Exceptional Large Luxury Chamonix Les Houches Chalet, perfect for families

This large and luxurious chalet in Chamonix Les Houches, is the perfect place to escape with your family and friends from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to enjoy peace, privacy, space, fresh air, and breathtaking views. It is nestled in a sunny spot, out of the wind, at the foot of some of the most beautiful hikes in the Chamonix valley and only minutes away from the ski slopes.

The large property is entirely fenced and hedged to provide full privacy and safety. It includes the exceptionally large luxury chalet: a converted farmhouse built in 1777, recently totally renovated to the highest standards with unusually spacious yet cosy volumes, the Owls Cabin: an independent rustic guest chalet, a closed garage, a sauna and a large garden.

Situated on a large plot at the western end of the Chamonix valley, Chalet Peter Pan is considered one of the most beautiful properties in the region. This elegantly restored Savoyarde farmhouse offers breathtaking views of the Mont Blanc massif and a degree of privacy seldom experienced in Alpine resorts. The property sits on the edge of a nature reserve, at the foot of some of the best hiking trails in the region, yet only a few minutes drive from the local ski lifts.

The Main Chalet comfortably sleeps three families or 10+ adults in four double bedrooms and a hayloft dormitory. Further accommodation is available—another seven bedrooms—in a separate guest Annexe. The living spaces are large, but cosy, and incorporate many of the property’s original features.

History

Chalet Peter Pan was originally built by Piedmontais hill farmers between 1775 and 1777. It was a working farm for the best part of the next 200 years, before becoming an auberge in the 1940s.

During World War II, the chalet served as a hostel for a large number of child refugees, evacuated from the large towns. Inspired by the happy stories of the house’s young wartime guests, many of whom returned to visit after the war, the auberge was named Peter Pan after JM Barrie’s character who did not want to grow up.

“Le Peter Pan” continued to be a much-loved local hotel and restaurant until the Bochatay family retired in the late 1990s. The current owner spent much of his own childhood holidaying with his family there. In the early 2000s, the property was sold to a Dutchman and his Belgian wife who lovingly renovated the property over several years.

• Exterior sauna of 15m2 with views of the mountain range. The sauna has a large outdoor summer shower at the back. In winter you simply roll in the snow!
• The delightful smell of the cedar wood of the eco-friendly Norwegian hot tub, the noise of the wood fire heating the water, the warm water surrounding your body up to your neck will surely become one of your highlights during your stay at Peter Pan lodge. As it takes time to fill and heat, the hot tub (7 adults) is only available when a chef and/or butler are present.
• Garage and ski-room of 115m2 with remote controlled operated doors and space for 4 large four wheel drives, separate ski room with boot heater and dryer. The outdoor parking can easily accommodate 6 cars.
• 2 Mazots of 12m2, these tiny chalets are an ideal children's playground!
• Security and privacy is provided by a conifer tree hedge all around the property, which in turn is surrounded by a fence. The private driveway has a remote controlled gate and intercom system.
• Private terrace and private gardens all on 3800 m2 of grounds in front of the Mont Blanc mountain range.

The kitchen will always be the magnet of the house with its bar where everyone from small to old will enjoy watching the cook prepare the dinner on the professional stove while sipping an aperitif or enjoying a glass of wine from a bottle out of the wine cellar. It is an ideal kitchen for having a chef cook for you, as there is enough space for you to watch him or simply keep your privacy in another lounge while he prepares your dinner.

Amateur chefs will enjoy cooking while chatting with their friends and family who without any doubt will be sitting at the bar! The noisy dishwashers, fridges and clatter of pots and pans are hidden away in a separate side kitchen adjacent to the laundry room. Breakfast and lunch are best enjoyed at the large table facing the mountains under the rays of the morning sun.

The century old romantic dining room with its round table, “pêle” ceiling, and warm colours is the ideal setting for a candle lit romantic dinner after having had the appetite wet by watching the cook from the main bar in the kitchen. A digestif or cup of tea in the contemporary yet very comfortable and cosy lounge in front of the roaring fire will certainly complete a great day of skiing in the valley of Chamonix.

