When life gets in the way, escape to the Swiss mountains

Why St-Luc works for two

Whatever one plans, life has a habit of getting in the way. For Claire, that is usually the cue to search for an escape: nothing showy for its own sake, but somewhere she and Jason can unwind and remember why they enjoy travelling together.

St-Luc sits high in the Val d’Anniviers in Switzerland’s Valais region. The setting brings together old mountain villages, clear night skies, hiking and skiing with small hotels where the spa feels part of the stay rather than an anonymous add-on.

Claire’s journal

Our journey began with a flight to Zurich and a smooth train ride to Sierre, followed by the climb into the Val d’Anniviers. The Hotel Bella Tola first opened in 1859 and retains the atmosphere of a belle époque mountain house, softened by a contemporary spa.

The appeal of L’Ô des Cimes is its sense of place. Local timber, stone, mountain plants and the glow of the fire make it feel connected to St-Luc rather than transplanted from a generic city hotel.

“The after-effect was that rare sense of simply being—warm, unhurried and nowhere else to be.”

Claire

The Rituel d’Anniviers

The hotel’s signature ritual remains on the current menu at 110 minutes. Claire’s experience began with pine-scented steam, followed by an exfoliation using yarrow, a wrap made with clay associated with the nearby Moiry glacier and a relaxing massage with aromatic alpine elements.

These ingredients create a distinctive sensory ritual. They should not be read as a medical treatment for muscular or joint conditions: anyone managing pain, an injury, allergies or sensitive skin should discuss suitability with the therapist and seek clinical advice where appropriate.

The treatment rooms used local silver-birch tones and natural textures. After the ritual, the relaxation beds and mountain quiet did most of the work. A long dinner and an early night completed the reset—although, Claire notes, Jason’s snoring briefly tested the harmony.

Jason’s journal

This part of Switzerland has a long relationship with British mountain travellers. The Hotel Weisshorn, perched above the valley at more than 2,300 metres, recalls the era when affluent Victorian visitors came for mountaineering and alpine air.

Today the balance is less formal: skiing, ice climbing and hiking sit alongside boutique spas, local food and Valais wines. The landscape supplies the romance without needing a contrived couples’ programme.

The Rhone valley opens below, while high peaks—including the Matterhorn on a clear day—shape the horizon. The area felt compact enough to understand quickly but varied enough for active days outside.

Back at Bella Tola, the pool, sauna, steam bath, ice fountain and treatment rooms made an easy transition from mountain activity to dinner. The log fire beside the loungers gave the spa the intimacy of a family house rather than a large wellness complex.

What is current now

Hotel Bella Tola currently describes L’Ô des Cimes as a 200 m² high-altitude spa with a heated pool and integrated whirlpool, sauna, steam bath, ice fountain and three massage rooms. Its current menu still lists the Rituel d’Anniviers. Opening hours, non-resident access, prices and age restrictions vary, so check the hotel’s information at the time of booking.