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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Lefay Dolomiti is the seriously impressive mega-spa that has (until now) remained a best-kept secret of wellness enthusiasts from Milan to Munich. Increasingly, the secret is out: With over 5,000 square meters, it offers one of the largest spa areas in the entire Alps, and the sheer breadth of the offering here means that even after spending multiple days scrubbing and soaking, it’s practically impossible to grow bored.
The centerpiece of the complex is an enormous whirlpool of magnesium-rich salt water, which you’re encouraged to return to after completing one of four “pathways,” each of which sits in its own separate wing. There’s the Green Dragon, which leads you around a circuit of mild saunas scented with the likes of orange and rosemary, before leading you to a sensory waterfall and a private relaxation area; or the White Tiger, which is all about humidity, thanks to a series of steam rooms of increasing heat, capped by a cooling shower. The Black Tortoise, meanwhile, is reserved for private use, and features both a salt grotto to clear the airways and a pool filled with Alpine salt. My personal favorite? The invigorating Red Phoenix pathway, which involved a furnace blast of 90-degree heat in a panoramic sauna followed by an icy cold plunge—followed by a cup of freshly blended “balancing” herbal tea, best enjoyed while sat on a lounger looking out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the mountains beyond. After a long morning of hiking, it’s a genuinely restorative experience.
Of course, you can also freestyle across the different spa facilities, or just relax by one of the two pools: an indoor sports pool, or a colossal indoor-outdoor family pool that allows you to take in those views from the comfort of the water. As a travel editor, I’ve been lucky enough to visit many a spa in my time—and despite being lesser known outside of Italy and its neighboring European countries, I can confidently say Lefay is up there with the very best.
What’s the vibe?
Despite being on the outskirts of the town of Pinzolo, Lefay has a pleasing sense of seclusion—and offers guests a truly showstopping entrance thanks to a main hall featuring soaring timber ceilings, roaring fireplaces aplenty, and panoramic glass windows looking out onto the UNESCO World Heritage of the Dolomites beyond.
Spa treatments are supplemented by activities that encourage guests to immerse themselves in the resort’s natural surroundings. (Given the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes that abound nearby, you shouldn’t need much convincing.) A particular highlight was a walk with an enthusiastic certified nature guide—and, it turned out, a champion skier hoping for an Olympics placement when the winter games arrive in the region next year—who took me for a pulse-quickening hike before a mini forest bathing session, which included breathwork and even a birch sap tasting straight from the tree. Returning to the spa, I felt like I’d really earned it. (And if the great outdoors isn’t looking so appealing, there’s also a gym packed with state-of-the-art equipment and daily yoga or Pilates sessions.)
The history?
Lefay Dolomiti opened in 2019 after the family behind the group concluded their search for a location that would offer the appropriate amount of mountaintop tranquility, without being too remote. But the Lefay team’s wellness know-how goes back much further: their original outpost, Lefay Resort Spa Lago di Garda, first opened in 2008, and remains something of an institution for well-to-do northern Italians seeking a detox away from the crowds of Lake Como.
What should you try?
If you do book yourself in for the Black Tortoise pathway—the one with the salt baths—go for the full detox treatment. After floating in the pools and lounging in the salt grotto, you’ll be led through a moodily-lit space resembling an underground grotto, then laid out on a waterbed for a truly decadent mud scrub using silt from the Val di Genova—containing minerals including malachite, rhodolite, and zincite, it promises to stimulate antioxidant production and immune defence. Finally, you can shower and enjoy the slow, considered movements of a massage using the resort’s homemade olive oil. Pure bliss.
How environmentally friendly is it?
It turns out that Lefay was very much ahead of the game when it came to sustainability: One of their founding beliefs is that “personal wellness should never overlook environmental wellness.” (They’ve published an annual sustainability report since 2015, and now even have their own sustainability “manifesto.”) The resort was constructed almost entirely with local materials, and produces 78% of the energy and heat it needs annually through a biomass furnace and a co-generation plant. All CO2 emissions are offset, and the introduction of advanced filtration systems in 2023 has significantly reduced the consumption of both energy and water in the spa.
What else do we need to know?
If you’re seeking a more science-led take of Lefay Dolomiti’s offering, head to their Lake Garda outpost, where the programming is that of an east-meets-west medi-spa. Following an initial medical consultation, you’re likely to be prescribed an eclectic itinerary ranging everything from acupuncture to Qi Gong sessions to ancient Chinese tui na massages, all with the spectacular topography of the mountains surrounding Garda throughout every window. Even better? Do both Lake Garda and the Dolomites in combination.
Who can go?
Day spa packages are available, but there’s so much to do here, you’ll want to stay for at least a night.
Booking details for Lefay Resort Spa Dolomiti
Address: Via Alpe di Grual, 16, 38086 Pinzolo TN, Italy
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
