Find out what happened when our travel wellness expert Rebecca visited the renowned Park Igls in Austria. In this guide, she talks through her highlights and top tips.
Location and design
Park Igls Medical Spa Resort is located in Igls, a quiet Alpine village in Tyrol, Austria. It sits on a sunny plateau at the foot of the Patscherkofel mountain, just south of Innsbruck and surrounded by lush meadows, with forest and mountain views. The location combines a natural setting with easy access to Innsbruck’s city attractions. It's also only 15 minutes from Innsbruck Airport, so nice and easy to get to.
Park Igls is not a flashy luxury resort — the look and feel are intentionally quiet, healing focused and integrated with nature, reflecting its medical wellness mission. I found it to be very comfortable and almost home-like.
The food
At Park Igls, food is part of the Modern Mayr medical programme, so it’s intentionally simple, alkaline-focused, and digestion-friendly (therapeutic rather than indulgent). The aim is to rest, cleanse and retrain the digestive system. The Mayr meal plan is modest, bland and structured. Menus vary slightly depending on which Mayr step the doctor recommends – from fasting to food combining. Chewing thoroughly is a core part of the Mayr therapy. I did feel hungry on the first evening but surprisingly satisfied and lighter within a few days.
Meals are modest and controlled. Staples include:
- Ancient grain Mayr bread rolls
- Lean protein (dairy, eggs, fish, lean meat)
- Alkaline vegetables
- Clear soups and broths
Sample menu: a day at Park Igls
Breakfast
- Mayr bread roll
- Yoghurt or porridge
- Barley coffee with milk
Mid-morningLunch (main meal of the day)- Soup of the day
- Lamb cutlets with celeriac mash
Dinner (light)- Mayr bread roll or crispbreads
- Soup
- Small protein portion (50g mozzarella or similar)
- Dinner is intentionally lighter to support digestion overnight
Supplements & hydration- 2–3 litres of water per day (not during mealtimes)
- Large choice of herbal teas
- 15 drops of bitter drops before meals
- 2 alkaline tablets between meals
Evening routine- Hot water bottle liver compress
- Early bedtime encouraged
Wellness facilities
The wellness facilities are extensive and include a hydrotherapy/Kneipp water circuit, an indoor pool overlooking the garden, an incredible panoramic gym (very well equipped), two saunas, a cold plunge pool, infrared cabin and steam room. All are designed to boost circulation and promote detoxification and relaxation. Around the spa areas you'll find loungers to relax between sessions.
Within the clinic there are numerous treatment rooms across three floors — for massages, body wraps, compresses and specialist therapies as well as a physiotherapy department, medical consultation rooms and diagnostics department for IVs, ultrasound and colonics.
I was very impressed with the extensive daily group class schedule — with more than 40 hours of activities per week ranging from fitness classes, stretching, yoga, Pilates and aqua gym to outdoor activities such as Nordic walking, hiking trails and forest walks. There seemed to be something to suit all ages and abilities.
In addition to the group classes, they had interesting talks and lectures on body awareness, stress management and metabolic health. I was following the Express Detox Cure but many guests were staying for seven to 14 nights plus and were having full medical check-ups to include blood and hormone testing, colonics and ultrasound.
My wellness experience
I arrived early which meant I had my initial consultation just after lunch. During this consultation we discussed my overall health and I had my height and weight measured and a ‘before’ photo taken. The doctor also carried out an abdominal check-up. As I didn’t want to do any full days of fasting, I was put onto Step 4, which allows a few more calories whilst still being highly effective with the detox process.
During my stay I had a reflexology session, shoulder and back massage, beeswax liver compress with a hot water bottle on a heated bed and a moisture pack on a heated water bed (bliss!). Between meals and treatments, I took a daily sauna, swim and attended aqua jogging and of course enjoyed some relaxation! The therapists are outstanding and highly knowledgeable. I felt all the treatments I had were really personalised to me specifically.
My room was a Single Deluxe Plus which had a large balcony with beautiful mountain views and an enormous bathroom with a separate bath and shower. All guests are issued with a complimentary bus pass. I spent one afternoon in the old town of Innsbruck, which was beautiful (I would highly recommend visiting). Park Igls also offers weekly group trips to places like the theatre, opera and the Swarovski crystal museum.
At the end of my stay, I visited the doctor again and had another photo taken (I could see a big improvement to my face within just a few days – the dark circles and puffiness had gone). I was weighed again and had another abdominal check. I was given a pack with my results and guidance for when I returned home (including advice on tapering off of the bitter water and some recipes). I was strongly encouraged to follow this for a ‘soft landing’ back to reality. They also gave me a packed lunch for the plane which was a nice touch — I was slightly worried what, if anything, I should eat!
Personal highlights
- The solo friendly atmosphere, I met some really lovely people
- Trying a medical detox for the first time and having a deeper understanding of the science behind the method
- Being in the clean mountain air with breathtaking views
- Embracing the opportunity to destress and slow down
- Visiting quaint Innsbruck for a little culture — I loved it!
Who's it for?
I would recommend Park Igls to..
- Anyone serious about their health and longevity, looking for long-lasting results
- Anyone with gut health issues or those recovering from illness
- Those seeking a medically supervised detox with monitoring and access to medical facilities
- I would also recommend Park Igls for anyone suffering from stress and burnout due to the gentle nature of the process and environment
Want to experience Park Igls for yourself? Click here to find out more about this renowned Mayr clinic and its state-of-the-art facilities.
