Courchevel ski resort is the most famous and fashionable of the “Three Valleys” resorts. Courchevel in itself is not a single settlement. The zone includes five villages located at different altitudes, three of which bear the same name: Courchevel 1550, Saint-Bon 1100, La Praz 1300, Courchevel 1850, Courchevel 1650. Today, the winter resort of Courchevel is a place where everything is concentrated the best that a skier can wish for in the French Alps.
Various and perfectly prepared tracks of any degree of difficulty will not leave anyone indifferent. Everyone has the opportunity to choose a skiing region to their taste and capabilities, where they can fully enjoy the beauty of skiing. Ski holidays in Courchevel are perfectly organized, the system of trails works in such a way that you can ski down to almost every hotel, and the cable car system, which is parallel branches of lifts in each direction, allows you to avoid queues, since from one point you can get from one resort to another in several ways.
Location and history of the resort
The elite resort of Courchevel is located in the French Alps, in the department of Savoie, in the center of the Tarantes Valley, and is famous for its chronicles in yellow newspapers and TV shows about celebrity vacations . It is part of the “Three Valleys” ski area and consists of four stations 1300, 1550, 1650, 1850. The latter is a vacation spot for glamorous stars and respectable oligarchs.
In everyday life here, the national currency of France is the euro. And get ready to pay a considerable amount of euros for a comfortable vacation.
Judging by documentary data, Courchevel was founded in 1946. The peculiarity of this area is the fact that in 1992 the XVI Winter Olympic Games were held here. And in general, it is considered one of the oldest resorts in the world, because if you dig deeper into the history of Courchevel, you can learn a lot of interesting things. For example, at the beginning of the 20th century there were only pastures for grazing cattle.
Old photo of Courchevel
The first Hotel Lac Bleu appeared in 1908, but due to problems with heating, it received the first tourists only in 1925. The founders of Courchevel, Laurent Chapi and Maurice Michaud, undertook the implementation of their project immediately after the Second World War, according to the plan for the development of the tourist industry in liberated France.
After some disputes and disagreements, the resort was named Lower Courchevel, but later the name was changed, because the local residents did not want to live in the shadow of the mountain and the new resort. Therefore, the general meeting decided to give the name 1550 and 1850. The last fact is a marketing ploy, because in fact the resort is located in the area of 1747 and 1827 meters. But the higher the number, the more respectable the resort is – that’s what the creators decided.
Map of ski slopes in Courchevel
In “Three Valleys” there are places for those who already ski professionally, and those who are just taking their first steps in this sport. Ski resorts on the Courchevel map are figuratively divided into 4 parts: Saint-Bon – 1300 m, La Praz, Courchevel – 1550 m, Courchevel – 1650 m and Courchevel – 1850 m.
All these places have tracks of different levels of difficulty. In general, there are 33% of skiing places for beginners, the same number of difficult trails and another 33% are trails of medium difficulty.
The mountain resorts of Courchevel on the map occupy a total area for skiing of 150 hectares, of which only equipped tracks are 1,100 m and 2,738 m. And on the 10,000 g that are available for free skiing, you can calmly cut through the snow cover.
Ski slopes of Courchevel
The resort has more than 100 tracks with a length of 150 km. The longest of them stretches for almost four kilometers. The height difference is 1638 meters.
The specialty of the Kurshevel slopes is their width and smoothness. People with any skiing “education” can ski in Courchevel – from those who have never stood on skis at all to those who can boast of conquering the most difficult tracks.
For beginners, the Pralon and Belkot skiing areas, the tracks under the Jardin-Alpen ski lift, are best suited.
Intermediate skiers will be particularly interested in the Marmot and Cre tracks in the La Viselle area, Beauc Blanc, finishing in the wonderful village of La Taniet .
Difficult pistes can be found in the ski areas of Les Avals, Grand Couloux, Col du Pas du Lac. Jean Blanc and Couloir Emile Alli are considered the most difficult.
