For one night only, guests can stay at a UNESCO World Heritage Site in one of the chicest Airbnb chalets we’ve ever seen.
Open-air, circular mini-dwelling in a French meadow surrounded by 80 volcanoes? Check. A suite of soul-nourishing activities and nature tours hosted by decorated ski mountaineer Kilian Jornet through Airbnb? You bet. $1 booking fee? Ooh-la-la.
No, you did not read that wrong. This September, Jornet will host two guests at the site in the Chaîne des Puys Volcanoes in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
Booking will open on a first-come, first-serve basis at 3 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CEST on July 19 on Airbnb.com. Jornet, partnered with Volvic mineral water, will offer the one-night stay and guest experience on September 18, 2021.
Allow us to show you around.
Airbnb ‘Round House’ Chalet (Not Van Damme Style)
First of all, the digs for Jornet’s stay could not be more backcountry chic if they tried.
The house is a LUMIPOD, a luxurious open-air dwelling designed with the structure of an animal cell in mind. The showcase panoramic window uses curved glass in aluminum frames that slide away to transform the interior space into outdoor space and back again.
The little Airbnb dwelling is pretty complete, too, with a bedroom, shower, toilet, and wardrobe. “Settled in the wild,” the manufacturer described, “it welcomes city dwellers seeking relief from the concrete jungle.”
Regenerative Agenda: Curated Guest Experience
The most atypical Airbnb we’ve ever seen happens to be a reflection of its atypical hosts and their therapeutic guest agenda. The list of activities for the one-night stay reads like a week-long vacation itinerary for acculturated Bohemians. The stay includes:
- A virtual welcome video call from Jornet
- A guided tour from the onsite team to learn about the biodiversity of the Chaîne des Puys area
- A “sumptuous” (their words, not ours) locally sourced dinner for two by local Michelin chef Adrien Descouls
- A private morning yoga session with views of the sunrise over the volcano’s peak
- A volcanic hike designed by Jornet and Volvic’s Global Ambassador
- A hot air balloon ride (weather permitting)
Date night of the century? Definitely. Oh, and the location happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hallowed Ground: World-Renowned Chaîne des Puys Volcanoes
The Chaîne des Puys tectonic area looks epicly cool. UNESCO protected it under the Natural World Heritage designation in 2018, citing its value as “an exceptional illustration of the processes and characteristic features of continental break-up, a fundamental phenomenon in the Earth’s history.”
The region is scenic and dense, with summit chains standing against sunken calderas in inverted relief. According to UNESCO, it’s also impressively preserved — sparsely inhabited, not urbanized, and minimally eroded and quarried.
It also notes that it’s important to “ensure the property is protected against erosion and visitor impact.” Good thing you’re staying with a few experts who can show you around.
Buy the 1€ Ticket, Take the Ride: Booking Jornet’s Airbnb
Booking Kilian Jornet and Volvic’s luxuriant, curated stay in the Chaîne des Puys Volcanoes costs only 1€/$1 (plus booking and cleaning fees).
Learn more by checking out the Airbnb listing, and remember to mash the “Book Now” button as soon as it goes live at 3 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CEST on July 19 — real estate this good never lasts.
Follow award-winning ski mountaineer and endurance runner Kilian Jornet on any of his social media platforms or at his website.
