Austria has become one of the world's most compelling destinations for serious medical wellness, with luxury accommodation and a great value for money. Unlike spa resorts or luxury hotels with wellness add-ons, the clinics featured in this guide operate as genuine medical institutions. They have in-house board-certified doctors, advanced diagnostics, and individualized holistic health programs.
The common denominator of the best Austrian medical clinics is Mayr Medicine: a therapeutic approach developed in the early 20th century that treats the gut as the root of systemic health. Modern Mayr Medicine has evolved significantly from its origins, and today's Austrian clinics pair it with cutting-edge diagnostics, longevity science, and evidence-based therapies to produce results that conventional medicine often cannot match.
This guide covers three of the best medical health resorts in Austria: VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth, MAYRLIFE Altaussee, and Lanserhof Lans. Each is world-class in its own right. Understanding the differences between them will help you choose the right fit for your health goals.
What is Mayr Medicine, and why Austria?
Mayr Medicine was developed by Austrian physician Franz Xaver Mayr in the early 1900s. His central insight was that the intestinal tract is the origin of most chronic disease. And that by resting, cleansing and regenerating the gut, the entire body benefits. He developed a structured protocol combining dietary modification, manual abdominal therapy, and lifestyle change that produces measurable improvements across a remarkable range of conditions.
Modern Mayr Medicine, as practiced at the clinics in this guide, layers advanced diagnostics on top of this foundation. Bloodwork, functional myodiagnostics, bioimpedance, CardioScan, and in some cases genetic profiling are used to individualize each program. The menus are alkaline, anti-inflammatory, and include therapeutic fasting where indicated. And obviously, the food is calibrated to each patient's metabolic status and intolerances.
Austria became the natural home for Mayr Medicine because Mayr himself worked here, and the tradition was passed down through generations of Austrian physicians. The official Mayr medicine body is headquartered in Vienna. And three of the world’s best Mayr medicine clinics are in Austria: VIVAMAYR, MAYRLIFE, and Lanserhof Lans.
VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth
VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth sits on the shores of the Wörthersee in Carinthia, and it is consistently rated one of the world's best Mayr Medicine clinics, as well as one of the finest medical health resorts.
In 2025, it was awarded Best Gut Health Retreat in the World at the prestigious Luxury Spa Edit Awards.
Founded in 2004, VIVAMAYR was among the earliest proponents of Modern Mayr Medicine at a time when the approach was still rare. Two decades of refinement show: the medical protocols are thorough, the physician oversight is daily, and the results are consistently transformative.
What makes VIVAMAYR unique
VIVAMAYR functions as a true medical clinic, not a spa with medical services bolted on. Every guest is under the daily care of Mayr doctors who conduct comprehensive diagnostics and build personalized protocols from the ground up. The setting is luxurious but not over the top: a nicely renovated property with spa, pool, and views across the Wörthersee lake. It complements rather than distracts from the medical work.
The clinic excels particularly at conditions rooted in gut health and chronic inflammation: stubborn weight, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases, hormonal imbalances, and what the Mayr tradition calls 'silent inflammations'. They’re amazing at finding the causes of those inflammations. It’s a near-magical cure for the subclinical inflammatory burden behind migraines, joint pain, chronic fatigue, and mood disorders.
Programs
As of 2026, VIVAMAYR offers one core program, with a minimum of 7 nights and available in 14-night formats for deeper results, as well as additional modules:
- VIVAMAYR Pure program — the foundation pillar of all the protocols at VIVAMAYR
- Immune Boost module
- Recovery and performance module
- Health check module
- Healthy aging and longevity module
- Mental resilience module
- Gut health intense module
Before 2026, the offering of VIVAMAYR was structured around 4 programs, each with their own speciality:
- Prevent & Wellbeing focusing on preventive health
- Rebalance & Energy, a life reset program
- Movement & Mobility, a more active program
- Detox & Weight Care, including emotional detox and psychological support
Accommodation
Rooms at VIVAMAYR range from Comfort Rooms (from €378/night with mountain views, from €451/night with lake views) to a 187 sqm Villa with private dock (€3750/night). The Junior Suite at €869/night and Deluxe Room at €535/night offer a strong balance of space and value for guests focused on their medical program. The lake views are really nice.
Key facts
- Best Gut Health Retreat in the World, Luxury Spa Edit Awards 2025
- Programs from €2951 for 7 nights (excluding accommodation)
- No children under 12; pets not permitted
- Cancellation: 50% penalty within 14 days, 100% within 7 days
MAYRLIFE Medical Health Resort
MAYRLIFE Medical Health Resort sits on the edge of Lake Altaussee in Styria, one of Austria's most alpine regions. It’s very pretty: a pristine mountain lake framed by the Totes Gebirge massif. It provides an ideal environment for the deep physiological reset that Modern Mayr Medicine requires.
MAYRLIFE and VIVAMAYR share a common heritage: for a number of years they operated as sister properties, and both are grounded in the same Mayr Medicine tradition. Today they are independent, with distinct characters and guest experiences. But honestly, guests who love one typically love the other as well.
What makes MAYRLIFE unique
MAYRLIFE distinguishes itself through the breadth and sophistication of its therapeutic options. Beyond the Mayr Medicine core, with functional myodiagnostics, manual abdominal treatments, Mayr nutrition, it offers modalities that few other European clinics can match: SOOMA neuromodulation, Watsu, intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training (IHHT), 3D body scanning, biofeedback stress regulation testing, and Water Plasma therapy.
The medical department provides comprehensive diagnostics tailored to each program: micronutrient status, oxidative stress markers, acid-base and mineral analysis, basal metabolic rate (e-scan), bioelectrical impedance, biofrequency screening, and specialist laboratory panels.
