, August 26 through Sunday, September 1, 2024. The “Yoga Time Out” retreat will focus on the chakras. “During the four days we will go on an intensive journey through the chakras,” says Stefanie.
• You can learn more about the teacher and book personal training here.

#2 Yoga retreat in Nepal – Learn from the Yoga Guru at The Pavilions Himalayas

Would you like to experience the Himalayan version of yogic philosophy? You can do so at The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm. Shyam Gurung is the brother of the first female yoga teacher in Pokhara, Nepal, and has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. His training has taken him to several yoga schools in Nepal and India. Shyam Gurung is authorized to issue a Yoga Alliance certificate after completing 200 hours of training with him.

With Shyam Gurung, you will learn classical knowledge (the traditional understanding of yoga practice) and how to develop your personal yoga sadhana. His retreats not only include practice sessions (asanas and pranayama), but also plenty of time for discussion and theoretical instruction.

“With us, you will learn how to apply yoga in your life to achieve peace, bliss and harmony” – The Pavilions Himalayas

• Retreats: Three recurring yoga retreats will take place in 2024 and 2025: “Mindful Movement (3 nights), Slow & Steady Yoga Retreat (7 nights), and the Himalayan Yogi Retreat (9 nights). A complimentary shuttle to and from the airport is included, and you will stay in Nepalese-style villas with pools. The retreat also includes ahar (yogic diet), vegetarian meals, and integrated fasting and detoxification periods.
• Click here for more details and contact

#3 Vinyasa Yoga for advanced students at Klosterbräu Hotel in Tyrol

In Vinyasa Yoga, the breath guides the movement. You have to learn the breath flow, which is often difficult for beginners. Yoga teacher Laura Seyrling-Rieß from the Klosterbräu Hotel in Seefeld makes a clear distinction between courses for beginners and advanced students. She offers advanced retreats as well as private lessons.

“At my GROW YOUNIQUE retreat, you will learn to know yourself better, appreciate and love your own potential, and increase your self-esteem. – Laura Seyrling-Ries

Laura’s retreats are known for including lots of fun and music. She holds her retreats (and private sessions) in both English and German. The space is located in a 500+ year old vaulted cellar that was once part of the monastery that is now the Klosterbräu Hotel. There is also a large spa area and the beautiful natural setting of the Austrian resort town of Seefeld.

• Next retreat dates: “GROW YOUNIQUE: until October 20, 2024 (German) and November 14-17, 2024 (English).
• For information on other yoga retreats at Hotel Klosterbräu and booking options, click here.

#4 Yoga for pros at the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel in South Tyrol

Ready for yoga at over 2,000 meters with views of the Dolomites? The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Seiser Alm in South Tyrol is known for offering free yoga classes (indoor and outdoor) to all guests every day of the summer and winter seasons.

“At our hotel, yoga becomes a holistic experience because it is combined with a unique environment and 100% vegan organic half-board. Nourishing body and soul.” – Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel

In addition to daily yoga classes (which are also open to beginners), you can book private lessons and retreats with yoga teacher Marnie Spögler. Marnie is from Canada and has been practicing yoga for over 17 years. She is a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance (200 hours) and specializes in Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Rocket yoga.

• The next yoga retreat takes place on September 16, 2024.
• For more information about yoga at Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel, click here.

What is the Yoga Alliance?

Since we have already mentioned the Yoga Alliance twice, let us briefly explain what it is. The Yoga Alliance is a global non-profit organization based in the United States. It claims to have over 7,000 yoga schools and over 100,000 yoga teachers registered worldwide. To register as a yoga teacher, you must complete 200, 300 or 500 hours of training at a Yoga Alliance-certified yoga school and then pay a monthly fee to advertise that registration. Yoga Alliance’s goal is to ensure a “high standard”.

#5 Yoga Retreats at HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu

A well-known yoga hotel in Germany is the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu. This Green PearlsⓇ partner offers a yoga mat in your room (next to your backpack) and daily yoga sessions.

Throughout the year, there are also various yoga retreats with different external teachers. For advanced students, the sustainable hotel recommends retreats with Doris Iding. She offers mindfulness yoga days several times a year.

