Informally Excellent - Recharging in the Valais

Six kilometres in length and naturally divided into two parts, the Fee Glacier is the unmissable star of the view.

‘Outdoorsy’ is not a word I would ever use to describe myself, but upon arriving in the quaint village of Sass-Fee, situated at 1,800 metres above sea level on a mountain plateau, I immediately wish I was a bit more Swiss: it’s nearly impossible to not want to join the superfit, Gore-Tex-clad hikers and skiers schlepping their weary feet and high-tech gear through the car-free main street of Sass-Fee. I’m certain nearly all of them have just spent the day up on the glacier or practicing their best downhill skiing tricks in the quest for alpine excellence – or at the very least, did some marmot spotting just weeks before they go hibernate. In a way, I identify much more strongly with the well-fed rodents frolicking on the surrounding mountain meadows, as I too am here to eat, nibble on some alpine herbs and maybe take a nap or two in the warm afternoon sun.

My destination for this alpine wellness reset is one of Swiss Deluxe Hotel’s newest members, The Capra.

Relaxing and recharging, The Capra way
Having been gently delivered by the hotel’s small electric cab, I head straight to my beautifully laid-out mountain suite with a direct view of the Fee Glacier that looms above the village. After having taken an inappropriate number of selfies in the autumn sun, I immediately don my fluffy The Capra bathrobe and take the elegantly designed underground tunnel that connects the main, chalet-style house with the Peak Health Spa, located in a separate building. The modern alpine style featured throughout this 38-room boutique hotel is beautifully continued all throughout the spa and wellness area, which boasts a total of nearly 1,000 square metres across two floors. It may have something to do with the subtle herbal scents that waft gently throughout the spa, but I feel immedi­ately relaxed here.

All that the spa’s cozy rest area needs is you and a good book.

As the cheerfully friendly spa manager Ann-Kathrin Brüggemeier explains on a quick tour of the indoor and outdoor facilities (including an indoor pool, outdoor whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms and wonderfully serene relaxation areas), this is a place where fitness, mindfulness and outdoor adventures blend in a truly unique way.

Inspired by both Ayurvedic practices and modern, research-based wellness therapies, the Peak Health team is an amazingly diverse group of experts in all fields of personal wellbeing. From fitness coaches and yoga teachers to mindfulness experts and herbalists. ‘We want to not only help you relax and unwind, but also to help you develop your own individual strategies to maintain what you’ve achieved here,’ Ann-Kathrin explains while showing me the surprising selection of flowers and herbs that grow all around Sass-Fee and the surrounding valleys and which play a part in their signature retreats.

These bespoke programs are created individually for each guest, depending on their individual needs. Ideally, a retreat should last 5-7 days, but ‘we can work with whatever amount of time a guest can offer us’. A personalised self-care getaway can be booked on short notice and aims to improve wellbeing both on a physical level – with delicious, nutrient-rich meals, yoga or fitness and lots of activities in the fresh air – and on a spiritual level – with de-stressing treatments, personal coaching and help to establish healthy sleeping habits.

Before I get totally carried away and book my own 14-day reset, it’s time for me to experience one of The Capra’s signature rituals. That is, before enjoying a delicious dinner and a fabulous night’s sleep in the near-absolute quiet of one of the only Swiss alpine destinations I’ve encountered so far that isn’t interested in the ‘bigger-better-more’ mentality that some similar destinations embrace. Saas-Fee is old-fashioned in the best possible sense and if you’re lucky enough to be able to unwind at The Capra, you’ll understand exactly how much this kind of laid-back luxury is needed.