Peak Season: Alpine Properties Perfect for Summer Escapes

May 7, 2025 by Hidden Doorways

For clients seeking summer’s pleasures without its sweltering crowds, these iconic ranges await with their own brand of seasonal magic. While many associate mountains with winter sports and cozy fireplaces, the warmer months reveal their true versatility – transforming slopes into verdant hiking trails, frozen lakes into refreshing swimming spots, and snow-capped peaks into dramatic backdrops for outdoor dining.

From the pristine lakes of the Alps to the spiritual heights of the Himalayas, here are our picks of distinctive properties that reveal the captivating allure of the mountains as they transform into playgrounds of alpine blooms and endless blue skies.

The Alps

The Alps have perfected the art of summer leisure, where centuries-old wellness traditions blend seamlessly with outdoor adventures, all against a backdrop of Europe’s most elegant landscapes.

Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne

Swap the sea for the crystal clear water of Switzerland’s Lake Lucerne where the majestic Bürgenstock Resort and its Alpine Spa will leave thoughts of sandy shores far behind. Balmy days are well spent boating across the lake or soaring high on the Bürgenstock Funicular where captivating views go on for what feels like forever. Suspended 1,640 feet high on The Alps’ mountain ridge, nature abounds here and there’s no better time to explore its 148 acres than summertime. Tee off on its 9-hole alpine golf course, walk its panoramic circular cliff-edge route, bike around Bürgenberg, or experience the secrets of Switzerland’s underground cave system.

Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa Lausanne

Next to another Swiss lake, this time Lake Geneva, is the Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa in scenic Lausanne. Aside from its luxurious spa with heated indoor and outdoor pools, a must in summer is enjoying a cocktail or two on its rooftop Skylounge terrace where architectural views soaked in gentle sunshine make happy hour very happy indeed. A charming city break, warm days make walking the historic old town a no-brainer where its gothic cathedral and impressive art collections keep the cultured entertained. There’s certainly no better time of year to enjoy its landscaped parks, gardens and the UNESCO world heritage site of Lavaux – cycling through the area’s vineyard terraces is certainly one for the experiences list.

Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

To Italy, where Lake Como’s most-loved village of Bellagio provides a beautiful bolthole via The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, a neoclassical icon that transports guests to aristocratic days gone by. The best of all worlds is available here with the lapping lake shores offering up Baci da Bellagio – its exclusive lakefront beach club on its own private golden sand beach with surrounding Alpine views that comes alive during Italian summer. Sun-worship can also migrate to its palm-lined pool, a level up from the lake. For the more actively inclined, consider a tailored Nordic walking tour with one of the villa’s fitness experts to explore the rugged Bellagio mountain terrain. A scenic walk is a calmer option with Serbelloni’s Discovery Walks unearthing Bellagio’s village alleys as well as the enchanting streets of Pescallo – an ancient fishing district. Don’t forget the botanical gardens of Villa Melzi that are at their most abundant in summer months.

The Dolder Grand

Another Swiss city that shines bright in summer is Zurich with The Dolder Grand to bookmark for any stay. Putting both lake and mountain beauty in plain sight as well as nearby woodlands in which forest bathing is highly recommended on sun-generous days, don’t forget destinations like Zurich mean city riches are on the cards too — the city center is in fact just minutes away. Staying close to the hotel, its summer program of seasonal activities includes volleyball, mini-golf, al fresco table tennis plus a 164-foot pool and tree-lined lawn with 107,600 square feet for sunbathing and sports.

Palace Merano

A Belle Epoque hotel in a Dolomites Valley, Italy’s Palace Merano began life as the first medical spa where esteemed Henri Chenot developed his famed healing methods. To this day, the hotel is a go-to for those seeking daily hydrotherapy and preventive treatments rooted in caring for mind and body, but it’s also a place that boasts ski slopes, the Tappeinerweg walking trail and small vineyards on the slopes of Kuchelberg. At an altitude of 1,066 feet, Merano is a town that enjoys some of the best climatic conditions in Europe because of its shielding mountain basin and very own microclimate. Guests leave energized and balanced from its healing mix of Revital treatments and the spellbinding Merano scenery.

