Travelista contributor Em Hope shares her learnings on the health benefits of Alpine Wellness, after spending 3 nights in the Italian Alps this spring with Visit Trentino
Representing Travelista, I was lucky enough to recently visit Trentino in the Italian Alps. My mission was to experience and explore everything there is to know about the emerging trend of Alpine Wellness. This came in the form of a stunning 3 night press trip in Trentino’s Rendena Valley, where we experienced everything from hiking and cold water therapy to cycling, aerial yoga and thermal spas.
Article Overview
The Power of an Alpine Wellness Holiday; 13 Powerful and Unexpected Benefits
My Alpine Wellness Experience in Trentino
Trentino is a truly stunning region in northern Italy, nestled near the Austrian border and fringed by the iconic Dolomites. Think wooden huts on hillsides, plush green meadows with butterflies and wildflowers, and sunlight that seems to make everything glow. Whether we were chasing waterfalls or tucking into a rustic lunch, every moment felt like a chance to just pause and breathe.
We did and learnt so much during our time in Trentino (you can replicate our exact trip by following The Best 5 Day Itinerary for Alpine Wellness in Trentino), but I’m kicking off our Trentino series by sharing my main learnings and takeaways from this unique travel experience.
Discovering the Italian Alps in the Spring felt like uncovering a travel cheat code. With glorious spring-time weather and no crowds, it’s hard to believe Spring is the region’s low season. It feels like you have nature’s untouched beauty all to yourself. From gorgeous blue springs and cold–water dips to gentle movement and nourishing locally sourced food, I discovered 13 incredible and all-natural health benefits of taking an Alpine Wellness holiday. Read on to find out more.
What is Alpine Wellness?
Before we get started on the benefits, let me explain a little more about the concept of Alpine Wellness; a slower, more intentional way to holiday that is emerging as an exciting and emerging travel trend for 2025/2026 and beyond. At its heart, the concept of Alpine wellness encourages you to disconnect from everyday chaos and helps you reset physically and mentally via the nourishing power of alpine nature.
From more oxygen in the air and natural minerals in the water to cold water and natural light therapy, most of these natural antidotes simply come from putting yourself in an alpine environment. Along with plenty of thermal spas and ways getting active including hiking, cycling and yoga, alpine destinations allow you to truly design a holiday focused around your mental and physical wellbeing.
As our world becomes faster and more digitally connected, more people are craving a return to something simpler. When life gets loud, as it so often does, one of the greatest things you can give yourself is a bit of time in an alpine setting, like the Italian Alps.
13 Powerful Benefits of an Alpine Wellness Holiday
1. Drinking straight from the source
Coming from the UK this is quite a daunting prospect, but in Alpine regions like Trentino, you can just drink the fresh mountain water. It flows freely from public fountains that are operated from a naturally filtered system. This isn’t your standard tap water. It’s sweeter, mineral–rich, clean, and refreshingly cold. These little wooden fountains dot hiking routes and village squares like those in the Rendena Valley, creating natural pause points on your trip. I’d recommend taking a reusable bottle to take full advantage of some of the purest water on earth.
Browse hotels in the Rendena Valley.
2. Hair and skin glow-up
Washing your hair and skin in Alpine water is incredible. It’s free from heavy chemicals and chlorine can leave you noticeably softer, smoother, and more radiant. The low mineral content and natural pH balance of the water help to maintain your skin’s moisture whilst bringing shine and softness to your hair. Throughout our trip, we were reminded by the locals of the nourishing properties of the water – they really do swear by it!
3. Natural minerals and exfoliation
Locally sourced sand and minerals, found close to streams and rivers here are used in Alpine spa treatments. They act as gentle, natural exfoliants. These materials remove dead skin cells and stimulate circulation without harsh chemicals. In many wellness resorts, you can actually find these little elements put into body scrubs and face masks.
4. Cold water therapy
Fancy a dip? It takes some getting used to and you should always read up on how to approach this safely before taking the plunge. However, cold water immersion is now backed by science for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits. Taking a short and safe plunge into mountain lakes or simply splashing in an alpine stream invigorates the body and wakes up the senses.
5. Local, nourishing food
You know the phrase ‘You are what you eat’?
Well, wellness begins with what you digest and in the Alps, meals are as local as they are nourishing. Think mountain cheeses, herbal teas and seasonal produce like strawberries and forest berries, all grown just a stone’s throw away. Even the pasta is handmade and prepared fresh each day – and of course, this being Italy, it’s done exceptionally well. We tried some delicious local, lake caught fish and homegrown artichokes in our incredible hotel Palazzo Lodron Bertelli – and every dish felt like it had truly been made with love.
