Le K2 Djola

Though it may not be quite as high up as the mountain from which it borrows its name, Le K2 Djola is set in Courchevel 1850, the topmost village of the Courchevel resort network, and is indeed surrounded by some astonishing peaks — as well as the seemingly limitless pistes of the Trois Vallées ski area. Then again, so are plenty of other hotels, and high-end ones at that, including the slightly larger and more lavish Le K2 Palace — “djola” is in fact Tibetan for “little brother.” What sets the K2 hotels apart from the norm is their personality — heavily influenced, as the name might suggest, by the crafts and culture of Tibet.

At the same time, Le K2 Djola has a bit of an urban vibe as well, a stylish boutique-hotel sheen that is still somewhat rare in mountain hotels. Together with its Himalayan character, this sophisticated stylishness leaves an impression you won’t soon forget. With just 24 rooms, it’s rather on the intimate side for an Alpine ski hotel, and each one is impressively comfortable, as those chilly mountain nights demand. And like its elder sibling, Le K2 Djola places a premium on gastronomy, evident in the impressive breakfast spread and in the elaborate afternoon tea service, featuring beautiful work by pastry chef Sébastien Vauxion.