Hi Tatras Spa & Wellness ECO Retreat
A premium mountain retreat in Nový Smokovec — turning a former farmstead into an ECO wellness destination for conscious slowing down.
- Location
- Nový Smokovec · High Tatras
- Type
- Renovation of a former farmstead · ECO forest retreat · premium spa & wellness stay
- Year / period
- From 09/2025 — ongoing
- Scope
- P1: 6 units / 14 beds · P2: expansion to a target capacity of ~30 rooms
Hi Tatras Spa & Wellness ECO Retreat is a premium mountain retreat created by renovating a former farmstead set in the High Tatras nature. From the very start the project has been designed as a unique place for rest, cleansing, regeneration and slowing down — not as just another guesthouse, apartment building or hostel.
At its core the project combines an exceptional location, privacy, wellness, sustainability and an experiential way of delivering services. The site sits outside the regular built-up area, in contact with a stream, forest and mountain views, while still being within easy reach of Nový Smokovec and the High Tatras infrastructure.
The project targets guests who are not just looking for accommodation in the Tatras but for a premium stay ritual — quality sleep, wellness, silence, nature, privacy, nutrition, rituals and the option to consciously disconnect from digital noise. Hi Tatras responds to the global trend in premium travel, where demand keeps growing for smaller, more personal and more authentic places to stay in nature.
Privacy in the forest by a stream with the full High Tatras infrastructure five minutes away — a combination that is practically impossible to replicate in the Tatras.
According to the Global Wellness Institute, the "wellness travel" segment is growing more than twice as fast as regular tourism. In Central Europe — including the Tatras — the supply of real retreats (not just hotels with a sauna) is still very limited. The vast majority of Tatra venues compete on price and number of beds; Hi Tatras deliberately chooses the opposite strategy — fewer units, higher price, deeper experience.
The location near Nový Smokovec combines two things that are rarely available together: genuine privacy in a forest by a stream and 5–10 minute access to the full High Tatras infrastructure (mountain railway, cable cars, restaurants, medical care, shops). That is critical for a demanding guest who wants silence but no compromises on comfort.
The stay is choreographed as a ritual: arrival and welcome tea → putting away electronics (offline mode) → wellness sequence (sauna, cool-down in the stream, hot tub, rest by the fireplace) → vegan/detox kitchen → sleep in rooms with first-class acoustic and light insulation → morning yoga or breathing practice → sky deck under a starry sky. Every element is part of a single product — that is the main reason the price per bed will be significantly above the Tatra average.
The ECO concept is not a marketing label. A solar grid with battery storage, water heating from solar surplus, rainwater for toilet flushing, a heat pump, an EV charger and quiet heat recovery that removes the need to open windows — all of this together reduces operating costs, energy dependency and the carbon footprint, while at the same time directly shaping the guest experience (air quality, silence, clean water).
Splitting the project into two phases reflects the reality of Slovak permitting. Phase 1 (house → 6 units) is the faster route to market and lets us build the brand, reviews and operating team. Phase 2 (conversion of the ruined farm building) is more complex from a permitting standpoint, but it is the one that completes the target capacity of ~30 rooms and the full spa & wellness programme.
Key takeaways & investment logic
Premium-only strategy
No price war with Tatra hotels — the product targets a guest who pays for experience, privacy and sleep quality.
A one-of-a-kind location
Privacy in the forest and the infrastructure of Nový Smokovec within walking distance — a combination that is practically impossible to replicate in the Tatras.
Fully integrated retreat
Sauna, water, fire, kitchen, yoga, sky deck and offline mode are one product, not separate add-ons.
ECO as an operational advantage
Solar, battery, rainwater and heat pump reduce both costs and the carbon footprint — a double impact on margin and brand.
Two-phase rollout
Phase 1 launches the brand and cash flow; Phase 2 completes the target capacity without waiting for complex permitting.
Visuals & photography
Photos: original state of the site (05/2025). The visualisations (Gendo, 2025) are still conceptual — they capture the architectural character of the main building but do not show the final treatment of the surroundings. As part of the project the whole site will be fully reworked: removal of the original fences, demolition works, garages and farm extensions, terrain works, new greenery, access roads and the wellness exterior.
Project phases
Phase 1 — under construction
Full renovation of the existing house and its conversion into 6 accommodation units with a capacity of 14 beds. Services beyond accommodation are spread across the surrounding buildings and exterior: panoramic sauna, hot tub, cool-down zone, fireplace cabin, massage room, sky deck, fire pit, yoga / breathwork space, kitchen and a welcome area.
Phase 2 — design preparation
Preparation of design documentation for the conversion of the farm building / ruin into an accommodation and wellness facility. Once delivered, the number of rooms and the range of services will expand and the whole site will move towards approximately 30 rooms.
Key project milestones
- 2024Done
Site acquisition
Acquisition of a former farmstead near Nový Smokovec.
- 2025Done
Architectural and wellness concept
Design of the stay choreography, ECO technologies and a two-phase rollout.
- 09/2025Active
Start of Phase 1 construction
Conversion of the existing house into 6 units / 14 beds + wellness area.
- 2026Planned
Phase 1 opening
Launch of the retreat — sauna, hot tub, yoga, sky deck, vegan kitchen.
- 2026+Planned
Phase 2 — conversion of the ruin
Design documentation for expansion to ~30 rooms and a full spa & wellness programme.
Services & amenities
- Panoramic Finnish sauna with private booking
- Sauna rituals and sound healing
- Hot tub with mountain views
- Cool-down — wooden chute from the stream, stream access, plunge tub
- Cabin with a fireplace as a relaxation wellness room
- Yoga, pilates, stretching, breathwork
- Vegan / vegetarian / detox kitchen
- Sky deck for breakfasts and private dinners under a starry sky
- Clear sky mode — minimal lighting setting
- Massage room
- Outdoor fire pit
- Arrival ritual and welcome tea
- Offline mode — storing electronics, turning off internet and TV on request
- Rooms with first-class acoustic and light insulation for sleep quality
Technology & sustainability
- Solar panels
- Battery storage
- Accumulation water heating from surplus electricity
- Rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing
- Air-to-water heat pump
- EV charger
- No single-use packaging or toiletry sachets
- Strict waste recycling
- Quiet heat recovery — no need to open windows
Hi Tatras Spa & Wellness ECO Retreat
The Tatra market is highly competitive, but a large part of supply is built on the standard model of hotels, guesthouses and apartments. The location near Nový Smokovec and the existing farmstead make it possible to create a product that will not compete on price, but on identity, privacy, wellness experience and a unique atmosphere.
Conversion of the existing site into a premium ECO retreat with a clear stay choreography — arrival ritual, quality sleep, wellness, detox kitchen, sauna, water, fire, forest, starry sky, offline mode and sustainable technology. The project is split into two phases due to permitting of the conversion of the farm building.
Phase 1 has been under construction since September 2025 and will deliver 6 accommodation units / 14 beds. Phase 2 is in design preparation and will expand the site to roughly 30 rooms with a full spa & wellness programme.
Location on the map
Nový Smokovec · High Tatras
Let's get to know each other.
Whether you're considering a partnership, hold an interesting property, or are preparing a project that needs a strong counterpart — we'd be glad to meet.