• April 22, 2025

FAM Report: Alpine luxe at Six Senses Crans-Montana

FAM Report: Alpine luxe at Six Senses Crans-Montana

FAM Report: Alpine luxe at Six Senses Crans-Montana 1024 683 micebook.

Nothing beats breathing in fresh mountain air to rejuvenate body and mind, which is exactly what I needed after an incredibly busy start to the year. So, when I received an invite to experience the Six Senses Crans-Montana from Dan Agüero-Duplá at IHG Hotels & Resorts, there was very little persuasion needed.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know exactly where the hotel was located, but I knew we were flying into Geneva and that it was a ski resort. I was also super excited to experience the luxury Six Senses brand, with its wellness and sustainability ethos, first hand.

I’m not a skier and was recovering from a broken wrist so a little apprehensive at the prospect of the ‘winter activities’ on the agenda. But I was assured that the program would offer something for everyone (including some all-important spa time) and that there were a few other non-skiers in the group of UK agents I would be joining on the trip.

Getting there

Located in the southwest of Switzerland, in the heart of the Alps, Crans-Montana is one of those destinations where you can make the journey part of the event experience. After the short BA flight from Heathrow to Geneva, we hopped on board the train (our first-class tickets were generously sponsored by Crans Montana Tourism Board) for a scenic two-hour journey to Sierre. The route hugs Lake Geneva for much of the journey, affording travellers with dreamy views of snowy mountain peaks in the distance.

Not only are SBB trains incredibly comfortable and reliable, but they also offer a variety of options for event planners to privatise carriages (with several special occasion carriages available) and even entire trains. So, depending on the type of event and time of day, you could easily kick off with a meeting on board, team building, lunch or reception.

On arrival at Sierre, it’s just a short funicular ride up the mountain to Crans-Montana, where we were met and transferred to the hotel.

The Six Senses experience

Reminiscent of a typical Swiss chalet, but with cool, contemporary interiors, Six Senses Crans-Montana is nestled among the pine forests just above the main gondola in Crans and boasts direct ski-in, ski-out access.

As soon as you enter the property, you feel a sense of calm. The spacious rooms and suites (there are 78 in total across two buildings) are as luxe as you’d expect with a mix of natural stone, larch and oak, and full-length windows leading out onto balconies with sofas and views over the spectacular alpine landscape and piste with skiers swooshing past. But it has a homely and cosy feel as opposed to being over the top luxe.

The 2,000-square-meter Six Senses Crans-Montana Spa is something else, and features everything you need to recover after a long day on the slopes, or to just simply relax. There’s a large instagrammable indoor-outdoor pool, an additional rooftop swimming pool, nine treatment rooms, a steam room, a hammam, a hot tub and a cold plunge pool. The Biohack Recovery Lounge meanwhile, utilises innovative technology to optimise the body’s natural healing processes including NormaTec compression boots and Hypervolt percussion massagers.

Our program included an optional early morning pilates class on the first morning (I opted out on account of my wrist), and a mindfulness meditation and sound bath on the second morning, which was a wonderful way to start the day. And we had plenty of time to make the most of the spa facilities later in the afternoons, which was much appreciated.

We also enjoyed an Earth Lab Workshop, where we got to learn about the hotel’s impressive sustainability initiatives while making upcycled candles from used kitchen oil, (big thanks to Pure’s Philippa who did most of the hard work). It was a fun way for the hotel to share how it is making a positive impact, without feeling like you are being lectured.

A few of those initiatives include a sawdust pellet heating system that uses recovered wood waste to produce heat and supporting grassroot projects aimed at increasing and safeguarding biodiversity in flora and fauna and social projects in the region, protecting cultural heritage and upholding local know-how.

Meeting space is in the second, newer building – Chalet 3 – which has 33 rooms and suites, making it perfect for exclusive hire for groups. Les Cabanes provides four versatile spaces that can be configured individually or combined, offering up to 850 square meters of customisable space to meet a range of needs from boardroom to ballroom. On the fourth floor, Rooftop Le Refuge offers breathtaking panoramas from Weisshorn to Mont Blanc and features a state-of-the-art light and sound system making it ideal for parties of up to 200.

