The Gate Lounge
… because the wait is over!
The Wish List
Some places live in our imagination long before we ever get there – and for many of us, that’s exactly where they’ll stay. ‘The Wish List’ is for those dream-worthy destinations where indulgence knows no limits … with coordinates so exclusive that even your GPS gives up! Impossible? Maybe. Irresistible? Always. It’s pure escapism – and we’re entirely here for it!
The exterior view of the Cabane Tortin. Image supplied.
Cabane Tortin – Europe’s highest private-use mountain retreat
High above Verbier’s 4 Vallées, the experiences at Cabane Tortin – Europe’s highest private-use mountain retreat – blend adventure, gastronomy, and rare seclusion at 3,000 metres (9,800 feet). Having redefined one of Switzerland’s most enduring traditions with exceptional luxury and a deep respect for the environment, Cabane Tortin offers mountaintop saunas, glacier sundowners, and immersive encounters with local cheesemakers, further elevating what it means to experience the Alps in style.
Accessible only by gondola, skis, or snowmobile, the exclusive-use property offers a rare sense of seclusion. Set amid sweeping glaciers and star-filled skies unspoiled by artificial light, Cabane Tortin blends architectural restraint with natural grandeur. Designed by award-winning architect Snorre Stinessen, the retreat operates entirely off-grid, drawing spring water from the mountain, harnessing solar energy, and utilising locally sourced stone and timber to harmonise with its alpine surroundings.
Inside, the cabane is defined by understated elegance, featuring panoramic living spaces, a walnut-clad sauna, and bespoke detailing throughout. Guests are attended to by a private chef, concierge, and IFMGA-certified mountain guides who curate each day from dawn’s first tracks to private evening descents. A 1:4 guide-to-guest ratio ensures your safety and exclusivity across the 4 Vallées’ extensive terrain. They will organise private ski instruction as well as heli-skiing, husky-dog sledding, tandem paraglider flights, snowshoeing, ski-touring, private evening and night skiing, and everything in-between to ensure your stay is lasting and memorable.
“A 1:4 guide-to-guest ratio ensures safety and exclusivity across the 4 Vallées’ extensive terrain. They will organise private ski instruction as well as heli-skiing, husky-dog sledding, tandem paraglider flights, snowshoeing, ski-touring, private evening and night skiing, and everything in-between to ensure your stay is lasting and memorable”.
At this altitude, dining takes on a ceremonial rhythm prepared by the cabane’s resident chef, highlighting the region’s seasonal ingredients and classic Swiss flavours. Mornings begin with generous breakfasts before a day of guided exploration across the surrounding glaciers and valleys. Evenings unfold with cocktails and canapés, followed by a five-course dinner that serves as the day’s quiet crescendo. Quintessential Swiss dishes such as fondue, artisan chocolate, and carefully selected local wines, anchor each meal in the region’s culinary heritage.
Left: The view from the Cabane Tortin’s dining room; and one of the Cabane Tortin’s bedrooms. Images supplied.
In the Alps, most private accommodations are described as chalets (large, village-based houses with luxury services). A cabane, by contrast, is rooted in the mountain hut tradition – perched high above the resorts, surrounded only by peaks and slopes, and designed as a retreat deep in the alpine landscape. Cabane Tortin blends these two worlds. Architecturally and in comfort, it offers the standard of a luxury chalet. But in spirit and location, it is a true cabane – off-grid, ski-in/ski-out at 3,000 metres and entirely immersed in nature. This distinction gives guests the intimacy of a private chalet and the authenticity of a mountain hut, in one experience found nowhere else in the Alps.
This feature includes information provided by international news agencies and public relations representatives, published here with editorial oversight. You can read The Solo Traveller Group’s editorial policy regarding external sources here.