Adrenaline meets après-harmony in the Swiss Alps

As peaceful as the lake it overlooks, the Alpine Spa is a 10,000 square-metre sanctuary. 13 treatment rooms house muscle-melting therapies that aid skiing recovery, four saunas promote a detox, and the spa garden provides a moment of mindfulness. There are even five pools to pick from — including the outdoor infinity marvel surrounded by a mountainous diorama. Bürgenstock haven’t stopped there though, mini-mes of the facilities are found in the private spa suites, offering the same calibre of experience but with the added luxury of having it all to yourself.

Naturally pretty and brimming with history, Lucerne practically demands to be explored. Easily accessible via a funicular and the MS Bürgenstock Catamaran, warm summer afternoons are taken up by exploring the icons of the city and museums or attending one of many events like the festival of classic music. Come winter, quintessential Alpine scenes take over as the streets come alive with Christmas markets and authentic celebrations, from the Lilu light festival to the Luzern Fasnacht — the largest carnival in the area.  

For those a little slope-sick after leaving Andermatt, Engelberg has the remedy. Just 40 minutes from Bürgenstock by road, a compact 82km of pistes makes it easy to get a ski-fix while still being able to get back to the spa by mid-afternoon. Between runs, a pass to ride the world’s first revolving cable car to Mount Titlis also grants access to the glacier grotto and Europe’s highest suspension bridge, before inviting seasoned pros to glacier ski at 3,020m.