6 Summer Escapes in Nature

Summer doesn't always have to smell of sunscreen and bustling boulevards. Sometimes it sounds like rustling pines, rippling mountain water, or a gentle breeze through a castle garden. From treehouses high amidst the greenery to tranquil retreats where your schedule melts in the sun: these addresses show just how delightfully luxurious it can be when nature takes center stage.

Booming luxury

“If I ever marry that girl, I'll propose in a treehouse.” It sounded like pure Norwegian bravado, but when a shy man fell head over heels for a girl from Sydney, he went all-in – or rather: all-up. Ten meters above the soft forest floor, in a slender pine, he built a treehouse that resembled a romantic eagle's nest more than a construction kit. With only the trunk serving as a ladder to the top, the climb became a test of love in itself. In that cozy, rustic sanctuary, with resin as the house perfume and wind as playlis, he asked the big question. To which the small but oh-so-impactful answer followed: yes. The first hut became the seed of a larger, more sustainable plan: a place where others, too, could rediscover the magic of the woods. Thus sprouted Woodnest, a retreat where you rise above the everyday hustle and bustle and land back in a pure sense of nature, without having to compromise on comfort. The vision became architectural poetry in wood and glass. Architect Dag Strass describes it as 'treehouses that seem to have grown out of the forest': understated luxury that does not stand above nature, but springs from it. Local wood flows into the bark, panoramic windows frame clouds like live paintings, and silence is the main ingredient. At Woodnest, you do not stay on the edge of the wilderness – you lodge in its canopy, become part of its rhythm, and sleep to the heartbeat of the forest. Price indication: €300 to 385 per night. Romance included. Splinters optional.

Woodnest.no

Destination 'do not disturb'

Welcome to one of Europe's best-kept secrets. The Swiss Alps form the private domain of Whitepod Original, where design and nature become a single architectural biotope. Iconic Pods and Suite Chalets have been laid out on the mountainside with Swiss precision – strategic, serene, and completely independent. With 25 kilometers of hiking trails, private mountain guides, and exclusively custom-made activities, everything here revolves around tailoring: down to the last detail and right up to the snow-capped peaks. A standard itinerary? It does not exist here. Decision stress? Neither. Here, silence is the basic package, Alpine air the special feature, and the view the daily update. Whitepod proves that hospitality and environmental conservation are not contradictions, but partners in a slow dance. Energy and water consumption are monitored, waste is recycled, and ingredients are sourced locally. The team lives within walking distance. Motorized transport is kept to a minimum, meaning the experience does not begin at your room, but upon your arrival on foot through the forest. The short hike from reception to Pod is not an inconvenience, but the entrance and a deliberate part of the choreography. Heated by a pellet stove, embraced by panoramic windows, free from deadlines but rich in decor changes: here, nature is the minibar and silence the subtle room service. Whoever chooses Whitepod does not just book a stay, but signs up for a mission. Warm on the feet, fresh in the mind, and with a smile that, like the snow, lingers.

Whitepod.com | Avilareizen.nl

Check-in, chill-out

High above the Dordogne stands the Château de la Treyne: a 12th-century fortress that does not see itself as a hotel, but as a 'home with rooms' – eighteen to be precise, no two alike, and each with its own personality. Uniformity is not sought after here, but simply never invited. Around the estate, a private dream unfolds amidst greenery: 25 kilometers of walking paths wind through a majestic park full of French gardens, roses that breathe romance, Medici vases that shameless posing and imposing cedars older than many a family estate anecdote. The Gombert family, the proud guardians since 1982 – not owners, but custodians with flair – nourish the château with cultural events and an art de vivre in which joie always outweighs duty just a little. Dine in Le Grand Salon: the spectacular Louis XIII dining room, spanning two floors, featuring a fireplace and sunsets that perform every course in slow motion. For breakfast, the Green Lounge beckons, overlooking a 300-year-old cedar. Chef Stéphane Andrieux cooks here with a steady hand, a boldly creative mind, and the approval of Michelin (one star). This is not a hotel stop, but a life-pause. Breathe forest. Taste the past. Time lingers here for a moment. Long enough never to let go.

