On any given winter afternoon at the Six Senses Crans-Montana in the Swiss Alps, once its guests have packed away their skis, snowboards, and snowshoes, one bar emerges as a buzzing social hub. Unlike other bars that attract a crowd in most mountain towns, however, this one has a chalkboard sign gently reminding visitors to keep the noise level at a respectful whisper. No, it’s not a hip listening bar: it’s a juice bar. And during après-ski hours, this watering hole within the hotel spa becomes a genuine hotspot.
At a Six Senses, a hospitality brand famous for its immersive wellness programing, a day on the mountain isn’t followed by a raucous party where Champagne is sprayed at frightening (and wasteful) frequency. Instead, the more tranquil experience might involve a hatha yoga class, a soothing massage to prepare your body for another day on the slopes, or relaxing by the pool with a steaming cup of ginger tea. At a spa destination, this is expected—but as people are drinking less alcohol and increasingly eschewing heavy partying, the softer side of après-ski is becoming more popular in mountain destinations around the world.
“[We’ve] definitely seen a shift in après-ski. Overall, while our customers still want that social, celebratory vibe, they want it without the late-night party energy,” says Cat Iwanchuk, the vice president of business development at Ski.com, a leading digital booking agency for mountain travel. “More skiers are looking for ways to unwind that feel, well, more mellow, which makes sense as many are worn out after a day of skiing, and if they want to do it again the next day, partying all night isn’t on the menu.”
To meet this surging demand, hotels, resorts, and operators have broadened their offerings so that guests have access to a variety of excursions that go beyond the usual party scene, which—let’s not forget—still exists. In addition to a robust wellness and spa menu, Six Senses Crans-Montana also has Le Club Alpin, a sunny slopeside lounge where you can sip hot chocolate and catch up with friends while watching snowboarders and skiers make their final runs of the day. It’s vibe-y enough that you can have a lively experience and drink Champagne if you want, but it’s still a calm enough setting to read a book and pick at a bowl of fruit.
At Aspen’s historic Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection, après can also look like a very elegant afternoon tea in the newly redesigned Garden Room. Aptly called Après Tea, this mid-day treat is really more about an indulgent slowdown after a day of conquering the mountain. You can have your glass of bubbles (or a mocktail) and caviar—luxury touchstones of an Aspen vacation, but in a setting that reflects this shift in the après culture. (Meaning you don’t need to be screaming at the top of your lungs at Cloud Nine while your designer ski suit is drenched in Veuve to say you’ve après-ed in Aspen.)
Stephane Lacroix, general manager at Hotel Jerome, says Après Tea is a “quieter pause in the day, a chance to slow down and actually connect.” He adds that now that more people are choosing to drink less (or not at all), “après-ski culture is evolving, becoming less about squeezing in one more round and more about sharing space and conversation.” All of which lines up with what Iwanchuk says: This isn’t about giving up the social aspect of the experience, but just redefining how it happens.
Many are also striking out on afternoon adventures instead of hanging back at the hotel or resort. Iwanchuk says that some Ski.com clients have chosen to go raclette rafting in Switzerland, which involves floating down one of the country’s many rivers eating melted cheese with your friends. “It’s much less boisterous than traditional après-ski,” she says, adding that “it’s also a great way to see Switzerland from the water, lights and all.”
According to ski specialist Alli Widman, founder of Avant Ski and a Fora travel agent, some skiers are similarly keen on remaining active after a morning on the mountain. “More travelers are seeking ways to extend their time outdoors beyond skiing,” she says. “But they want to do it in a way that feels restorative, active, and social.” One way they’re accomplishing that? Joining local run clubs. Widman says that running and activewear stores in places like Park City, Jackson, and Snowbasin lead low-key runs as an alternative to heading to the bars.
“Skiers who are already athletic and adventurous naturally gravitate toward these low-key group runs. They provide a social, active way to unwind after a day on the slopes, connect with locals and fellow travelers, and complement ski training,” she says, adding that the group usually wraps things up with healthy drinks and bites afterward.
For other mountain lovers, though, reimaging après requires getting away from it altogether. Iwanchuk notes that she’s currently “fielding a lot of requests from travelers who want a taste of the apres-ski culture and vibe, but don’t want to be right in the middle of it throughout their stay.”
This could mean renting a chalet and taking cooking classes with your group. In Telluride’s Lumiere by Dunton, you can book the In-Penthouse Après-Ski Experience, where a private room allows you and your crew to après as you wish alongside Colorado cold cuts, Alpine canapes, zero-proof beverages, cozy wool slippers, and Polaroid portraits by the roaring fire.
But if fleeing the scene is really what you’re after, then you and yours should have your mountain magic at Cabane Tortin, a three-bedroom exclusive-use chalet located nearly 10,000 feet above sea level (Europe’s highest such concept), soaring over the party town of Verbier. In fact, once the gondolas of the resort shut down around 4 p.m., guests staying on the property remain there until skiing starts back up in the morning. (No heading down to the clubs in town!) But according to its owners, Cabane Tortin, which is only in its second winter, has been fueled by this surging interest in an alternative on-mountain holiday. And during the inaugural season, “we saw an increasing demand for elevated and private culinary experiences and a shift away from excessive apres drinking and large group partying.”
He adds that more than half of their guests for the entire 2024-2025 ski season still wanted to do something that enhanced their evening at Cabane Tortin, and to accommodate, the concierge team developed a litany of post-ski experiences that befits their remote location: a wood-fire mobile sauna overlooking the glacier, a fondue sundowner, and a tasting of some of Switzerland’s rare cheeses.
Is staying in a lonesome Alpine chalet a bit of an extreme choice to avoid a rowdy après-ski bender? Maybe. But it sounds like for many, skiing as a whole is taking on a different vibe entirely.
“Lately, my clients are telling me they want their ski trips to feel like a true reset,” Widman says. “I’m hearing more requests for a real break, time to recharge, and somewhere to relax and recover, and [I’m answering] far fewer questions about the most happening bars or clubs. Even groups who once prioritized the party scene are asking for calmer, wellness-driven alternatives.”