It was 2015 the first time I ever saw photos of this Austrian hotel in an Instagram post. With the famous outdoor organic swimming lake and by mountains on all sides; I always knew I would visit Naturhotel Forsthofgut one day.
Then the time finally came and we booked the flights to Austria so we could finally experience a stay at this world-class hotel. And we were NOT disapointed…
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The check in
From the moment we arrived at Naturhotel Forsthofgut, we were welcomed with open arms, treated as if we were family arriving home; from the welcome drink to the check-in process and even to the traditional Austrian freshly baked Gugelhupf cake left in our room.
Naturhotel Forsthofgut shone from the moment we stepped foot through its iconic front doors, and it didn’t end there.
The rooms
Naturhotel Forsthofgut has 104 rooms, three garden loft suites and two luxury chalet suites, we stayed in the beautiful newly-renovated Nature Suite, or also known as Schmuckkastl.
This specific room featured a king size bed, modern wood panelling, marble bathroom, free-standing bathtub and Geberit AquaClean Shower toilet.
All of the rooms and suites at Naturhotel Forsthofgut feel five star from the layout of the rooms, to the fabrics, textures and lighting throughout. The high-quality materials create a warm and at-home experience, whilst also offering you a high-end elegant hotel feel.
The bed is positioned perfectly so you can stare out to the Leoganger Steinberge from your bed, and if it takes your fancy, the free-standing bath tub in your room will help you drift away.
One of my favourite things about staying at the amazing Naturhotel Forsthofgut was all the ‘small details’ such as the pillow menu you can order in advance, to the yoga mat in your room and the backpack in your closet.
Once we had settled we immediately headed out to explore as we knew Naturhotel Forsthofgut was big, with so many areas to explore. The hotel has a handy map and also offered up a showround so we could really find out feet, ahead of the next few days.
The food
After a pretty relaxed day, we headed to dinner where we were shown to a table (one we would continue to have for the next three days) looking out across the mountains.
Naturhotel Forsthofgut is unique in the way they do dinner service with the option to order drinks at first, followed closely by an optional help-yourself buffet-style service, before you sit down to enjoy 3-4 further courses from your table.
The menu options were in three cuisine ranges; traditional Austrian, mediterranean and vegan. You could pick either menu, and also mix and match the dishes if you wanted. This unique way of doing dinner meant every night was different in terms of the cuisine being offered and it got us excited about what would be on the menu the following day.
Breakfast followed a similar suit with buffet-style breakfast available from the self-service area, but you could also order food to the table.
The waldSPA
Over the next few days we spent hours moving from different areas in the spa, from the stunning award-winning waldSPA, where you can find 5,700 m² of peace and relaxation. There is a Adults Only area with old-wood sauna, herbal and steam baths, swimming pool, and whirlpool, which in the summer months also opens late.
But my favourite spot after the three days was the Lake House and onsen pool, where you could soak in the warm waters, visit the textile-free lakeside sauna and at the same time admire the views of the Leogang Rocky Mountains.
I spent many hours reading my book in Bergstille relaxation room, occasionally taking a dip in the Lake Pool, and then heading to the Onsen Pool to warm up.
The activities
And for the moments when we wanted to get outside and be active, there was also so much on offer. From the on-site tennis courts, waldSPA Fitness studio, all-day activity schedule, alpaca experience, to the off-site experiences like hiking, cycling and climbing.
Included as part of your stay, you also get a Saalfelden Leogang gondola pass in the summer months, so you can head up in to the mountains and explore the local area – a really nice touch! We spent one afternoon exploring the Leogang Mountains, with our Saalfelden pass, and had a beautiful hike across several small summits. You can also get lunch up there as there are a few restaurants and cafes open, all with pretty amazing views (if the weather is good!)
In the winter this resort is a great ski-resort too, close to famous ski runs and Apres Ski bars.
I would love to come back in the winter to see what the resort feels and looks like in such a dramatically different season.
Example of the activites on offer:
- Guided hikes in the mountains
- Yoga class
- Stretch and movement class
- HIT circuit training
- Introduction to horse riding
- Sauna Infusion – Beer with Liquor
+ kids
And although you’d never even clock it if you’ve come without kids, they’ve got an incredible collection of children’s amenities, from the indoor kidsclub, big playground, waldSPA Family & Kids with its 70-meter slide and on-site farmyard. This means you can step away for some relaxing time by yourself, whilst knowing the kids are having the time of their lives!
This stunning hotel is a paradise for outdoor lovers, through all seasons, and is the ideal base if you can’t get enough of nature.
I would highly recommend a stay at this amazing hotel and will definitely be returning to Naturhotel Forsthofgut in the future.
If you on a bigger trip exploring more of Europe check out my guides to France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom.
My Travel Tips and Recommendations
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Accommodation
For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use this link to get £25 off your first visit!
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Sophie X
