FRENCH ALPS
From the peaks of Mont Blanc to the legendary slopes of the Three Valleys, the French Alps are home to some of the world’s most iconic mountain destinations. Exceptional ski areas, villages steeped in history, Michelin-starred dining and discreet addresses come together to create a unique way of life, where Alpine elegance meets a wealth of exclusive experiences.
We invite you to discover five must-visit destinations in the French Alps: Courchevel, Megève, Méribel, Val d’Isère and Chamonix. Each has its own identity, heritage and character, yet all share the same promise: experiencing the mountains up close, surrounded by spectacular scenery. In each destination, Sur-Mesure Private Homes has selected a collection of exceptional chalets designed for stays in complete privacy.
In winter, enjoy some of Europe’s finest ski areas, an outstanding culinary scene - from Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional and lively venues - and a wealth of experiences both on and off the slopes.
When the warmer days arrive, the Alps reveal an entirely different side. Panoramic hikes, high-altitude golf, mountain biking, paragliding and village life offer a new way to experience the mountains, combining wide-open spaces with a relaxed pace of life.
Courchevel, the must-visit destination in the Three Valleys
600 km of slopes | 2'740m max. altitude I 4 Villages
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Known worldwide, Courchevel is one of the flagship resorts of the Three Valleys, the world’s largest interconnected ski area, with more than 600 km of slopes. The resort is made up of several villages - Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Moriond (1650), Courchevel Village (1550) and Le Praz (1300) - catering to different types of travellers.
Courchevel 1850 is home to the most exclusive offering: palace hotels, fully serviced chalets, fine-dining and lively restaurants, and boutiques from leading luxury houses such as Dior, Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Moncler. Moriond (1650), with its more relaxed atmosphere, is particularly well suited to families, while Le Praz retains the character of a Savoyard village, with its traditional chalets and Olympic ski jump.
Dining is also a major part of the destination’s appeal, ranging from Michelin-starred restaurants to mountain venues and lively establishments. Among the iconic addresses, Le Chalet de Pierres is a favourite for lunch on the slopes, while La Ferme Saint-Amour and Bagatelle are among Courchevel 1850’s most sought-after venues for festive dinners.
Another distinctive feature of the resort is Courchevel’s legendary altiport, located at an altitude of more than 2’000 metres, allowing private travellers to arrive as close as possible to the slopes and chalets.
Beyond skiing, Courchevel stands out for the breadth of its high-end offering: exceptional spas, luxury boutiques, Michelin-starred and mountain restaurants, lively venues, scenic flights and private mountain experiences. This concentration of outstanding addresses and services, combined with direct access to the Three Valleys, makes it one of the benchmark Alpine destinations for the most exclusive stays.
Val d’Isère, a
legendary high-mountain destination
300 km of slopes | 3’400 m max. altitude | 3 sectors
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Located at the far end of the Tarentaise Valley, at an altitude of 1’850 metres and rising to 3’400 metres, Val d’Isère is renowned for the quality of its skiing and the variety of its slopes. Linked to Tignes, it forms the Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area, offering nearly 300 km of slopes and particularly reliable snow conditions throughout the season. The resort is also a benchmark for competitive skiing, notably thanks to the legendary Face de Bellevarde.
Val d’Isère has the distinction of having developed around an old mountain village, preserving much of its charm and traditional architecture. The centre, arranged around the Saint-Bernard de Menthon church, brings together hotels, chalets, boutiques, restaurants and bars. Set slightly apart, Le Fornet offers a peaceful atmosphere and direct access to the Iseran sector, while La Daille, at the entrance to the resort, provides easy access to the slopes and to Tignes.
After skiing, Val d’Isère remains particularly lively. La Folie Douce, accessible directly from the slopes, is one of the resort’s iconic venues, while the village offers a wide choice of restaurants, bars and après-ski spots. Mountain restaurants, spas, the Aquasportif Centre, paragliding and dog-sledding are among the many other ways to enjoy the mountains.
Méribel, at
the heart of the world’s largest ski area
600 km of slopes | 2’950 m max. altitude | 6 sectors
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At the heart of the Three Valleys, Méribel enjoys a privileged location with easy access to the Courchevel and Les Ménuires-Val Thorens ski areas. With its distinctive architecture combining stone, wood and slate roofs, the resort has retained a remarkably consistent identity and village atmosphere despite the scale of its ski area.
