#1 The Alpina Gstaad, Gstaad BE
The Alpina is fabulous for both body and mind - and paves the way for instant relaxation even before you enter the spa. The 56 wood-panelled rooms are decorated in the finest chalet chic. But the Alpine style is deliberately broken in places, such as the Japanese cuisine in the 'Megu' restaurant or the strong art and floral accents in the public areas. 

Behind the luxury cosmos in the peaceful Saanenland, however, another dimension opens up. At the Six Senses Spa, you can choose to enjoy a soothing facial or body treatment, impeccably executed, followed by a swim or sauna. Or book a health programme that goes beyond the ordinary. 

State-of-the-art, non-invasive therapeutic elements such as oxygen therapy, photobiomodulation (stimulating light waves) and cryotherapy (cold chamber) are subtly combined with Tibetan natural healing methods, breathing training, yoga and meditation. Many of our guests arrive with empty batteries and want to reconnect with themselves,' says hotel director Nadine Friedli. We help them find peace and distance from everything and take their quality of life to a new level."

#2 Chenot Palace Weggis, Weggis LU
If you arrive at the Chenot Palace tired, listless and pale after a long winter, you can expect to leave radiant and full of life. This elegant retreat is located at the foot of Mount Rigi. The seven-day 'Recover & Energise' programme, for example, offers a time-out. It is a kick start for anyone who has been abusing their body for years and wants to get fit again. 

This is achieved by following a personalised programme of hydrotherapy, mud wraps, massages, fitness, energising treatments and feather-light Mediterranean cuisine. George Gaitanos, the scientific director, is a former professional athlete who believes in the effectiveness of targeted lifestyle changes: If you want to keep your youthfulness and live better for longer, you have to be serious about it,' he says. There is no such thing as a feeling of deep personal well-being into old age for nothing.

#3 Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Bad Ragaz SG
This bastion of health in eastern Switzerland has a 180-year tradition of natural thermal baths. It has recently undergone an amazing transformation. The former sanatorium atmosphere has been largely eliminated and the focus has been placed on the wellbeing factor. The medical directors have redefined traditional cures in a trendy way and cleverly combined their expertise in the preventive 'NewYou' retreats. These last from three to seven days and are aimed at different lifestyles, each with a transformative goal. Afterwards, you know exactly what is good and what is bad for you.  

The pleasure-seeking holidaymakers who are now increasingly staying here often come with their children and pets. They appreciate being able to effectively optimise their health while spending their precious holidays with their families, thanks to the wide range of services on offer: from the children's villa and family spa to the professionally managed e-bike station and the resort's own golf course. With seven restaurants and a total of six Michelin stars, there is something for everyone. The Tamina Therme, which is open to the public, has just been renovated.

#4 Bürgenstock Resort, Obbürgen NW
The Bürgenstock is more than a mountain. It is a legend. A beacon in Central Switzerland. And since the reopening of the hotel resort of the same name in autumn 2017, it has become a destination that polarises guests and tourism professionals alike. Since General Manager Chris Franzen took over the operational management of the 700-strong hotel team, which is highly regarded around the world, the sprawling hotel complex has been given a new lease of life and a consistently high level of performance in all areas. The culinary diversity, with Thai, Chinese, Indian, Persian and Swiss specialities, is second to none, and the Alpine Spa impresses not only with its phenomenal location high above Lake Lucerne, but also with its wellness expertise.

#5 Hof Weissbad, Weissbad near Appenzell AI
If you want to recharge your batteries and reconnect with yourself, this pleasantly unpretentious health and wellness hotel at the foot of the Alpstein is the place to be. A naturopath may helpfully point out that a nagging backache is really a stomach problem. Or that the right posture makes you look younger far more effectively than any skin-tightening treatment. 

Mayr's therapeutic fasting programme is at the heart of the treatment, flanked by a variety of conventional and alternative medical diagnostic and therapeutic methods. But you can also choose from a number of individually tailored spa treatments, immerse yourself in the recently added bathing and sauna house and enjoy the outstanding menus of Appenzell chef Käthi Fässler in the evenings. You'll also be pampered and, above all, reminded of what it feels like to be fit and alert again.

#6 7132 Hotel, Vals GR
The thermal baths are world-famous and have lost none of their appeal since they opened in 1996. In this Alpine temple of bathing culture, you will discover a mystical world of stone, water and gently controlled light. Those staying at the adjoining hotel resort will be completely relaxed. It consists of the five-star '7132 Hotel' in the main building and the non-starred 'House of Architects' with 73 rooms designed by four famous architects (Peter Zumthor, Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma and Thom Mayne). The advantage for hotel guests: the thermal baths are reserved for them daily from 7 to 11 a.m. Also exclusive: night bathing on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. 

The super-hot 'fire bath' offers a tingling sense of self-awareness. Based on the Japanese onsen baths, it is a place of immersion and surrender. You can't think about your tax return or your problems with your partner when you're in the fire bath - you have to concentrate on yourself and the moment,' says hotel director Katrin Rüfenacht. The sensual experience is complemented by a range of relaxing and invigorating spa treatments and four restaurants. The food is consistently fantastic, whether it's pizza margherita or turbot with caramelised fennel.

