Hotel Hubertus in Italy's South Tyrol has reopened with a new spa featuring a Kneipp hydrotherapy pond and treatments such as Japanese Kobido facial massage. Olivia Palamountain reports

Hotel Hubertus, a Dolomites property famous for its suspended stilted architecture and dramatic sky pool has upgraded its Alpenreych Spa. The comprehensive renovation includes an enlarged indoor pool and innovative hydrotherapy facilities, plus new relaxation zones and treatments that echo the nature-led design philosophy of the hotel.

Several unique features have been introduced, including a new Kneipp pond - a shallow water feature used for hydrotherapy based on 19th-century healing methods developed by German priest Sebastian Kneipp - and a thematic path through the hotel's orchard. The Alpenreych Park has also been redesigned with new loungers positioned to maximise the mountain vistas.

The pond is typically filled with cold water (around 10-18°C) and is shallow enough for guests to walk through, usually ankle to knee-deep. The bottom often features different textures like smooth stones, pebbles, or other materials to provide additional sensory stimulation.
The treatment menu has been curated to reflect the hotel's commitment to whole-body rejuvenation, featuring Kobido Massage - a traditional Japanese facial massage technique that delivers natural lifting effects through precise stimulation of facial muscles and pressure points. Benefits are said to include enhancing skin tone and boosting collagen production.Other distinctive treatments include Hot Stone Massage using volcanic stones to penetrate deeply into muscle layers, and targeted Leg and Foot Massage designed specifically for guests seeking relief from hiking or skiing.

The hotel's unique architectural design, with its stilted structure suspended between earth and sky on a plateau above the Puster Valley, provides an unusual setting for the wellness experience. The panoramic terrace at the bar offers guests views across the vast expanse of surrounding peaks.
Summer rates begin at €225 (approximately £193) per person per night with three-quarter board including breakfast, afternoon snacks, and dinner. The hotel requires a minimum five-night stay.