Méribel is made up of several areas, each with its own atmosphere. Méribel Centre, at 1’450 metres, brings together shops, restaurants and après-ski venues, while the Altiport and Belvédère offer a more residential setting. Higher up, Méribel-Mottaret, at 1’750 metres, enjoys direct access to the slopes. Méribel Village appeals for its tranquillity and Savoyard charm, while Les Allues, the historic village lower down the valley, offers a more authentic atmosphere.
The resort is also known for its friendly atmosphere and après-ski scene, particularly around Le Rond-Point, a historic Méribel venue, and La Folie Douce, located on the slopes between Méribel and Courchevel. Mountain restaurants, spas, the ice rink and swimming pool at the Olympic Park, snowshoeing and dog-sledding also provide plenty of alternatives to skiing. It is the quintessential family resort!
Lively in winter, Méribel is equally vibrant in summer, with a wide choice of hiking and mountain-biking trails, an 18-hole golf course near the Altiport, and access to Vanoise National Park.
Megève, the timeless elegance of the Alps
400 km of slopes | 2’350 m max. altitude | 4 sectors
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Created in the 1920s at the initiative of the Rothschild family as a French alternative to the great Swiss resorts, Megève has preserved the soul of an authentic mountain village while becoming one of the most elegant destinations in the French Alps. Its Evasion Mont Blanc ski area extends across Rochebrune, Côte 2000, Mont d’Arbois and Le Jaillet, with slopes largely lined by fir trees and numerous mountain restaurants.
The heart of the resort is centred around its historic village, with pedestrian streets, its church, old farmhouses and traditional chalets. Mont d’Arbois is one of the most sought-after areas for its chalets, ski access and iconic addresses. Rochebrune also offers quick access to the slopes from the centre, while Côte 2000 provides a more discreet and unspoilt setting. La Princesse, a residential area particularly prized for its chalets, offers direct access to the Mont d’Arbois massif. Finally, Le Jaillet, which is more family-oriented, enjoys beautiful views of Mont Blanc.
Megève boasts a particularly extensive culinary scene, from Michelin-starred restaurants to mountain venues and lively establishments. Addresses such as Flocons de Sel, Chef Emmanuel Renaut’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant, and the lively La Ferme Saint-Amour are among the resort’s landmarks. Spas, shopping, horse-drawn carriage rides, scenic flights and private mountain experiences complete the offering.
Easily accessible from Geneva, around an hour’s drive away, Megève is particularly well suited to travellers seeking an upscale Alpine stay where skiing, gastronomy, shopping and village life are equally important.
Chamonix, at the foot of the Mont-Blanc
170 km of slopes | 3’275 m max. altitude | 4 sectors
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At the foot of Mont Blanc, the birthplace of mountaineering and host of the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924, Chamonix is world-renowned for its spectacular scenery and high-mountain skiing. Unlike the Three Valleys, its ski area is not fully interconnected: it is spread across several sectors, including Les Grands Montets, Brévent-Flégère, Balme and Les Houches, offering very different terrain and panoramas.
The centre of Chamonix is lively throughout the year, bringing together hotels, chalets, boutiques, restaurants and bars in an atmosphere that is more cosmopolitan than that of a traditional ski resort. Set slightly apart, Les Praz and Argentière offer a more residential environment, with beautiful chalets and privileged access to the Flégère and Grands Montets sectors respectively. Further south in the valley, Les Houches has a more family-oriented, residential atmosphere, with direct access to its own ski area and beautiful views of the Mont Blanc massif.
Chamonix stands out above all for its high-mountain experiences. The Aiguille du Midi, reached by cable car at an altitude of 3’842 metres, offers exceptional views over the Mont Blanc massif and is the starting point for the famous Vallée Blanche, an iconic off-piste route to be explored with a guide. Scenic helicopter flights, private guides, mountaineering and mountain restaurants round out the offering.
Easily accessible from Geneva, around an hour’s drive away, Chamonix is particularly suited to travellers seeking an upscale Alpine experience focused more on the mountains, adventure and wide-open spaces, while still enjoying a lively town and an extensive choice of restaurants and services.