How I Restored my Immune System at This Spa Retreat by Lake Garda, Italy
Lefay operates under a unique philosophy that fuses traditional Chinese medicine with Western science, creating deeply personalized journeys of renewal.
Not every trip to Italy has to be about endless plates of pasta, pizza, and cannoli (although we love that kind of trip, too). Italy has a long tradition of benessere, or well-being, and its wellness hotels have elevated rejuvenation to an art form. Perched high above the western shore of Lake Garda in the heart of the “Riviera dei Limoni,” I discovered a hillside sanctuary that redefines holistic wellness: Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda.
Surrounded by olive groves, a forest of chestnut trees, and glistening Lake Garda waters below, this eco-conscious retreat in Gargagno is a true escape. Since opening its doors in 2008, Lefay has become one of Italy’s most celebrated wellness destinations, racking up more than 70 international awards. Most recently, it was honored in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 as one of the “Top 20 Destination Spas in Europe,” and named Sustainable Spa of the Year by the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2025. The Times & The Sunday Times also named it “Spa of the Year,” the overall winner of the 50 Best Spas in the World.
The Concept of Lefay Resort & Spa
Lefay was born from the vision of Alcide and Liliana Leali, founders of Italian airline Air Dolomiti. They dreamed of creating a destination where luxury and well-being could coexist with a neutral environmental footprint. The result of this dream is a wellness resort consisting of 96 suites, set on a 27-acre sanctuary of rolling terraces, lush woodlands, and olive groves overlooking one of Italy’s most spectacular lakes.
Lefay is more than just a luxury resort, it’s a philosophy. Designed around the idea that wellness and nature should exist in harmony, it offers multi-day programs focused on everything from detox and sleep recovery to stress reduction. Each program is deeply personal, guided by expert practitioners and tailored to individual needs.
From the moment I arrived, I was blown away by the sheer beauty of the resort and the infinity views of the lake. The resort seems to grow out of the hillside itself, its modern architecture blending seamlessly into the landscape. As I checked in, I was handed a welcome kombucha and was invited to take in the panoramic view. The lake shimmered below, framed by mountains and stretching endlessly toward the horizon. I took at least 20 photos before my drink was even finished — and the best was still yet to come.
The Lefay Spa Method: Wellness That Blends East and West Modalities
Within this eco-chic haven lies a world devoted to healing and transformation. Lefay’s approach to wellness is defined by its signature Lefay Spa Method, a philosophy that bridges two worlds: the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine and the precision of Western scientific research.
Traditional Chinese medicine sees the human being as a balance of matter, energy, and spirit, constantly in flux with nature. It recognizes stress as one of the main causes of imbalance and disease, a truth that feels more relevant than ever today.
The Lefay Scientific Committee took this ancient wisdom and wove it together with Western knowledge about inflammation, nutrition, and the aging process. The result is a unique system that treats both the root and the symptoms, helping guests realign the mind, body, and spirit.
My Experience with a Lefay Spa Program
Each Lefay Spa program is highly individualized. Guests can focus on different goals, like detoxing, weight management, posture, or beauty. In my case, I opted to concentrate on restoring gut balance.
I chose the Immune System and Intestine: “The Light and the Dark” program. I wanted my trip to Italy to be about nourishment rather than indulgence, with the goal of restoring my body. What unfolded over four transformative days was far more profound than I imagined — and nothing that I expected.
My journey began with a consultation with Dottoressa Fabiani, a calm yet intuitive physician who analyzed not only my body but my emotional patterns. Her conclusion surprised me: the greatest threat to my immune system was overthinking. I laughed, but she wasn’t joking. “You live in your head too much,” she said gently. “Your mind is using the energy your body needs to heal.”
Following her assessment, every treatment, meal, and practice I experienced was designed to bring me out of my head and back into my body. My treatments were adjusted to support the spleen and pancreas meridians, both associated with overthinking in Chinese Medicine, with the goal of naturally strengthening my immune system.
I was guided through a series that involved an energy balancing scrub, Tuina massage, personalized herbal tea, and meditative breathing practices. My first session, Antistress Breathing, taught me how to isolate my breath in my belly and chest. I realized how shallow my breathing had become, how rarely I gave myself a full breath of air. That first deep inhale in my chest felt like an awakening.