“In order for mindfulness to develop its full effectiveness (…) a change in unconscious attitudes is necessary. We will initiate these changes together during the Mindfulness Days.” – Doris Iding

In addition, there are often “repeaters” at the retreats with Sylvia Brinkmeyer and Annet Münzinger, so even as an advanced student you are in good hands.

• The next dates for Mindfulness Yoga Days are October 20, 2024 and November 24-27, 2024. There are also dates for 2025 with Doris Iding.
• You can also find information about the yoga retreats by Sylvia Brikmeyer and Annet Münzinger.

We hope you have found some inspiring options. After all, you never stop learning and there are always new experiences to enjoy, especially when you combine yoga with travelling.

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“Most people crave relaxation”

Yoga teacher Maren Geisler-Okelmann runs Okelmann’s Eco-Hotel in Warpe with her sister, offering yoga courses and retreats throughout the year. She believes that the main reasons people take up yoga are to relax and treat themselves.

“Most people’s lives are busy these days, and stress is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as back pain. People are hoping to be able to just switch off for a while and possibly relieve their pain.” – Maren Geisler-Okelmann

Which yoga technique is appropriate for beginners?

As a certified yoga teacher, she currently offers classes in Hatha Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, and Sound Yoga, as well as yoga with dogs. We asked her which yoga technique she recommends for beginners. Here is Maren’s assessment:

Hatha Yoga: “Very good as a foundation, as it teaches the proper alignment of the asanas (exercises).”

Yin Yoga: “Also suitable for beginners, as it is mainly about feeling specific target areas in the body in order to address the fascial tissue and the meridians that run through it.”

Yoga Nidra: “Suitable for beginners, focusing mainly on relaxation with sounds and imaginary journeys, as well as chanting mantras, etc. If you are open to this from the beginning, that’s great. However, many people don’t even want to close their eyes and chant the OM in the beginning… but everyone is different 😊.”

‌”The great thing about yoga is that it’s really for everyone and it doesn’t depend on flexibility at all. Yoga teaches you to feel your body, to be aware of your limits and to overcome them little by little.” – Maren Geisler-Okelmann

3 beginner’s tips from yoga teacher Maren

1. ‌The most important thing is to listen to your body as much as possible and take care of yourself.
2. Sense if the exercise is right for you that day. If not, you can always do your favorite asana instead.
3. Try not to look left and right to see what others are doing. Stop comparing and start feeling your own body.

10 destinations for beginner yoga in sustainable hotels

Many of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ offer daily yoga and special retreats. We asked where beginners can get started.

Yoga for beginners in Germany

#1 HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu, Germany

The sustainable wellness hotel HUBERTUS is located in the mountains in Balderschwang and is surrounded by nature. In the mornings and evenings there is a yoga session (or sometimes Qigong or Tao Yoga) in which all guests, from beginners to professionals, can participate. PS: A yoga mat is included in every room.

Link: Current yoga offers at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu

#2 Boutiquehotel Das Rübezahl, Germany

Also, in the Allgäu mountains is the boutique hotel Das Rübezahl near Neuschwanstein Castle. They recommend beginners to take private yoga classes first. There are also various retreats and the chance to practice yoga in nature. The hotel’s own mountain hut has a yoga platform, for example.

Link: Yoga and retreats at Hotel Das Rübezahl

#3 Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s, Germany

At Okelmann’s, where yoga teacher Maren Geisler-Okelmann runs the hotel with her family, they are happy to advise beginners on which retreat or course is best for them.

Link: Okelmann’s Yoga Retreats Calendar

Yoga for beginners in Switzerland

#1 CERVO Mountain Resort, Switzerland

“No previous knowledge of yoga is required,” says the CERVO Mountain Resort in the Swiss village of Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn. Whether Hatha Yoga, Flowing Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, Iyengar Yoga or Yoga Nidra, all levels are welcome thanks to careful instruction.

Link: Yoga and activities program of CERVO Mountain Resort

Yoga for beginners in Italy

#1 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, Italy (Sicily)

“The yoga classes are suitable for beginners” is the explicit message for the Ashtanga Yoga Retreat taking place in October at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA on the coast of Sicily. The retreat is led by Elena De Martin. The Italian has been teaching yoga for over 20 years and has received one of the highest accreditations from her training center in India.

