Environmentally Friendly Holidays: Bio Hotels in Tirol

At the Biohotel Stillebach*** the clue is in the name, which literally translates as "calm stream". Behind the building visitors will find a clear mountain stream fed by a rushing waterfall which can be faintly heard in the distance. The hotel is located to the north of St. Leonhard in the heart of the Pitztal Valley at 1,440 metres above sea level. Organic elements can be found throughout this accommodation, from the decoration of the rooms to the food served in the restaurant. Most of the beds, floorboards and furniture are made from pinewood. All the ingredients used in the kitchen come from organic farms and – as far as possible – from the local region.

A family business now run by the fourth generation, the Rastbichlhof is fully committed to sustainable tourism. It is located in the village of Neustift in the Stubai Valley and is a member of the "Bio-Hotels" initiative. Ingredients are sourced from the local region and efforts are made to save water and energy wherever possible. At the same time, guests can look forward to plenty of creature comforts such as a Finnish sauna, a swimming pool and a large garden as well as a range of treatments using organic beauty products.

From the salt stone sauna in the spa to the wicker back basket ovens and fine food prepared by chef Otto Wandl, the Bio- und Wanderhotel Leutascherhof**** lives the philosophy of environmental friendliness and sustainability. Indeed, the hotel has received a "Grüne Haube" award for its organic food made from healthy produce sourced from the local region. After a delicious dinner, guests can relax in cosy rooms between 18 m² and 80 m² in size. Alternatively, why not pay a visit to the spa with its selection of saunas, soothing massage service and chillout room with fantastic views of the surrounding landscape?

Design, art and nature under one roof: Waldklause is the first nature and design hotel in Tyrol to create a magnificent symbiosis between Öztal’s rugged nature and contemporary design, offering visitors a comfortable, bright and welcoming home from home. A true gem, created using wood, glass and stone, and a haven of Tirolean hospitality with a passion for nature. Where body, mind and soul are in harmony; and only a two minute walk from the Aqua Dome Tirol Thermal Spa in Längenfeld.

Situated just a few minutes' walk from Tirol's highest waterfall, the Veitenhof in the Ötztal Valley offers visitors breathtaking views of the mighty Ötztal Alps. This hotel in the hamlet of Niederthai is the perfect basecamp for families and nature lovers. Guests can start the day the right way with a healthy organic breakfast buffet featuring plenty of homemade and regional produce. The owner Rosmarie Leiter is a qualified herb expert and organises regular herb hikes into the meadows around the hotel to teach visitors about the many herbs native to this part of the Alps. Children will enjoy meeting the friendly Haflinger horses, which can be ridden or used for horse-drawn carriage rides through the countryside. As well as a selection of rooms and spacious apartments, the Veitenhof also has a cosy holiday home sleeping up to seven people.

The family-run Biohotel Schweitzer*** on the sunny Mieming Plateau above the Inntal Valley has been an institution for two decades now. It is considered to be the first hotel in Europe to have received certification as a bio-hotel. Head chef Maria Schweitzer specialises in vegetarian and vegan food and is happy to cater for all kinds of special dietary requirements. She has received a "Grüne Haube" award in recognition of her healthy and sustainable approach to cooking. This charming hotel in a sunny location overlooking the Inntal Valley also offers yoga and fasting as well as a small spa area with a sauna, steam room and Kneipp water therapy trail. Guests who want even more relaxation can also use the 5.000 m² spa area of the nearby Alpenresort Schwarz with an incredible nine (!) pools. The rooms and family apartment at the Biohotel Schweitzer are lovingly decorated with lots of natural wood, elegant bathrooms and fine beds guaranteeing a good night's sleep.

From the stylish lounge with its open fireplace to the spa area and the 41 rooms and suites, the reddish-brown tones of the larch tree accompany guests throughout the Bio-Wellnesshotel Holzleiten****. This charming hotel is located in the heart of Europe's largest protected larchwood forest, on the edge of the Mieming Plateau. Fine local materials such as loden, glass, felt and stone have been used to decorate the rooms, while the electricity is provided by renewable sources. This environmentally friendly theme continued into the kitchen, where the chefs use locally sourced produce. Those in search of total relaxation should head for the spa area with its Finnish sauna offering panoramic views, pinewood infrared sauna, heated outdoor pool and massage service. The hotel even has its own line of beauty products. And as the day draws to a close, why not treat yourself to a single malt whiskey or a classic cocktail at the hotel bar?

