Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is France's most geographically dramatic region, combining the ancient volcanic landscapes of the Massif Central with the highest peaks in the Alps. Lyon, its capital, is consistently ranked among the world's great food cities and is the birthplace of cinema. The region spans skiing at Chamonix and the Trois Vallées, lakeside beauty at Annecy, Roman heritage in Lyon, the volcanic chains of the Auvergne, and one of Europe's finest hiking networks.
Luxury hotels
Five-star and palace properties.
Le K2 Altitude
Le K2 Altitude occupies a prime piste-side position at the top of Courchevel 1850, the most prestigious address in the Trois Vallées ski domain. Interiors draw on Himalayan and Tibetan craftsmanship, with hand-carved woodwork, Tibetan rugs and a collection of Asian art. The Six Senses spa and the Michelin-starred K2 restaurant make this an alpine destination in its own right beyond the skiing.
Hameau Albert 1er
The Hameau Albert 1er is a family-run estate that has held two Michelin stars at its restaurant La Maison Carrier for more than two decades. The property comprises a main chalet hotel and three self-contained farmhouse suites set in a landscaped garden below the Aiguille du Midi. Macha Mexio's cooking fuses Savoyard alpine tradition with contemporary French technique.
Palace de Menthon (Les Bains de Menthon)
The Palace de Menthon stands directly on the southern shore of Lac d'Annecy, Europe's cleanest lake, with views across the water to the Aravis mountains and Mont Blanc beyond. The neo-gothic château dates from 1908 and underwent extensive restoration to reopen as Les Bains de Menthon. The lakeside spa uses local alpine plant extracts, and the private beach gives guests direct access to the glacier-fed lake.
InterContinental Lyon – Hôtel Dieu
The InterContinental Lyon occupies the Grand Hôtel-Dieu, an 18th-century hospital on the right bank of the Rhône whose conversion was one of Lyon's most ambitious architectural projects of the past century. Mansart's baroque dome, the cloister gardens and the original apothecary room are all preserved. The 144 rooms and suites blend heritage stonework with contemporary fittings, and the rooftop terrace above the Rhône is among the most impressive in the city.
Hôtel Radio
Hôtel Radio is one of France's finest surviving examples of 1930s art deco hospitality architecture, built by the engineer César Alavoine and named for the radio transmitter mast that once stood adjacent. Chef Alexis Bouillet holds one Michelin star in the dining room, which retains its original curved glass walls, geometric ironwork and terrazzo floors. The terrace faces the chain of extinct volcanoes known as the Chaîne des Puys, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape since 2018.
Fine dining
Michelin-starred and chef-driven restaurants.
Paul Bocuse / Auberge du Pont de Collonges
The Auberge du Pont de Collonges, founded by Paul Bocuse in 1959 and now led by his successors, held three Michelin stars for more than fifty consecutive years — one of the longest runs in the guide's history. The restaurant preserves Bocuse's legendary dishes including the VGE truffle soup (created for President Giscard d'Estaing in 1975) and the sea bass en croûte. The trompe-l'oeil murals and gilt interiors are deliberately unchanged from their 1970s peak.
Pic
Chef Anne-Sophie Pic became France's first female chef to hold three Michelin stars when she regained the family restaurant's third star in 2007. Her cooking at Pic in Valence is characterised by precise extraction of flavour, unexpected aromatic pairings and exceptional use of citrus. The wine list draws heavily on the northern Rhône, with extensive cellared vintages of Hermitage and Condrieu from the surrounding appellations.
Régis & Jacques Marcon
Régis Marcon and his son Jacques run one of France's most remote three-Michelin-star restaurants from the village of Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, perched at 1,150 metres in the Haute-Loire volcanic highlands. Wild mushrooms — particularly ceps harvested from the surrounding forests — are the leitmotif of the kitchen. The restaurant also operates a hotel and a second, more informal dining room.
Mère Brazier
La Mère Brazier was founded in 1921 by Eugénie Brazier, the first woman to hold six Michelin stars simultaneously (three for the Lyon restaurant, three for her country house at Col de la Luère). Chef Mathieu Viannay restored the restaurant to two stars after a decade of decline, combining the historical menu — including the original poularde demi-deuil (truffled chicken) — with his own contemporary interpretations of Lyonnais bouchon cooking.
Exclusive experiences
Bespoke and once-in-a-lifetime activities.