There is night skiing, a slalom track, an area for children, a pristine wilderness for fans of freeride, more than 65 km of cross-country skiing tracks, qualified ski schools for adults and children, ski and snowboard rental. The slopes of this area are conditionally divided into “Three Valleys” , each of which can boast of some of its ski descents in Curonian Spit . Here, tourists can choose from three categories of trails: blue, red, and black. In general, the length of Courchevel ski tracks is about 150 km, and the longest track stretches for 3.8 km.
Courchevel 1850 is one of the parts of the ski resort, from where you can move to the neighboring valleys. The steepest and most difficult ski slopes of Courchevel are located in the Courchevel 1300 area.
There are black tracks that pass immediately along three gorges to the right of the upper station of the Solir ski lift. But the most optimal solution for teaching beginners the basics of skiing is in Courchevel 1650.
Tracks of medium difficulty will be interesting for those who are not on skis for the first time. Places like: La Wiesel “Marmott”, “Le Signal” and the descent of “Buc Blanc” to La Tanya. Jean Blanc Sport and Color Emelie Hellas are considered the most difficult tracks in Courchevel.
As for Courchevel’s snow cover, the season here starts from November and lasts until April. But even in the absence of snow, 523 snow guns organize white pistes for you to ski. Most of them are installed on the lower slopes, where there may be problems with snow.
Ski passes in Courchevel
Upon arrival at the resort, it is better to immediately buy a ski pass in Courchevel to make your vacation as comfortable and colorful as possible. Passes for skiing and climbing can be purchased online directly from the comfort of your home, but only starting from autumn, that is, closer to the ski season.
As for the cost of a ski pass in Courchevel, there are a variety of options. For example, for children under 5 years old and pensioners over 75 years old – they are free. There is a discount system for older children and adults from 65 to 75 years old. It will also be more convenient to buy a family ski pass in Courchevel at a discount – 234 EUR for 6 days for two adults and two children.
In turn, a ski pass for one person for 6 days in three valleys will cost around 283 EUR, but the price of a ski pass in Courchevel for one valley is 240 EUR for 6 days. At the end of the season, and, surprisingly, at the beginning, there are significant discounts. Alternatively, you can purchase a ski pass to Courchevel for just 1 day. Such a Saturday pass for three valleys at once will cost you EUR 47.
Ski lifts in Courchevel
If you are going to ride in Courchevel, you definitely need to know the types and cost of local lifts.
Given the fact that the most popular and well-known resort “Three Valleys” consists of four parts located at completely different levels, there should be many ski lifts in Courchevel. The builders of the resort fully met the expectations of tourists by building 174 ski lifts in the French Alps at once. Of them, there are 64 chairlifts, 47 cable cars, 37 telecabins, 4 funitel and funicular, and two more cableways.
In principle, such a system of lifts is considered the best in Europe. After all, it can deliver about 200,000 tourists in just one hour. More recently, in 2013, EUR 166 million was invested to further improve this system, namely to make the connection between altitudes 1550 and 1850 more comfortable.
As for the cost of the ski lift in Courchevel, the price for a single trip will be 47 EUR for an adult, 35 EUR for a child. That’s why it’s more profitable to buy season tickets for several days at once, which will save the family budget. In this case, the price of the ski lift in Courchevel will start from 232 EUR for adults and 174 EUR for a child. The price depends on the season, number of days and valleys where the subscription will be valid.
Alpine skiing in Courchevel
For those who are completely uninitiated in snowboarding and skiing, and came to Courchevel only after hearing about it from the pages of magazines, there is training in mountain skiing in Courchevel. The most experienced instructors will help you understand the technique and teach you the basics of this sport. Comfortable and safe routes, as well as free lifts, will be a mega bonus for beginners.
Specialists will offer you options for classes for 3, 4 hours or for the whole day. The group consists of 2 to 4 people, individual lessons are also possible.
