A wellness break with a difference

An award-winning hotel and spa complex in Austria has launched horse riding, spa and yoga breaks, for the ultimate in relaxation and adventure. The Reiter’s Burgenland Resort is a relaxing haven owned by Karl Reiter, voted the best Spa hotelier of the year 2007 by the international Relaxguide for spa hotels.

In 2007, the Burgenland’s five star Reiter's Supreme Hotel was one of only two Austrian hotels to gain the maximum awarded points of 20 by Relaxguide, while the Burgenland’s four star Avance Hotel was named best family hotel.

The Burgenland Resort provides a range of activities including Ashtanga Yoga with international yoga trainer Silvia Hammerl. Your stay will be tailored to suit your needs, and Silvia can provide group or private yoga tuition or special 'Asia/yoga’ themed breaks, while Shiatsu, Qi-Gong and Ayurvedic medicine is also available. The hotel’s Merkur Centre also provides nutritional advice and programmes.

Karl Reiter is also the owner of the largest private Lipizzaner stud farm in Austria, and the stables are adjacent to the hotel complex. After assessment, guests of all abilities can ride out on 450 km of riding trails in the Burgenland region, which lies south of Vienna, and arena-based tuition with Grand Prix dressage rider Kirsa Steinböck can also be arranged. The famous white Lipizzaner breed is closely linked to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, and visits can be arranged.

Back inside the resort, you will find a luxury spa complex with natural indoor and outdoor thermal pools, hot whirlpools, steam baths, saunas, plus all manner of treatments, classes and activities such as cycling, tennis, and golf at the 27 hole David Leadbetter Academy. The Reiter’s Burgenland Resort is unique in that some of its many treatments and classes are led by a genuine Shaolin monk from the Shaolin monastery, a Buddhist temple in China. The current Grand Master, Shuji Zheng, takes Qigong classes and provides wonderful Shaolin massages.

The Riding Company is a noted ‘green’ holiday company committed to responsible tourism, and offers a variety of exclusive, multi activity breaks. Adult prices at the Burgenland resort start from £525 for four nights inc. transfers, spa use, normal classes, sporting facilities, riding and full board. Treatments and flights are extra – tailored breaks can be arranged.

For more information, visit Theridingcompany.com.