The MAYRLIFE Cuisine is customized to each guest's metabolic needs and intolerances. And there is a lot of emphasis on chewing and mindful eating, like in all Mayr medicine clinics.
Programs
MAYRLIFE offers nine main programs covering a wide range of health objectives:
- MAYRLIFE Classic — the foundation pillar of all the other programs, combining gut regeneration, immune strengthening, and detoxification
- Active Detox — autophagy-focused detox, with cryotherapy and IHHT
- Stress Control — biofeedback diagnostics, IHHT, emotional detox coaching, and autonomic regulation
- Anti-Inflammation — intolerance testing, anti-inflammatory nutrition, cryotherapy, IHHT, and breathing training
- Longevity & Healthy Aging — mitochondrial enhancement via IHHT, oxidative stress reduction, Water Plasma therapy, and anti-aging diagnostics
- Leader's Excellence — executive-focused program with SOOMA neuromodulation, Watsu and 3D body scan
- Meno Classic — comprehensive hormonal and metabolic program for women in perimenopause and menopause
- Optimal Weight — personalized weight management with intolerance testing, exercise sessions, and custom nutrition planning
Accommodation
MAYRLIFE's accommodation ranges from Comfort Rooms (from €305/night) to expansive Park Residences with private spa areas including steam bath and sauna. The 160 sqm Park Residence (€2830/night) sleeps four and includes a fully equipped kitchen with direct lake views. The Penthouse at €2000/night is the most stunning suite of MAYRLIFE, with panoramic lake views across two floors with a library and walk-in closet.
Key facts
- Program prices from €2975 for 7 nights (excluding accommodation)
- Children welcome from age 14
- Cancellation free of charge up to 30 days prior to arrival
Lanserhof Lans
Lanserhof Lans is the original Lanserhof clinic, established in 1984 in the Tyrolean village of Lans near Innsbruck. It is where the Lanserhof Method was born. And for guests who want the intimacy of a smaller, historically significant clinic combined with the full depth of the Lanserhof approach, it remains the preferred choice within the Lanserhof network.
The Lanserhof group also operates clinics in Tegernsee (Bavaria) and Sylt (North Sea), but Lans holds a special place as the original. It is smaller and more intimate than Tegernsee, set in the alpine meadows above Innsbruck, and it attracts guests who seek quiet immersion during their Mayr Medicine cure.
What makes Lanserhof Lans unique
Lanserhof Lans combines the original Lanserhof Method with state-of-the-art diagnostics, including AI-supported assessments and longevity testing referencing the Hallmarks of Aging. The medical team includes specialists in internal medicine, cardiology, and general medicine, ensuring comprehensive oversight beyond the generalist Mayr physician model.
The range of wellness programs is notably broad: alongside the foundational Mayr protocols, Lanserhof Lans offers INUSpheresis (extracorporeal blood purification), a dedicated Longevity Program grounded in the Hallmarks of Aging framework, CellGym simulated altitude training, comprehensive hormonal balance programs for women, and mental health protocols including neurotransmitter testing and hypnotherapy.
Programs
Lanserhof Lans offers eight programs, all building on the Classic foundation:
- Lanserhof Classic — the foundational 7-night detoxification and regeneration program. Available as 14-night for deeper results
- Lanserhof Classic Plus — expanded diagnostics and therapeutic intensity
- Longevity Program — Hallmarks-of-Aging diagnostics, CellGym altitude training, cryotherapy, HRV and spiroergometry testing
- Hormonal Balance — for women with mood disturbances, sleep issues, fatigue or headaches related to hormonal shifts
- Mental Health — neurotransmitter testing, psychological consultation, cryotherapy, hypnosis, and energetic therapies
- INUSpheresis — extracorporeal plasma purification for chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and chronic pain
- Long COVID — 14-night recovery program for persistent symptoms
- Weight Loss Injection Management — program for GLP-1 and similar weight medications
Accommodation
The Lans property offers eight room categories, from Single Rooms (€350/night) to the 100 sqm Panorama Suite with private sauna, second bedroom, and mountain views (€2,500/night). The Rooftop Suite at €1,250/night is particularly notable, featuring a private terrace with 360° alpine panorama.
Key facts
- The original Lanserhof clinic, established 1984
- Program prices from €2940 for 7 nights (excluding accommodation)
- Deposit of 50% required at booking
- Cancellation: full refund more than 30 days prior; deposit forfeited within 30 days
- Adults only
Choosing between the three: a practical guide
All three clinics are exceptional. The question is fit: which environment and program structure best matches your health goals, travel preferences, and personal style.
Choose VIVAMAYR if gut health, detox, or weight management are your primary goals, and if you want the world's best-rated clinic for precisely that. The Wörthersee location is beautiful, and the clinic's two decades of focused Mayr Medicine expertise show.
Choose MAYRLIFE if you want a chalet atmosphere, the most striking natural setting, or if you're an executive dealing with burnout, cognitive fatigue, or chronic stress. The Leader's Excellence program is genuinely differentiated, and the integration of IHHT, SOOMA neuromodulation, and Watsu therapy is hard to find elsewhere.
Choose Lanserhof Lans if you want the original Lanserhof Method in its most intimate form, or if you're specifically interested in longevity diagnostics, INUSpheresis, hormonal balance, or mental health protocols. The smaller scale creates an atmosphere of focused, quiet immersion that guests returning for their third or fourth cure often prefer.
Many experienced guests cycle between two or three of these clinics over the years. They find that each offers a distinct lens on the same underlying approach to health.