As for the prices for downhill skiing lessons in Courchevel, the cost depends on the time of the lessons. For example, the price for the day will be 415 EUR, the morning time 300 EUR, and the afternoon 260 EUR.
The basics of downhill skiing in Courchevel are taught even to small children. As early as 18 months, young athletes learn to stand correctly on skis and with age they still give a head start to adults in skill and ability. The special Magnestick system installed on the lifts allows parents not to worry about the safety of their children. A special vest, which fixes the child on the seat of the lift, also protects the back during riding.
Mountain ski rental in Courchevel
Most tourists who come here on vacation already have their own compliment of equipment and equipment by default, and, as a rule, more than one. But still, there are, of course, ski equipment rental points in Courchevel. Local craftsmen provide a wide variety of services: from sharpening edges to installing insoles in boots.
Mountain ski and snowboard rental in Courchevel can be ordered even online. And ZhanBlanSport is actually the very first ski rental shop that opened back in 1946. There is equipment for adults and children.
As for the prices for renting snowboards in Courchevel, everything depends on the type of equipment. For example, for simpler options, you need to pay 27 EUR only for a snowboard or skis per day. Renting shoes is another + 12 EUR. A helmet is often given free of charge. The better the level of equipment, the higher the price. For complete luxury equipment, you will need to pay 420 EUR per day.
Weather in Courchevel
Before you go to Courchevel , find out what the weather will be like there on the selected dates.
For those who go to the resort “Three Valleys” exclusively for skiing and snowboarding, of course, the weather in Courchevel for 14 days will be important. The season starts here from December and lasts until April, so in the summer you can come here only for walks in the mountains, skiing on ski lifts and enjoying yourself in spa centers, which is also a lot, let’s agree.
The weather in Courchevel for a week will favor skiers and snowboarders in December and January, when it is -1 ° C during the day and -6 ° C at night. At this time, there will be no slush and severe frosts, so the beginning of the season is the best time to relax in the French Alps
Already in February, the weather forecast in Courchevel for 3 days will change a little, and during the day there may be a positive temperature. But this is still excellent weather, as already in March-April the warming begins here, which indicates the end of the ski season. At the beginning of spring, the weather in Courchevel for 5 days will not please you with thermometer readings of + 6 ° С and + 9 ° С.
And yet, you should not be so worried: regardless of the weather forecast in Courchevel, during the season, 523 snow cannons will give you the opportunity to ride the slides from the heart.
Courchevel Airport
Despite the fact that the resort is located at an altitude of more than 1000 meters, it has its own airport. The layout of the Courchevel airport will surprise you, first of all, the fact that the runway, which is only 525 meters long, is at an 18% slope, which slows down the landing of the plane.
Due to the possibility of a “hard” landing , only certified pilots are allowed to operate the planes arriving in Courchevel . And the airport itself is assigned the seventh place among the most dangerous runways in the world.
Large passenger flights will not be able to land directly here, so it is most likely intended for VIP guests with private jets. De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and De Havilland Canada Dash 7, Cessna and helicopters also provide transportation to the resort.
Hotels in Courchevel
Courchevel in France presents an unprecedented concentration of extra-class hotels and exclusive 5-star hotels, such as Cheval Blanc, L’Apogée Courchevel – an Oetker Collection or Les Airelles, as well as exquisite 4 * hotels. There are more than 30 SPA-centers and gourmet restaurants working at the hotels. However, the resort also offers more affordable hotels, comfortable apartments and cozy chalets. At the same time, almost all hotels in Courchevel are located next to slopes and ski lifts.
Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges Courchevel 5-star hotel
Offering ski-to-door access and a sun terrace, Hotel Barrière Les Neiges Courchevel is located in the popular ski resort of Courchevel. The hotel also has a ski school and a children’s club. The hotel offers a view of the mountains. Free Wi-Fi is provided.
The rooms are decorated in an elegant classic style. Amenities include a flat-screen TV with cable channels and an iPad. Guests have a coffee maker and a kettle in the room. The private bathroom has a bathtub and a shower, complete with bathrobes and slippers.
