5 Of The Most Amazing Mountain Hotels For A Sky-High Getaway
For peak relaxation and tranquility, choose a cloud-skimming, top-of-the-world vantage point – and where could be more elevated than a magnificent mountain hotel? KATIE BERRINGTON chooses five of the most mesmerizing around the world.
Eriro, Austria
With just nine (impeccably designed) bedrooms, an impressive altitude of 1,550 meters and a location so secluded that it is only accessible by cable car, Eriro offers a new breathtaking, alpine perspective. Soothingly simple interiors are strongly influenced by the surroundings – featuring an abundance of local materials such as wood, wool and loden – and allow the stunning panoramas of verdant, forested mountains to take center stage. While many a revitalizing hour can be spent gazing at this privileged perch in the Austrian Alps, the retreat also immerses guests into the magnificent surroundings – from guided barefoot hikes and outdoor meditations to mountain biking and skiing.
Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Wellness is an unsurprising emphasis of the ultra-luxe, high-altitude Swiss chalet outpost of Six Senses, which sits in the Crans-Montana resort looking towards the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. In winter, it is a skier’s paradise with direct ski-in, ski-out access on the Chetzeron red run and a position just above the main gondola. Visit in summer, and skis can be swapped for hiking boots, mountain bikes, horseback and golf clubs – there’s also a notable cultural scene with art galleries and music concerts. The phenomenal Six Senses Spa is the height of relaxation, with both an expansive indoor pool beneath a suspended timber ceiling and looking over a birch-lined courtyard, and an al fresco rooftop pool with an alpine garden, where guests can truly relish the revitalizing qualities of their surrounds.
Montage Big Sky, Montana, US
Set amid the Spanish Peaks and less than an hour from Yellowstone National Park, Montage Big Sky occupies a remarkable wilderness – along with ski-in/ski-out access to world-famous slopes of Big Sky Resort. The sprawling wood, stone and glass structure mirrors the impressive mountains of its surroundings, while the interiors balance sumptuous, timeless charm with sleek contemporary furnishings. Guests stay in rooms, suites or residences, with the latter offering the most private and capacious of the grand lodgings. The Montage Residences are particularly scenic thanks to their lofty perches, as well as boasting numerous fireplaces, saunas, outdoor tubs on balconies, with the cocktail lounge, spa (taking no less than 10,000sq ft), and delectable handful of restaurants nearby.
Forestis Dolomites, Italy
Set in dense forest on the Plose massif, the serene Forestis is 1,800 meters above sea level and amid the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Dolomites and the wild South Tyrolean Alps. The panorama of snow-capped mountains looms beyond floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in the breathtaking vista. At the spa, guests can experience the healing benefits of the mountains, where an extensive treatment menu is based on natural, local ingredients and a program of outdoor physical pursuits. Meanwhile, the sky-skimming indoor and outdoor swimming pools make for the most peaceful places to soak in the surroundings.
Gangtey Lodge, Bhutan
With a sweeping position high above the Phobjikha Valley, Gangtey Lodge gives an unparalleled panorama of the majestic scenery that blesses Bhutan – from thickly forested Himalayan mountains to rolling hills punctuated with farmhouses and the 17th-century monastery, Gangtey Geonpa. This small and beautiful hotel celebrates Bhutanese style and artwork across its suites and lodge, with local artists and masons creating murals and carvings to adorn the walls, taking inspiration from the undulating valley landscape. And at the end of a day of exploring the extraordinary nature and rich cultural heritage, a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath, backdropped by the golden-hour peaks beyond, is the most magical way to unwind.