Ski chalets had their humble beginnings as the rough summer quarters of alpine herders—what one might call trudge-up, ski-down access.
The first real ski resorts, such as Davos and St. Moritz, grew up around popular summer resorts. And my, how they’ve grown! The Rockies snowpack and its black diamonds, bumps, steeps, drops, bowls, moguls, and chutes are ready. The legendary pistes are corduroy-groomed in the Alps, awaiting their schussers, bunnies, and boomers.
In this collection of homes, we go off-piste to spotlight seven luxury ski chalets (and their cozy, après-ski interiors) in chic Alpine destinations and the thrill-seekers’ ski meccas of Niseko and the Rocky Mountains. It may be a bright, crisp winter, but it’s all downhill from here!
1. Chalet Le Beule in Le Grand-Bornand, Haute-Savoie, France
This classic Alpine chalet is in Le Grand-Bornand in France’s Haute-Savoie region. The “Pearl of the Aravis Mountains” is a skier’s and snowboarder’s paradise with more than 55 miles of downhill ski runs, 30 lifts, an ice park, and miles of Nordic ski trails.
This 18th-century farmhouse, with its authentic Alpine charm and spectacular vistas, faces the Aravis Range in the French Prealps, between Lake Annecy and Mont Blanc.
Renovated throughout, the sleek, contemporary wood-beamed and paneled interiors enclose 3,272 square feet of living space spanning three levels.
The main floor of the farmhouse provides a kitchen, a dining space, a media lounge, and an office.
The lower level houses a deluxe bedroom suite and a sublime wellness suite with a hammam, relaxing “sensory shower,” and spa pool.
Separately, there is a mazot—a small, traditional wooden building, fully renovated in 2022, with a bedroom, living and dining spaces, and a balcony.
The one-bedroom guest apartment has a kitchen that opens onto a terrace. A ski room and an outdoor spa round out the amenities.
2. The Havens on Fanny Hill in Snowmass Village, Colorado
This sleek mountain home in Snowmass Village ski resort offers sublime creature comforts and spectacular views of the Rockies.
The Havens is an exclusive collection of 10 single-family homes on the Fanny Hill ski run at Aspen Snowmass mountain resort, situated slopeside, just steps from the Base Village.
Residence 8 reimagines the log cabin for the 21st century.
Lake Flato Architects designed the airy, open interiors and tranquil outdoor spaces to take in the panoramic Rocky Mountain vistas.
An elevator serves all levels, including the top-floor primary suite. Three additional bedrooms include a spacious bunkroom.
The private deck (with Jacuzzi) is ideal for après-ski relaxation. A ski/bike equipment garage and assigned covered parking are further amenities.
Ownership includes access to the One Snowmass Fitness Center and the pool at Electric Pass Lodge.
3. Koa Villa 6 in Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Zen-like tranquility and contemporary Scandinavian design converge in this luxury chalet in the heart of Niseko United, Japan’s foremost destination for powder skiing.
Koa Villa 6 has an enchanting, forested setting in Koa Niseko, an enclave of 20 exclusive chalets at the foot of Mount Niseko-Annupuri in Hokkaido, Japan, host of the 1972 Winter Olympics.
The Scandinavian-inspired exterior encloses a Zen-like sanctuary with treetop views of Mount Niseko-Annupuri and Mount Yotei.
Offered fully furnished, every detail of the home has been carefully curated and sourced from luxury suppliers.
Two levels of living spaces, spanning some 2,000 square feet, include an open-plan lounge, three bedrooms, a ski room, private garage, a balcony, and a covered porch.
Powder hounds will appreciate the location between two world-class ski resorts: Niseko Village and Niseko-Annupuri (part of the wider Niseko United ski area). Après-ski amenities include a full bar, movie theater, wine room, and several cozy fireplaces.
4. Apex Residences at the Canyons Village, Park City, Utah
This luxurious three-story home is a chair-lift-ride away from Park City Mountain Resort; its 7,300 acres of skiable terrain offer a variety of challenging powder runs and spectacular Rocky Mountain vistas.
The Apex Residences is a contemporary, 63-unit development in Canyons Village at Park City Mountain Resort, Utah.
The development’s premier unit is this four-bedroom, five-bathroom triplex home with nearly 3,000 square feet of professionally designed interiors with wraparound mountain views.
An elevator from the building’s heated underground garage rises to the main level, anchored by a vaulted great room facing the ski slopes. But the views are best contemplated from the primary suite’s roof deck.
An additional suite is also on the top floor, while a third is on the main level. The lower level houses a bunkroom and media lounge.
In addition to world-class skiing and winter sports, amenities at the Apex resort include a clubhouse, year-round heated pool, hot tub, two fitness centers, a spa, and a shuttle system.
5. Cesa Dolomiti in Arraba, Belluno, Italy
At this luxury chalet rental in the picture-postcard hamlet of Arabba, residents can skip the chair lines and ski directly onto the Olympic runs of the Dolomiti Superski circuit—home of the 2026 Winter Games.
Cesa Dolomiti is a luxury chalet rental in Italy’s Dolomite Mountains.
Encompassing nearly six acres in the foothills of the Sella massif, the property provides ski-in, ski-out access to the Dolomiti Superski—the world’s largest ski circuit.
The residential complex is composed of two chalets: Maso and the Masetto, offering a total of 8,934 square feet of living space across three levels with seven bedrooms and eight full baths.
The property underwent a meticulous renovation in accordance with local building practices and extraordinary attention to detail. Among the building materials are stone walls and wood floors, marked by the studded snowshoes of inhabitants past.
The result is a home at one with its setting yet luxurious, modern, and warm. There are vast, picture windows to frame the views, underfloor heating and smart-home automation for comfort and convenience, and a lavish wellness area—with sauna, steam bath, mood shower, indoor pool, and a whirlpool spa.
6. Modern Craftsman-Style Home in Sun Valley, Idaho
Rocky Mountain peaks and virgin forests surround this modernist lodge in Idaho’s Sun Valley Resort—home of North America’s very first ski lift.
This contemporary Craftsman-style home by award-winning Williams Partners Architects overlooks Bald Mountain and the powder slopes of Sun Valley, America’s first destination ski resort.
The handcrafted exterior, with its windowed walls of fieldstone, covered port cochere, and overhanging gabled roofline’s fieldstone chimney stack, encloses 5,759 square feet of living space adorned with artisanal wood and stone finishes.
The core of the house is a vast great room with a monumental fieldstone fireplace and a beamed ceiling. Expansive windows provide a seamless connection between indoors and out. Adjacent is the chalet-style chef’s kitchen with a massive log-burning fireplace, wooden breakfast bar, and elegant formal dining area with a front-row view of Bald Mountain.
Beyond the reception areas are sumptuous private quarters comprising four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms.
Amenities for convenience and comfort include an elevator, radiant heating to keep the feet warm, and spacious balconies and outdoor dining areas for après-ski entertaining.
7. Contemporary Ski Chalet in Whitefish, Montana
The log cabin gets an upgrade at this bold, contemporary home just steps from Chair 6 at the Montana ski mecca of Whitefish Mountain Resort.
The bold geometries of this newly built, contemporary townhome provide 5,160 square feet of open-plan space, with five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. And it’s just off the Base Lodge’s Chair 6 of Montana’s legendary Whitefish Mountain Resort.
The island/breakfast bar kitchen flows to dining space and an expansive family lounge, where tall sliding doors open to a heated deck—and a hot tub for soaking after a day on the slopes.
The lower-level bunk room/lounge sleeps six. The gear room provides a comfortable space for changing into and out of—and storing—all kit and clothing for a day on the slopes.
