Natural HIGH

Escape to the pure mountain air of the Dolomites in northeast Italy for an invigorating blend of luxury and wellness

- CATHERINE BARR

With rose-tinted rock faces towering over garden-like valleys, the Dolomites are a landscape unlike any other. Here, you step into a picture postcard you'll be reluctant to leave. Whether you hike up or wander across Alpine meadows, picnic by emerald lakes or try skyrunning over mountain tops, there are many breathtaking ways to take in the view.

TAKE YOUR TIME

The rooftop whirlpool of Hotel Sassongher's Sky Spa is the perfect place to consider your options. First built in the 1930s as a simple shelter on the valley side, this now luxurious, family-run, five-star hotel overlooks the stylish town of Corvara. Here, window boxes spill with a froth of pinks and reds in a region where local pride, culture and tradition run deep. This is the heart of the Alta Badia region of Italy's South Tyrol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the hotel, spacious rooms offer big views and a home-from-home vintage elegance. First, fling open your balcony doors and deep-breathe Alpine air; next, flop on a deeply comfortable bed and relax in a rain shower before heading down to the comfortable bar to kick-start your stay. Why not indulge in a Rossini - prosecco blended with local strawberries? The master cocktail maker will ensure there are sugar-dusted berries on ice to take with every sip-perfect!

HEAD ON UP