Courchevel - Ski, Snowboard & Summer Holidays

Courchevel isn't just one resort. It's made up of several villages, each with its own character and atmosphere, all linked by lifts and pistes. The good news is that wherever you stay, you'll have easy access to the Three Valleys. The question is really what sort of holiday you're looking for.

Courchevel 1850 - If you enjoy being in the heart of the action, Courchevel 1850 is the best-known village. It's home to luxury hotels, elegant chalets, designer boutiques and some of the finest restaurants in the Alps. The skiing starts right from the village, and you'll find an excellent choice of bars and après-ski. While it's often associated with luxury, there are also apartments and smaller properties that make it more accessible than many people expect.

Courchevel 1650 - Just below is Courchevel 1650 (Moriond), which has a much more relaxed feel. We often recommend it to families and groups looking for a lively resort without quite the price tag of 1850. The skiing is excellent, with plenty of sunny slopes nearby, and there's a good selection of restaurants, shops and accommodation. Many visitors appreciate its friendly atmosphere and find it strikes a nice balance between convenience and value.

Courchevel Village -Courchevel Village (1550) is another excellent option, particularly if you're looking for a quieter base. Fast lifts connect you directly to the higher villages each morning, and accommodation here is often more affordable while still providing easy access to the skiing. It's popular with families and returning visitors who prefer a more peaceful setting at the end of the day.

Courchevel Le Praz -If you're after a traditional Alpine village, take a look at Le Praz (Courchevel 1300). With its stone and wooden chalets, narrow streets and welcoming restaurants, it has a character all of its own. The village is linked to the rest of Courchevel by a fast gondola, making it surprisingly convenient for skiing. Many guests love returning here after a day on the mountain to enjoy a quieter evening away from the busier resort centres.

La Tania sits between Courchevel and Méribel. Built within a forest, it's especially popular with families thanks to its traffic-light village centre and straightforward ski-in, ski-out access. It also offers excellent value for skiers wanting to explore both sides of the Three Valleys.

One of the things we often tell people is not to choose your accommodation based solely on altitude. Think about the type of holiday you want. Do you enjoy lively evenings, doorstep skiing and plenty of restaurants? Or would you rather stay somewhere quieter, with a more traditional village atmosphere? There isn't a right answer, just the one that's right for you.

One of the advantages of booking through Chalets Direct is that you're often speaking directly with chalet owners and local operators who know Courchevel exceptionally well. They can explain the differences between the villages, recommend the area that best suits your group and answer practical questions before you book. That local knowledge can be invaluable, especially if it's your first visit. Whichever village you choose, you'll have access to some of the finest skiing in the Alps. Courchevel's different villages each have their own personality, which is one of the reasons so many people return year after year.

Yes. Courchevel is one of the best ski resorts in France for beginners. With outstanding ski schools, beautifully groomed pistes and a wide choice of gentle green and blue runs, it's an excellent place for first-time skiers and those looking to build confidence.

One of the first things you'll notice is the quality of the slopes. Courchevel has a well-earned reputation for some of the best piste grooming in the Alps, with wide, immaculately prepared runs that are ideal for practising your turns. Good snow conditions under your skis make learning easier and more enjoyable.

There are excellent beginner areas throughout the resort. Around Courchevel 1850 you'll find dedicated learning zones at La Croisette and Pralong, where many first lessons take place. The Verdons gondola also gives beginners access to gentle terrain without having to tackle steep or intimidating slopes.

Many new skiers also enjoy Courchevel Moriond (1650), where the sunny, open slopes provide plenty of space to progress. The Belvédère area is particularly popular with families and improving skiers, while the long, gentle green and blue runs back towards the village are perfect for building confidence as the week goes on.

Unlike some resorts, beginners aren't limited to one small learning area. As your confidence grows, you'll have miles of suitable terrain to explore, allowing you to experience real mountain skiing rather than simply repeating the same nursery slope. It's one of the reasons so many people choose Courchevel for their first ski holiday.

The resort also has an excellent choice of ski schools, including ESF Courchevel, New Generation, Oxygène and Supreme Ski School along with experienced independent instructors. Whether you're looking for group lessons, private tuition or children's classes, you'll find plenty of English-speaking instructors who specialise in helping beginners.

If you're travelling with more experienced skiers, Courchevel is an excellent choice. Beginners can enjoy lessons while stronger skiers explore the wider Three Valleys ski area, before meeting up for lunch or skiing together later in the day. Although Courchevel forms part of the world's largest linked ski area, don't assume it's only for advanced skiers. Quite the opposite. Its combination of exceptional ski schools, superbly maintained pistes and extensive beginner-friendly terrain makes it one of the most welcoming resorts in the Alps for anyone learning to ski.

