A new pinnacle of remote lodging for lovers of back-country, freeride skiing has arrived in the Swiss Alps. Cabane Tortin, perched atop the Tortin Glacier at an altitude of 9,500 feet in the canton Valais, will open on 15 December 2024.
An exclusive-use, three-bedroom cabane chalet high above the ski resort town of Verbier in Les 4 Vallées ski area, Cabane Tortin immerses guests in the beauty of the snow-capped mountains with the minimal footprint of an eco-sensitive lodge built on the pre-existing site of a mountain hut. Ski-in ski-out access at the edge of the glacier puts guests in the midst of untracked powder and freeride skiing across expansive, ungroomed terrain and steep, mogul-studded slopes with long, vertical descents.
A dedicated team looks after guests throughout their stay. A personal chef prepares meals and ski picnics, pairing wines from the wine cellar for evening apres-ski gatherings. A local mountain guide designs ski adventures on- or off-piste, according to guests’ skill levels and accompanies them to ensure their safety and wellbeing at all times. The house guardians’ concierge can arrange in-chalet spa treatments and tailor-made itineraries.
Conscious of not inhabiting more land than was absolutely necessary, Architect Snorre Stinessen used the pre-existing foundation of a mountain ski hut to create an energy-efficient, Scandi-design lodge incorporating solar panels, a pellet stove, and water sourced from a natural mountain spring.
The most striking architectural feature is the cantilever design of the windows. Window seats in the open-plan living room direct the gaze straight down the dramatic steep slope of the glacier. Sunsets and panoramic views of the French Alps can be enjoyed from the ceiling-high windows. Three bedrooms, modern bathrooms with luxurious amenities, a living area with log-burning fireplace, open kitchen, upstairs area with double ‘pod’ sleeping rooms and outside deck comprise the guest living space, with staff quarters tucked below.
Cabane Tortin is available for private bookings of up to eight guests (with additional guests at extra cost) for a minimum 3-night-stay. Included are a private chef and three meals daily, house staff, ski equipment, and mountain guide. Prices lead in at US$70,000 for 3 nights, full board.
The website for Cabane Tortin is currently under development at cabanetortin.com/. For booking inquiries, contact office@cabanetortin.com.