Link: Yoga retreats for beginners at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA

#2 ADLER Lodge RITTEN, Italy

At ADLER Lodge RITTEN, located on a sunny plateau in South Tyrol, there are several retreats you can participate in as a beginner.

Link: Yoga retreats at the ADLER Lodge RITTEN

#3 OLM Nature Escape, Italy

The sustainable aparthotel OLM, which opened in late 2023, has already incorporated yoga rooms. Each unit also has a yoga floor. The yoga retreats are currently being developed with professional yoga instructors and will include options for beginners. The program will be published online soon:

Link: OLM Nature Escape

#4 LA VIMEA, Italy

If you want to try not only yoga, but also the vegan lifestyle, take your first yoga class at the vegan hotel LA VIMEA in Naturns, South Tyrol. As a beginner, you will be supported in “developing strength and intensifying your connection to nature,” they say.

Link: Yoga for beginners at Vegan LA VIMEA

7-day yoga retreat for beginners in South Africa

Of course, we don’t recommend flying to South Africa just for a retreat – but if you’re planning a longer trip through the country, a yoga retreat could be just the thing to give your body and mind a conscious break. The yoga retreat in Knysna* is specifically designed for beginners and is led by Peter Townshend, founder of Vala House and certified 500RYT yoga teacher (Yoga Alliance). In small groups of no more than eight participants, he will guide you mindfully and thoroughly into the world of classical yoga, incorporating elements of Vinyasa Krama and Hatha Yoga.

In addition to daily meditation and yoga sessions, you can expect inspiring hikes in the Knysna Forest and along the coast, an introduction to yoga philosophy, breathwork sessions, and a personal coaching session. You will be staying at Vala House with full board (vegan on request), just 20 minutes from the sea. The retreat is available all year round.

Yoga for beginners in Spain

#1 OCÈANO Health Spa Hotel, Spain (Tenerife)

“ We recommend our morning “Awakening by the Sea” workout, which includes yoga elements and does not require any previous experience,” says the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel. The hotel has a special focus on health and is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean.

“Our yoga classes are held daily, Monday through Friday, in small groups. The level of the classes depends on the participants and is suitable for beginners. – OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel

You can also book private lessons with the hotel’s expert yoga instructors. They also practice yoga outside of work.

#2 Casa León Royal Retreat (Gran Canarias)

Off the beaten tourist track, Casa León Royal Retreat is a small boutique hotel that allows you to experience the unspoiled inland of Gran Canaria. An extensive garden area with native plants provides the perfect setting to relax mentally and physically. Yoga, meditation and energetic sessions are offered daily.

Link: Yoga for beginners on Gran Canaria

We hope we have motivated you to give yoga a try. Let us know how you liked it and whether you want to stick with it or if a “taster” was enough for you.

*the link is an affiliate link. If you book the yoga-retreat through it, we will receive a commission.

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Namaste. Do you feel like you’re missing out on your schedule? Well, lying down on the beach might do the trick. But it doesn’t give you a strategy for dealing with your stress in general. So when you get home, it’s bound to come back. How about a week of daily yoga instead? Here are ten sustainable yoga hotels in Thailand, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, and Germany. In the end, you also get a free yoga tutorial!

Yoga by the Atlantic Ocean at the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife

At OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel, yoga has been practiced for more than 30 years and is an integral part of the health concept. There is a yoga room and a yoga space on the roof terrace. Hatha yoga is practiced Monday through Friday, with levels depending on the participants. If you’d like, you can also book a personal one-on-one class for 78 euros to deepen your knowledge.

Other highlights: The Canary Island hotel is right on the ocean and has a fantastic infinity pool and saltwater pools.

Dates 2024: You can book the “YOGA ESCAPE” program for your vacation in 2024. It consists of a combination of group training, individual lessons and Ayurveda treatments. Bookable at any time.

Paradiso Pure.Living on the Alpe di Siusi, Italy

Paradiso Pure.Living offers you Sunrise & Vinyasa Yoga 3 times a day! Your first class always starts in the morning at 7.30 am (Pure Flow, Pure Strengh, Pure Core). In the afternoon between 11am and 2pm you have the opportunity to take a private lesson and in the afternoon at 4.30pm there is another group yoga class open to all guests. (Maximum group size is 12). The sustainable hotel on the Alpe di Siusi in South Tyrol has both an indoor yoga room and a yoga terrace.

