Mountain High
Sybarites and ski bums will unite at the new Six Senses Crans Montana resort that offers up a slice of nature’s largesse
Descending from the highest peaks in the Alps, skis unclipped, you may find yourself in a Bio-hacking Recovery Lounge whilst your furry friend receives a paw massage or an oat facial. Come again? These are the tip of the iceberg amenities offered at the Six Senses Crans Montana opening in February. From the sublime to the deliciously ridiculous, the IHG owned hotel chain is now blending its holistic hospitality with the thrill of the pistes.
The new year-round mountain oasis (two hours from Geneva) is positioned amid high-altitude slopes with the Swiss Matterhorn and the French Mont Blanc on the horizon. In the luxury ski orbit, Crans Montana offers an enticing alternative to the cosy catered, private chalet with inspiring off-piste activities (eco workshops aplenty); state of the art wellness programmes not to mention the Michelin star chef in residence at the Wild Cabin restaurant.
The design of the ski-in ski-out hotel, spa, and residency is by architecture firm, AW^2 founded by Reda Amalou who was commissioned to reimagine existing blueprints initiated by the late Jean Pierre of JP Emery Architects. It eschews all the alpine cliches in favour of bold volumes, tones and textures that seemingly emerge from the ragged mountainside. The vision is lateral and expansive (the spa is 2500m alone) and plays off primal geometric lines and volumes in visceral stone, warming woods, and glass.
Outdoor Swimming Pool
@sixsensescransmontana // Instagram
Indoor Firepit
@sixsensescransmontana // Instagram
It is notable that Six Senses, despite takeovers and buyouts, has maintained and evolved its mission to work in symbiosis with nature across its 20 hotels and resorts in 17 countries. It all started with a thoughtful, playful holistic resort that opened in 1995 in the Douro Valley Portugal, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As a guest, the so-called Personal Experience Concierge is at your service. You might want to hang out with the masseuse at the Alchemy Bar and have a personalised oil made for you prior to pummelling or spend the afternoon in an Infrared Sauna and zero-gravity chamber. One could grow smug or smugger: the watts stored up by a spin class, will help power the outdoor cinema.
Ahead of the grand opening in February, Six Senses has teamed with Moncler Grenoble on an exclusive collection of ski-kit that will discreetly mark one’s terroir. For those looking for more permanent roots up in the clouds, there are seventeen three to five-bedroom permanent residences, ranging from 210 to 350 sq metres with private parking. To plan your Crans Montana escape, please press here.
