SAUNA AROUND WEEK RETURNS TO DOLCE VITA HOTELS THIS NOVEMBER

SAUNA AROUND WEEK RETURNS TO DOLCE VITA HOTELS THIS NOVEMBER

The week-long sauna retreat led by Aufguss Champions follows the 20th edition of the Aufguss World Championships in Verona last month

• Twice a year, Dolce Vita Hotels host the ‘Sauna Around Week’ - a dedicated sauna retreat led by Sauna Master World Champions
• The Autumn retreat will this year take place 9th - 16th November 2025, swiftly following the Aufuguss World Championships in Verona which took place in September
• Outside of the retreat, guests can enjoy performances from resident Aufguss Champions at two hotels in the portfolio, Preidlhof and Lindenhof
• The retreat is FREE to guests of Dolce Vita Hotels
• High-res images available to download: HERE

October 2025 - As public saunas are on their way to becoming part of the UK’s social fabric - with numbers doubling from 45 to 90 since 2023 and projections pointing to over 200 by the end of 2025 - the ‘Sauna Around Week’ makes its highly-anticipated return to South Tyrol.

The Sauna Around Week is a dedicated sauna retreat led by Sauna Master World Champions at Dolce Vita Hotels, a collection of five family-run wellness resorts in the lesser-known regions of Lana and Naturno. The retreat will take place between 9 - 16 November 2025 with traditional Aufguss, sauna shows and rituals performed daily. 

Sauna events will take place at a different hotel each day - made possible through the brand’s hotel-hopping concept - where you can enjoy the facilities of all five neighbouring hotels when staying at just one. 

This year’s retreat will be led by two Sauna Master World Champions, Laura Lenders and Katherine Wong. Laura is an award-winning star who comes from the Netherlands to the panorama saunas of the Dolce Vita Hotels. Meanwhile, Katherine made her debut last year and is a rising star known for her authentic style and creative storytelling.

Dolce Vita Hotels’ ‘Sauna Around Week’ is a cultural immersion into the art of Aufguss - a sensory sauna ritual rooted in European tradition that blends movement and music with heat and scent to soothe and reinvigorate our minds. 

With a combined 41 pools, 35 saunas including a six-foot sauna tower, 31 relaxation rooms and 5 SkySpas - Dolce Vita Hotels leads the way when it comes to award-winning wellness. Outside of the retreat, guests can enjoy performances from resident Aufguss Champions at two hotels in the portfolio, Preidlhof and Lindenhof.

Explaining what’s involved in traditional Aufguss, Sabrina Telfser, Sauna Master and Spa Manager at Preidlhof Luxury Dolce Vita Resort says: 

“A visit to the sauna has many benefits from strengthening the immune system, circulation training to relaxation of the body and mind. According to sources, the origin of saunas dates back to the Stone Age and over the centuries that followed, different types of saunas have developed. We have the Finns to thank for the tradition of sauna infusions (called “Aufguss”). The sauna plays an important social role in their culture and others.

During an Aufguss, water and ice with essential oils are poured onto the stones of the sauna oven. The steam produced increases the humidity in the sauna and makes the heat more intense. By using different rhythmic movements of a towel, accompanied by background music, the Aufgussmaster creates an intense and enjoyable multi-sensory experience. Many sauna visitors forget about the heat during the Aufguss and therefore stay in the sauna longer. It takes approx. 10-13 minutes and can be optimised and intensified by using essential oils and aromatherapy during sweating. In the Aufguss, we use various utensils to distribute the air, in particular special towels and fans. 

There is a wide variety of different types of Aufguss and rituals in the sauna; classic, relaxing, themed, show, singing bowl rituals, incense rituals, scrub in the steam bath and so on. At Preidlhof there are between 3-6 different infusions every day, from the classic Aufguss to a scrub in the steam bath to themed or special show Aufguss. The show Aufguss is a special kind of ritual. It’s like a short theatre play in the sauna. The sauna masters tell a story with the help of scenography, costumes, utensils, fragrances and music. It’s a truly emotional and enriching experience. There has even been a World Championship for show Aufguss for many years”.

Explaining what it takes to be a Sauna Master and Champion, Sabrina continues:

“About 10 years ago, I completed my training as a sauna master. After the basic training, I have attended various further training courses in this field over the years. In Italy, there are various ways of training to become a sauna master. The sauna masters are then certified by the Italian Sauna Association AISA. Aufguss masters are determined at national qualifying rounds in the participating countries and then take part in the Aufguss-World-Championship. I was able to take part in 2018. It was a great experience.”

Whether you’re new to the sauna scene, or want to find out more about the ritual that’s rooted in tradition, the sauna retreat is the perfect place to experience Aufguss from the people who know it best.  

 ENDS

Notes to editors: 

Prices: The Sauna Around Week is free to guests of Dolce Vita Hotels. Room prices start from 171 euros per person per night, approx £147 (includes 3/4 board - breakfast, afternoon buffet and dinner included)

All hotel packages can be found here: https://www.dolcevitahotels.com/en/wellness/sauna-around-week 

About Dolce Vita Hotels:     

Dolce Vita Hotels is a collection of five independent wellness hotels – ALPIANA, Preidlhof, Lindenhof, Feldhof and Jagdhof - located at the foot of the Texel Group Nature Park. Open in spring, summer and autumn seasons the collection includes family-friendly and adults-only options, with family hotels offering family spas set to lower temperatures. Through their hotel hopping concept, when you book one hotel, you benefit from the facilities and services of all five, free of charge. Whether it’s enjoying the region’s culinary delights in a choice of 5 restaurants or basking in multiple infinity pools set against the backdrop of stunning mountain vistas, all the properties are just a short walk or drive away. An hour and 30 minutes away from the Dolomites, Dolce Vita Hotels is perfectly located for a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Leading the way in wellness, the collection offers the largest spa and wellness facilities in South Tyrol made up of 41 pools, 35 saunas, 31 relaxation rooms and 5 SkySpas  - including a six-floor Sauna Tower at Preidlhof. The hotels also benefit from a team of award-winning spa therapists and doctors who lead transformative wellness retreats, including menopause, and is also home to Sauna Master World Champions. Twice annually, Dolce Vita Hotels hosts their sauna retreat – the Sauna Around Week – with traditional Aufguss, sauna shows and rituals performed daily.    

Prices: From 171 euros per person per night, approx. £152 (breakfast, afternoon buffet and dinner included)

Ends

Editors notes

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