We dined at both restaurants during our stay, which were delicious. Wild Cabin is a light-filled all-day brasserie that focuses on responsibly sourced local produce – the Croque Monsieur I had for lunch was epic and our evening dinner there featured super fresh salad and hearty pasta. Signature restaurant Byakko, named after a mythical white tiger living in the Japanese Alps, is a stylish space with a cool vibe. We feasted on a Japanese-influenced sharing menu including sushi and black cod, accompanied by a DJ playing tunes.

Exploring Crans-Montana

Crans-Montana was originally two separate towns, Crans and Montana, that have merged into one larger resort, though they retain distinct characters and centres on opposite sides of the Etang Grenon lake. The resort is renowned for its panoramic views over a chain of summits that stretches from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc – and 140km of ski slopes with pistes catering to all levels making it a paradise for ski and snowboard fans.

We enjoyed several trips out with Crans-Montana Tourism to explore what the area has to offer meeting and incentive groups, on top of the skiing. Our program included a visit to the congress centre – a flexible space for groups with business on the agenda – plus a tour of the town taking in the ice-skating rink, curling, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, and more.

On the second day, while some of the group skied, the rest of us headed up to the glacier to enjoy the panoramic views. After a fondue lunch, we took part in a teambuilding challenge on the mountain organised by Swiss Mountain Sports, which involved being split into teams and following clues to reach a variety of activities including archery, rescue missions and hunting for avalanche detectors in the snow.

“I was honestly surprised,” says Emma Bason, director of global venue sourcing at American Express Global Business Travel, who was part of the fam group. “What I understood to be a winter ski destination offers so much more to the corporate and leisure traveller. The ski is fantastic and being able to ski-in, ski-out in such a luxury location is special. But Six Crans-Montana is a 365-day destination.

“From your event starting with the stunning and sustainable train transfer alongside Lake Geneva accessed directly from the airport to the vibrant micro-climate town nestled in this beautiful all-season location, it’s more about finding what you can’t do here than what you can. Crans-Montana is small yet wonderful with its magnitude of activities within easy reach – cycling, golf, ski, forest adventure, hiking, skating, paragliding, water sports and more. Crans-Montana “Absolutely” (the destination’s tagline) is a perfectly apt description.”

Verdict

Crans-Montana is picture postcard and it’s hard to put into words how stunning the scenery is – even our photos don’t really do it justice. After three nights at the Six Senses, I felt thoroughly rejuvenated and hugely grateful to our hosts – big thanks to Dan at IHG, Grace, Quentin and the team at Six Senses, and Pierre-Henri at Crans-Montana Tourism.

Here’s what a couple of my other fellow fam-trippers had to say:

Dan Bardgett​​​​, managing director, XSEM:
“Six Senses Crans-Montana is an alpine masterpiece, combining nature, luxury and a sustainable ethos. The journey is effortless—just a scenic train ride from Geneva Airport. Its ski-in, ski-out access places you directly on pristine slopes, while the panoramic mountain views are simply breathtaking.

The hotel’s extensive meeting spaces are perfect for smaller conferences or leadership retreats, blending first class facilities with inspiring scenery. This is possibly one of the finest hotels I’ve experienced—where adventure, tranquillity, and top-tier hospitality delivered an unforgettable stay!”

Zoe Thatcher, head of business development, Your Event Solutions:
“I adored my stay at Six Senses Crans Montana. It’ll be tough to forget the snow-covered peaks and view into the wide valley whilst skiing – a view that I imagine will be just as magical in the summertime. The property itself exceeded expectations, I know many of us have that bucket list dream of staying at a Six Senses property and this one felt special; perfectly integrated with nature, celebrating seasonal produce, and thoughtfully designed to engage all the senses.

“Six Senses Crans-Montana showcased excellent service levels as expected, and there was always that extra effort put in that didn’t go unnoticed – a highlight being when the ski shop manager ensured the skis and boots lent to me matched my outfit (without asking). The atmosphere of wellness was unmistakable, and I certainly left feeling rejuvenated.”

And here’s just a few pics from the trip:

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