The hotel has an open fireplace and installed modern furniture. Light wood, white marble and silk fabrics are used in the interior design, which emphasizes the atmosphere of a real mountain chalet. Guests have access to a swimming pool and a designer ski storage room. The hotel has a health and spa center with a sauna, hot tub and Turkish bath, as well as a fitness center. Massage services are available upon request. Guests can visit a separate cinema room.
There is a bar and 2 restaurants on the premises. Fouquet’s Restaurant serves French and local cuisine, while BFire by Mauro Colagreco offers traditional Italian and Argentinian cuisine cooked in a wood-fired oven.
A ski pass sales point is at guests’ disposal. The hotel provides ski equipment rental services, and staff deliver skis and ski boots directly to the slopes. Hiking and skiing are popular in the surrounding area. Courchevel is also known for its shopping opportunities. Guests are provided with a free shuttle service.
L’Apogée Courchevel – an Oetker Collection Hotel 5-star hotel
L’Apogée – an Oetker Collection Hotel with direct private ski-to-door access is located in Courchevel, 2 km from the Three Valleys Ski Resort and 25 km from Moutiers. A fully equipped ski storage room and free Wi-Fi are at guests’ disposal.
The rooms are decorated in a contemporary style, and the bathrooms are decorated with marble and equipped with a bathtub and a separate shower. The suites also have a guest corner. The windows offer a view of the mountains.
L’Apogée – an Oetker Collection Hotel features an elegant smoking lounge, as well as an outdoor hair salon and luxury shops. In the health center, you can visit the Sisley spa center, 5 beauty rooms, a sauna and a hot tub. Those who wish can spend time in the indoor pool. The hotel also has the largest children’s club in Courchevel.
Skiing is a popular activity in the area. L’Apogée – an Oetker Collection Hotel is located just 100 meters from the ski lifts.
Fahrenheit Seven Courchevel 4-star hotel
Offering ski-to-door access, Fahrenheit Seven Courchevel is located in Courchevel. It offers a bar, a restaurant, a sauna and free Wi-Fi in the entire area.
The rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. The private bathroom comes with free toiletries, and some rooms have a balcony. Amenities include a desk.
Fahrenheit Seven Courchevel offers a continental or buffet breakfast.
Skiing is popular in the vicinity.
Staff at the 24-hour front desk speak English and Spanish.
The Courchevel 1650 ski school is 70 meters from the hotel, and the Ariondaz ski lift can be reached in a few minutes. Chambery-Savoie Airport is 65 km away and Geneva Airport is 180 km away.
Apartment Anna 3 star hotel
These apartments are located in Courchevel , 100 meters from the Courchevel 1650 ski school. The balcony offers a view of the mountains and ski slopes. Courchevel-1550 ski school is 1 km away. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the territory.
The apartments are located on the 10th floor of a building with an elevator. Amenities include a kitchen with a dishwasher, oven, coffee maker and kettle. Guests are provided with a raclette grill and utensils for barbecue and fondue. A flat-screen TV is installed in the living room and bedroom. Beds with orthopedic mattresses with memory effect are at guests’ disposal.
A supermarket, a pharmacy, a bakery, a restaurant and a ski rental point are at your service.
Skiing is popular in the vicinity. Courchevel-1850 Ski School is 1.4 km from Anna Apartments, and Sainte-Agathe Ski Lift is 100 m away.
Cost of living in Courchevel
It’s no secret that many well-off tourists are ready to pay large sums, equal to the cost of an apartment or a car, for a vacation on the slopes of the French Alps. But at the same time, in the lower part of the resort there are many hotels that offer quite affordable prices and cheap accommodation in Courchevel. For example, in 2-3 star hotels for 7 days you can spend in the area of 1113-1729 EUR, which is quite cheap compared to other options.