Yes. Courchevel is one of the best ski resorts in the Alps for intermediate skiers. With an extensive network of wide blue and red pistes, exceptional grooming and direct access to the Three Valleys, it offers enough varied terrain to keep confident skiers entertained for weeks.

One of Courchevel's biggest strengths is how naturally the skiing progresses. If you're comfortable on blue runs and starting to enjoy reds, you'll find countless opportunities to build your confidence without feeling pushed onto terrain that's beyond your ability. Many of the resort's red pistes are wide, well-groomed and forgiving, making them ideal for improving your technique.

The areas around Verdons, Biollay, Chenus, Vizelle and Loze are particularly popular with intermediate skiers. Here you'll find long cruising runs with spectacular mountain views, while Courchevel Moriond (1650) offers sunny, open slopes that are perfect for relaxed skiing. The beautifully maintained pistes mean you can enjoy carving turns from first lift until late afternoon, especially after fresh overnight grooming.

One of the great advantages of staying in Courchevel is its position within the Three Valleys. Once you've explored the local slopes, it's easy to ski over to Méribel for lunch or continue towards Val Thorens, Les Menuires or Saint-Martin-de-Belleville. Confident intermediates can spend each day discovering different parts of the world's largest linked ski area without repeating the same runs.

Intermediates who enjoy covering plenty of miles will love the variety on offer. You can spend the morning cruising long, scenic blues, tackle a few more challenging reds after lunch and finish the day on gentle tree-lined runs back towards the villages. The modern lift system makes moving around the mountain quick and straightforward, allowing you to make the most of your ski day.

As your confidence grows, Courchevel also provides an excellent stepping stone towards more advanced skiing. Many intermediates use the resort to progress onto steeper reds and easier black runs, while those looking to try off-piste skiing for the first time can book a lesson or hire a qualified mountain guide to explore safely.

If you're skiing with a mixed-ability group, Courchevel works particularly well. There are plenty of places where intermediates can meet beginners for lunch or join more advanced skiers for part of the day before choosing easier routes back down. This flexibility makes it a popular choice for families and groups of friends with different skiing abilities.

For intermediate skiers, Courchevel offers an outstanding combination of beautifully prepared pistes, varied terrain and easy access to the wider Three Valleys. Whether you're looking to improve your technique, enjoy long cruising runs or explore as much of the mountain as possible, it's a resort you'll want to return to again and again.

Yes. Courchevel is one of the best ski resorts in France for advanced and expert skiers. As part of the vast Three Valleys ski area, it offers an exceptional variety of terrain, from perfectly groomed pistes and challenging black runs to steep couloirs, tree skiing and outstanding off-piste routes.

One of Courchevel's greatest strengths is the diversity of its skiing. You can spend the morning carving immaculate corduroy on wide, fast reds before exploring steeper terrain later in the day. The areas around Saulire, Vizelle, Chanrossa and Loze offer everything from long, open descents to technical black runs and excellent off-piste skiing. On a clear day, the panoramic views from the summit of Saulire are among the finest in the Alps.

For many expert skiers, the resort's most famous challenge is the Grand Couloir. Accessed through a narrow entrance just below the Saulire cable car, it's widely regarded as one of the most demanding marked pistes in the Three Valleys. Depending on the snow conditions, it can be steep, icy or heavily bumped, making it a run that rewards confidence, good technique and careful judgement.

Advanced skiers will also enjoy the quieter slopes around Chanrossa, along with the reds and blacks served by the Creux, Suisses and Jean Blanc lifts. These sectors provide a varied mix of fast cruising, technical skiing and more demanding terrain, with conditions changing throughout the season.

When visibility is poor, the lower slopes around Le Praz, La Tania and Courchevel Village come into their own. The tree-lined runs provide much better contrast than the high alpine slopes, making them a favourite choice on snowy or cloudy days.

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Courchevel is its direct access to the entire Three Valleys. Within minutes you can be skiing towards Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires or Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, giving you the freedom to explore one of the world's largest linked ski areas without repeating the same runs each day.

Courchevel also has a proud racing heritage. The resort regularly hosts FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races on the famous L'Éclipse piste above Le Praz, which will also feature as a venue for the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympic Games. Even if you're not racing, skiing on the same mountain as the world's best athletes adds another dimension to the experience.

