FORESTIS Integrates the Celtic Calendar into Its Nature-Led Seasonal Programme

FORESTIS Integrates the Celtic Calendar into Its Nature-Led Seasonal Programme 

The five-star Dolomites retreat responds to rising demand for alpine travel with a seasonal programme rooted in Celtic tradition and the rhythms of the mountains

High-res signature imagery here  

August 2026 - As UK search interest for “alpine summer” has surged 82% year-on-year, and with rising temperatures encouraging travellers to seek higher altitudes, FORESTIS offers the perfect base. 

Set within the mountain forest of the Plose at 1,800 metres above sea level, the FORESTIS suites face onto the wooded mountainous landscapes of the UNESCO World Heritage Site beyond. Rather than treating nature as a backdrop, the FORESTIS experience evolves with it. 

As debates grow around whether wellness has reached peak saturation, FORESTIS returns to the basics, taking cues from nature with restorative forest bathing, Wyda yoga and dining that draws on wild ingredients and the seasonal traditions of the region. 

New for 2026, FORESTIS is placing greater emphasis on experiences linked to key moments in the Celtic calendar with full-day excursions that connect guests with South Tyrolean culture. Experiences include visits to the Folklore Museum in Dietenheim illustrating traditional rural life in South Tyrol, trips to the Auslugerhof farm complete with bread-making and sunset hikes, before returning to the hotel for sauna/steam rituals and fireside storytelling inspired by the seasonal significance of the harvest. On-site cooking classes that draw on the culinary traditions of the Alpine surroundings are also available allowing guests to re-create dishes from Roland’s forest cuisine.

FORESTIS will next celebrate Samhain and Mabon, the Celtic autumn festivals that honour the close of the harvest season and invite a period of retreat, reflection and renewal as the darker half of the year begins. This will be through a series of rituals dedicated to elements of the respective season, from lavender drinks in the rooftop bar to spa experiences and meditative sessions.

FORESTIS Spa

The FORESTIS spa focuses on the healing power of the four natural elements: air, water, earth and fire, in combination with four trees: mountain pine, spruce, larch and stone pine. Treatments are rooted in ancestral Celtic traditions and incorporate the value of the surroundings and the effect of nature for deep physical and spiritual regeneration. Spanning 2,000 square metres, the spa area is complete with an indoor-outdoor pool framed by sweeping Dolomites views, a brine steam bath, cold plunge and four Finnish saunas, one of which is located in a traditional wooden hut outside beside a basin of ice-cold glacial water from Mount Plose. 

In addition to the sound baths and Aufguss rituals, at the heart of the retreat’s spa is Wyda Yoga, a Celtic practice that blends the wisdom of ancient European healing with the power of nature. Sessions take place in the surrounding forest or the dedicated Wyda room and are individually tailored, allowing guests of all ages and abilities to access its longevity and vitality benefits.

YERA

The relationship between landscape, season and ritual continues at the table with the retreat’s latest culinary offering, YERA. Opening in June 2025, YERA is an immersive 14-course dining experience set within a candlelit cave sculpted from the red earth of the Peitlerkofel mountain.

Led by executive Chef Roland Lamprecht, YERA is built on ingredients foraged from the local forest such as birch sap and spruce needles and preserved using traditional methods. In place of a traditional tasting menu, dishes are served in a flowing rhythm throughout the evening to tree trunk tables from the central fire and four surrounding open kitchens. There is no linear structure, only the progression of seasons, harvest, and sensory discovery.

The restaurant is concealed from view and accessed by a discreet path, which intends to honour ancient craftsmanship and echo the protective cave structures once built by early settlers. Named after the word for ‘harvest’ in the language of the Rhaetian Celts, YERA marks the celebration of the forest’s bounty, a moment when seasons meet and the cycle of nature is renewed. Fire, nature and gastronomy converge in one of the Dolomites’ most atmospheric settings that celebrates the return to a culture of living and eating in harmony with nature.

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About FORESTIS  

Located in South Tyrol, on the Southern slope of the Plose mountain at 1800 metres above sea level, FORESTIS is a conceptual 5* mountain retreat that opened 20 July 2020. The vision of owners Stefan Hinteregger and Teresa Unterthiner, FORESTIS invites guests to reconnect with their body and soul and embrace nature, surrounded by the four elements of pure spring water, pristine mountain air, countless hours of sunshine and a mild climate. FORESTIS is a CO2 neutral construction, within a natural atmosphere and energy is 100% renewably sourced. The retreat features 62 luxury suites, all with panoramic views of the massif of the UNESCO world heritage Dolomites and offers an extensive range of year-round wellness packages and curated experiences, including ski-in, ski-out. The FORESTIS Spa concept follows the principle of four native trees: mountain pine, spruce, larch and Swiss pine and head chef, Roland Lamprecht, will introduce ‘Forest Cuisine’, introducing variety, naturalness and authenticity.  

About YERA

YERA is the new culinary venture from FORESTIS, opening June 2025. Located in a handcrafted mountain cave behind the FORESTIS house, YERA is a sensory dining experience based on seasonal harvest, traditional cooking methods and ancestral rituals. Executive Chef Roland Lamprecht leads with his philosophy of ‘forest cuisine’, drawing inspiration from local ingredients, ancient preservation techniques and a reverence for nature.

You can read more on YERA in this press release.

Travel:

• Nearest Airport: Bolzano, 64km OR Innsbruck, 109km (Direct flights from London to Bolzano with SkyAlps from December 2024)
• Nearest Train Station: Bolzano, 58km

Pricing: FORESTIS lead in rate: start from 850 euros per night (approx. £738), incl. breakfast 

UK Press Enquiries: 

E: forestis@lemongrassmarketing.com 

T: +44 (0)1865 237 990 

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Editors notes

Located in South Tyrol, on the Southern slope of the Plose mountain at 1800 metres above sea level, FORESTIS is a conceptual 5* mountain retreat which opened 20 July 2020. The vision of owners Stefan Hinteregger and Teresa Unterthiner, FORESTIS invites guests to reconnect with their body and soul and embrace nature, surrounded by the four elements of pure spring water, pristine mountain air, countless hours of sunshine and a mild climate. FORESTIS is “peace as a new luxury”. FORESTIS is a CO2 neutral construction, within a natural atmosphere and energy is 100% renewably sourced. The retreat features 62 luxury suites, all with panoramic views of the massif of the UNESCO world heritage Dolomites and offers an extensive range of year-round wellness packages and curated experiences, including ski-in, ski-out. The FORESTIS Spa concept follows the principle of four native trees: mountain pine, spruce, larch and Swiss pine and head chef, Roland Lamprecht, will introduce ‘Forest Cuisine’, introducing variety, naturalness and authenticity. Suites at FORESTIS start from 660 euros per night.