• Welcome drinks on arrival
• Delivery of your first groceries
• Flowers, daily newspapers and magazines
• Ski equipment fitting and delivery at the chalet
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Daily continental breakfast
• Daily housekeeping (five hours per day)
• Weekly linen changes 24/7 concierge service during your stay

Wireless Internet, Satellite Television and our DVD library are at your disposal.

• Transfers from/to the airport or train station
• Private chef (not necessary to book for full week)
• 4x4 car with driver
• In-house masseuse
• Spa and beauty treatments (at Les Granges d’en Haut)
• Ski instructor
• Ski guide
• Babysitting and nannying

Spa & health treatments by appointment only a few steps away from the Lodge in a luxurious spa where massages and other treatments are offered.

The valley of Chamonix Mont Blanc in the French Alps is unique both for its spectacular scenery but also for its central location close to Switzerland and Italy, very easy to access by road and vicinity to 5 international airports.

Peter Pan Lodge is under an hour by car from Geneva international airport and the centre of Geneva, 45 minutes from Martigny (Switzerland) and in 20 minutes one reaches Italy through the Mont-Blanc tunnel. The international airports of Turin, Milan, Lyon and Grenoble can be reached in approximately two hours by car.

The valley is famous for the Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, but also for its spectacular cable car up to the Aiguille du Midi which is worth a ride just for the experience of viewing the majestic Mont-Blanc and valley Blanche while enjoying a warm hot chocolate at 3842m high! Constructed in 1955 it was then the highest cable car in the world. It is even possible to travel to Italy via cable car crossing the Mont- Blanc massif.

Chalet Peter Pan is less than an hour’s drive from Geneva airport, while the airports of Milan, Lyon, Turin and Grenoble can all be reached in two to two-and-a-half hours. High-speed trains from Paris and Calais stop at Saint Gervais les Bains—a ten-minute drive from the chalet.

It takes around eight hours to drive the 900km from Calais to Chamonix. All but the last two kilometres are on the autoroute, and the subsequent roads are very good and well signed.

There are over 350 km of marked hiking trails, 7 different ski areas, numerous snow shoeing trails, 40 km of mountain bike trails, rock climbing, rafting, canyoning, paragliding, an 18 hole golf course, helicopter tours, just to name a few possible activities.

Winter Activities

The valley offers many different ski experiences in all 7 ski areas all located in easy driving distance from the chalet.

The closest ski area: les Houches is 5 minutes by car. The very pleasant skiing through tree-lined slopes offers shelter when the wind is blowing or when it is snowing, which allows this area to be open even with high winds. There is a great snow cannon coverage (67 cannons) of the slopes, allowing the runs to be open with little snow while other ski areas are closed. As the slopes are prairies in the summer, in winter even when there is little snow the skis will not be damaged. It boasts the longest ski descent in the area with a 900m drop.

The les Houches ski area is home to the famous Kandahar World cup down hill championships, which takes place every year in January.

Chamonix valley is also a Mecca for freeride and backcountry skiing (on the vallee blanche) but also for ice climbing, glacier walking, mountaineering, heli-skiing and paragliding.

Summer activities

If you are interested in an active and relaxing summer holiday the alps form the perfect scenery and Peter Pan Lodge is the right place to be! Our Lodge is a great place in summer: you will be pleasantly surprised by the coolness of the building during a hot summer day, the many places to relax under the willow, next to the mazots or if you prefer: basking in the sun on the deck chairs on the terrace.

From the chalet there are numerous beautiful walks ranging from a pleasant stroll to a little hamlet frozen in time, built during the same period as Peter Pan, to steep hikes to the col de Voza or the prarion. You can also decide to take the lift up and walk back down to the chalet or vice-versa depending on the mood. The famous “tour du Mont-Blanc” walk can be reached from the backyard.

Whether you like mountain biking or cycling you will enjoy the spectacular rides around. From the chalet there is a very nice ride along a windy mountain road towards a little hamlet called Vaudagne.

List of activities:

• hiking
• golf
• tennis (walking distance)
• mountain biking
• cycling
• mountaineering
• glacier walking
• rafting / canyoning
• paragliding
• helicopter tour /plane tour / hot air balloon
• swimming (there is a lake in the valley nearby, or a swimming pool in Chamonix)