☰ CP Magazine:

In the heart of Les Trois Vallées, Aman Le Mélézin offers an exceptional ski experience with all the classic traditions of the finest French châteaux. Rising four storeys into the pine-scented air above the village of Courchevel 1850, the hotel enjoys an enviable setting directly on the Bellecôte Piste.

Exterior at night

Snow-capped mountain ranges across Europe are beginning to welcome visitors for a season of skiing and winter sports. The iconic Alpine retreat Aman Le Mélézin welcome guests from December, offering France’s finest all-round ski experience from its spectacular setting in the coveted heart of Les Trois Vallées, just moments from Courchevel 1850. As much a culinary and wellness destination as a renowned ski resort, the hotel presents a host of new offers and unique experiences which take full advantage of the hotel’s enviable location and exceptional facilities.

With mountain adventures for all ages – whether tobogganing down to Courchevel Village or taking to the skies with a relaxing hot air balloon or helicopter ride – the resort offers the finest adventures in the region.

New this season, guests can ride through the snow-covered landscapes at dusk on a snowmobile-drawn sledge or horse-drawn carriage to Les Prés de la Croix, where a traditional Savoyard dinner of cheese fondue or hotpot awaits beside a roaring log fire in a picture postcard mountain chalet. A bespoke five- course menu created by a private chef can also be arranged on Friday evenings. Children can play games in the chalet’s mezzanine or sled beneath the stars before the homeward journey by toboggan or snowbike to La Tania, followed by a car-transfer back to the hotel.

Aman Le Mélézin has also introduced new exhilarating outdoor experiences, offering even the most advanced skiers a new way to enjoy the snow. Sure to be a highlight of any guest’s stay, Moonbiking provides an off-piste adventure through the snow-dusted mountainside at Pralong Farm on ultra-light electric snowbikes. An alternative to snowmobiles, Moonbiking offers a unique way to enjoy winter outdoor activities and experience the surrounding landscapes in silence.

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A popular addition last season, the thrilling First Tracks adventure returns this winter. An experienced ski instructor takes guests to the highest point within the valley, where panoramas of Mont Blanc and La Grande Casse await. Skiers can then 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.

Until 7 April, experience the bliss of the Alps, the dazzle of freshly fallen snow and all the classic traditions of the finest French châteaux with the new Ski or Spa Escape. The five-night exclusive experience includes daily breakfast, daily lunch or dinner and either a ski-lift pass for Les Trois Vallées, or spa benefits including a daily 30-minute yoga session, a 50-minute holistic massage and a 30-minute Iyashi Dôme treatment.

Suite Vanoise

CULINARY JOURNEY
This winter, Aman Le Mélézin has introduced new gourmet and dining options complementing the surrounding fairytale snowscapes. After a magnificent time on the slopes, unwind in the cosy Library or the oak-panelled Salon next to a roaring log fire while enjoying goûter and an exclusive cocktail from a menu curated by the new resident mixologist. Meaning ‘to taste’, goûter is a traditional French refreshment enjoyed mid-afternoon, including sweet waffles and crêpes. New this season, enjoy a celebration with the new Fireside Delights. Hosted on the expansive outdoor terrace with scenic views over the ski piste, the new experience offers groups of all sizes the chance to unwind, with a selection of fresh fruits and marshmallows for toasting on an open fire and dipping into homemade melted chocolate – the perfect sweet treat after a day on the slopes.

Aman’s signature Japanese restaurant, Nama, celebrates the Japanese washoku dining tradition with authentic, uncomplicated and elegant dishes that champion the world’s finest produce. Introducing a new fine-dining concept, the restaurant’s new Omakase experience invites guests to enjoy a multicourse menu of fresh sushi and sashimi such as Wagyu Tataki and Grilled Salmon Shake chosen by the chef. Translating to ‘I leave it up to you’, Omakase is the Japanese tradition of entrusting your order to the chef, giving them full creative freedom over your meal which is base don ingredients sourced that day.

OPTIMISING WELLBEING
A renowned wellness retreat in the Alps, two entire floors of the property are dedicated to wellness. The holistic Aman spa offers a range of therapeutic and restorative treatments to prepare, or recover from, an active day.

This winter season, Aman Le Mélézin’s Spa welcomes Dr. John Sanchez, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner with more than a decade’s worth of experience. Dr. Sanchez will offer a range of TCM treatments and mindful movement classes designed to reset and rejuvenate body and mind. He will also offer multi-day Taoist Medicine Journeys. Treatments range from 60-minute acupuncture, deep tissue massage and reflexology sessions to acu-laser and magnet therapy. Movement classes include Yin Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Dr. Sanchez’s signature Animal Flow. The multi-day Taoist Medicine Journeys focus on either recovery and conditioning or mindfulness and energy balancing and include an initial consultation followed by four personalised sessions prescribed to target both the symptoms and root causes of specific ailments.

Those wishing to focus on their health as they enter 2024 are also well catered for this season. A wholly rejuvenating experience available at Aman Le Mélézin, the Aman Advanced Facial incorporates Aman’s newest skincare collection, Essential Skin, combining effective formulas made in Japan, with exfoliation and manual lifting techniques to stimulate facial muscles, welcoming tighter, brighter skin.

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The treatment begins with ultrasonic scrubbing to loosen and remove oil, dirt, and cellular debris from the pores, supported by the use of microcurrent stimulation and massage to firm, and cryo bulbs to eliminate puffiness and promote a gentle glow. The use of red and blue light therapy follows before the treatment concludes with the application of the Aman Nourishing Gold Algae Face Mask to achieve an exceptional glow. The facial can be extended to 90-minutes, incorporating a longer scalp massage, alongside a facial massage and hydra-active Mineral Mask to boost hydration.

New for guests this season, the expansive yoga studio has been enhanced with Aman Yoga Accessories and is complemented by state-of-the-art TRX equipment, 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 sauna.

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.