For over 100 years now the Biohotel Grafenast*** high up on the mountain in the village of Pillerberg, around 750 vertical metres above the Inntal Valley and the town of Schwaz, has been run by the same family. It is now the fourth generation that is in charge. The owners, like their parents and grandparents before them, have given the hotel their own personal touch by installing many works of art in and around the hotel as well as by continuing the long tradition of healthy eating with regional produce. At the Biohotel Grafenast, no two rooms are the same. Each has been lovingly decorated with attention to detail, such as the unusual Atelier Suite with its private sauna. The team of chefs in the kitchen uses local produce to create a selection of Austrian classics and international highlights. The hotel has been awarded a "Grüne Haube" in recognition of its healthy food, and both vegetarians and vegans will find plenty of choice. Guests staying at this hotel should not miss out on a trip to the spa, where there is a forest sauna in a building similar to a yurt as well as a hamam. The secret garden is home to many sculptures, while the gallery regularly hosts exhibitions. All rooms at the Biohotel Grafenast are protected from earth radiation and electrosmog, so there are no devices such as televisions.

The Stanglwirt in Going at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser Mountains combines five-star service with environmental friendliness. As well as a wide range of sports and leisure activities, this beautiful hotel in stunning surroundings has a large sauna area and several pools, including a competition pool and a rock pool. Guests can enjoy fine food in the hotel restaurant, which uses local organic produce. This theme of local over global can be seen throughout the Stanglwirt. For example, many of the materials used for the building come from the region. The climate-neutral heating system uses energy from the hotel's own biomass plant, while the electricity is provided by small-scale local hydroelectric plants. Last but not least, the furniture and fittings in the hotel are also, of course, 100% environmentally friendly and use natural materials such as horsehair, wood and wool.

Sustainable tourism, regional produce and environmentally friendliness are three of the key values behind the Natur- & Biohotels Bergzeit**** run by the Sammer family. This small but perfectly formed hotel opened on 16 Dezember 2016 in Zöblen, a small village in the stunnning Tannheimer Tal Valley. The hotel offers an alpine spa, a selection of stylish rooms and suites, and delicious local food made using organic produce from the local region.

Situated in the heart of Thiersee, just a stone's throw from the shore of the lake of the same name, lies the Bio-Landhaus Seethaler. This family-run guesthouse is dedicated to using 100% local produce, especially when it comes to food and drink. In the evenings guests can look forward to delicious dinners comprising several courses, including vegetarian and vegan options. In the mornings there is a healthy and hearty breakfast buffet. The team of chef in the kitchen pay close attention to where the ingredients are sourced from to ensure that only organic produce without GM or pesticides are used. All meat is free range, and much of the food served is wholefood. Contuining the healthy, relaxing theme: there is a Finnish sauna, a freshwater whirlpool, aromatic steam baths, massages and weekly yoga available at the hotel.

Located in the heart of Ellmau, within the protected area of the Kaiser Mountains, these apartments run by the friendly Leitner family are equipped with all mod cons and offer guests the chance to enjoy a relaxing and environmentally friendly stay in stylish and modern surroundings. The apartments are the first accommodation provider in the region to be awarded the status Green Hotel and the EU Ecolabel. Renovated in 2017, the individual apartments are dedicated to local species of plants and animals at threat of extinction. Plenty of natural wood and sweet-smelling cushions filled with pine shavings create a welcoming alpine atmosphere. There is a charging station for electric cars, while visitors who arrive by train or by bus receive a 10% discount.

Of course, you don't absolutely have to be a loved-up couple to enjoy a holiday at the Bio-Hotel Grubachhof – but it helps! This four-star superior hotel in Gerlos has most definitely been designed with romance in mind. Evidence can be found in the form of themed suites with large circular beds, whirlpools made for two and open fireplaces. Each suite is unique and features lots of unvarnished natural wood and other natural materials from the region. Guests can look forward to a healthy and hearty organic breakfast each morning with the dairy products sourced from the hotel's own organic farm. The family which runs both the hotel and the farm places great importance on good living conditions for farmyard animals and sustainable production methods.

The Biohotel Bruggerhof in Kitzbühel draws visitors from far and wide with its spectacular location and commitment to environmental sustainability. It is located in the Schwarzsee Lake Nature Reserve, an area of alpine moorland. The lake's water is rich in natural minerals and relatively warm, making it an ideal place for a relaxing dip in summer. Each of the hotel's rooms offers fine views of the Kitzbühel Alps. There is also a restaurant serving organic food and a large spa area with several saunas. In winter the hotel is a popular spot for skiers thanks to its proximity to the Fleckalmbahn cable car and the local cross-country skiing trails. The perfect place for a holiday full of both action and adventure as well as rest and relaxation!