Other highlights: The Paradiso Pure.Living offers a purely vegetarian-vegan kitchen, which is since 2024 run by the prominent vegan chef Aggeliki Charami.

Yoga retreats 2024: In combination with the daily offer, the team also organizes yoga retreats according to your wishes. Simply contact them by email and let them know your preferred dates and goals.

LA VIMEA, South Tyrol, Italy

A connection to yourself and nature – that’s what LA VIMEA in South Tyrol wants you to experience. This is achieved through a combination of yoga, meditation and forest bathing. Guests can take part in both Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga classes. The two yoga teachers, Monika and Melanie, have years of professional experience and want to help you find inner peace.

Other highlights: LA VIMEA is a purely vegan hotel, which also ensures that no animal products are used in any of the hotel’s amenities.

Dates 2024: In the current calendar you will find yoga dates from Monday to Saturday, once or twice a day. You can also book private meditation classes at any time.

Okelmann’s, Lower Saxony, Germany

Located in the idyllic town of Warpe in Lower Saxony, Germany, Okelmann’s is a family-run eco-hotel. In addition to sound massages and yoga retreats, you can also book yin yoga classes with your dog.

Other highlights: Okelmann’s has an excellent café with delicious cakes (vegan options available) and its own concept store with sustainable, handmade products, such as beautiful dog gifts.

Dates 2024:

10.05.2024 – 12.05. 2024 Yoga-Retreat Spring Break

30.05.2024 – 02.06.2024 Heart-connected Retreat

14.06.2024 – 16.06.2024 Yoga Summervibes

19.07.2024 – 21.07.2024 COOL DOWN – YOGA.RETREAT

29.07.2024 – 01.08.2024 Flow & Relax – Yoga of the elements

23.08.2024 – 25.08.2024 Open your heart and shine retreat

30.08.2024 – 01.09.2024 Ground & Glow Yoga & Breathwork Retreat

12.10.2024 – 15.10.2024 Balance and inner Peace Retreat

31.10.2024 – 03.11.2024 Let it go, let it flow

22.10.2024 – 24.11.2024 November-Silence (Yoga, Mediation, Mindfulness)

STURM, Rhön, Germany

Are you looking for a place to practice yoga in peace and quiet? At STURM in the Rhön biosphere reserve, you’ll find the perfect place for such a time-out. The light-filled yoga room with mats, cushions and yoga blocks is open daily. There are also beautiful spots in the garden. An experienced yoga instructor is available upon request to teach yoga according to the “Indian philosophical culture”.

Other highlights: The wellness hotel has a natural swimming pond and half board with 100 percent organic products.

Dates 2024: Private lessons on request

HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu, Germany

Yoga & mindfulness is a big theme at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu, and in addition to beginner’s classes, you can delve deeper into the practice during various yoga retreats. Internationally renowned teachers lead the retreats, such as Florian Palzinsky, who lived in Asia for 12 years as a Buddhist monk. Throughout the summer, there are daily yoga classes in the outdoor yoga area, including Hatha Yoga, Yin & Yang Yoga, Breath Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Nature Yoga. Special men’s yoga retreats are also a specialty.

Other highlights: There’s a 4,500-square-foot spa area with an infinity pool, twelve treatment rooms, and a gym-plus beautiful views of the Allgäu mountains.

Yoga-Retreats 2024: 

28.04.2024 – 27.11.2024: Mindfullness-days with Doris Iding

05.05.2024 – 08.05.2024: Breathe, Flow & Relax with Desiree Klink

26.05.2024 – 30.05.2024: Yoga & Consciousness-Coaching with Mona Köberle

18.07.2024 – 21.07.2024: Yoga Retreat with Ranja Weis

25.08.2024 – 28.08.2024: Meditation- and Yoga-Days with Yeshe Brost

22.09.2024 – 25.09.2024: Yoga-Days for Couples with Esther & Martin

10.11.2024 – 13.11.2024: Slow Down Retreat with Claudia Adolphs & Frauke Brüninghaus

