Perched on an Alpine hillside, above the town centre, is where one finds the Six Senses Crans-Montana resort. Anchored into the hillside rocks, this traditional Alpine resort offers serenity with vitality and adventure. Its spa blends high-tech biohacking with high-touch therapies. It has two dining venues, two pools (indoor and outdoor), Alpine gardens and terraces, and a plethora of outdoor activities for the winter and summer.
The town of Crans-Montana, located within the Southern Swiss Canton of Valais, is renowned for its champagne skiing in the winter, adventure sports in the summer, stylish town centre, gourmet restaurants, luxury brand boutiques, and a vibrant social scene. Valais is home to enchanting vineyards, the starting point of the scenic Glacier Express rail line, and where the Matterhorn Mountain, Switserland’s most iconic landmark, towers above its peers.
Six Senses Crans-Montana has 78 guestrooms and suites and a three-bedroom prestige apartment. The resort’s traditional Swiss-chalet architecture, with high ceilings, has been remodelled to offer a contemporary experience and to give an airy feel to the interior space. Large bay windows maximize the connection to the surrounding Alpine views.
Consistent with Six Senses sustainability standards, the locally inspired design uses quartzite stone facades, local larch and oak species, and slate roofs. Wherever possible, recycled and renewable materials have been used, including flooring, millwork, and fabrics. Energy and water conservation play a key role in the overall design.
The rooms have beautifully appointed interiors that blend contemporary style with traditional Alpine influences. Exposed timber and other natural materials are complemented by custom-made furniture and local artwork. The bedrooms, in accordance with the Sleep With Six Senses standard, feature handmade mattresses, cotton bedding that breathes and other fundamentals required for a good night’s sleep.
The bathroom is like a cabin in the woods, with stone-faced walls and subtle decorative glass panels that play on the light shining through. Bespoke furniture completes the experience, with the solid woods and natural fabrics used throughout.
The Terrace Rooms and Suites of the resort enjoy a slope-side position with generously sized balconies. Facing the final turn of the Chetzeron ski trail, these rooms are serenaded with the sounds of a nearby stream and the occasional swoosh of a ski. The resort’s three one-bedroom suites are ideal for a family with a child or for those who like extra space. These units feature a living room with a guest powder room, a master bedroom with king or twin beds, a full ensuite bathroom and sauna, and a large terrace.
Located on the upper floor of the hotel, the Three-Bedroom Terrace Suite comfortably sleeps six. It offers a living room with guest powder room, three ensuite bedrooms with king or twin beds, a private sauna and large sliding doors leading to a slopeside terrace. The elegant décor is designed to maximise the connection with the outside, even after descending the final piste.
The exquisitely appointed Three-Bedroom Prestige Apartment straddles the south and west facades of the fifth floor, offering uninterrupted mountain views. The three king bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, all with their own bathtub, walk-in shower and double doors opening directly out onto the large terrace. Bathed in natural tones and with custom-designed furniture, the apartment has a kitchen equipped with a fridge-freezer, oven, induction hob and dishwasher. Outside there are four further lounge and dining areas accessible from the living area.
Six Senses Crans-Montana has two restaurants, a bar and lounge, and an outside rooftop pool with refreshments and poolside snacks available throughout the day. The resort’s chefs work with local producers and suppliers to source seasonal quality ingredients.
Wild Cabin is the resort’s all-day brasserie that serves Swiss-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner. It has a distinctive atmosphere that draws from the wild landscape surrounding it. Located in the airy centre of the hotel, Wild Cabin is open for early risers heading out for the day. Guests can can also ski in while dining al-fresco on the large piste-side terrace.
Byakko restaurant and bar, named after a mythical white tiger of the Japanese Alps, serves up delicious Japanese-inspired treats such as Robata and Swiss Wagyu entrecote tataki. Ora Bar & Lounge, located on the fifth level, offers a variety of classic cocktails along with the house signatures. Several seasonal bites and snacks are offered to complement the beverage menu. For cigar lovers, the venue has a dedicated area overlooking the slopes.
Six Senses has developed an innovative approach to wellness, led by in-house experts and visiting practitioners, which plays an overarching role at all of the brand’s spas. The Six Senses Spa at Crans-Montana offers a modern take on ancient treatments and therapies adapted for the Alpine surroundings.
A rooftop swimming pool, an Alpine garden, and an open-air cinema are at the centre of the spa complex. The vast indoor pool opens onto a courtyard planted with Birch trees, and the suspended timber ceiling has been designed to lead guests, in one organic movement, from the inside out. From snowy winters to sunny summers, the elements become part of the spa experience.
The spa has nine treatment rooms, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, a yoga studio, steam room, ice fountain, cold plunge pool, Finnish sauna, rock sauna, bio-salt sauna and a serene relaxation area. A separate spa for children and teenagers provides treatments adapted for younger guests.
Guests can concoct their own scrubs, hair shampoo, and more at the spa’s Alchemy Bar, guided by a skilled therapist who will explain the healing properties of each of the ingredients. This is a truly sensory experience, allowing guests to feel the textures and smell the wonderful aromas of the fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients.
At the Biohack Recovery Lounge – featuring equipment by the likes of NormaTec, Hyperice X, and Venom – guests can hack their way to feeling better with fast fixes that use smart tech to optimize the body’s natural processes. The spa also organises seasonal wellness retreat programs.
The region surrounding Crans-Montana is a mountainous wonderland, both in the winter and in the summer, leaving guests of the Six Senses resort spoilt for choice irrespective of the season.
The extensive Crans-Montana ski area has an impressive snowpark, one of the largest in Switzerland. It includes, among several other options, the descent from the 3,000-meter-high Plaine Morte glacier on 140 kilometres of long open slopes, which end up in trails that carve through the forest. The panoramas of the region offer stunning views of the surrounding peaks, from Matterhorn to Mont Blanc.
Many of the winter ski routes double as mountain bike trails in the summer. Other popular summer activities include paragliding, mountaineering, wakeboarding, water skiing and exploring the mountain trails on foot or horseback. A highlight of the summer calendar is the prestigious Omega European Masters golf tournament, which takes place every year in August.
The top golf courses in the area include the 18-hole Severiano Ballesteros, 9-hole Jack Nicklaus and the esteemed Crans-sur-Sierre golf club. The town has a high density of art galleries for a mountain resort. And for music lovers, there is the Crans-Montana Classics concert. This is just one of the many winter and summer cultural events organised throughout the year.