The Rockies

With their dramatic silhouettes and vast wilderness, the Rockies embody the untamed spirit of America’s frontier. Here, luxury takes on a distinctly western character as outdoor adventures scale from gentle to extreme, wildlife viewing is unparalleled, and the grandeur of the national parks creates the ultimate natural playground for those seeking both exhilaration and reflection.

Brush Creek Ranch

In Saratoga, Wyoming lies a 30,000-acre guest ranch in the foothills of The Sierra Madre Mountain Range – an extension of the Rockies. Brush Creek Ranch is nature’s greatest playground with private Wyoming wilderness in which there are 20 miles of North Platte private water access, 100,000 acres of national forest access and over a hundred ranch adventures to entertain solo travelers, family-wide trips and thrill-seeking couples alike. Come summertime, highlight pastimes include horseback rides (with a picnic in hand) to remote Sanger Ranch, sunrise yoga on a cliff-hugging platform giving limitless views of the Sierra Madre Mountains, fly-fishing over peaceful streams and off-road adventures. The ranch team advises the latter as a great way to start any stay, learning about western history and the surrounding lands in an all-terrain Polaris Ranger with a cooler packed with crisp ciders for well-earned stop-offs.

Hotel Yellowstone

Atop the East Gros Ventre Butte is Jackson Hole’s most luxurious retreat, Hotel Yellowstone. Breathtaking views of the great Teton Range and the inspiring beauty of the West are what vibrant summers are made of. Top of the summer experience suggestions is its Curated Yellowstone Wildlife Safari where spectacular sites like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring are absolutely on the agenda, as is a picnic along Firehole River. For those seeking exhilaration, try an eight-mile whitewater rafting journey through the Grand Canyon of the Snake River. For calmer, sun-soaked activities, paddleboard across a crystal-clear alpine lake.

The Himalayas

The world’s most formidable mountain range offers summer visitors a transcendent experience where millennia-old cultures thrive in pristine valleys beneath towering peaks. Here, ancient Buddhist kingdoms and timeless traditions create an opportunity for journeys that are as spiritually enriching as they are visually spectacular.

Shinta Mani Mustang

In Nepal’s remote Mustang region, ancient Buddhist kingdoms persist in the shadow of the world’s highest peaks. Shinta Mani Mustang serves as a gateway to epic spiritual and cultural adventures in this hidden corner of the globe. Imagine being cooled on a summer’s day by the crisp mountain air as you trek to hidden monasteries, explore sacred caves, or ride Mustang horses through starkly beautiful valleys. Bill Bensley’s artistic genius creates an otherworldly retreat nestled beneath the towering Nilgiri range, where floor-to-ceiling windows frame cinematic mountain views. Summer months are perfect for immersing in the rich cultural tapestry of Nepal’s “Forbidden Kingdom” with expert local guides, before returning to enjoy locally inspired cocktails at Aara Bar while watching the sun paint the mountains in impossible shades of gold. After each day’s exploration, the SoRig Wellness Center offers personalized treatments from an 11th-generation Amchi, drawing from centuries of Tibetan medicine tradition to restore both body and spirit.

Ananda in the Himalayas

Described as the world’s most renowned holistic wellness retreat, return to the peaceful solitude of nature at Ananda in India’s Himalayan foothills. Special for so many reasons, it’s the birthplace of Ayurveda, Yoga and meditation, with curated journeys to detox, cleanse, balance and guide no matter what time of year peace-seekers visit. Beyond its healing journeys, Ananda has experiences aplenty with summer being ideally placed to enjoy its early-morning nature treks to Kunjapuri Temple for snowcapped Himalayan vistas, whitewater rafting along the Ganges and the fire-lit devotional ritual Ganga Aarati along its holy riverbanks. Don’t miss safaris through the Rajaji National Park, home to more than 500 elephants that never look more breathtaking than in the summer.