Altapura Hôtel & Spa Val Thorens – Luxury Ski-In

Altapura sits high in Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe at around 2,300 metres. The hotel opens straight onto the slopes, so you can clip into your skis at the door and ride the Musaraigne lift, which is about 160 metres away. Inside, the design pulls from alpine materials: timber, stone and dark cowhide accents across the rooms and public spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the peaks of the Trois Vallees, and the spa and pool give you somewhere warm to land after a day on the snow.

The Standard Double Club room runs to about 40 square metres with a private bathroom, which is generous for a ski hotel. You can add breakfast at booking for 26 EUR per guest, or keep it room only and eat across the resort. Beyond the bedroom there is an indoor pool, a spa and restaurants on site, including a dining room with windows that look out over the runs. Two nights gives you a full ski day in the middle with arrival and departure either side.

Everything here is built around the snow. The Musaraigne ski lift is about 160 metres from the door and the Funitel de Peclet is roughly 255 metres away. The Deux Lacs gondola sits around 267 metres off, and the wider Val Thorens ski area starts about 282 metres from the hotel. With the resort linking into the Trois Vallees, you can ski across one of the largest connected areas in the world without taking the car out once.

Couples and keen skiers who want the slopes on the doorstep and a spa to come back to. The ski-in, ski-out setup suits anyone who would rather start the morning on snow than wait for a shuttle.