Vallée Blanche Guided Glacier Ski Descent
The Vallée Blanche is a 24-kilometre off-piste descent from the Aiguille du Midi (3,842 m) down the Mer de Glace glacier to Chamonix village. The route crosses crevassed glacier terrain that requires a qualified mountain guide; groups are roped together on the glaciated sections. The descent takes three to five hours depending on snow conditions and group pace, passing seracs, ice arches and panoramic views across the Mont Blanc massif into Italy.
Helicopter Flight over Mont Blanc
A 30-minute scenic helicopter circuit from Chamonix sweeps over the Bossons and Taconnaz glaciers, crests the Mont Blanc summit at 4,808 metres and circles the Italian and Swiss flanks before returning to the Chamonix valley. Pilots provide commentary on the major summits and glaciers visible during the circuit. Flights operate year-round weather permitting.
Private Wine Tasting at Château Moulin-à-Vent
Moulin-à-Vent is widely considered the most structured and age-worthy of the ten Beaujolais crus. A private cellar tour at Château Moulin-à-Vent covers the estate's history, viticulture on the manganese-rich granite soils, the winemaking process and a guided tasting of five to eight vintages including library wines not available for retail sale. Groups of up to twelve are hosted by the estate's own sommelier.
Private Boat Excursion on Lac d'Annecy
A full-day private boat charter on Lac d'Annecy allows access to the secluded southern coves around Duingt castle, the Bout du Lac nature reserve and the clear swimming spots off the eastern shore near Talloires. A skipper navigates the route and can arrange picnic provisioning through local caterers. The lake water temperature reaches 24°C in July and August, making swimming from the boat particularly pleasant.
Cooking Class at a Lyonnais Bouchon
A private cooking session at a certified Lyonnais bouchon such as Bouchon des Filles in the 1st arrondissement covers the preparation of classic dishes including quenelles de brochet, tablier de sapeur and praline tart. The class is conducted in the working kitchen under the direction of the head chef, typically running from morning market visit at Les Halles Paul Bocuse through lunch service where participants eat what they have prepared.
Hot Air Balloon over the Beaujolais Vineyards
France Montgolfières operates dawn and late-afternoon balloon flights over the Beaujolais wine country, launching from fields in the Haut-Beaujolais between Villefranche-sur-Saône and Mâcon. Flights drift at between 300 and 1,500 metres altitude depending on thermal conditions, covering approximately 15–30 kilometres over the vine-striped hillsides, Romanesque village churches and the Saône plain. A traditional champagne toast follows landing.
Spas & wellness
World-class spa retreats and treatments.
Les Bains de Menthon Spa
The spa at the Palace de Menthon occupies a contemporary pavilion at the water's edge of Lac d'Annecy. Treatments draw on alpine botanical extracts including edelweiss, arnica and Savoyard honey. The indoor pool overlooks the lake through floor-to-ceiling glazing, and an outdoor heated terrace extends to the private beach in summer. Signature treatments include an alpine mineral body wrap and a glacier water hydrotherapy circuit.
Six Senses Spa at Le K2 Altitude
The Six Senses Spa at Le K2 Altitude is one of the highest-altitude Six Senses outposts in Europe, situated at 1,850 metres in the Trois Vallées ski domain. The Tibetan-influenced interior features hand-carved stone basins, dark timber and warm amber lighting. Après-ski recovery is the primary focus, with ice baths, infra-red saunas, altitude-adapted massage techniques and the brand's signature biohacking assessments available.
Les Thermes de Châtel
The thermal spa complex at Thonon-les-Bains harnesses the sulphated bicarbonate springs that rise from the Chablais limestone beneath Lake Geneva. The waters are recognised for their therapeutic effects on digestive and renal conditions. The modern bathing complex includes indoor and outdoor thermal pools, a range of water-jet treatments and a dermatology clinic supervised by on-site physicians. The setting on the southern shore of Lake Geneva, with views to the Swiss Alps, adds a dramatic scenic dimension.
Espace Thermal Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains is the largest thermal spa town in France, drawing on calcium and sulfur springs that have attracted visitors since Roman times — the Emperor Augustus is said to have taken the waters here. The modern Thermes d'Aix-les-Bains facility adjoins the Belle Époque Casino and the lakeside promenade of Lac du Bourget, France's largest natural lake. The spa specialises in rheumatology and ear-nose-throat treatments, with a dedicated leisure thermal circuit open to non-medical visitors.
Luxury transport
Travel in style.