Iconic
Aspen Mountain base
The Little Nell
Aspen's only Forbes Five-Star, Five-Diamond hotel and the sole ski-in/ski-out property at the base of Aspen Mountain, a Relais & Chateaux icon since 1989.
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For two
A honeymoon for every season.
The rare mountain town that turns romantic in either season, deep powder and firelight in winter, golden meadows and long light in summer.
Design This TripSettle into a suite at The Little Nell or the historic Hotel Jerome, book a couples ritual at the RAKxa or Little Nell spa, and reserve the Michelin-starred tasting at Bosq for the milestone dinner.
In summer, drive Independence Pass at golden hour and picnic above the Maroon Bells, then drift over the valley on a sunrise hot-air balloon flight.
Save one night for the snow.
Winter couples can ski quiet morning corduroy, warm up by the Jerome fireplace, and end with a sleigh ride to Pine Creek Cookhouse under the stars. We time the whole arc to the season you choose.
What’s inside
- A suite at The Little Nell or Hotel Jerome
- A couples ritual at RAKxa or the Little Nell spa
- The Michelin-starred tasting menu at Bosq
- Independence Pass at golden hour, or a sleigh-ride dinner
- A sunrise hot-air balloon over the valley
A sample rhythm
- 01
Arrive and slow down
A private transfer, a spa ritual, a quiet first dinner in town.
- 02
The grand view
Independence Pass and a Maroon Bells picnic, or morning corduroy.
- 03
The milestone night
The chef's tasting at Bosq, or a sleigh ride to Pine Creek.
- 04
Drift and depart
A sunrise balloon flight, then a relaxed final morning.
The Aspenwe’d build in
The pieces that fit this trip.
Where to stay
At the base of the mountain, or the heart of town.
Aspen's finest hotels cluster at the foot of Aspen Mountain and along its historic downtown, each a short walk from the gondola.
Historic landmark
Downtown
Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection
The social heart of Aspen since the 1889 silver boom, a meticulously restored landmark hotel steps from the Aspen Mountain gondola.
Visit official siteGrand luxury
Aspen Mountain base
The St. Regis Aspen Resort
A red-brick grand resort at the foot of Aspen Mountain pairing St. Regis butler service with the destination RAKxa wellness spa.
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Aspen Mountain base
W Aspen
A bold contemporary hotel with the only year-round rooftop pool and bar in town, set right at the base of Aspen Mountain.
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Snowmass Village
The Snowmass (Viceroy Snowmass)
A sleek ski-in/ski-out resort in Snowmass Base Village with a multi-level pool deck and direct access to the largest of the four mountains.
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Downtown
Limelight Hotel Aspen
A relaxed, design-forward hotel a block from the gondola with a buzzing fireplace lounge and live music, owned by Aspen Skiing Company.
Visit official siteWhere to eat
A Michelin star, and decades-deep classics.
Aspen's tables run from the region's only Michelin-starred tasting menu to a French bistro running since 1987 and a backcountry cookhouse reached by sleigh.
Michelin-starred
Downtown
Bosq
Chef Barclay Dodge's intimate, seasonally driven tasting menu is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Aspen and the broader mountain region.
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The Little Nell
Element 47
The Little Nell's flagship dining room, Michelin-recommended and celebrated for a Wine Spectator Grand Award cellar of more than 600 references.
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Downtown
Matsuhisa Aspen
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa's original Colorado kitchen since 1998, serving omakase and signature new-style sushi inside a historic Main Street Victorian.
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Downtown
Cache Cache
A beloved French bistro running since 1987, where locals book ahead for consistent classical cooking and a deep wine list rather than trend-chasing.
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Ashcroft
Pine Creek Cookhouse
A legendary backcountry restaurant 12 miles up Castle Creek, reached by sleigh or ski in winter, serving alpine gourmet game and fish beneath the Elk Mountains.
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Downtown
Prospect at Hotel Jerome
Hotel Jerome's Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant, an elegant all-day room that anchors Aspen's most historic gathering place.
Visit official siteSpa and recovery
Cold plunges, steam caves and ski-in saunas.
