Le Chalet d’en Hô is a 3-star alpine retreat in the Clarée Valley (Hautes-Alpes) that proves a ski hotel can be both charming and gentle on the environment. Perched at 1,600m in the hamlet of Névache, this wooden chalet with just 14 rooms feels like a friend’s large mountain home – warm, intimate, and surrounded by spectacular peaks. What sets it apart is the owners’ deep commitment to sustainability. The hotel proudly holds both the European Ecolabel and Green Key, and they translate those standards into daily practice. Waste is diligently sorted – they compost organic waste (you’ll notice a thriving vegetable patch out back enriched by kitchen compost) and have eliminated disposables like plastic straws, cups, and single-portion packages. Rooms are outfitted with locally crafted wood furniture and cozy duvets; instead of daily towel changes, they only replace linens every other day to save water. Biodegradable cleaning products (including good old white vinegar) keep things fresh without harming the watershed. Even the spa’s hot tub is filled with collected rainwater and heated efficiently. The chalet is powered by green energy from a renewable provider and fully lit by LED bulbs. In winter, a high-efficiency wood-pellet furnace keeps guests toasty. Cuisine at Le Chalet d’en Hô is hearty and local: the restaurant’s menus feature Alpine farm cheeses, free-range meats from nearby valleys, and organic veggies. Each morning’s breakfast includes homemade jams, mountain honey, and fresh bread delivered from the village bakery. The chef, Eddy, infuses creativity into traditional mountain recipes, and can accommodate vegetarians easily – part of their ethos of caring for guests and planet alike. Between ski or hiking adventures, guests unwind in the small spa area with a sauna and outdoor wood-fired hot tub overlooking pine forests. The trio of hosts – Agnès, Didier, and Valérie – are former city-dwellers who “gave it all up” over 20 years ago to live their mountain dream. Their passion for the land is infectious: they’ll happily guide you to secret trails, organize wildlife-spotting walks, or simply chat by the fireplace about local history. They’ve created a place where “everything is eco and well thought out” yet incredibly cozy. There’s no pretension here: evenings often find guests of all ages in the lounge playing board games or swapping trail stories by oil lamp. Le Chalet d’en Hô exemplifies “barefoot luxury” – unpretentious, sustainable comfort where the alpine air feels a little fresher and the stars shine a little brighter thanks to the care taken to preserve this pristine valley.