The Auric Room 1915 at Lone Mountain Ranch.
Beyond the Slopes: Mountain Retreats for Design Obsessives
These otherworldly alpine retreats offer scenic vistas and next-level amenities far beyond ski lifts and seasonal sporting
While Vail or Verbier install another heated chairlift (this one with massage settings, presumably), mountain hospitality far from the usual peaks offer a refreshing departure. At these stunning alpine properties guests can track brown bear migrations in Greece’s Pindus range or study Damascus rose cycles in Oman’s Hajar peaks. In Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, lodges take cues from local botanicals rather than importing Alpine clichés while New Mexico’s mountain retreats forgo antler chandeliers for indigenous craft traditions.
The shift makes sense. These properties understand that for an increasing number of travelers, mountains offer more compelling pursuits than perfecting parallel turns. Some come to track wildlife, others to study high-altitude viticulture. Here, a look inside 12 mountain retreats that offer more than just basecamp to seasonal slopes.
Olinto Atlas Mountain Retreat. Photo: Ebony Siovhan
1. Olinto Atlas Mountain Retreat | Morocco
Prince Fabrizio Ruspoli di Poggio Suasa, who energized Marrakech’s hospitality scene with his hotel-riad La Maison Arabe, introduced some razzle-dazzle to the High Atlas when Olinto opened in 2022. Yes, there’s skiing if you really want it (the Atlas Mountains do have slopes), but this nine-pavilion refuge is more about immersing guests in local botany than racking up vertical feet. Each bears a name drawn from the surrounding flora, while architectural details—zouak doors, geometric mashrabiya screens—reflect regional craft traditions. Be on the lookout for pieces from the prince’s extensive antique collection, which coexist among a slew of contemporary works.
Bald Eagle Cabin. Photo: Courtesy of Lone Mountain Ranch
2. Lone Mountain Ranch | Big Sky, Montana
The trick with updating historic properties is knowing what to keep. When entrepreneurs Jason Liebman and Paul Makarechian revamped this WWI-era homestead, they kept the core: 53 miles of old logging trails, a 120-strong horse program, and the stone fireplaces in 25 heritage cabins. Then they added what had been missing—vinyl turntables with curated record collections, hand-hewn furniture from local artisans, and morning coffee thermoses at your doorstep. Cabins named after Western landmarks like Lodgepole and Chipmunk blend classic ranch DNA with once-unthinkable comforts in such remote terrain. The speakeasy-style Auric Room 1915 ups the sophistication factor with Hermès tableware and Janie Bryant-designed uniforms, while kindly suggesting phones remain out of sight. Truth is, you’ll be too busy exploring—or spinning that obscure Miles Davis pressing—to miss your notifications.
Indira. Photo: Courtesy of Indira
3. Indira | Lebanon
Lebanon’s scenic mountain villages—long a refuge during fractious times—are poised for a tourism renaissance. In Kfour’s hills, Carla Baz has transformed her childhood home into something both familiar and entirely new. The Dubai-based lighting designer approached the project by balancing her parents’ carefully curated collection of Middle Eastern and Asian artifacts, and an understanding of how spaces should work now. Maison Tarazi, a Beirut studio that has outlasted 160 years of regional flux, restored the Damascene panels and ceiling cornices with the kind of precision that comes from generational knowledge. The geography offers options: Beirut’s gallery scene to the west, Mzaar’s ski terrain east. Yet the surrounding Keserwan region itself is no passive backdrop, showcasing Château Musar’s cellar-aged vintages and Beit Chabab’s potters, who still work at wheels their grandfathers once used—both passions that predate Lebanon’s modern borders.
Phinda Mountain Lodge. Photo: Courtesy of andBeyond
4. andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge | South Africa
What began as an experiment in KwaZulu-Natal’s Lebombo foothills has become something of a blueprint. andBeyond’s “Care of the Land, Wildlife and People” philosophy, first tested here, confirms that conservation and considered luxury aren’t mutually exclusive. Twenty-three accommodations—a mix of suites, cottages, and a family unit—spread deliberately across 73,800 acres of wilderness. Each comes with the expected comforts (private plunge pools, valley views) and the less obvious but more telling touches (Swarovski binoculars positioned for wildlife watching). Beyond the expected Big Five sightings, there’s serious science happening here. Guests don’t just observe—they participate in rhino notching programs, help track pangolins through the night, follow cheetahs through remnants of ancient sand forest. Even the elusive suni antelope, rarely seen elsewhere, maintains a presence here.
Bishop's Lodge. Photo: Courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection
5. Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection | New Mexico
Santa Fe’s first archbishop knew something about location. Today, his onetime residence anchors a 317-acre retreat where tradition blends with a welcome dose of modern flair. ROAM Interior Design and architect Nunzio DeSantis have deftly incorporated the local vernacular—think kiva fireplaces and natural adobe textures—without tipping into touristy caricature. Even the 12-bedroom Bunkhouse, which flirts with ranch aesthetics, avoids predictable Western tropes in favor of understated warmth. Meanwhile, former French Vogue editor Nathalie Kent curates the on-site boutique, filling it with custom jewelry and artisan boots that capture Santa Fe’s ongoing evolution from humble artist haven to multifaceted cultural crossroads. And if you need more than Southwestern serenity, Ski Santa Fe’s 89 runs lie just 15 miles away—though once you settle into that leather armchair by the fire, you might decide the slopes can wait.
