Luxury holidays in Le Miroir
Crenellated mountains form the backdrop of a stay in chic-yet-discreet Le Miroir, an Alpine enclave in the Tarentaise Valley, which – despite not have a single slope – is earning a reputation as a high-end ski destination. Those who venture to this quiet corner of eastern France trade ski-in/ski-out accessibility for authenticity and all-encompassing luxury at Chalet Pelerin, knowing that the Savoie resorts of Sainte-Foy and La Rosière are nearby, and the larger runs of Tignes and Val d’Isère are within reach. Indeed, there are seven world-class resorts within a 30-minute radius, plus the chance for powder-heads and peak-baggers to heli-ski in pursuit of off-piste terrain through the glaciated runs of the Valgrisenche Valley, on the Italian border. One of the Alps’ best restaurants is also on the doorstep at Chez Mérie, with local fire-grilled lamb and gratin dauphinois served alongside mountain views, pelt throws and crackling fires.
When to go
The French ski season spans from late November to late April, depending on snowfall. The intervening months of spring and summer bring the chance to go hiking, rafting and road cycling amid lush Alpine meadows, ideally from April to August.