Prices for accommodation in Courchevel in 4-star hotels, with improved service, or a more favorable location will be much more expensive, and will be around 2912-3472 EUR for a seven-day stay in a 4-star hotel.
Therefore, for those who are interested: how much does it cost to live in Courchevel, we can answer that there is no exact and unequivocal figure. It all depends on your budget, there are hotels here for 132 EUR per night and 496 EUR.
Courchevel restaurants
Gastronomy will help you experience all the beauty and uniqueness of any area. It is impossible to visit France without tasting national dishes. In the French Alps, this is all the more unforgivable, because the best restaurants in Courchevel know first-hand about the real Michelin stars.
So, 7 establishments in the resort have this honorary award at once. Judging by the reviews of Courchevel restaurants, true gourmets and gastronomic pilgrims are ready to pay crazy money for such pleasure. Some of them come exclusively through the “Michelin Red Guide”, which awards establishments and chefs.
Restaurant in Courchevel
But still there are exceptions to the rules, and here you can find inexpensive restaurants in Courchevel that have the most prestigious award. For example, Azimut, where the average check with a drink will be about 70 EUR, which for these places is practically free.
Another owner of two Michelin stars at once, Restaurant Le Bateau Ivre and its chef Jean-Pierre Jacob will discourage you from looking for other restaurants in Courchevel. The stunning lamb performed by the maestro will drive the most ardent gourmet crazy. However, if you are bored of something truly Slavic, go to Lasoucoupe and try herring with potatoes there.
Restaurant in Courchevel
For those who are not too worried about the prices in Courchevel restaurants, we advise you to visit the restaurant 1947, with its well-deserved two stars. The average check here will exceed 300-400 EUR, which causes extreme surprise among some tourists. Many of its visitors appreciate the establishment for its special atmosphere – there are only 5 tables.
If you’re looking for the best cafes in Courchevel 1,650, check out FireandIce. Very convenient location – close to the lifts, with a stunning view and free pizza on the premises. What could be even better?
For those who are looking for affordable prices in a cafe in Courchevel, Zincdes Neiges is suitable for lunch. The price with an average check for two already with wine – 100 EUR – is quite realistic in this establishment.
Courchevel: food delivery
Just came down from the mountain and terribly hungry? We will tell you how to fix it!
This resort has already seen a lot: shrimp specially flown in by helicopter, the freshest fish, the most delicious wines. You can find anything here, the only question is how much you are willing to pay.
Of course, there is pizza delivery in Courchevel. The traditional Italian dish is very popular in the French Alps. La Grange a Pizzas offers a pizza for EUR 14, but please note that delivery to the room will have to be paid separately.
If you are looking for sushi delivery in Courchevel , you can contact LA GRANGE À SUSHI, where home delivery is possible for orders from 40 EUR, or pick up the food yourself. As an option for a luxury dinner, you can call the chef directly to your home.
If you search well, you can find Thai food delivery in Courchevel. But still, we advise you to try a real French lamb, or another juicy steak from local artisans.
Spa resorts of Courchevel
If there is time for a ride, it means that you need to find time to relax and improve your health.
Each ski resort offers its tourists a whole complex of SPA services for relaxation and comfortable spending time in a calm state from conquering mountain peaks. The most fashionable part of this region is no exception: Courchevel’s spa services are very popular among wealthy guests.
32 spa salons in Courchevel will be happy to welcome tourists and take care of their rest. The most exotic procedures are presented here: a snow grotto, a heated outdoor pool, or a chocolate massage. Just imagine all this beauty, spa centers in Courchevel can really surprise their guests.
Most luxury hotels have their own spa centers, such as La Sivoliere 5 *, Annapurna 5 *, Les Suites De La Potiniere 5 *, some of which are even free for their guests. Turkish baths, saunas, hydromassage jacuzzis will be at the service of tourists.
Entertainment in Courchevel
If you suddenly get tired of skiing and snowboarding and are already tired of admiring the chic French cuisine, it’s time to start active entertainment in Courchevel.