6. Cleaner air
One of the most immediate changes visitors feel upon arriving in the Alps is the quality of the air. Having landed in busy Milan Bergamo, we were excited to escape the humidity and car fumes that come with it. During a hike, our insightful mountain guide Andrea from Mountain Friends, told us that at higher altitudes, the air is cooler, there are more trees (hence more oxygen), less polluted and therefore helps to elevate your mood and energy levels. This kind of pure, mountain air supports respiratory health.
7. A good old sleep
There’s a natural rhythm to mountain life. Rising with the sun and beginning to unwind in the cool evening– that helps to reset your internal clock and helps your body truly rest. Paired with the cool mountain air and gentle physical activity throughout the day, help to promote deep restorative sleep. For the ultimate experience, I can recommend staying in a peaceful rural setting, such as Maso Torbiera in Fiavé. This is a charming, unique and super friendly farm stay, where you’ll wake up in a valley surrounded by mountains and the sounds of nature. We enjoyed eggs each morning from chickens on the farm and the most natural, local produce.
8. Natural light therapy
Exposure to natural light helps regulate circadian rhythms, boosts vitamin D levels, and lifts your mood. The Alpine environment offers much of this. Whether you’re enjoying a Hugo Spritz on a sunny little terrace like the one at Bici Grill in Rendena, hiking in a forest, or simply sitting by a stream and taking in the view, you’ll definitely feel the benefits of natural light.
9. Stress relief
Research shows that time in nature reduces cortisol levels, improves focus, and relieves symptoms of anxiety and depression. Having experienced time in the Alps, I can certainly say there’s a real sense of stillness here that’s hard to put into words. When you’re surrounded by gorgeous natural sights and smells, your mind naturally quiets as you mindfully soak it all in. Practices like forest bathing, mindful hiking, or even sitting still by a stream offer moments of presence. If you’re looking for a more guided experience, tree therapy with Trentino Wild Rafting and Outdoors offers forest bathing sessions designed to deepen that connection.
10. Mindful movement
From gentle yoga, guided mountaineering to e–bike routes, the Alps invite movement in all its forms. Moving in nature improves cardiovascular health, muscle tone, and mood and adventure activities also add a joyful sense of accomplishment, especially when shared with others or led by knowledgeable local guides. We really enjoyed our e–bike ride across the Trentino valley guided by Enrico of Mountain Friends, a friendly and organised touring company – and we recommend this as an activity if you’re exploring the region.
11. Switch off
Whether you like it or not, mobile signal inevitably fades as you climb further into the middle of no–where. It’s a great reminder to leave your phone in your backpack and be fully present. Without the distractions of notifications and scrolling, you rediscover simple pleasures like having long, uninterrupted conversations or mindful wandering.
12. Healing Alpine springs
Rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, and sulphur, Alpine springs are known to soothe boost circulation and improve various skin conditions. You can experience their benefits at peaceful spa settings like the stunning Terme di Comano Grand Hotel or Palazzo Lodron Bertelli Spa. Here is where you’ll find the water flows fresh from the mountains. For something boutique and deeply peaceful, Garda Thermae near Arco is another gem–with gorgeous saunas and herbal steam baths. Whether you’re soaking in an outdoor thermal pool or unwinding in a wooden sauna with unparalleled views, these wellness spaces offer ultimate relaxation.
13. Immune system boost
When you combine clean air, pure water, fresh ingredients, gentle physical; movement, stress relief, and a few nights of great quality sleep, your body thanks you in the most basic ways. The Alpine lifestyle naturally supports your immune system. It leaves you stronger and more likely to help fight off that all too common and most unwelcome post–holiday illness.
The Verdict
An Alpine wellness holiday offers a unique kind of luxury that goes far beyond things like Egyptian cotton sheets and a glass of champagne. It’s a nod to the notion that health is wealth. It’s about restoration and time to breathe. It’s the kind of trip that encourages you to slow down, take a digital detox and just reconnect with the world. Whether you’re hiking or simply enjoying a quiet moment beneath the mountains, everything around you seems to support your well-being and leave you feeling that bit more unstoppable.
If you take one thing away with you after reading this, it is that if you choose to immerse yourself into an Alpine wellness holiday, you can expect to return home not just well rested with more mental clarity, but stronger in body and focussed on what truly matters.
Read next: The Best 5 Day Itinerary for Alpine Wellness in Trentino