Forestis Dolomites

Forestis Dolomites is an architecturally stunning wellness retreat with striking views looking onto the Italian Dolomites. Highlights include time spent at its renowned spa, hiking in every direction from the property and enjoying local wine and cuisine.

• The full beds on the balcony of every Tower Suite, allowing guests to sleep outside and enjoy the fresh mountain air and starry sky
• The Celtic Spa treatments, centered around the natural elements in the area like mountain pine and spruce
• Taking a helicopter ride to the top of the Dolomites peaks with the best views to enjoy a farm to table picnic

As the gates of Forestis Dolomites opened to welcome us, even our local driver beamed. Surely, no one could tire of these sweeping snow-capped peak views. Everything only continues to get better following the grand entrance reveal.

This heavenly eco-luxury resort has a surprising history: its oldest building was a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients in the early 1900s. Local architect Armin Sader, along with owners Teresa Unterthiner and Stefan Hinteregger, are behind the Forestis’s transformation into one of Europe’s most unique lodges and luxury hospitality experiences.

The modern architecture, with inspiration from the elements, gives the Dolomites center stage (Sader perfected panoramic frames in every room). Local spruce walls and stone floors are paired with black metal, dark green and gray accents. Furniture is subtle, though of the highest quality. (Indeed, no expense was spared, and the environment was always top of mind: The hotel planted two trees for every tree that had to be moved for the construction, and continues to plant one tree every time a guest opts out of housekeeping.)

Rather than a sense of strict formality from the staff, the Forestis team exudes warmth to make guests feel at ease. The property has one of Europe’s best staff housing setups—with its own spa!—and this pays dividends to the guest experience given the the top talent they are able to attract and retain.

There is a spa for guests, too, of course. Here, sleep is the center of rejuvenation, and Forestis has a rule that no one should be woken if they fall asleep in the spa. If a guest falls asleep in the relaxation area before their spa treatment, spa staff will happily reschedule or not charge them. When guests are not getting treatments, they can enjoy a local mountain herb sauna, an outdoor cold plunge pool filled from the mountain snow, or meditation with a master. Beyond the spa, the mountains themselves provide endless opportunities for exploration. Guests are offered maps with information for all of the nearby hiking trails to explore and the concierge can set up special helicopter picnic journeys.

The cuisine is another highlight: pizzas and pastas are topped with fresh vegetables and foraged mushrooms with seven-course, nightly tasting menus, and breakfast is a spread of local cheeses, mountain berries and alpine honey. Forestis sources all of the menu options from Italy, with a majority of from the surrounding regions.

No matter the room category, the views are, quite simply, amazing. Guests have been known to plug the hair dryer into the outlet near the window so as to maximize their panorama moments. If you can, splurge for one of the two-story penthouses which have their own rooftop pools and saunas and offer incredible privacy. In the summer, these penthouses, as well as Tower Suites, have outdoor beds so guests can sleep outside under the stars (which glimmer thanks to a lack of light pollution). For guests with the budget for these suites, it’s a life highlight. Travelers leave Forestis feeling relaxed, euphoric and, quite possibly asking Indagare to check availability for a future visit.

Couples, groups of friends and spa lovers. The hotel welcomes children ages 14 and older. The average guest age is 34, so the property does appeal to a younger clientele.