There are also good opportunities for snowboarding and sledding in Courchevel. Snowshoeing, trackless sledding, dog sledding, snowmobile safaris, helicopter rides, paragliding, hang gliding, parachuting, water entertainment center “Aquamotion”, billiards, and tennis are also available to tourists.
The “Forum” sports center has a skating rink, ice hockey, ice karting, squash, bowling, a fitness center, and indoor rock climbing.
Sport and beauty of the resort are complemented by all kinds of other entertainment. In Courchevel there are many expensive shops, about 70 restaurants with national French dishes, more than 30 spa salons, cinemas, art galleries, night clubs, guest performers, musical groups entertain guests.
For those who have dreamed of the sky and a pilot’s career all their lives, there is a unique opportunity to make their dreams come true. Airplane and helicopter lessons can be found during your vacation in Courchevel. From a small airport, which literally appeared in one of the parts of Bondiana, namely “Tomorrow Never Dies”, you and the instructor will rise to a height of 2000 meters and will be able to learn the basics of controlling a steel bird. For training on airplanes, you will even be offered two aircraft to choose from.
Courchevel was and remains one of the best ski resorts in France and all of Europe. Although the duration of the ski season here is relatively short, it lasts from December to the end of April, but expensive shops, chic restaurants and hotels make Courchevel not just a resort, but also a place of major partying. Although if you wish, you can find options for every taste and wallet, which are used by those who simply decided to touch the “greats of this world”.
No decent ski resort can be imagined today without swimming pools and SPA. There are 32 of them in Courchevel. You can pamper yourself with a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, massage and a heated pool in the SPA, which is located at the “Le Strato” hotel. Those who want to catch the most popular entertainment of the winter season come to Courchevel in mid-February. From now until the middle of March, the International Festival of Pyrotechnic Art takes place here. The best masters from all over the world compete in this art form among themselves, accompanied by music. If you are not a fan of downhill skiing, but prefer running, then you have a direct road to the picturesque area of Champagny en Vanoise, or to the wide tracks at the foot of Mont Blanc (the Les Saisies plateau). But, in any case, whatever you choose, rest in Courchevelwill forever remain in your memory!
Sights of Courchevel
If luxury and gorgeous mountain slopes alone are not enough for you, then get a map of Courchevel with attractions and enjoy the wonderful views. Those who have already been here will surely tell you that one of the most beautiful places in the region is the top of Mont Blanc. To which, by the way, you can be flown directly by helicopter for only 500-1700 EUR. The best photos of Courchevel attractions can only be obtained in this way – from a bird’s eye view!
Staying here brings tourists and vacationers into complete delight. After all, all the sights of Courchevel are associated with star names, or rather names. The royal family of Great Britain, David Beckham, Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, George Clooney, the Prince of Monaco, and many others like to rest here. Agree, the prospect of being in the same row with such people is more than attractive.
Wolf in Courchevel
On the circuit of Courchevel with attractions, among other ski tracks, a 2-km-long toboggan track is especially highlighted. Everyone can ride it by using the gondola lift from a height of 1550 to 1850. Skiing here will be free for everyone who has a ski pass.
You can go for a walk in the Vanoise National Park, the Merle Park, see the Saint-Pierre-de-Moutier Cathedral, built in the 11th century. It is difficult not to pay attention to the elegant architecture of hotels, chalets, and restaurants.
But the main attraction of Courchevel is nature itself. An incredible sight is the panorama of the Alps, snow views, Courchevel from a bird’s eye view!
You can take a helicopter ride to a beautiful place – the peaks of the Mont Blanc mountain range. Take the cable car to the glass observation deck “Step into the Void”, which is located at an altitude of 3,842 meters on the summit of Aiguille du Midi. See the ice grotto and crystal gallery on the Mer de Glace glacier.
Describing the sights of Courchevel can be done for a very long time. But, of course, it is better to come here yourself to see the unique descents, ascents and beautiful nature.
