To satisfy the desire for snow, outdoor sports and relaxation, here is a selection of the best ski resorts and the best chalets “signed” by LHW-The Leading Hotels of The Worlds. With many “tailor-made” proposals.
Nestled in the rolling snowy hills of the Bernese Oberland, Gstaad Palace is the perfect destination for a fairy-tail winter break. It’s 90 luxurious rooms and suites provide spectacular panoramic views out over the snow-clad peaks and skilfully combine elegant contemporary design with Alpine cosiness. During the winter, Gstaad is transformed into a snow sports wonderland offering over 220 kilometres of white pistes, sled and toboggan runs, snowparks and panoramic winter hiking trails. For the accomplished skier, there’s the fabled black “Tiger Run” piste on the Wasserngrat which is accessible by chairlift, or alternatively an endless choice of blue runs which trace the soft inclines of the Eggli. Further skiing is available on ‘Glacier 3000’, which is also the setting for Husky sleigh trips along the peaceful snowy trails. A network of cross-country skiing routes from Sparenmoos to Zweisimmen through to the beautiful Turbach valley invites visitors to immerse themselves in a wintry landscape. As well as access to the slopes, the hotel team can direct guests to a myriad of alternative and ski-free adventures, including electric fat-bike tours, sledding, tobogganing and winter hiking on one of the many panoramic trails. The Palace also offers horse-drawn sleigh and carriage rides which takes guests on a romantic jaunts through the Lauenen valley. After an exhilarating day on the slopes, the Palace spa offers a world of respite with its 9 treatment rooms (including a private spa suite), saunas and steam baths, relaxation areas including a new restorative spa garden, indoor swimming pool and outdoor Jacuzzi with gorgeous alpine views. Those seeking a livelier Après ski spot can visit the hotel’s iconic nightclub, GreenGo, where they can dance the night away.
Surrounded by the enchanting beauty of the Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau is a pristine sanctuary located just over 60 miles south of Munich. There is a feeling of peace at this luxury family-friendly resort, featuring two 5-star hotels with unrivalled wellness offerings, gastronomy and programme of activities. During the winter months, the resort’s expansive grounds are
transformed into a winter sports playground, with activities on offer including skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, ski safaris, snowshoe adventures, ice skating, ice hockey, toboggan riding and more. The Schloss Elmau Ski Academy is part of the professional ski academy of Alpenwelt Karwendel and offers everything from private individual ski lessons, to daily group classes for adults and children of all abilities. Winter offers great cross-country skiing, ice skating and hiking in the Elmau Valley, as well as alpine skiing safaris or ski touring with a guide in Mittenwald, Seefeld, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and on the Zugspitz Glacier. After a long day on the slopes, guests can regenerate in six gorgeous spas for both adults and families, offering soothing treatments, warm outdoor infinity pools, an authentic Japanese Onsen Pool and Oriental Hamam (all heated sustainability year-round), as well as spacious lounges, steam baths and saunas.
Whether a beginner looking to improve, or a long-standing black diamond-goer, the beautiful Evian Resort beside Lake Geneva is the perfect base for all. A combination of Evian Resort’s Sport & Culture team and dedicated Ski shop provides guests with everything they need for the perfect day on the slopes, including equipment, ski clothes, and transfers to and from the action. The resort is only a 15-minute drive from the family-friendly ski resort, Bernex (near to the Portes du Soleil), meaning the whole family has the chance to experience the snow this winter. Guests with a few more Blues and Reds under their belt, can take a 30-minute transfer from Evian Resort to the capital of mountaineering, Chamonix. Additionally, nearby is the world-class resort of Avoriaz, where visitors can alight from the stunning slopes for a classic fondue in an igloo for the perfect winter experience. For those looking for a heart-racing adventure, Evian Resort’s Sport & Culture Team can create a tailored itinerary of thrilling winter escapades, including ice-diving in frozen mountain lakes, gaining knowledge in extreme diving; night ski-touring in Morzine, followed with a peaceful decent; skiing the 20km glaciated Valle Blanche with off-piste slopes in Chamonix; and dog-sledding or snow-shoe walking in the nearby Abondance Valley.
