Last Updated on November 15, 2025

Discovering Panoramic hikes, Luxurious Spas and Fabulous Food and Wine in south tyrol

Escape to the Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus in South Tyrol. Perched 1,350m above the Dolomites, this family-run hotel offers luxury wellness, a gravity-defying SkyPool, an innovative ‘Heaven and Hell Spa’, daily guided hikes, yoga and fine dining with locally sourced ingredients and wines. Featured on the BBC’s Amazing Hotels.

There are hotels that blend discreetly with the local landscape, and then there are those that appear to float above it. The Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus in the Dolomites region of South Tyrol (in Italy) firmly belongs in the latter. It is perched 1,350 metres above sea level in the quiet town of Olang – just over an hour’s drive from Bolzano Airport.

Featured on the BBC’s Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby series with Rob Rinder and Monica Galetti, this stunning hotel is the perfect blend of local hospitality, luxury wellness and sustainable innovation – all anchored in South Tyrolean family values.

Stillness Meets Strength and Sustainability

The hotel has been owned by the Gasser family since 1968, when Frank Gasser purchased what was then known as ‘Haus Hohenrain’. It was a simple mountain inn back in those days, but it has since evolved into one of the area’s most striking wellness hotels.

Renovations began in 1994, when the family made its first investments in sustainable energy sources. A wood chip heating system was installed. Back then, this must have been an enormous risk, but today, it epitomises the type of sustainability initiatives we are all looking for. Damaged wood is collected and chipped by local farmers, then processed in-house to heat the entire site, including the outdoor pools, to a balmy 33 degrees.

As the family grew, so did the property – an indoor pool, a bar area, more bedrooms and a discreet car park under the woodchip pile. Working with local architects, 2015 saw the completion of the 12-metre-high, 25-metre-long Skypool. This glass-bottomed infinity pool seems to hover in mid-air. I felt as if I was swimming into the clouds – quite literally at times, with the view changing every few minutes. Blink and you’ll miss the deep blue sky.

In 2022, under the management of brother and sister team Markus and Daniela, Hotel Hubertus unveiled yet another ambitious creation – the Heaven and Hell Relaxation Spa. This free-floating, steel platform houses two saunas and three whirlpools as well as a relaxation area enabling guests to gaze out into the view as if they too are suspended in time.

The indoor Alpin Spa is deeply restorative. Multiple saunas, steam rooms and quiet spaces provide ample space to rest after larch oil massages, alpine herbal compresses, and mountain salt scrubs.

Movement in the Mountains

Despite the peace and serenity, Hotel Hubertus is not just a place for stillness. In fact, I was surprised to learn that most guests come here to move. Each morning, Sunrise Yoga kickstarts the daily wellness programme in the panoramic fitness studio, followed by guided mountain hikes, e-bike tours and sauna sessions. Caution – saunas here are not all clothed…

For those wanting more independence, hiking and running trails unwind in every direction through meadows and forests – a museum-style map lights up beginner and advanced routes, and maps are available at reception. Whichever way you’re inclined to exercise, the backdrop certainly takes one’s mind off all the exertion.

Hotel guests also get a free pass to Kronplatz via the cable cars, just 15 15-minute drive away. There are 121km of pistes for all levels, but if, like me, you’re not into the snow sports, you can also hike or paraglide. And if that also sounds like too much exertion, take a stroll around the two fantastic museums dedicated to mountaineering – The Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography and The Zaha Hadid designed Messner Mountain Museum Corones. Both were unexpectedly fascinating.

A Taste of South Tyrol

The hotel restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows frame yet more sweeping views with stark, black windows acting as Polaroid frames for selfies. Most guests at Hotel Hubertus are on a half board option here, but there is an exceptionally presented, and substantial, afternoon ‘biting’ menu offered at extra cost.

The camaraderie in the kitchen, led by Chef Antonio Triscari, is a shining example of management’s commitment to staff wellbeing – and that results in flawless service and a menu that is as innovative as the spa offering. The evening antipasti buffet is hearty and wholesome but in contrast, the mains arrive with the finesse you would expect of fine dining. It’s a perfect combo!

Ingredients are again sourced from local hands where possible – Meats, jams, honey, breads, vegetables and, of course, wine. The deceptively small but well-stocked cellar offers regional treasures from small, hidden vineyards such as the 600-year-old family-run Weingut Schmid Oberrautner. It was my first time tasting elegant Lagreins and modern, fungus-resistant ‘PIWI’ wines, and it was a revelation!

Side note – It’s worth noting that SkyAlps offers passengers the option to check in six 75cl bottles of wine from participating local producers.

A Perfect mountain, spa and foodie Escape

In summary, if you are looking for a retreat where ground-breaking design, wellbeing and a sense of wilderness seamlessly co-exist, then The Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus should be on your wish list. It balances indulgence with activity. Sustainability is at the heart of its growth and success, and the warmth of family hospitality shines with every smile. Whether you are looking for yoga overlooking snow-dusted peaks, guided hikes or bike rides through the valleys and forests around or just lazy afternoons unwinding in the gravity-defying Sky Pool, the atmosphere here is serene yet invigorating.

Travel and Bookings

Keep it in the South Tyrolean family and fly here with SkyAlps, founded by local entrepreneur Josef Gostner. In-flight service is included in the fare and offers regional drinks and snacks to support the local economy.

For the best rates, check the Hotel Hubertus website for special offers and packages and book directly.

Address: Via Furcia, 5, 39030 Sorafurcia BZ, Italy

Phone: +39 0474 592104

Disclaimer

Urvashi Roe travelled as a guest of SkyAlps and Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus.

Looking for something more traditional? Check our review of Hotel Ambra Cortina