I’m gliding, serpentining down the Praméruel piste, trying to outrun the fast-melting powder. A hushed blanket drapes over the mountains, signalling the end of the season in Courchevel 1850. Almost entirely deserted, save for a few who seem intent on being the last to leave impressions on Les Trois Vallées, the slopes take on a hypnotic quality. My shins are on fire and the inner control freak in me is finding it hard not to fight against gravity and surrender myself to the sloping incline.

My French ski instructor, Javier, guides me along the mountainside’s winding terrain. At this point, it’s hard to believe that two hours ago I was waking up to the tempting smells of freshly-baked, buttery pain au chocolat and blueberry-topped crêpes from my room in a five-ensuite-bedroom, fully serviced apartment at Six Senses Residences.

In pole position within Les Trois Vallées, the Residences are a home away from home and offer a ski concierge service to take you from piste to peace and it’s not long before I’m back at the Six Senses spa, embraced by the citrusy scents of yuzu and rosewood and enjoying a selection of treatments offered. First a holistic massage, followed by a Normatec dynamic compression boots session. (In other words, bliss.) Trusted by trainers around the world, the boots deliver sequential compression to your feet, lower and upper leg to enhance blood flow and lymphatic fluid removal. After a trip to the sauna and outdoor hot tub, I’m ready to enjoy the rest of what Courchevel has to offer.

Namely, the food.

With the largest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in a ski resort, Courchevel is renowned for its culinary prowess. We spend our evening at Le Caveau, an authentic mountain chalet that is all at once cosy, intimate – and immediately cheesy. There is a raclette on every table; melting pots of Savoyard cheese with morel mushrooms, being dipped into with crusty bread and cured meats; creamy tartiflette… all accompanied by more cheese and bresaola.

Offering a welcomed dining alternative, Sumosan enjoys its sixth season at Six Senses Residences Courchevel with a menu full of contemporary Japanese creations. With exclusive dishes only to be found at this location, such as the caviar rice pizza, and sushi torched table-side, the multi award-winning restaurant is sleek with curved leather seating and sumo wall figures (equipped with goggles and ski boots, of course).

The apartments are just as exclusive. Designed by Morpheus & Co, the interior designer behind Monte Carlo’s Club 39 and the Nova Building on the doorstop of Buckingham Palace, the 53 residences combine alpine living with high-end minimalism and ultra-soft furnishings. Adjoined with outdoor terraces and balconies with views of the snow-dusted mountain tops, each residence is drenched with sunlight that is only enhanced by the light colour palette and exposed timbers.

While most spend their time on the slopes, as a complete novice to having two long planks strapped to my feet, I was quite grateful to be resting in what felt like my own private chalet (just with a few more perks).

Six Senses Courchevel