When was the last time you disconnected? And not just putting your phone down for two minutes while you tended to something else? We mean really disconnected; switched off from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind, from commuting, spreadsheets and endless meetings?

According to a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) study, the work/life balance is still a difficult trick to pull off. The average UK worker spends five hours per week longer in the office than they would like to, and 63 per cent would like to reduce their hours. These stats show why we may be becoming numb to the world around us despite always being connected to it, and why it is so important to gain some time away from the rat race. This is where Austria comes in.

Austria has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, and it’s this unspoilt terrain which is key for you to feel once again, relax and indulge your inner harmony. Saalfelden Leogang’s vitality trails in SalzburgerLand are the ideal spot for you to find peace, with activating routes and regenerating hikes bringing you right back up to speed, where you can revel in the flora and fauna, and marvel at the diverse animals.

The Stoissengraben offers refuge from hot summer sun, with a shaded trail leading to a refreshing waterfall which not only revives your body with its cooling splashes, but doubles as the ultimate outdoor playground. Those of a sturdier disposition can experience the history of Austria underfoot as you attempt the ascent to the Peter Wiechenthaler Hut in the foot of the Persailhorn mountain, where your efforts are rewarded with stunning panoramic views and the crunch of fresh food and comfortable sheets (should you stay overnight).

For those who may like to touch more than just nature, by hiking the Hermitage Saalfelden, you can reach out and embrace history in the 17th century refuge above Lichtenberg castle. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to touch the hermit himself in the summer months.

It is said the trails will help you achieve a sense of physical and spiritual contentment and discover personal balance. Or, in other words, keep in touch with yourself and the real world around you.

There is a reason Saalfelden Leogang’s year-round Astiz area is called the Mountain Of Senses; with the Senses Park, you can get in touch with your faculties and your self, like when you make your own flatbreads from scratch, kneading the dough before they’re baked until crispy and golden. When was the last time you could say you made your own food with touch and feeling?

If your senses need a short, sharp shock, you can feel the cool, revitalising water on your skin as you dive into the Heiterwanger See in Tirol’s Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, or the fresh air revitalising your mood while cycling down into the valley on the Panorama Route, or the long grass tickling your ankles on the scenic Umhauser Runde, just two of Ötztal’s incredible mountain bikes routes, which offer options for cyclists of every ability.

And once you’ve tired yourself out, where better to relax than the stunning award-winning Aqua Dome spa, where you can experience the full healing power of its pools, saunas and treatment areas nestled amongst the Ötztal mountains. Or for something a little more risqué, you can feel like James Bond at the gourmet restaurant IceQ, found atop the Gaislachkogl, close to Solden’s Das Central, a beautiful five-star hideaway. Both are part of the Austria Hotel Collection.

That’s the beauty of Austria; it implores you to keep in touch and makes you feel everything.

Reach out and feel everything with Visit Austria