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here’s getting away from it all, and then there’s Eriro. This former cottage and inn turned mountain retreat sits at an elevation of 1,550 meters (about 5,085 feet) at the foot of the Zugspitze Mountain, and higher than any other hotel in the area. So high in fact, that’s it’s accessible only by cable car during ski season, and snowcat out of season. Now owned by three local couples, all childhood friends who wanted to respect the region’s heritage, Eriro has been sensitively transformed to introduce guests to a slower way of living and foster a connection with nature.

Corridors lined in natural clay and bobbled wool lead to nine private suites, which put a contemporary spin on traditional Alpine design. Unfinished spruce wood walls are complemented by a soothing neutral palette and layers of tactile materials, while the pared back wooden furnishings have all been crafted bespoke, from the hand carved doors and milking-stool-inspired chairs to the more unusual log baths in seven of the nine suites, which have been dried out and carved from a single piece of wood. There are no televisions, instead guests are invited to play one of the traditional board games or vinyl records that are provided in each suite, or simply admire the spectacular view from the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Over the course of each stay Eriro’s all-inclusive concept takes guests on a gastronomic journey across the mountainside through locally sourced fresh produce, meat, and cheese, and the fermentations and jams concocted by the team to preserve the flavors of the previous season. Experiences are also rooted in the region, from pottery classes, mountain hiking, and even yodeling, but for a quieter moment Eriro’s spa beckons with its Finnish and herbal saunas, an onsen pool, meditation pool, and bespoke massage treatments based around traditional mountain herbs.