It is the kind of place where it feels natural to speak in hushed tones, so as not to start an avalanche or, worse yet, call attention to oneself. Approached from a winding mountain road above the village of Courchevel, Le K2 Palace plunges its guests into a world of pleasure and comfort that stand out even in a town where five-star hospitality and Michelin-starred dining are thick on the ground. But more than that, in the middle of the busiest and buzziest ski resort in the French Alps, the K2 Palace offers a few lucky guests perhaps the greatest luxury of all: the chance to be invisible, if only for a while.
The K2 Palace draws inspiration from the Tibetan homeland of K2, the second-highest mountain in the world after Mount Everest. Homages to mountaineering history are all around, from the artifacts in the lobby lounge to the supersized art photographs in the guest corridors. One of just 25 French hotels to win the designation of “palace” from the government, the K2 Palace lives up to its name in the refinement of its guest services, delivered by a team that has been painstakingly trained in the “luxury attitude”–a way of being and working that is personal yet discreet, ever-present but virtually undetectable.
Service is personal yet discreet, ever-present but virtually undetectable.
One of the smaller luxury hotels in Courchevel, with just 30 rooms and suites, the K2 Palace strives constantly to take things to the next level—to provide its guests with something special that they cannot get at home. The soul of the K2 Palace experience is its seven chalets, each built as a private home and now integrated seamlessly into the hotel. The five-bedroom Chalet Muztagh—named for Muztagh Ata, one of the highest mountains in Tibet—stretches over four levels and contains, in addition to its own ski room and spa, an indoor pool with a cinema-sized flat screen for viewing while swimming. Decorated in an eclectic range of styles, the K2 Palace chalets all come with chef’s kitchens and room for staff, as well as their own private ski in/ski out access to the slopes.
All of the K2 Palace’s accommodation is linked to the main building by subterranean corridors so that guests can easily avail themselves of the hotel’s sumptuous pool and spa, private cinema, game rooms for kids of all ages, and a bespoke ski room to equip and outfit sports enthusiasts of all levels. Guests also have priority at the K2 Palace’s restaurants, which are among the most difficult reservations to get in Courchevel. Kintessence has two Michelin stars and an intimate yet relaxed vibe, while Sarkara, also Michelin-starred, serves an innovative cuisine of sweet and savory dishes all based on sugar. After dinner, the Winston Klub, named in honor of Mr. Churchill, offers brandy and cigars with a view of what now feels like your own mountain.