Up, Up and Away: Gstaad Palace

If it has always been your dream to fly over the Swiss Alps in a helicopter and circle the Matterhorn while sipping champagne, rest assured, you can. Gstaad Palace will make it happen, with a brand-new package that also includes lunch at 9,842 feet above sea level. And just in case you think you may be missing out on something, the helicopter will also fly you over the Saanenland’s five valleys, the Diableret’s glacier and the Wildhorn.
For those who prefer more earthly delights, the luxurious Gstaad Palace, family-owned and operated for three generations, offers incomparable ski trails, a stellar spa, five restaurants and a new executive chef, Franz W. Faeh, who spent 16 years in Asia, where, in Bangkok, he cooked for the Thai Royal Family, before returning to Gstaad where he was raised.
There is something profoundly peaceful about these breathtaking mountains, which can be seen from anywhere in The Palace. The Spa features eight luxurious treatment rooms, an outdoor (and indoor) pool and Jacuzzi, hammam, sauna, steam room, solarium, relaxation lounge and fitness center. The signature Jardin des Monts Energizing Massage, featuring an eponymous local line made with fresh-picked local herbs and flowers (edelweiss), is simply lovely.
If you would like to venture forth for a meal, The Palace can arrange a horse and carriage ride to a local restaurant in the mountains featuring Swiss specialties, or you can walk down hill into Gstaad village. But The Palace is a place that—aside from a quick walk to town, a turn on the slopes or a helicopter to the heavens—you will never want to leave.