For those looking beyond the marked pistes, Courchevel has excellent off-piste terrain, particularly around Saulire and Chanrossa. Snow and avalanche conditions can change quickly, so if you're unfamiliar with the area it's strongly recommended to hire a qualified mountain guide or instructor, who can help you ski safely while introducing you to some of the resort's best hidden routes.

What sets Courchevel apart isn't simply the number of difficult runs. It's the quality and variety of the skiing. Whether you're looking for perfectly groomed pistes, challenging black runs, exciting off-piste adventures or the freedom to explore the wider Three Valleys, Courchevel offers some of the finest advanced skiing in the Alps.

Yes. Courchevel is one of the best ski resorts in France for families. Courchevel is one of those resorts that seems to have been designed with families in mind. Whether you're travelling with young children taking their first ski lessons, teenagers who want to explore the mountain, or grandparents joining the holiday, it's a resort where everyone can usually find their own pace without feeling left out.
One of the biggest advantages is how easy the resort is to get around. The different villages – Courchevel 1850, Moriond (1650), Courchevel Village (1550), Le Praz (1300) and La Tania – are all well connected by lifts and free buses, That makes life much easier if members of the family are doing different things during the day.
For children who are learning to ski, Courchevel is hard to beat. There are dedicated beginner areas around La Croisette, Pralong and Moriond, with gentle slopes, magic carpets and plenty of space to build confidence. The beautifully groomed pistes also make learning much easier, particularly for nervous beginners.
Courchevel has several excellent ski schools, including ESF, New Generation, Oxygène and Supreme Ski School, all offering children's group lessons, private tuition and English-speaking instructors.
As confidence grows, there are plenty of wide green and blue runs where families can ski together, allowing children to progress naturally while parents can relax and enjoy skiing together.
Away from the slopes there's plenty to keep everyone occupied. The Aquamotion Centre in Courchevel Village is one of the largest mountain leisure centres in the Alps, with swimming pools, slides, climbing walls, spa facilities and activities for children of all ages. It's a brilliant option on abad weather day or if someone fancies a break from skiing.
The villages themselves are also enjoyable places to wander. There are cafés where you can stop for hot chocolate, bakeries for fresh pastries, family-friendly restaurants and plenty of opportunities to simply wander around after skiing. Le Praz, in particular, has a lovely traditional Alpine atmosphere that's well worth exploring.
Perhaps the biggest reason families return to Courchevel is that it takes much of the stress out of organising a ski holiday. The excellent facilities, well-planned beginner areas, reliable ski schools and easy transport links mean parents can spend less time worrying about the logistics and more time enjoying being together on the mountain.

Courchevel has some of the top ski schools in the Alps, so whether you're a first time skier or looking to improve your carving, tackle moguls or explore off-piste, there's an instructor to suit you.
The largest ski school is ESF Courchevel (École du Ski Français). With a huge team of instructors, ESF offers everything from children's ski school and adult beginner lessons to race coaching, snowboard tuition, off-piste guiding and private lessons. If you're travelling during Christmas or February half-term, ESF often has the widest choice of lesson times and children's groups.
New Generation Ski School is particularly popular with British families. Their English-speaking instructors are known for their friendly, encouraging teaching style and smaller group lessons. They offer children's lessons, adult group lessons, private coaching and snowboard instruction, making them a favourite with first-time visitors.
BASS (British Alpine Ski School) has built an excellent reputation over many years. They specialise in private lessons, family groups and technical coaching, with many guests returning to the same instructor year after year. If you're looking for personalised tuition or want to improve your skiing rather than simply follow a group, BASS is well worth considering.
Supreme Ski School is another respected choice in Courchevel. They offer private tuition, children's lessons, performance coaching and guiding throughout the Three Valleys, with an emphasis on tailored instruction.
Oxygène Ski & Snowboard School is well known for helping beginners and nervous skiers feel relaxed while also offering lessons for more experienced skiers and snowboarders. Their multilingual instructors make them popular with international visitors.
All of these schools cater for complete beginners. Whether you're learning as an adult or your children are putting on skis for the first time, you'll find patient instructors, dedicated beginner areas and a gradual approach that helps build confidence without making you feel under pressure.
They're equally valuable for experienced skiers. Many advanced skiers book a private instructor for a morning or a full day to improve their carving, ski steeper terrain, develop off-piste skills or simply discover parts of the Three Valleys they might never have found on their own.
As a rough guide, children's and adult group lessons generally cost around €250-€375 for six half-days, while private lessons usually start at around €75-€120 per hour, with full-day instruction from around €450-€700. Prices vary between schools and increase during the busiest weeks of the season.
If you're travelling during Christmas, New Year or February, we'd strongly recommend booking lessons before you leave home. The most popular instructors and children's classes often sell out weeks in advance, and booking early gives you the best choice of lesson times.
One question we're often asked is what happens if there's a big snowfall while you're in resort. The answer is simple — if you can, book an instructor or mountain guide. Powder skiing is one of the highlights of a ski holiday, but it can also be quite difficult to know where to go? An instructor can help you adapt your technique, while a qualified mountain guide can safely introduce you to suitable off-piste terrain and explain the local snow conditions. They'll also know where to find the best snow long after the obvious areas have been skied out. It's one of those experiences that creates memories for years afterwards.
One of the advantages of booking through Chalets Direct is that you're often speaking directly with chalet owners and local operators who know Courchevel exceptionally well. Many have long-standing relationships with local ski schools and instructors and can recommend who might suit your family, your skiing ability or the type of holiday you're planning.
Whether you're hoping to master your first snowplough, improve your parallel turns or make the most of a fresh powder day, Courchevel has a ski school and instructor that can help you enjoy the mountain with greater confidence and get even more from your holiday.