05.12.2024 – 08.12.2024: Meditation – Retreat with Annet Münzinger

Keemala, Thailand

The Keemala villa resort on the Thai island of Phuket offers holistic yoga-retreats of three to six days that can be tailored to your individual needs. If you’re looking for a permanent way to deal with stress, there’s the “Unwind Program” for people with a lot of work (and life) pressure. In this retreat, you will not only relax through yoga and various spa treatments, but you will also learn to identify and decode your personal stress behaviors. Then you’ll learn how to avoid them in the future and instead approach your tasks in a relaxed and confident manner.

Other highlights: Each villa has its own pool and overlooks the Thai jungle to the sea.

Dates 2024: The retreats “Purify”, “Energys”, “Renuvejade” and “Unwind” can be booked at any time and last 3 to 6 days.

The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm, Nepal

If you already have some experience with Yoga and want to get yourself to the next level, you can do so at The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm. Here you are surrounded by a majestic landscape with organic farms and a view of the Himalayas. The Yoga-Retreats in this resort features not only the fundamental principles of yoga and practice but also Yogic Ahar (diet) and classical Knowledge (that means, the teachings of a traditional understanding of Yoga). The goal is, to develop a personal Yoga Sadhana and to apply Yoga in your life “for maintaining peace, bliss, and harmony”.

Other highlights: Spa with Sauna and Infinity-Pool, the accommodation features authentic Nepalese lifestyle

Dates 2024: Here you can find the brochure about the Yoga-Retreat 2024.

Puri Dajuma, Bali, Indonesia

In Bali, many different Hindu gods are worshipped. At Puri Dajuma Cottages & Spa, people also honor a special connection to “taksu”. This is a little-known belief in a cosmic energy that heals the body and mind, directly or indirectly. In yoga, you open yourself to these very energies. But even if you don’t believe in it, yoga and its associated conscious breathing and meditation will do you good. The sustainable yoga-retreats at Puri Dajuma takes place daily under the guidance of yogi “Tini”: in the garden, on the beach, or in the large semi-open yoga room surrounded by palm trees.

Highlights: The eco-resort has several Balinese-style cottages, suites and villas and is located right on the beach.

Dates 2024: daily

Yoga retreats for the annual cycle at Gut Sonnenhausen

Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich is the perfect place to unwind in the middle of nature. The converted country estate has a beautiful secluded location in a nature reserve and offers various yoga day retreats in harmony with the annual cycle.

Highlights: The estate has a large garden that is managed according to the principles of permaculture.

Yoga retreats 2024:

22.09.2024: Day retreat: Autumn equinox – Finding Peace

10.11.2024: Day retreat: Sound & cocoa ceremony

08.12.2024: Day retreat: Preparation for the winter solstice

Free yoga tutorial with Simona from ADLER Lodge Ritten, South Tyrol

If you’re now really into the yoga feeling, you might as well get started! Our partner, the ADLER Lodge RITTEN on the Ritten in South Tyrol, Italy, recently published a tutorial with teacher Simona! Here she shows you a simple meditation exercise in 15 minutes:

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Handwritten welcome

In these days of push-up alerts and animated image greetings, you really have to take a second look when someone hands you a handwritten note. At the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, they take the trouble to write a welcome card for each guest. It comes with homemade cookies. You can’t get a more personal welcome than that!

Sleeping beach chair 

At Lifestylehotel SAND on the Baltic Sea, you’ll sleep in naturally furnished hotel rooms on natural coconut mattresses. But you can also rent the SAND sleeping basket on the rooftop platform for a true outdoor experience and sleep under the stars. Another surprise: there’s a late riser breakfast until 1 pm!

Welcome kit for pets

Restored farmhouse cupboards

A cupboard is one of the simplest 2-star hotel categories. But most of them are not special… That’s not the case at Gut Sonnenhausen, south of Munich. Here, in the rooms of the restored farmhouse, you’ll find antique farmhouse cupboards that have been restored by hand. Landlord Georg Schweisfurth is an eco-pioneer, master butcher, author, entrepreneur, hotelier, art collector and aesthete. Important here: “Nothing should be off-the-shelf, but everything should be the result of a conscious decision, coupled with the courage to skillfully break with style.”

