Last January we headed back to Les Trois Vallées for eight days in the largest ski resort (and one of my favourites places) in the world. We were last there in 2016 and stayed in Val Thorens again, this time at the luxurious Hotel Koh-I Nor.
wearing Sandro Pearl Embellished Peplum Sweater
wearing Sandro Pearl Embellished Peplum Sweater
Koh-I Nor takes its name from the 105.6 carat diamond currently mounted in the Queen's crown - once the largest diamond in the world - and means 'mountain of light' in Persian. At 2,364m, it's the highest 5 star hotel in Europe, perched at the top of Val Thorens with stunning panoramic views of the sparkling snowy mountains. It's a wood, stone and glass lodge-style hotel where rustic meets luxe with 63 chic, cosy rooms with balconies, huge showers (is there anything better than a good hot shower after a day on the slopes?), comfy beds, wood panelled walls, modern chrome furniture and faux fur accessories. Located on the Plein Sud blue run with ski-in/ ski-out access, the warm, clean boot room is the stuff of dreams (definitely the nicest boot room I've used, and these things matter!) with secure lockers and heated boot dryers. Upstairs, there's a sunny terrace (not that we could use it during our whiteout week - same for our balcony), and an open fire in the lounge with live piano, perfect for après-ski drinks.
wearing Gottex Profile Sport Techno Swimsuit from UK Swimwear
Chef Eric Samson oversees three restaurants, and as we booked half board, breakfast and dinner at the very good L'Atelier d'Eric was included in our reservation. The breakfast buffet was excellent with a decent spread of fresh fruit, juices and smoothies, cereals, eggs, local cheese and meats, breads, pastries, and a la carte options. Dinner was good too, with a different set menu with five dishes to choose from each day, a huge wine list and a cosy atmosphere.
our snowed-in balcony
We tried the hotel's fine dining restaurant Le Diamont Noir one night, starting with a glass of champagne - as every meal should - an amuse-bouche and warm, freshly baked bread topped with toasted pumpkin seeds and served with smoked, lightly salted butter. We ordered a bottle of fresh, organic muscadet and opted for the discovery menu with a choice of three dishes per course: I started with variated beetroot served with smoked eel, and Julien went for the marbled duck foie gras cooked in wine and served with a little kumquat jam.
For mains, I had a beautifully-cooked piece of Arctic char served with a lightly spiced, caramelised sauce, bergamot and crunchy carrots, and Julien ordered the baby duck filet, flavoured with coffee and lime (sounds rather odd, but it worked) and Jerusalem artichoke puree. After red fruit and beetroot ice cream for palate cleansers, we shared a modern take on the classic Mont Blanc dessert: blueberry compote and a delicious chestnut ice cream topped with crushed meringue, and a nut tart with frangipane cream, almonds and lemon ice cream. Nothing beats a well-earnt dinner after a full day's skiing, and this one was particularly indulgent.
The beautiful spa features two heated swimming pools, a sauna, jacuzzi, ice fountain, and an illuminated Himalayan salt wall. It's the perfect place to relax before getting ready for dinner. Val Thorens is my favourite resort, and this is my favourite ski hotel I've ever stayed - it won the best ski hotel in France at the 2016 World Snow Awards for good reason - we hope to be back soon.
Hotel 5 étoiles Koh-I Nor, Rue de Gebroulaz, 73440 Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
Hotel 5 étoiles Koh-I Nor, Rue de Gebroulaz, 73440 Saint-Martin-de-Belleville
salt crystals in the spa
