The Dolomites are known as the adventure capital of Italy and one of the most picturesque places in the country. This stunning region is famous for monumental peaks, turquoise blue lakes, and alpine meadows. In this blog post, I am going to share one of our favourite hotels in the area and why you need to add it to your itinerary!
During our honeymoon, David and I had the pleasure of visiting Naturhotel Leitlhof in San Candido, Italy. This beautiful hotel, restaurant, and spa is elegant, welcoming, and one of a kind.
We enjoyed long, luxurious nights of sleep in the cozy room during our stay. Our days were filled with hours of relaxing in the spa and evenings were spent appreciating mouth-watering meals in their top-rated restaurant.
We were particularly interested in the fact that they are one of the few self-sustained hotels in Europe. Generating their own power and heat makes them self-sufficient and climate-neutral. On top of that, they have an organic farm and cattle ranch providing the restaurant with fresh beef, herbs, and vegetables.
How incredible is that?!
From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed warmly by the entire staff. Each one of them was exceptionally kind, accommodating, and helpful. After a week of hiking and exploring the area, we were eager to relax and enjoy every amenity available to us at this wonderful property.
At Leitlhof we pursue a mission for the beauty of life. And that starts with nature. We use the best our region has to offer and enhance it with a fine note of luxury.
– Naturhotel Leitlhof
The Property
Located just minutes from the Austrian border, this hotel is in a unique and convenient location. It feels completely secluded while still being close to popular attractions such as Lago di Braies, Tre Cime, Cadini di Misurina, and Lago di Sorapis.
The impressive property at Naturhotel Leitlhof is comprised of three beautiful buildings all connected on the second floor. Inside, they offer a variety of rooms and suites, a bar & lounge, a fantastic restaurant, and a profound wellness area spanning 3 floors!
Naturhotel Leitlhof provides equal opportunities for rest and exploration, boasting group hikes, bike tours, and even free backpack rentals. To encourage and support guests in seeing the beauty of the area, they offer:
- 5 guided hikes and 6 guided bike tours per week
- Personal hiking guides
- Professional equipment at no charge
- Hiking shuttles
- Insider tips from their local staff
As mentioned earlier, they also have a farm, a cattle ranch, and a power plant near the hotel that they use to supply energy, beef, and fresh herbs and vegetables to their guests.
Nature is our luxury. We want to sustain and protect this natural wealth. Therefore, we have transformed Leitlhof into a climate-friendly hotel. Building our own power plant was a major milestone in this direction. Power and heat consumption are the key drivers of businesses’ carbon emissions. Generating our own energy allows us to supply the entire hotel from our own resources, making us carbon-neutral.
– Naturhotel Leitlhof
The Spa
Ah, the spa. Included with your stay, each guest receives complimentary access to the fantastic spa spanning over 2000 m². Relaxing, romantic, and rejuvenating, it was a true highlight of our stay.
This is something we don’t see all the time in Canada but are delighted by its popularity in the Dolomites. Although many hotels offer spa facilities in this wonderful area, Leitlhof offers the most impressive and expansive spa facilities we have ever seen!
Throughout 3 different levels, this spa features an indoor and outdoor pool, multiple relaxation areas, 2 outdoor saunas, a whirlpool, a variety of indoor saunas and steam rooms, and a cold plunge pool. There is nothing better after a morning of hiking than soaking up all the amenities that this spa has to offer.
The Rooms
There are several accommodation options at Hotel Leitlhof ranging from cozy single rooms to spacious suites. Our room was emphasized by an abundance of light and a natural blend of subtle luxury and tradition.
The plush king-sized bed was situated with excellent views out the balcony overlooking the stunning Birkenkofel Mountain. The roomy suite included a lounging area, a full wardrobe, a heated towel rack, fresh fruit upon arrival, and a mini fridge.
Our rooms and suites at the Leitlhof nature hotel are a sanctuary for you to return to after a long day in the outdoors. Enjoy our natural blend of subtle luxury and tradition, of old and new. All our rooms feature warm wood, soft materials and plenty of natural light.
-Naturhotel Leitlhof
The Restaurant
Included with each stay is a fantastic buffet each morning in the restaurant. Served from 7:00-10:30 AM, this heavenly spread is a remarkable way to start your day. When we visited, the menu consisted of a wide variety of bread, cheese, meat, baking, fruit, cereal, sweets, and more!
On top of that, you can also order warm items such as omelettes, crepes, eggs Benedict, avocado toast, sausage, etc. These dishes are cooked to order and served fresh!
While booking your stay, you will have a few different food options to choose from. One is to select only breakfast, and the other is called half board. If you’re from North America, like us, you might be wondering what exactly half board means.
Trust us on this one, you are going to want to choose the half-board option! It includes the exquisite breakfast buffet as well as a delectable 4- course dinner you are not going to want to miss.
The massive buffet of salad, bread, cheese, and appetizers could be a meal all on its own. We were completely mind-blown when it was followed by two to four more delicious courses of our choice! Absolute heaven.
We hope you enjoy your time in Italy! Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comment below with your thoughts on Naturhotel Leitlhof. We would love to hear from you.
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