Resort pool. Photo: Courtesy of Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar
6. Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar | Oman
Perched at 6,500 feet on the Saiq Plateau, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar shows that not all mountain escapes are about wood beams and ski lifts. Springtime in this unlikely microclimate delivers fragrant Damask roses and fruit blossoms amid a dry expanse—an Arabian twist on “Mediterranean.” The 82 rooms, housed in terracotta structures that echo the surrounding cliffs, balance traditional Arabian lattice work with measured luxury. But it’s the programming that gives the place depth, with technical via ferrata routes for the adventurous, and quiet encounters with village life for the curious. The spa does what good spas should, working local ingredients like pomegranate and rosewater into treatments, so nothing feels imported or imposed.
Nayara Alto Atacama. Photo: Courtesy of Nayara Resorts
7. Nayara Alto Atacama | Chile
In the Atacama, where NASA tests Mars rovers, Nayara’s adobe compound enshrines a less-is-more approach. The property learns from its setting: a traditional llama corral, home to six permanent residents, centers the space both physically and philosophically. Botanical artist Veronica Poblete’s indigenous gardens and carefully placed stick sculptures nod to ancient customs without turning them into theater. Six pools, each maintaining its own temperature, orbit the Puri Bar where asados happen without fanfare. The spa’s Scottish bath and wet sauna feel less like luxury additions and more like necessary responses to the desert’s demands. The privilege here lies in the surroundings: Valle de la Luna’s Mars-like terrain, El Tatio’s geysers, and night skies so clear they make astronomers speechless.
Vigilius Mountain Resort. Photo: Tobias Kaser Photography
8. Vigilius Mountain Resort | Italy
Some places seem to naturally disappear into their settings, and Matteo Thun’s 41-room hideaway at 5,000 feet does exactly that. Accessible only by cable car, it showcases the architect’s “eco not ego” creed through clay walls, larch wood, and turf rooftops that blend seamlessly with the Italian Alps. No artwork competes with the Dolomites peeking through floor-to-ceiling windows—nature takes the lead here. Restaurant 1500 and the cozy Stube Ida handle mountain fare with the same minimal flourish, keeping the focus on local flavors. The spa folds South Tyrolean rituals into Far Eastern treatments without forcing a cultural mash-up, and a biomass energy system underpins the resort’s light footprint. There’s skiing in these mountains for those who seek it, but the real pleasures are found in forest bathing and archery sessions—activities that channel a deeper sense of being here rather than just zipping through.
Wildflower Hall. Photo: Courtesy of Oberoi Resort
9. Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort | Shimla, India
Eight miles from Shimla—once the Raj’s summer retreat—Wildflower Hall is one of those rare colonial-era properties that’s tastefully evolved without abandoning its soul. Across 23 acres of pine and cedar forest are the resort’s 85 rooms, where period details (teak floors, hand-knotted rugs) meet considered luxury: marble bathrooms, butlers who understand discretion. The property’s activities underscore its sense of place: Sutlej River rafting guided by locals who know every swirl, rugged mountain biking, and treks that turn spa treatments into necessities. Skiing exists nearby, but this resort offers up a panoply of other ways to experience altitude, ones that may prove far more tempting.
Photo: Courtesy of Grand Forest
10. Grand Forest | Metsovo, Greece
While the masses chase Aegean photoshoots, this 62-suite property in the Pindus range offers a magnetic alternative to a Hellenic holiday: pine forests and black bears. Every space, from the glass-wrapped hydrotherapy pool to the Fontus Spa’s hammam, faces wilderness rather than infinity pools. Even the gym’s treadmills look straight into national parkland. The kitchen at Metsovo 1350m pays similar attention to place: potato gnocchi with foraged mushrooms and black truffle, paired with vintages from Katogi Averoff’s nearby cellars. Winter sees cross-country outings led by Olympic medalists Viola Bauer and Lefteris Fafalis; summer swaps skis for electric bikes and guided foraging capped by chef-prepared picnics. It’s Greece, sure—but for those more thrilled by golden eagles than golden sand.
Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses. Photo: Jake Wilton
11. Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses | Kaikōura, New Zealand
The architect-owners behind Hapuku have grasped something vital: sometimes, the best way to wow travelers is to lift them right into the canopy. Their five treehouse suites, perched among native Kanuka groves, catch the Kaikōura range and Pacific coastline in one sweeping glance. Inside, it’s about balancing necessity (wood-burning fireplaces for those brisk South Island nights) and indulgence (deep soaking tubs, hand-built beds). Tucked into a 500-acre deer farm, the lodge’s dining doesn’t veer far from its surroundings either; there’s venison from the property, locally caught crayfish (remember, Kaikōura translates to “crayfish meal” in Māori), and produce you can trace back to the lodge gardens. A lap pool and hot tub handle any post-whale-watching aches with ease. Your biggest stress? Deciding whether to aim your camera at the whales or the treetop views.
Hotel Rabot. Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Chocolat
12. Hotel Rabot from Hotel Chocolat | St. Lucia
Some brand expansions feel gimmicky, but British chocolatier Hotel Chocolat’s foray into tropical hospitality hints at a deeper purpose. On St. Lucia’s 1745 Rabot Estate—its oldest cacao plantation—25 carefully conceived lodges combine pitched wooden roofs, slatted shutters, and stone walls that ventilate and cool with zero fuss. Net-draped four-poster beds aren’t just decorative; they’re functional in this climate, and they add a welcome dash of romance. The Beauté de Cacao spa cleverly uses cocoa’s antioxidant qualities in treatments, while Project Chocolat shows guests how regenerative farming works, with the on-site restaurant sourcing 95 percent of its ingredients locally. Sure, the Pitons claim star billing, but the behind-the-scenes details—120,000 gallons of rainwater storage, solar power solutions, and a gender-balanced local workforce—are equally worthy of your attention.
Cover: The Auric Room 1915 at Lone Mountain Ranch.
