King of the Alps

King of the Alps: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Whether hiking and biking through the mountains over the summer or clipping into your skis during the winter, this spectacular four-bedroom chalet is ideal for families and groups of friends hoping to experience everything the French Alps offer.

The wooden-clad exterior of this Alpine chalet is chocolate box perfection, while the balconies and terraces offer far-reaching views of the soaring mountain peaks nearby. In contrast, the interior space provides a contemporary take on chalet chic, with an open layout, plenty of light wood and a welcoming wood burner to toast your toes at the end of the day on the slopes.

Elsewhere, bedrooms are divided between the ground and second floors, making for a perfect layout for a couple of families. The smaller ground-floor rooms are ideal for the kids to run around and make a racket, while the super king-size top-floor rooms make for soothing adult-only sanctuaries.

Extraordinarily, in our opinion, Megève seems to fly under the radar of many mountain sports enthusiasts. However, most visitors here will find more than enough terrain to keep them entertained for a week of skiing and snowboarding. In addition, its proximity to Chamonix opens up a host of off-piste options for the pros among your group. Its stunning setting – in the shadow of Mont Blanc – makes it a fantastic summer escape, too, with golf and plenty of hiking routes, plus rafting, paragliding, and mountain biking for the thrill seekers.

Home truths:
*Access to the home is via a private entrance
*The home is set over three floors without lift access, so it may not be suitable for those with limited mobility
*The dining table doubles as a laptop-friendly workspace
*You'll need a car to reach Les Contamines (part of the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski area) – there's on-site parking available