Chateaudelatreyne.com

Blessed by Zeus

White houses, cobalt-blue domes, and beaches with black and red sand make Santorini a Mediterranean myth in technicolor. According to legend, the island was created by Euphemus after a dream in which love, gods, and nymphs played a role. Fast forward over two thousand years: on the cliff edge of Imerovigli, you will find the Grace Hotel – a sanctuary that not only lets you dream away but also float around in luxury. As soon as you see your first sunset here from the heated infinity pool overlooking the Caldera, you understand why the divine PR machine never stops. Rooms, suites, and villas (50–400 m²) flow seamlessly into indoor-outdoor spaces with heated plunge pools, a vibe that preaches minimalism but serves up ecstasy. The 400-m² villa could just as well have been measured out by Zeus himself, kitchen, pool, and 250 m² terrace included. Ideal for honeymooners and families who like to alternate parenting with panoramic pondering. Culinarily, too, there is nothing to fear here, except perhaps love at first bite. Lefteris Lazarou docks his starred restaurant at the hotel via Varoulko Santorini. Greek-Mediterranean flavors are reinvented there with local ingredients and a wine list that proudly sings the alphabet of the Aegean Sea. For cocktails, 363 meters above sea level, the 363 Bar awaits, where mixology and sunset form a shared religion, inspired by bespoke signatures. Finally, when the sun kisses the sea, you can do what Euphemus once dreamed of: let yourself be swept away by pure enchantment.

Auberge.com/grace-hotel/

Hermit luxury

Tucked away in the green valleys of Umbria lies Eremito: more designer monastic fantasy than hotel. It was built according to the aesthetic 'rules' of 14th-century hermitages (think: pellet stoves, candlelight, and a nature minibar). The story begins with fashion pioneer Marcello Murzilli, who later sailed around the world and built the iconic Hotelito Desconocido on the Pacific coast, lauded as a top-5 eco-retreat in the world. After running the resort for fourteen years, he returned to Italy in 2013 to open Eremito: one of the country's first digital detox havens and a new kind of luxury for the solo traveler. The 'Celluzze', rooms inspired by monastic cells, are minimal chic, maximal soul: wrought-iron beds, underfloor heating, handmade hemp yarn bedding, and no Wi-Fi, TV, or telephone. Instead: a stone desk by a panoramic window that orchestrates cloud dreams and creativity. You dine in the refectory, vegetarian and in silence. The kitchen follows the rhythm of monastic Mediterranean traditions; bread, pasta, and jams come from local producers. In the evening, a silence protocol applies—whispering fine dining, so to speak. Relaxation is not achieved at the push of a button, but with a step inside: a relaxation room carved into the rock, accompanied by Gregorian chants. A steam bath, whirlpool, and herbal tea complete the experience. Here, you do not check in to escape, but to rescaleBecause real luxury? That is nothing. Soothing nothing.

Eremito.com

Towering tranquility

The approach to Torre di Moravola in Montone, a medieval village in Umbria, is not for the faint-hearted, but certainly for bon vivants with a keen sense of steering. Think of it as a 'road trip meets retreat' cocktail: hairpin bends, crunching gravel under the tires, and a cathedral of trees. It is a drive that raises your heart rate for a brief moment, so that it can drop all the deeper upon arrival. And drop, that is exactly what you do here. At the end of this wheel-gripping adventure, a 10th-century watchtower awaits, restored with love and a modern vision by architect-designer duo Christopher Chong and his partner Seonaid Mackenzie. Where many Italian hotels waver between a dusty museum feel or 'more crystal than plot', this tower chooses the rare, elegant middle ground: crisp serenityOnly seven suites, each a paragon of minimal chic. Cool grey tones, travertine tiles, marmorino plaster walls, and sunken baths await you, so you can sink in for a moment yourself. The Main Tower Suite is the grand finale of understated elegance: a modular sofa under an infinitely high ceiling. Outside, lavender, climbing roses, and an elegant fire pit soften the blade-sharp lines like a gentle design balm. The glass Juliet balconies float stoically chic above the Carpini Valley, where oak forests, fields, and olive groves paint the landscape in seasonal couture. And then there is that pool: ink-dark, mirror-smooth. Here you do not sleep simply to rest, but to recalibrate. The ultimate luxury ritual? Arriving at the top to descend within. As the pines would say: roots before reboots.

Moravola.com