Ayurveda Dolomites – Review

Tucked away high in the mountains of northern Italy, Engel Ayurpura is far from your typical wellness retreat. Set in the peaceful village of Nova Levante, this purpose-built haven offers something quite special: a truly authentic Ayurvedic experience right in the heart of the European Alps.

Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest systems of medicine, originates from India and has been practised for thousands of years. It’s all about creating harmony between body and mind using natural, holistic methods.

What makes Engel Ayurpura stand out is its wholehearted commitment to genuine Ayurvedic healing. This isn’t just a spa with a few optional oil treatments. It’s a deeply immersive, doctor-led experience grounded in the traditional principles of Ayurveda.

The journey here is part of the magic. After a scenic, winding drive from Bolzano airport, you’ll see the landscape shift from gently sloping vineyards to pine-covered peaks (snow-sprinkled in winter) as you pass into the dramatic presence of the Dolomites.

At first glance, Engel Ayurpura looks like a sleek, timber-clad mountain lodge, modern and understated. But step inside, and you immediately feel a change of pace: slower, quieter, and completely centred around healing and restoration.

Designed with intentional simplicity, this elegant retreat brings the wisdom of ancient Indian medicine to the serenity of the Alps. From the treatments and food to the atmosphere, everything here is finely tuned to support your personal balance and wellbeing.

With just 17 rooms and suites, Engel Ayurpura is intimate. The rooms are spacious and minimal, with soft lighting, natural materials and large windows framing stunning views of the surrounding forest or mountains.

There’s an outdoor saltwater infinity pool that offers more than enough space to unwind in post-treatment mode, as well as a large, mixed sauna.

The word Ayurveda means “the knowledge of life”. Unlike Western approaches that often focus on treating symptoms, Ayurveda looks at the whole person: how you eat, sleep, move, and manage stress.

It’s based on the idea that we each have a unique balance of three energies, or doshas, that influence our mind-body constitution: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When these fall out of balance, problems can arise.

To restore harmony, Ayurveda draws on a wide range of natural practices, from herbal remedies and therapeutic massage to personalised nutrition, yoga, breathwork and meditation. It’s more than treatments: it’s a way of life.

At Engel Ayurpura, guests are gently encouraged to slow down and let go. Instead of a quick detox or one-off cure, practitioners lay the groundwork for lasting wellbeing. Each programme is designed with long-term transformation in mind: nurturing, thoughtful and completely tailored to you.

I join Carmen Kohler, founder, co-owner and wellness concierge at Engel Ayurpura, for a gentle early morning walk along a mountain trail. Carmen played a key role in developing the hotel, drawing deeply on her personal experiences with Ayurveda during her time in India.

As we stroll, we pass cows grazing peacefully, their bells chiming softly while insects buzz busily around us.

“It’s so important to stay connected to nature every single day,” Carmen says with a warm smile, looking around at the scenery. “We are nature, we come from it, and in the end, we return to it. The energy here in the mountains is so close, calm and still… it’s powerful. You really feel it. It reminds us that we’re just a small part of something much bigger.”

We pause along the path to practise a short meditation, something Carmen makes time for every day.

“Starting your day with just a few minutes of this kind of meditation can bring such a sense of peace and happiness,” she explains softly.

“When we wake up in the morning, we should feel grateful to be part of all this. We should honour it. Every day I say thank you, to nature, to the universe, to our parents, our elders, and to everyone who’s helped us learn something. And it’s just as important to try to forgive those who’ve hurt us,” she adds thoughtfully.

The treatments at Engel Ayurpura are authentic in every way. On arrival, you’re placed under the care of an experienced resident Ayurvedic doctor. The treatment process begins with a pulse diagnosis and a friendly conversation about your health and lifestyle.

My stay began with a consultation with Dr Parth Sudhir Mahajan, Head Ayurvedic Physician (and the only one in Italy), who used traditional diagnostic methods to determine my dosha. From there, a tailored programme was created, including daily treatments, herbal remedies, meal plans, movement and rest.

Here, wellness means going deeper. It’s a reset for the mind, body and spirit, and a gentle nudge towards a slower, more intentional way of living.

Treatments range from Abhyanga (a traditional oil massage done in synchrony by two therapists) to Shirodhara (a steady stream of warm oil across the forehead that stills even the busiest mind).

Don’t expect heavy Italian feasts at mealtimes. The food at Engel Ayurpura is an extension of your treatment and each dish is tailored to your dosha and digestion. It’s entirely Ayurvedic, vegetarian, seasonal and designed for deep nourishment.

Meals are light, warm and grounding. Breakfast might be warm spiced porridge with ghee and cardamom; lunch could be a selection of seasonal vegetable curries with rice and chapati; while supper is often a simple, comforting dal or soup designed to ease digestion before bed.

The food is satisfying, balanced and surprisingly flavourful. Guests can take part in Ayurvedic cooking classes to learn the art of healing through food. There’s no caffeine, alcohol or refined sugar but strangely, I didn’t miss them.

Guests spend their days drifting between yoga sessions, herbal steam baths and deeply therapeutic treatments. The pace is unhurried, and the environment encourages reflection; there’s even a ‘silent zone’ to honour the Ayurvedic belief that rest is medicine.

Engel Ayurpura is a place you come to reset your system, recentre your mind and quietly learn how to live with more ease and intention.