Kaiserschmarrn for breakfast every day

The Naturresort Gerbehof is located on the German side of Lake Constance, close to Austria and Switzerland. As a result, the cuisine is closely related, and you’ll get a sweet Kaiserschmarrn breakfast with homemade applesauce every morning. The difference between Kaiserschmarrn and pancakes is that Kaiserschmarrn is made with whipped egg whites.

Contemporary Art Exhibitions

Paradiso Pure.Living has a contemporary art gallery called Pure.Art Circle. The hotel on the Alpe di Siusi offers ongoing meetings with artists, art performances and even an art shop.

Vegan picnic lunch box

At the South Tyrolean hotel LA VIMEA, the first vegan hotel in Italy, they’re big on healthy eating. One of the hotel’s extras is a sustainable and creative lunch box for excursions. Always with a handwritten message.

Yoga mat in the room

At the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu, guests have a yoga mat in their room. A yoga room, an outdoor yoga platform, and regular yoga retreats are among the other features of this sustainable hotel. Other hotel amenities you won’t find often include earplugs to block out the cowbells coming from the alpine pasture, and in-room teas that are always seasonal.

Thank-You-Cards made from Flower Seed Paper

Not only a farewell gift for guests, but also for the bees at home: At the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, travelers receive a thank-you card made of flower seed paper. The card can either be written during the vacation and sent to loved ones at home, or one can write one’s own wishes on the card and give it to the earth. After some time and a little care, you will be able to enjoy colorful wildflowers.

Signature Massages

Both the ADLER Lodge RITTEN in South Tyrol and the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA in Sicily have developed special massages. A Signature Treatment Massage lasts 105 minutes and stimulates all five senses. Combined with the unique scenery of each location, this promises pure relaxation.

Beer in the spa

“Only at Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, can you find the beer miracle in the wellness area’s sin cellar,” says the hotel. Klosterbräu beer is brewed in-house and bubbles from a beer fountain in the spa area. There are also “apple stations” throughout the hotel, a guglhupf awaits you upon arrival, and the elevator “hides a delicious surprise”.

Chefs to ask

At STURM in Mellrichstadt in the Rhön region of Germany, the kitchen concept has been changed to an open kitchen. The chefs are trained to “configure” the food to your exact liking while cooking, and are also available to answer questions. Ingredients include fruits, herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s own garden.

Local Gifts

At Inkaterra Hotels in Peru, guests receive gifts that are typical of the country. These can be cosmetics, jewelry or little “toritos”. You will find the hotel extras in your room as a surprise on your bed.

Herbal cosmetics

The Summit Lodges Pfunds in Tyrol are two exceptional log cabin-style vacation homes. “Especially for our guests, we have created a raised bed with various herbs,” they say. Here you can help yourself. You can also purchase sustainable skin care products from the “Tiroler Kräuterhof”.

Homemade lavender bags

At Gut Guntrams near Vienna, you’ll sleep in unusual, floating accommodations above fruit trees and surrounded by lavender fields. The lavender is harvested twice a year, dried and filled into lavender bags for guests. You can take them home with you.

Menu according to your mood

Since July, the daily evening menu at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa has been based on the motto “Your mood defines your food”. The question is: “What kind of gourmet are you today? Extravagant, down to earth or curious?”

Honey from the meadows

At the Naturresort Schindelbruch in the southern Harz region, you can buy honey from the Kolbe migratory apiary in the hotel shop. The beehives are located in the meadows surrounding the hotel.

Hotel amenities: Surprises on the bed

At Keemala, on the island of Phuket in Thailand, you’ll be pampered from top to bottom. For special occasions, the team will decorate your room with nicely folded towels and decorations from natural materials such as wood and flowers.

Daily sustainable beverage with fresh ingredients as a hotel amenity

At the romantic Allgäu hotel Das Rübezahl, personal service is a top priority. For example, if you want to send a special love message, the professionals will be happy to help you organize love locks, a vintage car, a carriage, a flower heart in the hotel room, or other things. In addition, you will find many homemade products, such as a daily changing aperitif with ripe fruits/seasonal ingredients.

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