Stay in the sky: high-altitude hotels

WHERE Whare Kea Chalet: Resting on the edge of Mount Aspiring National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island.

ALTITUDE 5,700 feet

THE ASCENT The Chalet can only be reached via a 20-minute helicopter ride, from the Whare Kea Lodge on the banks of Lake Wanaka.

PRICE Depends on the season and the type of trip, but it’s a luxury trip, regardless. Two people can head up for a helicopter tour and lunch for around $1,260 USD, but staying for a summer night in the mountains will set you back a cool $4,150.

WHERE 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat: The highest hotel in the Swiss Alps, near the municipality of Zermatt.

ALTITUDE 10,170 feet

THE ASCENT Zermatt is accessed by train, and then the Gornergrat Bahn, a mountain railway, take you the rest of the way.

PRICE Room rates vary depending on season and view—the Matterhorn is going to cost you—but a double room can be had for around $300 USD.

WHERE Purcell Mountain Lodge: On the slopes of Bald Mountain, in the Canadian Rockies.

ALTITUDE 7,200 feet

THE ASCENT The Lodge is only accessible via a 15-minute helicopter ride from the mountain town of Golden, BC.

PRICE As you can’t exactly pop in and out as you please, basic lodge reservations are for a minimum of three nights and 12 people - at $825 per person.

WHERE Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge: Directly adjacent to the “Lost City of the Incas”, Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 80 kilometres from the city of Cusco.

ALTITUDE 7,710 feet

THE ASCENT As a major tourist destination, Machu Picchu is served by both train and regular bus service, or you could hike up the Inca trail to the ruins of the old city.

PRICE Views like this don’t come cheap. The base rate for two adults is $1,230 USD per night and for an extra $420 you can get the “Vow Renewal Package”, complete with a ceremony with an Andean shaman.
View: Machu Picchu ruins

WHERE Hotel Everest View: Sagarmatha National Park, in eastern Nepal. As the name suggests, it has a clear view to Mount Everest.

ALTITUDE 12,729 feet

THE ASCENT A 50-minute flight from Kathmandu takes you to the hotel's airstrip. From there, it's a one-mile walk that takes about 45 minutes, according to the hotel's website.

PRICE The site doesn't appear to list nightly rates, but one traveler's account said most rooms were between $170-$270 a night.

WHERE Amankora Gangtey: In central Bhutan, a landlocked state at the east end of the Himalayas.

ALTITUDE 9,843 feet

THE ASCENT Gangtey is one of five linked lodges that are all accessible by road. Travellers often visit as part of a circular journey, but to go directly to Gangtey is a six-hour drive from the country’s only airport, in Paro.

PRICE Two-person reservations run $1,550 USD a night before taxes and several additional fees.

WHERE Yeti Mountain Home Kongde: Right in the heart of the Nepalese Himalayas, with views of Mt. Everest.

ALTITUDE 13,944 feet

THE ASCENT Your stay at Kongde is preceded by a healthy six-day, sherpa-guided trek through the Himalayas. Six days of walking can only make the beds more comfortable.

PRICE Once you’re there, a two-person room will set you back around $190 USD a night.

WHERE Explora en Atacama, Hotel de Larache: In the Atacama region of northern Chile, near the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama.

ALTITUDE 8,015 feet

THE ASCENT A two-hour flight from the Chilean capital of Santiago is followed by a one-hour mini-bus to the hotel.

PRICE A minimum three-night stay for two people will set you back $1,360 USD a night, with three meals a day, an open bar and tours of the region included.

WHERE Far View Lodge: Situated in the historical Mesa Verde National Park, in southwest Colorado. The park is renowned for its hundreds of cliff dwellings and over 4,700 archeological sites.

ALTITUDE 8,000 feet

THE ASCENT The park and Lodge are reachable by road, within two hours of four regional airports.

PRICE Standard rooms as well as the upscale Kiva rooms range from around $120 - $180 USD a night.

WHERE Le Refuge du Goûter: On the slopes of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, on the border of France and Italy.

ALTITUDE 12,582 feet

THE ASCENT The refuge is meant for climbers scaling a popular route to the peak of Mont Blanc, so don’t plan an easy-going day trip. (And if you’re reading this before June 2013, you might want to wait until it opens.)

PRICE One bed will run you around $77 USD per night, with additional fees for breakfast or dinner. Which you might want to eat, given that you’re in the midst of climbing the highest mountain in the European Union.