Wander With WHIT To: FORESTIS
While thoughts of most Italian getaways center around bustling cities Venice and Rome, this hidden wellness retreat in the heart of the Dolomites offers a most welcome change of pace.
Forestis is dedicated for those looking to recharge and offers a restorative and sustainably minded nordic-style haven, surrounded by clean air, towering pines and nature as far as the eye can see.
After what ended up being a stressful journey of multiple trains and a few missed stops (jet lag does funny things to you), arriving at Forestis felt like a wave of calm. Situated nearly 1800 meters above sea level, the sounds of traffic and email pings fade away and allow nature to truly shine.
Discovered by hotelier Stefan Hinteregger’s father 22 years ago, the property was envisioned with the help of local architects and artisans to bring the 100 year old structure back to life. Built from environmentally-harvested local pine, floor to ceiling glass windows and smooth stone, the property feels one with it’s dense treetop surroundings, allowing guests to merge into nature.
Anchored by the four foundational elements of fresh mountain air, mineral-rich water, lingering sunshine and a temperate climate, Forestis invites guests to connect with the healing and restorative powers of the landscape that surrounds it. Located just a few hours from nearby Munich, Milan and Venice, Forestis is ideal for anyone looking for an absolute escape in a sleek and minimalist wellness retreat which blends the elements of nature with a regenerative stay.
STAY
The property offers just a few room categories, keeping with their theme of simplicity. All room types are spacious, and come with generous outdoor terrace, a minibar stocked full of healthy local treats, and the same bath amenities used by the hotel’s famed spa. We highly recommend bumping up to the Tower Suite category located in the property’s new tower structures, for epic views of the surrounding mountain landscape. After all, they’re why you’re here, right?
Travel Tip : Looking to take full advantage of the Dolomites clean air? Have the housekeeping team set up the daybed out on your terrace, for the most restorative yet invigorating sleep of your trip.
Tower Suite
Clad in fragrant pine and finished with floor to ceiling glass windows framing the stunning landscape, the Tower Suites are located in the hotel’s newest structures. The suite is trimmed in locally sourced textiles, stone and blonde wooden furniture.
Penthouse
A worthy splurge and the property’s headline act, this two-story penthouse suite offers it’s own rooftop pool, private spruce-wood sauna, full living space and kitchenette. The views from the primary bedroom are the best in the house.
Villa
Booked exclusively for up to ten people, this 100 year old building has been completely reimagined and offers absolute privacy. With its own garden and pool, cinema, dining room plus a private spa, villa guests also have a dedicated chef and concierge available at all times.
SAVOR
We highly recommend booking Forestis’s half-board rate, meaning your stay would account for breakfast and dinner meals, non-alcoholic beverages, and local in-suite snacks. The hotel’s zero-waste restaurant presents a generous breakfast spread including multiple local honeys, cheeses, mueslis, and a DIY juice bar. Dinner is a slightly more formal affair, served in the amphitheater style dining room, with cozy booths all facing the star of the show, the Dolomite mountains.
Detox + Forestis Menu - Each evening guests are offered the choice between two rotating six-course menus, the plant-focused “Detox” menu or the classic “Forestis” menu, both featuring ingredients which have been foraged from the surrounding land and farms. There are no ingredients sourced outside of Italy, and guests can expect dishes like goat-ricotta gnocchi, poached carrots with caraway broth and braised lamb with local spruce and fingerling potatoes.
Lounge - At what is touted as the highest bar in the world, you’ll find handmade cocktails with drinks made from herbs, nuts, shrubs and honey and enhanced with eldritch alchemy. Each cocktail serves a purpose, for instance the ingredients in “Fichte” made with spruce, vodka, honey and thyme, aids heart health.
Kaffe und Kuchen - Every afternoon at 3pm guests can enjoy a spread of homemade treats including breads and fresh cakes accompanied by a steaming pot of tea to fend off any midday hunger panes.
Room Service - There is no shame in wanting to enjoy those incredible mountain views. Room service from the all-day menu is available around the clock, with a slight charge for orders placed in the late evening and early morning hours.
Ready to wander on a wellness journey to FORESTIS with a fully customized itinerary? Get in touch with our luxury travel advisors and we’ll get you ready to go!
SEE
While we wouldn’t judge you for wanting to spend your entire stay on property, the surrounding landscape begs to be explored. Each of the four seasons have a strong impact on the available activities, with each offering completely new experiences. Winter is a popular time for the property, as a ski lift is located just steps from the resort grounds. Spring and Fall offer the perfect temperatures for hiking and biking, and the cooler evenings are best spent around one of the outdoor fire-pits. Summer’s longer days allow guests to explore more of the surrounding area, including visitng nearby lakes for kayaking and outdoor yoga in the Forestis garden.
Rest assured, you will not be searching for things to do during your time here. If you need a bit of guidance, their dedicated concierge team can offer suggestions based on your interests and experience level, and you’re welcome to engage as little or as much as you want during your stay.
Season dependent, experiences include :
Wyda Yoga
Ski-in / ski-out
Snowshoeing
Hiking
Mountain biking
Kayaking
Local farm visits
Stargazing
Forest bathing
Travel Tip : No matter the season you visit, be sure to take the nearby ski lift up to the peak above the resort. The views are incredible, and there might be a surprise waiting for those that hike to the top of the nearby hill. (hint : local snacks and drinks await).
SPA
Simply being at Forestis seems to calm the mind, but a visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the spa. Following the example of the Celts and their natural doctrine, the Forestis Spa combines the four elements of nature with four trees: mountain pine, spruce, larch and stone pine. Each of these trees - mountain pine, spruce, larch and Swiss stone pine - possesses various active ingredients, frequencies and material substances that allow the human body to regenerate deeply and effectively. As the ultimate wellness retreat feature, these healing woods are featured in the property’s signature treatments, and are preceded by a conversation with the client therapist to determine individual needs.
With an indoor/outdoor pool, silence rooms, fitness rooms, dedicated Wyda room and seven saunas, (yes, seven), the spa at Forestis takes this part seriously. Operating as a true Austrian spa (ie : textile-free) guests can float between various levels of intensity and are encouraged to round the circuit out with an invigorating cold plunge.
While each treatment is exceptional in it’s own way, we found the Healing Stone and Mental Field massages to be exceptionally calming. Be sure to visit the outdoor sauna and forest cold plunge, tucked behind the trees just outside the spa’s garden exit.
Preferred Partner Amenities
FORESTIS is one of WHIT Travel’s Preferred Travel Partners, meaning when you book your stay through WHIT Travel Co. you’ll have the following complimentary amenities automatically added to your reservation.
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
The property’s half-board rate offers :
Breakfast + dinner (alcoholic beverages excluded)
Daily afternoon tea
Local minibar, refreshed daily
Ready to wander to FORESTIS (or somewhere equally fabulous) on a trip of your own with a customized itinerary? Get in touch with our team.
Or if you prefer to plan travels on your own, click here to book select partner hotels independently and still have the Preferred Partner Amenities applied.