French Alps

The French Alps offer the most diverse mountain experience in Europe. From the legendary slopes of Courchevel and Val d'Isere to summer hiking in Chamonix, the Alps combine outdoor adventure with five-star luxury in a way that no other mountain range can match. Winter is king here: the Three Valleys (Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens) form the largest linked ski area in the world, with 600 kilometers of pistes across every level of difficulty. Courchevel 1850 is the undisputed capital of luxury skiing — more five-star hotels than any resort in the world, a private airstrip that handles private jets landing on a steep uphill runway, and restaurants like Le Chabichou (two Michelin stars) and Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc (three Michelin stars) that rival the finest dining in Paris. Megeve, created by the Rothschild family in the 1920s as an alternative to Saint-Moritz, offers a more intimate village experience with horse-drawn sleighs, a medieval church, and the extraordinary Flocons de Sel (three Michelin stars). Val d'Isere attracts serious skiers with its challenging terrain, and its Espace Killy — shared with Tignes — offers 300 kilometers of runs and exceptional off-piste opportunities. But the Alps are equally compelling in summer, when the snow melts to reveal hiking trails through wildflower meadows, mountain biking routes, via ferrata climbing paths, and paragliding launches with views that stop the breath. Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, at the foot of Europe's highest peak, is the birthplace of modern mountaineering and offers year-round adventure — the Aiguille du Midi cable car ascends to 3,842 meters for a panorama that is genuinely life-changing. For accommodation, the chalet experience defines Alpine luxury: private chalets with hot tubs, dedicated chefs, and ski-in/ski-out access create a cocoon of warmth and indulgence at altitude. Properties like Les Chalets du Mont d'Arbois in Megeve and Cheval Blanc in Courchevel represent the pinnacle of mountain hospitality.

Highlights