Boasting a spectacular alpine location on the edge of the Arosa forest at an altitude of 1800 metres above sea level, the Tschuggen Grand Hotel is a haven of luxury where nature meets iconic modernity. The 128 rooms of and suites of the five-star establishment offer a cosy residential experience with unrivalled views over Arosa mountains, as well as contemporary interior design by renowned designed Carlo Rampazzi. The Tschuggen Grand Hotel is the only hotel in Switzerland with its own state-of-the art private mountain railway, the Tschuggen Express, that takes guests directly from the hotel to the Arosa Lenzerheide ski and hiking area, featuring two modern panorama cabins for six people. The jewel of the hotel is its spectacular 54,000-square-foot spa. Carved into the mountainside, this four-level oasis of wellness contains a vast water area filled with indoor-outdoor pools of varying temperatures, massage jets, grottos, waterfalls, saunas and 12 treatment suites. In addition, the spa also boasts a fitness centre with Kinesis Training Systems and Technogym machines, a yoga studio, an I-Bed solarium and medical wellness section with a doctor and aesthetician on site.
Located in the heart of Courmayeur, Le Massif Hotel & Lodge is an eco-friendly resort which combines modern-Alpine aesthetics with impeccable service. Situated on the slopes of Mont Blanc, this hotel provides the ideal setting to enjoy world-class skiing in the Italian Alps, just 100m from the nearest cable car. A dedicated ski concierge and ski butler service means guests can enjoy the mountain atmosphere in complete relaxation, arranging everything from mountain passes to classes and 
ski equipment. Epicures love Le Massif’s dining options with three on-site restaurants where to savour a myriad of gastronomic influences from the Valle d’Aosta, rediscovering the traditional tastes of the Mediterranean and the age-old, refined flavours of a superb steakhouse. The hotel also boasts a separate lodge on the slopes- La Loge du Massif- which offers a private ski-in ski-out room with individual heated lockers to store equipment, as well as a restaurant and bar with two outdoor terraces for fashionable apres-ski parties.
Set amongst the scenic mountains of Western Austria’s Montafon Valley, the new Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon will open on 16th December 2022 with a focus on both sustainability and luxury. The 123-room hotel’s extraordinary architectural design blends into the surrounding mountains, whilst the outdoor facilities have been harmoniously integrated into the surroundings of the skiing and hiking areas on the Erlebinsverg Golm- the first ski area in Austria to be certified as climate neutral. The hotel’s own ski shuttle will transport guests to over 44 kilometres of perfectly groomed ski slopes, offering endless opportunities for skiing and winter sports during the winter season. At the Golm Snow Sports School, children and adults can take part in ski or snowboarding
lessons, privately or in groups. Unique experiences such as ski safaris or Skifox are also offered, as well as a Golmi kindergarten for the young non-skiers. Ski and toboggan rental is available from the hotel. The Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon is also a partner of TurnToZero, a climate protection initiative which supports companies in improving their climate balance and assists them in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As part of this sustainability focus, the hotel has created a series of interactive eco-awareness programmes for children, teens and families, including their Falky Rangers’ concept which aims to introduce children to nature, biological ecosystems and species.
Located in the heart of the Andorran Pyrenees, the Sports Hotel Hermitage & Spa is a luxury hotel complex composed of three 4 and 5-star hotels, exclusive residences and a spectacular mountain spa. This December sees the opening of a newly built chalet in the middle of the slopes, sleeping eight adults and up to four children in four en-suite rooms. Designed as a modern Alpine retreat using traditional materials, Hermitage Mountain Lodge can be booked out per week and comes with a private chef and butler, daily cooked breakfasts, afternoon teas and most dinners, hot tub, sauna and fireplaces. Situated at the foot of the slopes of the Grandvalira ski resort, the largest ski area in southern Europe, Sport Hotels Resort is a paradise for lovers of winter and mountain sports. The hotel offers guests a plethora of unforgettable mountain experiences, run by a team of professionals at their Mountain Sport Centre, including dog sledding; guided snowshoe excursions; snowmobile outings; and a panoramic helicopter flight to admire the beauty of the mountains of Andorra from afar. The hotel also offers a 
ski guide service which allows guests to discover the pistes of Grandvalira in the easiest and safest way. The guides will help in designing routes that adapt to the snow conditions, ensuring guests can comfortably discover the slopes, landscapes and hidden corners throughout the entire ski area. The hotel also provides ski and snowboard classes at one of the most internationally renowned schools, with more than 450 specialised instructors on offer and six magnificent ski/snowboard centres. After a long day on the slopes, guests can enjoy good music, food and warming winter drinks on the terrace of the Sol i Neu pizzeria, which welcomes a guest DJ each Saturday. Those seeking an escape from the crowds can visit the Sport Wellness Mountain Spa; a 5000m2 temple of relaxation and well-being at the foot of the ski slopes. Divided into five floors, the spa offers unrivalled facilities including hydrotherapy swimming pools, Turkish bath with a Finnish sauna, samarium, caldarium, essences room, showers of sensations, biothermic showers and ice fountain.
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