SWITZERLAND
What? An eco-friendly Alpine fitness haven Where? Arosa Why? To enjoy the great outdoors in the freshest air imaginable
How much?
£750 for four nights at the Valsana Hotel, based on two people sharing a double room on a B&B basis*; valsana.ch
But the Alps are for skiing, no?
In the winter, yes, but in summer, the focus here is on eco-friendly fitness. The Valsana Hotel is a great back-to-nature base (with heroic eco credentials); the air is so fresh you can feel your lungs thanking you. It has a pool, sauna and Technogym centre, but Arosa is all about the great outdoors. In August, temperatures average 15-20°C – perfect for hiking through the Graubünden mountains, electric mountain biking or paddleboarding on the calm Obersee lake. I’d never done the latter before and, after some initial wobbles, found it extremely relaxing and peaceful – plus you can definitely feel your core working. Win-win.
Sounds pretty incredible. What else is there to do?
Our friendly hotel guide took us out each day and talked us through the local points of interest, if that floats your boat. Once you’re back at the hotel, wind down with a rejuvenating aromatherapy steam before dining alfresco with views of the mountains at the in-house restaurant, Twist. For even more luxury, just out of town, tucked away on the slope, is the Valsana’s sister hotel, the Tschuggen Grand. A five-star affair, it boasts its own mountain railway, which in winter takes skiers up to the ski lift, but transported us to a platform overlooking the valley for an outdoor yoga class. Yoga with a view is the best kind of yoga – om serious.
Any nocturnal activities?
The most exciting part of the trip for me had to be getting the cable car to the top of Weisshorn peak (4,500ft) and sleeping beneath the stars (the shooting variety included, no extra cost). Waking up at 5am to watch the sunrise with incredible views the next morning was magical. It’s obvious why Arosa was established as a health resort in 1883 – its healing powers definitely worked on me over the five days I was there, and I came back to the hustle and bustle of London life feeling invigorated and energised.