Swiss Bliss: The Chedi Andermatt Spa

Ski season is blossoming in Switzerland, and for those who are seeking several days out on the slopes in central Switzerland’s Andermatt, be sure to pop in to The Chedi Andermatt spa post-ski and treat your mountain-thrashed body to an evening of bliss before hitting the powder again.

The Chedi Andermatt is set in the small central Swiss village of Andermatt, where the surrounding mountains such as Gemsstock and Nätschen provide some of the best Alpine skiing in the area.

With ski season in Switzerland kicking into high gear soon, the sleepy mountain town of Andermatt has been eagerly preparing for another season of powdery goodness. But the ski butlers of The Chedi Andermatt and local inn keepers in this ancient Swiss town aren’t the only ones, and within the super-lux Chedi Andermatt, there is another team preparing for an influx of slope-goers – The Chedi Andermatt spa team. With a full-fledged line of Alpine-centric treatments that focus on the specifically-crafted Alpienne organic line of Alp-sourced herbs, the 2,400-square-metre spa and wellness facility is sure to relieve the kinks and knots of any winter warrior.

Designed to work against time, and for you, these facials are one of the most relaxing treatments you can find in the spa, and do well to combat the elements that will undoubtedly have a word with you each day as you slalom down Gemsstock’s vast Alpine face.

Treatment rooms at The Chedi Andermatt are equipped with a number of features including the likes of premier ‘Living Earth’ massage beds as well as steam baths and also whirl-baths (in four of the treatment rooms) for total relaxation.

Start your post-ski evening with the Alpienne Mountain Herbs Body Polish, a reviving body polish that works towards relaxation and invigoration via a natural salt peel which is curated with a number of natural and native mountain-grown herbs – but don’t stop there. Slink through the dimly lit hallways of the spa facility into the Tibetan-style relaxation lounge and grab yourself a glass of tea as you wait to treat your freshly polished body with the Alpienne Mountain Massage. The massage, which can be applied with a set of oils that range from Marmot Oil to Arnica and Propolis massage milks, is a classic full-body massage that is designed specifically, but not exclusively, for those who have spent a rough day skiing some of the best slopes in the world. Targeting the areas that are typically the most overworked, or those which you request, this therapeutic treatment which features a range of special techniques has become a favourite for those looking to unwind after a day in the snow.

Whirl-baths are standard in some of the treatment rooms at The Chedi Andermatt and offer great solace to those seeking one of the many post-ski soaks offered.

But for those of us who know what a day in the snow is like, we know it isn’t just always the body that becomes subject to the environment – and luckily for us, The Spa at The Chedi Andermatt offers a range of what they call beauty rituals, to care for the face of yours that will undoubtedly grow at least a little bit chapped and whipped during your days in the powder. Pop in for a quick 30-minute Alpienne Eye Bright, a treatment that uses chamomile and a range of eyebright natural essences to freshen and radiate the eyes, or, stay a bit longer for one of the several tailor-made Alpienne Mountain Herbs Facials. With a number of options such as anti-ageing, Power of the Alps and the classic facial, each of the Alpienne facials starts with a BIOPIR base, which is a substance extracted from brewer’s yeast, and contains a variety of natural B-complex vitamins, biotin, niacin, a number of amino acids, as well as a smattering of vital minerals and trace elements. Designed to work against time, and for you, these facials are one of the most relaxing treatments you can find in the spa, and do well to combat the elements that will undoubtedly have a word with you each day as you slalom down Gemsstock’s vast Alpine face.

The Tibet-inspired relaxation lounge in The Chedi Andermatt spa is a great place to unwind with a refreshing drink after a lux spa treatment.

Perhaps one of the most unique features of this Alpine oasis, however, is the spa’s set of Nurturing Envelopment Rituals. A process that is begun with the application of a Honey Peeling Massage Milk, each of the treatments is centred on an herbal mixture of clay and muds that is applied to the body. The packs, as they are called, vary, but for those braving the cold, check out the Alpienne Herb and Moor Envelopment as well as the Birch and Juniper, and the Marmot and Gentian packs – which are geared towards invigoration, purification and strengthening and the relief of aches and pains respectively. Once the packs are applied, guests then relax inside one of the neatest features, the spa’s heated infrared blanket, where the pack is more thoroughly and therapeutically absorbed into the body through the transfer of heat – how’s that for a post-ski soak. And if that weren’t enough, a soothing lotion is applied to the body once the mineral-packed spread is shed, such that guests are on their way fully rejuvenated.

Sauna rooms are not only tradition in much of northern Europe, but are always a great way to unwind after a day on the slopes or a relaxing massage session.

The Chedi Andermatt is home to GHM’s only hydrothermal pool. Designed with therapeutic relaxation and total immersion in mind, this hidden treat is one of the best ways to beat the cold in central Switzerland.

Lastly, for those looking for either the most basic, or the most complex of treatments following a day in the cold, look no further than the soothing Alpienne Alpine Botanicals Bathing Ceremony for the quick and easy yet fully relaxing, or to the Alpienne Mountain Ritual, a three-hour one-stop shop that will leave you feeling like a million Francs. The bathing ceremony, which lasts 30 minutes, is arranged in one of the spa suites which each feature both a therapeutic whirl bath and steam bath for your preferred delivery method, and is an invigorating mix of aromatherapies that manifest as: the Herbs treatment, which is geared towards stimulating circulation and the mind; the Hay Flowers treatment, which focuses on calming the mind; the Marigold Blossom & Lavender treatment, which is an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and moisturising treatment which also aims to relax the mind; and lastly, the Honey & Swiss Stone Pine treatment, a moisturising and soothing treatment that replenishes both body and mind and promotes a sense of well-being. But if 30 minutes is too short, then be sure to indulge in the best The Chedi Andermatt has to offer, with the Alpienne Mountain Ritual. This ultimate treatment is a medley of all the spa has to offer, and provides three hours of bliss with an aromatherapy foot polish, the Mountain Massage, a Mountain Herbs Body Polish, a Classic Mountain Herbs Facial and a choice of an Alpine Botanicals whirl or steam bath to top it all of – frankly, there’s not much that can top a day of skiing in Swiss Alps followed by this.

This ultimate treatment is a medley of all the spa has to offer, and provides three hours of bliss with an aromatherapy foot polish, the Mountain Massage, a Mountain Herbs Body Polish, a Classic Mountain Herbs Facial and a choice of an Alpine Botanicals whirl or steam bath to top it all of – frankly, there’s not much that can top a day of skiing in the Alps followed by this.

And so, whether you are sauntering into Andermatt for a quiet weekend away, or a week-long run of crushing powder, rest assured that there are some blissful treatments waiting to help either case within the confines of the unassuming central Swiss town of Andermatt.

(Featured image: The sweeping entranceway to The Chedi Andermatt spa invites guests to treatment rooms via a snow-white stairway to bliss.)