Aspen's hotel spas are built for restoring tired legs, from the region's only ski-in/ski-out spa to a sprawling destination sanctuary with rooftop hot tubs.
Ski-in/ski-out
Aspen Mountain base
The Spa at The Little Nell
The region's only ski-in/ski-out spa, recognized by ELLE among the best spas, with treatment suites featuring infrared and halotherapy saunas.
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Aspen Mountain base
RAKxa Wellness Spa at The St. Regis Aspen
A sprawling destination spa with treatment rooms, steam caves, cold plunges and rooftop hot tubs framed by Rocky Mountain views.
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Downtown
Yarrow Spa at Hotel Jerome
Hotel Jerome's intimate spa blending mountain botanicals and locally inspired rituals in a refined historic setting.
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Aspen Mountain base
AWAY Spa at W Aspen
W Aspen's contemporary spa focused on detox, recovery and post-slope restoration with bold, energetic design.
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Snowmass Village
The Spa at Viceroy Snowmass
A ski-in/ski-out spa in Snowmass Base Village with a relaxation lounge, eucalyptus steam and treatments built around restoring legs after a day on the mountain.
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Aspen Mountain base
Remede Spa heritage at the St. Regis
The St. Regis's long-running spa tradition centers on a signature hydrotherapy circuit, mountain-botanical rituals and rooftop soaking under the peaks.
Grand views
The world's longest gondola, and a pass at 12,000 feet.
The biggest scenery comes easily here: a single-stage gondola to an 11,200-foot summit, the Maroon Bells vista, and high-alpine drives over the Continental Divide.
Independence Pass is closed to through traffic in winter, typically opening late May and closing by early November.
World's longest
Aspen Mountain
Silver Queen Gondola
The longest single-stage gondola in the world rises 3,267 vertical feet in about 15 minutes to the 11,200-foot summit and the Sundeck.
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Maroon Creek Valley
Maroon Bells Scenic Area
The reflective Maroon Lake view of the twin Bells is the signature scenic experience of the Rockies, accessed by timed shuttle or parking reservation.
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Highway 82 east
Independence Pass
A seasonal high-alpine drive cresting the Continental Divide at 12,095 feet through wildflower meadows, open only late spring through fall.
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Snowmass Village
Snowmass Elk Camp Gondola
A scenic gondola ride to Snowmass's Elk Camp for high-country views, dining, hiking and the Lost Forest activity area.
Visit official siteGhost-town drive
Castle Creek Valley
Castle Creek Road to Ashcroft
A quiet valley drive past wildflower meadows to the restored Ashcroft ghost town beneath the Elk Mountains, gateway to Pine Creek Cookhouse.
Visit official siteThe signature days
Whitewater, high passes and flight.
Aspen's active days range from rafting the Roaring Fork to a backcountry Jeep climb above 11,000 feet, tandem paragliding and a sunrise hot-air balloon.
Original outfitter
Aspen & Snowmass
Blazing Adventures
Aspen's original whitewater outfitter since 1973, running Roaring Fork rafting trips plus backcountry Jeep tours and hot-air balloon experiences.
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Aspen & Snowmass
Blazing Adventures Jeep Tours
Rugged guided 4x4 tours climb above 11,000 feet on routes like Taylor Pass and Gold Hill for history, geology and panoramic Elk Mountain views.
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Aspen Mountain
Aspen Paragliding
Established in 1990 and among the first schools cleared to launch from a ski resort, offering tandem flights with the highest-rated certified pilots.
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Aspen
Aspen Expeditions Worldwide
Professional IFMGA-trained guides lead rock, alpine and ice climbing across the Elk Mountains and beyond, guiding since 1977.
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Aspen & Snowmass
Above It All Balloon Co.
Year-round sunrise hot-air balloon flights drifting roughly an hour over the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding peaks.
Visit official siteHeritage flights
Aspen & Snowmass
Unicorn Balloon Company
A long-running ballooning operator offering scenic sunrise flights over the Aspen and Snowmass valleys.
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Luxury Honeymoon
Let’s design it around you.
Share what you can already picture. A concierge fills in everything still open and sends back a plan, not a quote.