Located directly on the Bellecôte piste and offering unimpeded access to over 600 kilometres of pristine ski slopes and cross-country tracks, Aman Le Mélézin is an iconic Alpine retreat in Courchevel 1850. Designed to refresh and reenergise amid snow-dusted pine forests and crisp blue skies, the hotel is a refined sanctuary inspired by the timeless serenity of the surrounding mountains.
Open from December to April, Aman Le Mélézin is poised to welcome guests for the new season, adapted in practice and taking all appropriate steps in line with current guidelines, but unchanged in spirit. The hotel is dedicated to ensuring its guests get the most out of the winter months.
Aided by a team of experienced Ski Butlers who transport ski equipment from the heated racks in the state-of-the-art ski room to the piste, skiing at the hotel is performed with effortless ease. With only a short distance to the main ski area, guests of all ages are able to enjoy private or group lessons with Aman Le Mélézin’s expert instructors or by joining Courchevel’s revered ski school. For those desiring access to the mountain’s most isolated and tranquil spots, the hotel team delight in directing guests to remote backcountry terrain, devoid of crowds.
This winter, Aman Le Mélézin has introduced an exclusive First Tracks experience, which takes guests to the highest point within the valley (2,740m above sea level), where views of Mont Blanc and La Grande Casse await. Supervised by an experienced ski instructor, guests can embark on a breathtaking solo glide down ‘La Combe de la Saulire’ a legendary ski run where fresh snow is sheltered year-round from strong winds, enabling an unspoiled descent down the mountainside. On return to Aman Le Mélézin, a sumptuous breakfast will be prepared to re-energise.
Aman Le Mélézin also offers plenty of other ways to experience the fairytale snowscape it inhabits – both active and more sedentary – as well as cultural, culinary and wellness pursuits both indoors and out. For those looking for outdoor alternatives to skiing or snowboarding, the hotel team can arrange self-piloted dog sledding at Méribel, half- or full-day guided snowshoeing or trekking expeditions into rarely visited areas with expert guides, as well as tobogganing through the surrounding forest, day and night sledging and ice-skating.
For an aerial view of the region, guests can now enjoy several new scenic helicopter tours over Les Trois Vallées, the Haute Tarentaise Mountain Range or around Mont Blanc. Alternatively, a glide in a hot-air balloon at sunrise offers panoramic views of the snow-carpeted surrounds.
New this year, guests are able to hire a Fat Bike for the day; a specially designed snow bike that is perfect for sashaying down the mountainside and along tranquil forest trails leading into the village. For an exhilarating race across alpine terrain, the team can also book a day’s snowmobiling for those wishing to discover snowscapes further afield. Younger guests aged 3 to 15 are also fully catered for, with three chalets at Aman Le Mélézin housing the Children’s Club. Here they can enjoy arts and crafts, a variety of games, and interactive cooking demonstrations, as well as hot chocolate and healthy meals until 9pm.
Aman Le Mélézin itself is as much of an attraction as the scenery providing its exquisite backdrop. The spacious 31 Chambres and Suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the mountains, forest or piste, and are serenely decorated in an alpine-inspired palette, with luxurious oak paneling and exquisite French furniture. Many have their own private balconies, and several include an outdoor hot tub.
On the hotel’s sun terrace, après ski can be found within easy reach of the boutiques and restaurants of chic Courchevel. The chance to unwind is offered in the cosy library next to a roaring fireplace or within the elegant bar where plush velvet sofas encourage a zen-like atmosphere and large floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the piste. New this winter, Aman Le Mélézin is offering a cocktail class in the bar on Wednesdays at 6pm, available for a maximum of four adults only. During the class, under the expert guidance of the hotel’s Mixologist, Roberto Cuda, guests will learn how to make three signature cocktails, as well as one mocktail, with all recipes shared afterwards.
Further opportunities to relax can be found in the property’s 767sq-m holistic Aman Spa, an oasis of tranquility and rejuvenation. Comprising two entire floors of the property, the spa features five spacious treatment rooms including two double suites and one signature Thai massage suite, while a traditional Turkish hammam is perfect for soothing hot stone massages and energising Himalayan salt scrub experiences.
The expansive yoga studio includes TRX equipment and is complemented by a fitness studio, a relaxation lounge and extensive hydrotherapy areas, including a 14-metre indoor lap pool, experiential showers, a cold plunge pool and a wooden sauna. The spa menu has been carefully curated to offer treatments that provide nourishing heat and moisture following exposure to the wind and cold. For complete indulgence, the Signature Spa Journey combines dry brushing to boost circulation, a tension-releasing hot stone and oil massage and a calming facial designed specially to counter the Alpine elements.
From 18 December until 10 January 2021, the hotel has also introduced a new three-day festive spa experience, which includes a daily 120-minute treatment. The three treatments include a Thai massage on day one; a purifying body wrap and a Lymph drainage full-body and face massage on day two; and a short back massage and body scrub, a body brush and a lifting facial on day three of the experience.
Guests of Aman Le Mélézin are warmly welcomed to Nama, the hotel’s exceptional Japanese restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and under the expert guidance of new Executive Chef Kosuke Yamada, Nama serves authentic cuisine including sushi, sashimi and signature dishes such as succulent wagyu beef and otoro tuna. The menu also features a range of warming ramen dishes, each made with a hearty shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) or miso (soybean) base.
This winter, guests are able to take part in a cooking class with the chef every Friday at 4pm, available for a maximum of four adults only. Participants will learn the art of crafting sushi rolls from scratch, with the opportunity to enjoy their culinary creations after the class. Also new this season, Aman Le Mélézin will offer a Japanese tea time experience and Matcha tea ceremony every afternoon, where guests will be invited to discover a wide variety of tea, whilst sampling delectable Japanese pastries.
Whether a winter sports enthusiast or for those simply wanting to experience the magical wonderland that encompasses Aman Le Mélézin and its indulgent spa, an enchanting array of activities awaits.