In the evenings, detox teas blended from local herbs arrived in my suite, created specifically to support my gut and immune system. The entire experience was both scientific and soulful, a dialogue between ancient healing and modern precision.
Lefay’s Amenities
To help ensure that your stay at Lefay is as restorative as possible, they’ve also gone above and beyond with every other amenity at the resort, from a world-class spa to its gorgeously designed suites.
Lefay Spa World
When I wasn’t in a treatment room, I was wrapped in a fluffy robe, exploring Lefay Spa World — a 46,000-square-foot temple of well-being. The spa has 21 treatment rooms, each with floor-to-ceiling views of either the gardens or the lake. The whole facility features a quietly elegant design aesthetic: warm woods, stone, and soft lighting that seems to glow from within.
There are indoor and outdoor heated pools, a saltwater pool, a thalassotherapy circuit, and even an ice pool for contrast therapy. Seven saunas, including a glass-fronted Finnish sauna with panoramic lake views, offer serious relaxation and well-being in nature. My favorite space was the quiet adults-only area to relax and just be with myself.
Every moment in Lefay Spa World feels curated to help you surrender, to let go of tension, expectation, and inner noise. Even the transitions between spaces are designed to be mindful: a gentle change in light, temperature, or scent that encourages the body to recalibrate.
Lefay Vital Gourmet
At Lefay, food is as integral to wellness as meditation or massage. The resort’s Vital Gourmet philosophy celebrates the Mediterranean diet, using organic, seasonal ingredients to create light yet satisfying meals.
Each day, my personalized menu was perfectly crafted to complement my program. Breakfast was a vibrant spread of local fruit, adapted breads, herbal infusions, and a menu that featured both sweet and savory options to choose from. Lunch featured lighter proteins and grains, while dinner focused on seasonal vegetables and soups designed to support digestion and rest.
At La Limonaia, the resort’s airy restaurant inspired by the traditional lemon houses that dot the Lake Garda coastline, meals are an elegant affair. The space opens to a sunlit terrace with sweeping lake views and scents of citrus and rosemary. Dishes arrive like edible art, colorful, balanced, nourishing, and full of flavor.
Despite the health focus, there’s no sense of restriction here. Portions are generous, and guests are encouraged to enjoy a glass of wine if they wish. I ended my final evening with a crisp organic rosé from the nearby Lugana wine region, toasting to how good it feels to feel good.
The Suites
Every room at Lefay is a suite, each designed as a private sanctuary of light and space. My corner suite was a sun-drenched cocoon with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. The spacious interiors reflected soft earth tones with local walnut and olive woods, as well as eco-friendly fabrics.
The marble bathroom featured both a deep soaking tub and a walk-in shower, stocked with Lefay’s own vegan spa products infused with medicinal plants. My terrace overlooked the lake and olive grove. Each evening, I’d sit outside with a cup of herbal tea, reflecting on my day as I watched the moon rise over the water.
From Overthinking to Inner Stillness
As the days unfolded, I began to understand the deeper intelligence of the program. Each session built upon the next, gently loosening old patterns of stress that suppressed my immune system, clearing a pathway for balance to return. What initially seemed like a random schedule of treatments, massages, a salt soak, and even cryotherapy to support my Yin energy, revealed itself as a thoughtful choreography of mind-body restoration that led to an improved immune system.
One morning, I joined the Guided Walk along the Symbol of Life Trail, a meditative path dotted with energy points named after celestial animals like the White Tiger, Green Phoenix, and the Black Tortoise. Surrounded by ancient olive trees and mountain air scented with thyme, I felt my mind grow quieter with each step.
The Tuina massages released tension I didn’t even realize I was holding. My perpetually cold hands and feet (often a sign of a weakened immune system) became consistently warm for the first time in years — and stayed that way. By the end of the program, I felt lighter, calmer, and more connected to my body as a whole.
During my final consultation, Dottoressa Fabiani smiled and said, “You can stop being a warrior now. Be an explorer of life instead.” That stayed with me. I needed a new relationship with myself, a shift from bracing against life to flowing with it. Ultimately, I didn’t just rejuvenate my immune system at Lefay — I rediscovered what it means to feel truly supported.
The Lefay Method isn’t a temporary topical fix. It’s the art of reharmonizing with your body and nature. Layer by layer, you’ll find yourself releasing all that stands in the way of your body’s natural vitality, revealing its true nature of optimum health.
