Chalet Beau Caillou

The chalet is only 5km from St Gervais and Les Contamines, so guests will find superb skiing in either direction. In summer, great walks start from your doorstep. You can either start the Tour de Mont Blanc from here,discover the Miage, or follow the chalet's own short trail to the waterfalls of La Gruvaz. On your return to Chalet Beau Caillou, you can cool off in the spectacular outdoor summer pool with views or soak in the stylish stainless steel hot tub after a sauna session.

The garden has an outdoor kitchen with an electric plancha and a Weber gas grill. Additionally you can decide to cook over an open fire in the brasero area with several cosy seating opportunities.

There is parking outside the chalet for several cars. Access to the chalet can be tricky - a 4x4 car is recommended, and in winter you'll need snow chains too. More parking will be provided at the bottom of the hill in winter, for those who prefer to leave their cars and make the five-minute walk up to the chalet. The chalet is not accessible with low sports cars.

About the property ...

This luxury chalet sleeps up to 14 guests (11 adults and three children) in five bedrooms, with five spacious bathrooms. Accommodation is set over three floors, with the main entrance on the first floor.

As you enter, you'll find a toilet on your left, and the ski store, with a heated boot rack, on your right. There's also plenty of room to hang up your outdoor gear. The rest of this floor is devoted to the spacious, open-plan living space.

A central fireplace separates a cosy seating area from the double-height dining area, both of which enjoy great valley and mountain views. On colder evenings, you can curl up in front of the fire or perhaps pull down the cinema screen and watch a film. In the summer, step out on to the large wraparound terrace - there's plenty of room to eat out here, enjoy the views from the hot tub or perhaps enjoy a dip in the pool.

The handmade wooden kitchen, which has two dishwashers and two fridges, is complemented with heavy stone worktops and a matching sink, and a range cooker is set into the island unit. You'll have all the equipment you need to cook for a crowd, and there's room at the dining table to eat together.

There are three bedrooms on the ground floor. Two are double rooms which can be arranged with a kingsize or twin beds. Both of these rooms have en suite shower rooms. The third room, designed for children, has two sets of bunk beds and a further single bed, as well as a walk-in wardrobe. There's a large bathroom across the corridor with a bath, separate shower and twin wash basins. The toilet is separate. There's also a sauna, where you can soothe aching muscles after a day in the mountains.

This floor also has a laundry room with a washing machine and dryer, and the boiler room.

The remaining two bedrooms are on the top floor. The spacious master suite, which has a dressing room as well as an en suite bathroom, also has doors on to the balcony - the ideal spot for morning coffee. Across the landing you'll find the final bedroom, which has three single beds, one of which is raised, with storage underneath. This room has an en suite shower room.

There's also a delightful library on the mezzanine floor which overlooks the dining area - there's a cosy sofa where you can curl up with a book, or perhaps enjoy a game of chess.

Guests wishing to work remotely from Chalet Beau Caillou will appreciate the fast Starlink wifi with boosters on every floor. The bed in one of the double rooms can be pushed back to the wall and replaced with a table, converting it into a home office.

About the area ...

Saint Gervais and Les Contamines, both of which are about 5km from Chalet Beau Caillou, are part of the Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area, which also includes Megeve. A little further on is the Espace Diamant, which comprises Praz-sur-Arly, Bellecombe, Crest-Voland, Flumet, and Saisies. This area played host to the winter Olympics in 1992, so you can expect some first-class snow sports.

Experienced skiers looking for some stunning night skiing should head for the Vallée Blanche. A guide is recommended for this 23km run which, with a 2,000m drop, will take you from the Aiguille du Midi to the Mer de Glace, an almost surreal experience under a full moon.

For a change from the slopes, why not try dog-sledding or snow-shoe walking, which are both available within a short drive of Chalet Beau Caillou. If you're looking for a little more adventure, ice climbing, via ferrata or paragliding should appeal.

In the summer, the mountains become the domain of walkers and cyclists. There's so much to see in this varied landscape - explore the Argentière glacier or perhaps the Baroque footpath, a 20km trail from Combloux to Les Contamines-Montjoie, which takes you past some of the area's finest baroque buildings. Look out for marmots along the way!

But you don't need to go very far from your chalet for some great walks - the nearby Gorges de la Gruvaz is a delightful one-hour riverside walk to an impressive waterfall and great views.

Fancy a swim? Head for Lac de Passy where you can relax in the pure waters fed by mountain streams surrounded by wildflowers and stunning views of Mont Blanc. Take a picnic and relax while the kids enjoy the great play area. There's also a treetop adventure course, pedalos and mini-golf as well as windsurfing, paddle boarding and fishing - it's a great family day out.

And at the end of an exhilarating day, return to soak in the pool or hot tub at Chalet Beau Caillou, enjoy the sunset from the terrace or get together on the cosy sofas and plan your next great day in the Alps.

What next?

If you are already imagining your next Alpine holiday surrounded by nature at Chalet Beau Caillou, check your dates against our availability calendar - we can hold up to two weeks for you for 24 hours, with no obligation. But don't leave it too long. This unique chalet is sure to be popular with guests, all year round.