I went to a US state that's a billionaire's playground - it's Dubai with cowboys

The guide was pretty clear: "Keep both hands on the handlebars. Don't look around. Don't take photos."

However, for reporter Chris Granet, the beauty was impossible to resist.

He said: "It was all too beautiful and I just had to shoot videos of the magnificent alpine landscape surrounding us while freewheeling down from the Maroon Bells, the twin peaks behind the twin towns of Aspen and Snowmass, their snowy caps still clinging to the last vestiges of winter despite it being late June."

This part of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is better known for its skiing and winter activities, yet in summer becomes a playground for those who like to explore the land no longer hidden by white stuff.

Chris travelled from Denver, and after the plane drifted over the snow-dusted peaks, he saw lines of private jets filling the tarmac of the tiny Aspen airport.

He said: "I'd never seen so many. Then again, this is one of the most affluent areas in the US, with up to 125 billionaires owning property. Visitors seem to be mostly rich or "aspirational". Think south of France or Dubai, but with cowboys."

He stayed at the trendy W, positioned in Aspen's heart and near the cable car terminal.

He said: "It was as modern and trendy as the other Ws I've visited, yet smaller in scale - less flash, more cosy. After freshening up, I joined my tour group on the rooftop bar where we quaffed cocktails as the sun set with golden rays kissing Mount Aspen."

After drinks, the group wandered through the leafy streets of Aspen, which once thrived as a mining hub. Now, the opulent town shows little sign of its rugged past.

The 8,000ft altitude can be tricky to navigate, causing Chris to feel a little breathless - but dinner was worth the struggle.

He said: "The atmospheric Steakhouse No. 316 was dimly lit with cool Old West chic decor. My fillet steak was cooked to medium-rare perfection and washed down with a spicy margarita.

"Pesky jetlag ended the frivolities, knocking me out by 11pm, then pinging me awake at 3.30am. At least it meant I was first to breakfast. I had elk sausage and eggs - my first taste of the majestic beasts that still roam the region - strong, smoky, and as tasty as they are handsome. Poor elk."

Their dinner venue, the atmospheric Steakhouse No. 316, was bathed in dim light and adorned with stylish Old West chic decor.

The day's activities included e-biking up the valley through picturesque wetlands (the power-assisted pedalling was a blessing) and a visit to the trendy Aspen Art Museum, home to six galleries of contemporary art.

He said: "All the locals we passed or met that day were ridiculously friendly, giving way to us with wide smiles or happy hellos. Despite Aspen being so upmarket, it had none of the haughtiness you might expect in similar British or European resorts."

Maintaining the Western theme, the group dined at Hotel Jerome, a grand building built in the 19th century to rival London's Savoy. Its bars and restaurants radiated a subdued Wild West charm. However, Chris was uninspired by the seven course tasting menu which he found "sadly lacking" although he deemed the cocktails "excellent".

After dinner, the group strolled to the Wheeler Opera House for an Emmylou Harris concert.

Chris said: "I'd never heard of her, and the 77-year-old, 14 Grammy-winning folk singer put my ignorance to shame as her mesmeric voice resonated around the handsome Victorian-era hall.

The following day after another jet-lagged sleep, Chris and his tour group took a cable car to the summit of Mount Aspen for some open air yoga, then back down the mountain for lunch at Ajax Tavern where the signature truffle fries were "fantastic" but the burgers "quite average".

That evening the group headed to Snowmass, 15 minutes down the valley with a stop in at the rodeo.

Chris said: "But this wasn't just any rodeo, this was the Snowmass Rodeo - with lots of well-Cuban-heeled cowboys and girls sporting Kemo Sabe hats and designer sunglasses. Still, it felt down-to-earth, with perky families and smiles all around. Events were a mix of children's sheep-riding (yes, really), bullock lassoing and barrel-racing, culminating in bull-riding.

"Snowmass Village itself has a different vibe from Aspen. Here, the resort is built around the skiing - and not vice versa - with a network of trails and pistes fanning up the massive Snowmass Mountain."

During summer, the forested slopes transform into a haven for mountain bikers, boasting more than 50 miles of trails. As we ascended the Elk Camp side of the mountain in the gondola, we watched as they hurtled down, carving up trails.

Chris said: "Fun, but we got our thrills from the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster, a roller coaster in the forest where you speed downhill in toboggans, my bum squeaking as loudly as the brakes.

"From the cable-car terminal, there's a chairlift up to the summit of Elk Camp. Sadly, it was cold and rainy up there and the views of the Maroon Bells obscured by cloud."

A quick pizza break energised the group for the descent into Aspen's tree woods above the village.

Snowmass offers a more relaxed nightlife compared to Aspen. Chris enjoyed dining at Aurum, a high-end Mediterranean/American fusion restaurant offering excellent steak and cocktails, as well as Kenichi, a Japanese eatery that served not only the best meal of Chris's trip but also the finest Japanese cuisine he's ever had.

Zane's and The Tavern are favoured pubs - the former being a laid-back sports bar, while the latter is filled with lively young party-goers outshining the raspy old country singer.

Chris said: "Our final morning began with that bike ride down from Maroon Bells. The view of the twin peaks towering over the pristine Maroon Lake was a most spectacular sight. And, mercifully, the ride back to Aspen was downhill all the way.

"After such a breathtaking trip, in both senses, it was a fitting finale."

Book the holiday

• United Airlines flies from Heathrow to Aspen via Denver or Chicago from £908 return during summer. united.com
• Rooms at the W Aspen hotel start at £540 a night during summer. marriott.com
• Condominiums at The Crestwood in Snowmass start at £220 during summer. thecrestwood.com
• More info at aspenchamber.org gosnowmass.com