Heavenly Heights
- TEXT ANDREA FREUND
There’s something magical about mountains; they take us higher. No need to climb to experience the elation – just check in to one of our eight mountain hotels.
1
hoshinoya Fuji, Japan
This luxury camping resort is nestled into aromatic pinewoods above Kawaguchi Lake, 110 kilometers west of Tokyo. Each of the 40 cube-shaped pile cabins boasts floor-length windows, its own private terrace, minimalist Asian design, and a clear view across to Mount Fuji. The perfect day begins with a canoe trip and ends with sake by the campfire.
2
das kranzbach, deutschland
Spa on the slopes. In 1913, an eccentric English aristocrat chose a solitary spot for his country house in the Bavarian Alps. A hotel today, it has 3600 square meters of spa facilities, a cross-country ski trail, steaming outdoor pools in winter, and separees with a sunshade and two recliners cut into the long summer grass.
3
TAINARON BLUE RETREAT, griechenland
This restored stone tower atop a cliff in the karst landscape of the South Peloponnese in Greece offers guests a cozy experience: It has just three rooms, an infinity pool and a chef who’s a dab hand at preparing local fish dishes. Added attractions are the sounds of the sea and at night, a starry sky that once showed pirates the way here.
4
amangiri, utah
Through the picture windows, you look out onto a high plateau in the middle of the desert in the American southwest. The Grand Canyon is just an outing away. This luxury resort gives you a grandiose feeling of being very small.
5
San Luis, Südtirol
Tree houses perched in the fir trees and larches around the natural bathing lake make comfortable nests. But it’s worth leaving them to sample the excellwent regional fare cooked up by Michelin-star chef Arturo Spicocchi using homegrown old vegetable varieties. Everything tastes like it used to – just better.
6
3100 kulmhotel gornergrat, schweiz
A bivouac is the only way to sleep higher up! The Gornergratbahn electric railway takes you up 3089 meters from Zermatt, but the last 11 meters of elevation are made on foot. All 22 rooms are fragrant with Swiss stone pine, and there’s a library.
7
explora patagonia Hotel, chile
The end of the world smells of scrub grass, cool wind and horse: A ride is obligatory if you can bear to tear yourself away from this spectacular lodge on Lake Pehoé. The jetty is great for selfies, but don’t dive off it – the water is just 15° C. Luckily, there are hot tubs right on the shore.
8
COPPERHILL MOUNTAIN LODGE, Schweden
Copper gleams on the walls inside this mountain resort, while outside on the extensive ski runs of Åre, the snow sparkles through early May. Execute a glorious finish after swishing into the final curve and immerse yourself in the luxurious hot springs at the spa.
Hotels and their mountains
1 HOSHINOYA FUJI
Fujiyama, Japan’s highest peak
2 DAS KRANZBACH
Zugspitze and Wetterstein
3 TAINARON BLUE
Foothills of the Taygetos range
4 AMANGIRI
Mesas on the Colorado plateau
5 SAN LUIS
Ortler, Sarntaler Alpen and Timmelsjoch
6 3100 KULMHOTEL GORNERGRAT
29 four-thousanders, including the Matterhorn
7 EXPLORA PATAGONIA
Rugged peaks in the Cordillera del Paine mountains
8 COPPERHILL LODGE
Crest of the Scandes range