From Les Portes to the Piste

From Les Portes to the Piste: Rhône-Alpes

A refreshingly modern reinterpretation of a traditional alpine chalet, this mountain home offers a design-led take on the rustic wood and stone construction you'll be familiar with.

Inside, large open plan areas invite you to spend time socialising together as a group. And while you'll be surrounded by the characteristic scent of pine, gone are the rough and ready finishes of old school chalets, to be replaced with immaculately planed pillars and exposed beams that are as straight as an arrow.

A cosy seating area at one end of the living space is perfect for putting your feet up at the end of a long day of top-to-bottom runs or high-altitude summer hikes. At the other, you'll find a sleek, minimalist kitchen intersected by a vast dining table ideal for sociable mealtimes. The entire space is illuminated by natural light that streams in, courtesy of large sliding doors and windows that stretch to the roofline, thanks to a mezzanine level.

A similar design ethos is carried through to the en-suite bedrooms, with a dormitory-style six-bed bunk room guaranteed to appeal to younger members of the group. In contrast, others will find a peaceful night's rest in the double rooms.

The home's pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the on-site sauna and hammam, which made us actually look forward to those final thigh-burning runs at the end of the day. Unbuckle your boots, pop them on the boot heaters and enjoy a post-session stretch that'll leave you ready and raring to do it all again tomorrow.


Home truths:
*There's a free shuttle bus to the ski lift in winter – the bus stop is 50m away – ski lifts, bars and restaurants can be found 1.5km away in Megève and Praz-sur-Arly
*At full capacity, six guests will be accommodated in a dormitory-style room, with three bunk beds
*We'd recommend a car to explore the area – there's on-site parking available
*Child-friendly amenities such as a cot and highchair are available on request
*One pet is welcome to join you free of charge
*The ski area is best suited to intermediate to advanced level skiers and snowboarders
*Ski storage and boot heaters are available