The hills are alive, with the sound of hiking. Just in time for a summer adventure, Le Grand Bellevue in Gstaad has reopened its doors with a range of activities designed to tempt thrill seekers until 1 October
Open from now until the end of October, visitors can choose from an array of newly launched activities including Padel courts, spectacular heli-hikes, heli Qi -yoga and SUP water-based yoga challenges. Ideal for a dose of Swiss bliss, guests can immerse themselves into the serenity of the mountains with striking rail routes, alongside days spent indulging in famously sought-after cheese and wine delicacies unique to the region.
This year, travellers can savour the summer all the way through to 1 October – the longest season opening dates of any hotel in Gstaad for an escape that caters to all.
Get active in the alps
As the appetite for experience-focused holidays grows, sports enthusiasts and fitness fanatics can enjoy Le Grand Bellevue’s wide offerings of high and low-impact exertions in and outside of the property this summer. Intrepid adventures begin with the newly launched heli-hike and heli Qi-yoga experiences.
After arriving mountaintop via private helicopter, guests can kickstart days with energetic hikes paired with mountain vistas. Those looking to ease into the day can rise with guided Qi-yoga, taking in quiet moments in serene and secluded Alpine settings.
New and opening this summer, adrenaline-fuelled pursuits continue with Le Grand Bellevue’s Padel tennis courts. Guests can improve their serve and partake in the most popular sport of the season. With no one-size-fits-all programme, Le Grand Bellevue caters to every type of active aficionado – from rebalancing Tai Chi meditation, refreshing wild swimming, and challenging SUP Yoga on Lake Arnensee, experiences to reset the body and mind are plentiful.
Take the scenic route
Recent years have seen a rise in hybrid flight-light holidays, and travelling slower and greener is increasingly essential. Now offering the longest summer season opening dates of any hotel in Gstaad, travellers can make the most of longer stays and journey from Geneva via the scenic Panoramic Express Montreux-Interlaken rail ride, taking in views of glassy Lake Geneva and meandering foothills, or by taking the famous Golden Pass Line that takes just over three hours to reach Gstaad from Geneva airport, where Le Grand Bellevue is a perfectly positioned base to engage in a showstopping social calendar of events.
This year, the hotel is a partner of the renowned Swiss Open (17 -23 July) where spectators can expect to see previous champions Casper Ruud, Matteo Berettini, and more compete.
Entertainment extends to local celebrations with the Swiss National Day Brunch (1August) where guests can delight in regional delicacies amongst the traditional Alphorns and alpine culture at LEONARDS or rejoice in the Gstaad Zugelete Brunch (3 September) at the hotel’s chic Le Petit Chalet, taking in the famous flower-bedecked cows as they parade past the hotel. Guests can also relish in divine Menuhin Pre-Concert Dinners (15th July – 3rd September) that will run throughout the season and will feature a two-course meal and glass of wine to kick off evenings filled with musical grandeur.
Grape escapes: enjoy wine and cheese pairings
Switzerland is renowned for its cheese but is also home to spectacular vineyards. At Le Grand Bellevue, oenophiles can explore the second-largest wine-making region in the country, Vaud, offering a range of diverse wines from 55 grape varieties including local and organic curations with head-sommelier, Olivier Gastal-Pinach.
Guests can visit some of the world’s most photogenic vineyards with a private guide, before enjoying a wine tasting and pairing. Back at Le Grand Bellevue, the vaulted stone ceiling wine cellar at LEONARD’s (15 Gault&Millau points) awaits with tailored tastings of renowned vintages or exceptional five-course Krug champagne dinners.
Gastronomic guests are invited to embark on artisanal cheese extravaganzas with concierge-arranged organic dairy farm visits or uncover a range of regional choices at Molkerei (Gstaad’s cheese grotto), within an easy 10-minute walk of Le Grand Bellevue to complement winery finds. Culinary indulgencies continue at the hotel with alfresco farmer’s table lunches or dinners set amidst awe-inspiring alpine surroundings, featuring a locally sourced and seasonally selected tasting menu.
Start the adventure
How: Rooms at Le Grand Bellevue start from £640 on a half-board basis. For more information, please visit www.bellevue-gstaad.ch