#7 Clinique La Prairie, Montreux VD
Check in a tired workhorse and check out a fit racehorse: this is what the exhausted of our performance-oriented society have been expecting for nine decades to this mythical place of self-renewal. The fresh-cell cure was invented here in the early 1930s. The current buzzword 'longevity' has always been part of the 'DNA' of the place, even if the focus has always been on extending the 'health span' - as opposed to the mere life span. 

 

The five- to seven-day revitalisation programmes, which are individually tailored on the basis of a medical check-up with a range of high-tech diagnostics (including genetic testing if desired), make a real difference. They provide physical and mental clarity. The whole thing is anything but cheap, but for the many returning guests it is obviously worth the price (from CHF 11,250 and up). Ever since Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysts have argued that health seekers will not get better unless they pay for their treatment. Conviction and the feeling of self-treatment: the principle of health retreats also thrives on this.

#8 Six Senses Crans-Montana, Crans-Montana VS
Holistic wellbeing is part of the Six Senses hotel group's DNA. In this new chalet-style building, with large, pleasantly tempered indoor and outdoor pools, you can recharge your batteries, reduce stress and boost your immune system. The revitalisation programme, which includes health screenings, massages, nutritional advice and outdoor activities, is just the basics. In addition, wellness luminaries from around the world are regularly invited. There is a 'Biohack Recovery Lounge' with advanced therapies such as NormaTec, Hyperice X and Venom, which stimulate 'natural killer cells' to effectively fight off infections. 

In the Alchemy Bar, guests can create their own beauty products while learning about the healing properties of various plants and herbs. The 78 stylish and comfortable rooms are decorated in earthy colours and sensual textures, but few have views of the surrounding area - this privilege is reserved for the adjoining residences. Culinary options include the all-day brasserie Wild Cabin (with dishes that the hotel aptly describes as hearty and healthy) and Byakko, which serves sophisticated Japanese cuisine..

#9 Gstaad Palace, Gstaad BE
There is much to love about this 112-year-old alpine palace: 90 cosy rooms, four restaurants to suit every taste and a brilliant team, many of whom have been with the hotel for many years. It is a place that embraces you, where cosmopolitan glamour and Bernese Oberland down-to-earthness come together in harmony - even in the spa. The spa not only helps you to slow down, but has also adapted its priorities to today's needs. The pampering programmes of yesteryear have largely been replaced by revitalising treatments. 

Revitalising guests from the inside out is something that Spa Manager Estelle Gomes is passionate about. Whether it's personal training for a strong back, yoga and meditation for energetic balance, or Ayurvedic therapy for aches and pains, the 'Oasis of Mindfulness', as Estelle describes the spa area, offers deep wellbeing with a lasting effect. Those seeking intense relaxation can book the two-hour 'Hamam Experience' (a journey through six baths and massages) or opt for a regenerating beauty treatment using products from the nearby Jardin des Monts organic herb garden.

#10 Appenzeller Huus, Gonten AI
The tranquil village of Gonten, with its 1,400 inhabitants, is about to catapult itself onto the international wellness map - with a hotel ensemble the likes of which Appenzell has never seen. The two existing hotels, the three-star 'Huus Bären' and the four-star 'Huus Löwen', will be joined this spring by the sustainability-oriented 'Huus Quell'. It offers 30 luxurious five-star rooms and an attractive spa, all under the umbrella brand 'Appenzeller Huus'. It's a unique wellness retreat that doesn't get lost in superficial, Instagram-friendly stimuli, but is able to touch the deeper layers of well-being. 

The sophisticated wellness concept offers innovative diagnostic tools and holistic relaxation and treatment options ranging from yoga to cryotherapy and biohacking. It also incorporates the surrounding natural environment, with personalised outdoor coaching sessions outside the spa comfort zone. There are also three restaurants and an impressive wine cellar. Investor and native Appenzeller Jan Schoch promises: 'We offer wellness with health benefits, but enjoyment should not be neglected.

#11 Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Arosa GR
The flamboyant design of the main building's rooms and public spaces contrasts with the purist design of architect Mario Botta's 'Mountain Oasis' spa, crowned by colourful illuminated glass sails. The spa therapists are carefully selected to ensure that the treatments are always of the highest standard. A mountain herb stamp massage, for example, leaves you feeling as if you are floating, and non-invasive skin rejuvenation solutions are tailored to each guest. 

Vegan gourmets are also well catered for at La Brezza, the restaurant of young top chef Marco Campanella, and even the traditional Grand Restaurant offers sensual menus based on plants. A special feature is the futuristic shuttle railway from the hotel to the ski and hiking area. In winter, you can ski right up to the hotel door. The toboggan run from the Tschuggenhütte also ends right outside the hotel. Four spacious 'Mountain Lofts' for discerning guests will be added in the adjoining new building in February 2024.