On 9th May, Naturhotel Forsthofgut – a leading family and spa resort in Leogang, Austria, near Salzburg, and long recognised as the world’s first nature hotel with the original forest spa – is unveiling waldSPA HEALTH, a new medi-spa concept housed within the tranquil Lake House of the waldSPA. This innovative wellness initiative underscores Forsthofgut’s commitment to wellbeing and longevity, offering guests holistic diagnostics and tailored programmes that blend nature and science to foster harmony, balance, and vitality.

Drawing parallels between a tree’s health and the human body, waldSPA HEALTH focuses on four pillars: roots, strength, breath, and mind. A team of experts, including Dagmar Rizzato, Dr Andrea Gartenbach, Ms Andrea Günther, Robert Pfund, Dr Sebastian Kalbhen, and Dr Anna Cecilia Kröll-Kalbhen, guides guests through personalised journeys. These combine nutrition, movement, rest, and targeted treatments to promote positivity and a zest for life. The approach is grounded in sustainable practices, with an emphasis on long-term lifestyle transformation.

Key components of the waldSPA HEALTH programme

• Cryotherapy. Cold training at minus 110°C to manage pain, boost circulation, release endorphins, and strengthen the immune system.
• Infusions. Power tinctures deliver 100% bioavailable vitamins, minerals, and amino acids directly into the bloodstream for rapid cell regeneration.
• Hypoxia. Reduced-oxygen training, previously exclusive to elite athletes, enhances mitochondrial function, energy, and stamina.
• uVida. Metabolic analysis to create bespoke nutrition and training plans, easily integrated into daily life.

Upon arrival, guests engage in consultations with a health concierge to discuss personal goals in a nurturing Alpine setting. The resulting bespoke programmes aim to improve digestion through balanced diets, enhance mobility with sustainable exercise, reduce stress via conscious breathing, and foster mental clarity through mindfulness. The serene environment, with its Alpine vistas, amplifies the experience.

The Health Escape package, priced from £854 (€990) per person, includes a personal consultation, one cryotherapy session, a TechnoGym check-up, and a Hypoxia session. Available on selected dates from 11 May, with arrivals from Sunday to Thursday, it is based on two sharing, ¾-board (breakfast, dinner, and substantial afternoon tea). Double rooms start at £220 (€255) per person per night, including extensive benefits such as access to waldSPA facilities, a weekly itinerary of nature-based activities like forest yoga and guided mountain hikes, and a Saalfelden-Leogang card for free or discounted local attractions and lifts.

Naturhotel Forsthofgut, a five-star, family-run resort on the Asitz mountain, has evolved since 1617 from a forestry business into one of Europe’s premier destinations. Surrounded by the Saalfelden-Leogang mountains, it offers exquisite dining with sustainable, organic, vegan, and Japanese menus, a speciality cocktail bar, and twice-weekly wine tastings. The waldSPA features multiple pools, saunas, Onsen bathing, an infinity pool, a chemical-free swimming lake, and a floating Finnish sauna. Additional amenities include riding stables, a mini-zoo, a teens’ studio, an organic farm, an in-hotel ski shop, and daily childcare from 9am to 9pm.

The resort’s accessibility enhances its appeal. A short flight from UK airports to Salzburg, followed by a one-hour road transfer or a rail journey to Saalfelden and a five-minute drive, allows guests to disconnect from stress and focus on wellbeing. The natural Alpine aesthetic and tranquil setting create an idyllic backdrop for this holistic escape.