Three days to revive body and mind
A wellness itinerary amid woods, waterfalls and mountains
- 3 days
- April, May, June, July, August, September
- Nature and Wellness, Just relax
Woods, parks, waterfalls, lakes and mountains: these are the treasures of Trentino, and locations which have always been good for the body and mind. An ancient sensation of well-being is now amplified by modern wellness rituals such as forest bathing, where you completely immerse yourself in the woods, breathing in the essences released by plants – a bioenergetic and regenerating practice originating from Japan.
Or tree hugging, or yoga, practised in the great parks of Trentino, or barefoot walks on bark and in icy water. These are the new roads to wellness, paths to follow, which have no blind or sudden curves, but have open and silent spaces. If the silence is broken, it is only by the rustling of leaves from a rushing waterfall, abundant with water. The water of Trentino is bountiful, feeding the springs of its six spas, from the Brenta Dolomites to the Fassa Dolomites.
For a feel-good stay, you can start here. Three days is an ideal length, but you can take all the time you wish, with an itinerary which brings together a number of wellness stages in western Trentino, from Fai della Paganella to Val di Rabbi, with the Adamello Brenta Natural Park along the way.
Day 1: Relax, you’re in Trentino
Set among the majestic beech forests of Fai della Paganella, about 30 minutes by car from the Brenta Dolomites, you will find the Parco del Respiro – Europe’s one and only Therapeutic Wellness Park. It’s a gym open to everyone, with no walls or equipment. Instead, its trees and paths are the perfect environment for forest bathing and park therapy.
You can follow four itineraries within it: the Sentiero dell’Otto, which is an easy route through meadows and mountain lodges, the Sentiero dei Belvedere with views of the Adige and Cembra valleys, the Sentiero dei Reti, along which you can discover an ancient village, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Alps, and the Sentiero acqua e faggi, where you can lie down on loungers for a break.
If your body and mind are not yet filled with well-being, just head a little more than 20 km from Fai della Paganella to the village of San Lorenzo in Banale, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
The wellness experience is Perception Walking Brentanima, a walk in the village with your eyes closed. Fear not, you will be accompanied by Trentino-born Mattia and Alissa from Japan – a passionate couple who have made these practices a lifestyle and a profession. This unique event will awaken your other senses and help you look at reality differently.
Day 2: In the silence of nature
After the first day, do you already feel your breath is lighter and your muscles are more relaxed? It’s now time for the next stop, which is the Adamello Brenta Park, where you can experience “Dolomiti Natural Wellness”, eight itineraries to be covered either accompanied by wellness trainers or on your own.
You are just a short distance from Madonna di Campiglio, in the silence of nature: the perfect place to do yoga, barefoot walking, breathing exercises and tree hugging. All of these activities are conducted in iconic locations such as Val Nambrone and Val Brenta.
You can end the day in Caderzone Terme, awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club: its iron-rich waters were appreciated long ago by the Principe Vescovo, lord of Trento in the 1600s, and you can still experience their effectiveness today, with treatments at the Terme Val Rendena spa, with its centre in Caderzone. The centre has a relaxing and detox spa itinerary with saunas, Turkish bath and swimming pool, and many packages for revitalisation.
Day 3: Like fresh water
The third stage of your journey takes you to Val di Rabbi, the valley of wellbeing, in the heart of the Stelvio National Park. Here, in the woods of the Coler area, you will find the first park therapy trail, where you can walk barefoot on earth, moss, fir cones, polished stones, logs and fresh spring water. The barefoot walking activity is beneficial for circulation, breathing and muscles.
After this route, which takes about 30 minutes, you can continue on a hike to the Cascate del Saent waterfalls. These waterfalls in the green Stelvio National Park are a joy to behold.
Your next stop in the Val di Rabbi takes you to the Parco del Fruscìo, at an altitude of 1,650 metres, where the sounds of wooden bells, carillon, carved drums and colossal trumpets accompany you all the way for a memorable sensory experience.
The day concludes at the Terme di Rabbi spa where, with the help of a holistic practitioner, you embrace centuries-old larches and firs and complete the experience with water-based spa treatments from the ancient Terme di Rabbi spring.
