Is there really a place called Maria Alm? Yes! Even if it does sound a bit like you’ve discovered an isolated place with an impressive name, a pilgrimage church and an idyllic mountain and meadow panorama. And in Maria Alm there is also a Josef, although his surname is Sepp. He’s the one who’s in charge of all the excitement round here with his eponymous hotel for “children over 21”, as he calls his guests.

At 2000 metres above sea level, the air is fresh and pure. Ideal for clearing your head, isn’t it? A unique place at this altitude is The Crystal VAYA Unique in Obergurgl in the Ötztal Alps. Is it a coincidence that the wellness area is exactly 2000 square metres in size? Probably. In any case, it offers enough space to achieve mental focus and sharpen the senses.

Bhutan, the small kingdom in the Himalayas known as the “Land of the Thunder Dragon,” captivates travelers with its untouched nature, Buddhist culture, and focus on happiness and mindfulness. Bhutan’s unique and highly sustainable tourism policy offers a refreshing alternative to overcrowded, fast-paced holiday spots. But what makes Bhutan a destination for mindful living, and what can visitors learn from a trip to this unique place?

Mindfulness: no, it’s not just a word for grown-ups. Children can be mindful, too. They might even be better at it than us adults. At the Mia Alpina in the Zillertal, young and old can experience moments that make it easy to stay in the moment: the avid observation of a squirrel as it leaps from tree to tree. The exuberant joy before going down a water slide. The careful stroking of a fluffy rabbit. Or the pleasure of cuddling up to mum or dad to read a book. And from December, there will be even more.

How do you capture the essence of a place? One way to do it is through language. Learning basic words and phrases doesn’t just show respect, it also helps you to understand the people and their region a little better. It’s particularly interesting in South Tyrol, where melodic Italian meets rustic Tyrolean, resulting in as many dialects as there are valleys.