Let me explain my title…..”Cham” – quite obvious. The locals refer to the alpine summer resort of Chamonix simply as Cham. After all, this sounds a bit cooler doesn’t it? It also refers to the cham-pagne fizzy reception we had whilst at Chalet Couttet.

So, let’s talk about the “Pain” – well, I am not one for heights and so when I discovered what our day would entail, a painful expression inevitably appeared on my otherwise cool and composed face. I would be facing my fears head on and testing my nerve on a Via Ferrata circuit. This is an array of steep ladders and very narrow ledges, accompanied by a metal railing and your common sense whilst simultaneously being roped into one another on the side of a mountain cliff face!

Now for the second installment of “Pain” – yoga. I was a yoga virgin and my perception from the videos that I have seen in the past led me to believe that this was going to be a walk in the park. However, my lack of flexibility and my very recent (uhum) lapse of gym sessions meant that my body was not quite ready for the moves that were about to be performed. Being surrounded by hyper-mobile individuals meant that I had to think on my toes, this led to me needing some hands on instruction, and a sweaty brow which made me rethink the preparation required for my next yoga session.

With this being said let me take you through my time in the luxury Chalet Couttet, a trip that ended up rehabilitating me into a cliff climbing, seafood eating, fear fighting superhero that takes no prisoners! Except in this case, this superhero dons an orange helmet rather than a cape….

The story begins with my second home Chamonix, a resort I hadn’t revisited since spending a winter season here 3 years ago. This naturally had a soft spot in my heart however, I had not expected the 31 degree heat and the buzz that surrounds this luxury alpine resort during the summer months.

Chamonix really is a year round destination having so many facets that make it the perfect location for both a luxury ski holiday but also a summer holiday in the french alps. On arrival to Geneva airport I was greeted by blue skies and a lovely transfer driver from Haute Pursuit who delivered us to our alpine luxury chalet. We pulled down a private driveway located within close proximity to the Aiguille du Midi cable car and the centre of town called the Route Benoít Couttet. Arriving into a secluded and private driveway the luxury summer Chalet Couttet was something to behold! A metal spiral staircase paved the way up to the first level of the chalet with a lower ground entrance that led you into this immense chalet with all the features you can imagine.

The first thing that I noticed on arrival was the attentive staff who made sure that all of the bags were taken to each of our bedrooms with complete ease, we were then all served a lovely glass of champagne, which, with the sultry heat making me little hot around the collar, I gladly accepted. We were then given the grand tour, and it did not fail to impress. The entrance level plays host to a large games room with a curtained off cinema room, along with this there was a bar area that was presented very neatly and really added to the style of the space we were in. You proceed upstairs and into a large living area that was fantastically put together, the combination of the living area and sophisticated log burner combined with the large sliding doors onto the surrounding terraces created the perfect space for an alpine summer holiday.

All the bedrooms had a theme and were well sized, I was fortunate enough to get the master bedroom and the views from the private balcony up towards the summit of Mont Blanc was something that I can only describe as awe-inspiring. The glaciers are so nearby that you can see them hugging the mountain like a negligee all the way down to where they eventually finish. As far as summer chalets in Chamonix go, Chalet Couttet must be considered as one of the flagship properties in resort, hence why it forms part of our Ultimate Luxury Chalets portfolio as the top 100 properties in the Alps.

The outdoor swimming pool area with its poolside sunbeds and seating areas, along with the ample garden space with summer games including Pétanque, created an inviting space that was perfect for enjoying the sweltering heat of Chamonix. Top this off with a couple of hammocks laid neatly by the pool and a hot tub that is so large, it was aptly named the Star Trek Enterprise, and you have the perfect summer alpine retreat.

It must be said that I am available for Pétanque lessons should anyone need an insight into the sport, masterfully reading the gradient of the garden and beating all my counterparts with ease…cough…cough. We spent the day experiencing the pool first hand, hence the “Pool Party” reference in my title, and relaxing in the summer sun…. obviously both of which are a necessity in order to immerse yourself fully into the chalet.

On the first evening we had a smart dinner party where our chef prepared a 6 course Kaiseki Japanese evening. Me not being a massive seafood fan, I was a little nervous of what to expect, but wow it completely changed my perception of Japanese food and I loved each dish. Each course was well thought out and beautifully put together as well as being combined with a delightful wine that complimented the food we were eating.

The next morning we all woke up happily fed from the night before and if not a little groggy, to a breakfast menu that had a wide selection of choices. Myself and a few members of the group went for a hot breakfast of fried eggs, toast, beans and bacon that set us up for what was about to happen….

We were told that it was a surprise, however my heart started to race and drop into my pants when we had collected crampons and ice axes the day before. Being guided by two fantastic, knowledgeable and friendly local guides we made our way down a few hundred metres of rock face, traversing steep ledges and climbing down vertical ladders. The comment of the day came from the guide who said to a member of our group mid descent that her “God won’t save you now”….a harsh reality, yet still very funny. I had a couple of moments where I needed to compose myself, however once we all got down we were proud of what we had achieved and this experience is definitely one that you should try during your luxury summer alpine holiday in the Alps.

That evening we were treated to a beautiful poolside BBQ by the staff at Chalet Couttet and the food again was delicious, not to mention the surroundings of the glistening swimming pool and mountain peaks that towered over us.

The next morning we headed up the Aiguille du Midi, the steepest vertical ascent in Europe rising from 1,034 metres up to 3,842 metres. The views of the peak of Mont Blanc were exceptional and the surrounding glaciers that just seemed to go on forever, I can’t recommend this enough if you are in visiting Chamonix in the summer. The multitude of terraces as well as the glass box feature located at the top of the Aiguille du Midi was something that must be on everyone’s luxury alpine summer holiday bucket list.

If the above sounds so tempting that you would be interested to book a stay in the luxury Chalet Couttet for the remaining weeks during the summer, then get in touch!

The remaining summer availability is from the 29th July – 13th August and then from the 23rd August. This summer alpine paradise is available from € 10,000 EUR on a self-catered basis and from € 16,500 EUR fully serviced.

 

I would like to thank the management team of Chalet Couttet for being so hospitable during our stay, and providing us with an incredible experience at this luxury summer chalet.

As always keep in touch with all our social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If you have any questions or want to make an enquiry then please get in touch by sending us an email or give us a call on +44 (0) 1202 203 659.

We look forward to hearing from you and booking your next summer alpine holiday.

The Alps In Luxury Team