New age nomadism

Some establishments have been leading the trend for several years already. The CERVO Mountain Resort, in Zermatt, pioneered a holistic high mountain offering with their ice bath experiences, which link breathwork and a Russian banya ritual where sauna participants are whisked with birch branches to improve blood circulation. Zermatt coach Sven Chanton, who has overseen several wellness treatments offered at the CERVO’s Ātman Mountain Spa from 2023 to 2025, explains the theory behind it in more detail: “There are several benefits to ice baths that go far beyond the physical benefits. It’s really about learning how to relax in discomfort, which has the power to transform how we see our circumstances.”

As a former top-tier skier, Sven discovered breathwork during a recovery trip to Bali after he had injured his meniscus. The experience allowed him to free himself of several unexpected traumas, and he adopted certain practices moving forward to help alleviate psychosomatic blocks.

Today, while he is primarily sought out by athletes, he offers private retreats and has noticed an increasing number of digital nomad clients. “The freedom their lifestyle gives them is actually a double-edged sword, because it comes with a heavy mental load. Through these sessions, we work on creating the space they’re missing, which is as much spiritual as it is physical”. The Alpine silence offers its own remedy, a communal refuge for these digital travellers that are used to normally coping with stress alone.

High class zen festivals
These observations led to the creation of holistic wellness festivals in the mountains, in the same vein as the Schloss’ Flow Weeks in Zermatt, organised each season — with the next one taking place 1-6 March 2026. The key words? Nature and mental reset. From guided walks through nature harvesting medicinal and anti-stress plants, to open air mountain drawing sessions, ecstatic dance and even good old-fashioned yoga… if your chakras aren’t aligned after all that, the warm exchanges over lunch — surrounded by the absolutely breathtaking panoramic views — will surely do the trick. And that’s one of the other key reasons participants sign up to attend.

In Crans Montana, the Six Senses luxury hotel proposes some of the most creative healing sessions year-round: from a fall yoga session that marks the International Day of Peace to a sound healing workshop featuring Nepalese gongs, timed perfectly for sunrise in the spring… here, any reason to connect with one’s inner self is a good one. The hotel also hosts the Alma Frequency festival in June, which is centred around wellbeing, longevity and mindfulness. This large-scale wellness retreat primarily attracts large swaths of digital nomads, who attend in hopes of a cleanse from their habitual routine of productivity and exhaustion, and a chance to meet with renowned personal development specialists. The Six Senses also offers premium wellness events throughout the winter season, making it a natural gathering place for digital nomads who want both luxury and health, with dedicated remote workspaces.

In Verbier, too, conscious co-living is all the rage. Take for example Snomad Fest in Liddes, which hosts its second edition from 7-17 December, combining ski passes, conferences and debates around the challenges of nomad living. It’s goal? To connect nomads to one another and evolve into an annual international gathering.

There’s also Inspire Verbier, which organises weekends and micro-retreats in collaboration with several high-class hotels. The unbeatable Chalet d’Adrien (Relais & Châteaux) organises ski and yoga retreats for three to five nights, which include spa treatments and gourmet vegetarian meals by Michelin-starred Chef Sebastiano Lombardi — dishes that invite you to lean back and let your soul be nourished.

Creating a serene future
It’s worth noting that in Switzerland, “workactions” have become the norm. According to a Flex Work study, more and more employees request to work remotely for certain periods; more than 15% even consider remote work as a non-negotiable part of their employment contracts. But is the freedom touted by freelancers all that it’s cracked up to be?

“Having no set work hours also means being available all the time, and that’s the spiral we’re trying to combat through these experiences. It offers people a chance to completely unplug and recharge”, explains Sven. There’s no doubt that burnout also affect digital nomads. And although the door to freedom is half ajar for these world travellers, who had the courage to adopt a lifestyle many others never would, they also have to work twice as hard to find some semblance of peace and wellbeing. And the mountains offer a perfect contemplative setting, a welcome pause where it’s easy to focus on simply “being”.