Longevity Wellness Retreat in the Tyrolean Alps at Hotel Alpbacherhof

The Alpbacherhof has been run by the same family for generations and it shows in how the place works — the staff know the regulars, the kitchen cooks what's in season, and nothing feels like it was designed by a committee. The hotel is in Alpbach itself, a village in the Tyrol that's often called one of the prettiest in Austria. Wooden farmhouses, a church with a graveyard full of wrought-iron crosses, and the Wiedersbergerhorn mountain right above it.

The longevity programme is not a fixed itinerary you have to follow. Each week has a schedule of sessions — Pilates twice weekly, yoga, Qi Gong, gentle strengthening, breathwork built into those classes — and you pick what you want. There are also complementary retreat weeks through the year that add more body-awareness work. If you'd rather skip a class and hike instead, that's fine. The fitness room is there for your own sessions whenever you want it.

Food is a big part of why people come back. Full board means breakfast, lunch and a multi-course dinner, plus an afternoon snack. The cooking uses regional alpine produce, herbs from the hotel's own garden, and whatever's in season. It's not a detox menu — there's no restriction and no calorie counting. You eat well and you eat properly. If you're vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free, the kitchen will sort you out if you tell them when you book.

The spa covers 1,600 m². There's a panoramic sauna with valley views, a sauna world with different heat rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a whirlpool, quiet rooms with loungers and blankets, and a separate adults-only spa area. Sauna infusions happen four to five days a week. In winter, there's a cold stimulus outside — snow, cold water, that sort of thing — which regulars swear by after a hot sauna.

The village and valley are the last piece. Alpbach has walking trails from the doorstep, and the hotel runs guided hikes with Tom, who knows the good spots. You can hike to the Path of Contemplation, visit the Hildegard von Bingen garden in Reith, or take the sunrise cable car up the Wiedersbergerhorn. In winter, the same trails become winter walking routes, and the ski area is a short bus ride away.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation in a double room or suite - Full board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner) - Access to 1,600 m² wellness area with pools, saunas, steam rooms and whirlpool - Sauna infusions 4–5 times per week - Pilates classes (twice weekly) - Yoga, Qi Gong and gentle strengthening sessions - Guided hikes with Tom (weather permitting) - Use of fitness room - Bathrobes and slippers for spa use - Wi-Fi throughout the hotel

What's not included

- International flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra fee) - Travel insurance - Drinks outside of meal times - Massages, beauty treatments and extra spa services - Personal expenses - Ski passes or equipment rental (winter)