If you're planning a ski holiday in Courchevel, you'll have several airport options, and the "best" one isn't always the closest. Flight availability, transfer times and ticket prices can all make a difference, so it's worth looking at the whole journey rather than simply choosing the nearest airport.
Geneva Airport is the most popular choice for many visitors, particularly those travelling from the UK, Ireland and North America. The reason is simple – there are frequent flights from all over the world, which often means better prices and more convenient arrival times. From Geneva, the journey to Courchevel normally takes around 2½ to 3 hours in good traffic. On busy Saturday changeover days during Christmas, New Year and February half-term, it's sensible to allow 4 to 5 hours, as the roads into the Tarentaise Valley can become busy.
Chambéry Airport is the closest airport to Courchevel and, if you can find a suitable flight, it's a very convenient option. The drive usually takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, although this can stretch to around 3 hours during peak holiday periods. The only downside is that Chambéry has a much smaller winter flight programme than Geneva, so flight choices can be more limited.
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport is another excellent alternative. It offers a wide range of international flights throughout the year and is often a good option if Geneva flights are expensive or fully booked. Transfers generally take around 2½ to 3 hours, increasing to around 4 hours on the busiest weekends.
Grenoble Airport is also worth considering during the winter season. It serves a number of ski flights and offers similar transfer times to Lyon, although with fewer scheduled services.
Whichever airport you choose, it's worth booking your airport transfer before you travel, particularly during the busiest weeks of the season. Shared transfers are usually the most economical option, while private transfers can work out surprisingly good value for families or larger groups and will normally take you directly to your chalet or hotel.
If you've booked through Chalets Direct, it's always worth asking your chalet owner or local operator for advice. Many have welcomed guests arriving from all of these airports for years and can often recommend reliable transfer companies, suggest the easiest travel option for your arrival time or even advise which airport tends to work best for the part of Courchevel where you're staying.
Our advice is not to focus solely on the nearest airport. Sometimes a slightly longer transfer from Geneva with a direct flight is much less stressful than taking a complicated route into a smaller airport. A smooth journey means you arrive in Courchevel relaxed, ready to collect your skis and start enjoying one of the finest ski areas in the Alps.

Whether you're arriving by plane or train, there are plenty of ways to reach Courchevel. Most visitors fly into Geneva, although Chambéry, Lyon and Grenoble are also popular gateways during the ski season. From each airport, you can choose between a shared shuttle or a private transfer.

Shared transfers are the most affordable option and are ideal for couples, solo travellers and smaller families. Several companies operate regular services throughout the winter, including Ben's Bus, Alps2Alps, AlpyBus and Mountain Drop-offs. As a rough guide, shared transfers from Geneva typically cost around €50–90 per person each way when booked in advance, although prices vary depending on the time of year and demand.

Private transfers offer the quickest and most convenient journey, especially if you're travelling as a family, in a larger group or with plenty of luggage. Your driver will normally meet you in the arrivals hall and take you directly to your accommodation. From Geneva, private transfers generally start from around €300–500 per vehicle, making them surprisingly good value when the cost is shared between several people.

Typical transfer times are around 2½ to 3 hours from Geneva, 1½ to 2 hours from Chambéry, and 2½ to 3 hours from Lyon or Grenoble in normal road conditions. If you're travelling on a Saturday during Christmas, New Year or the February school holidays, allow extra time as traffic into the Tarentaise Valley can be heavy.

If you're arriving by train, the nearest station is Moûtiers–Salins–Brides-les-Bains, around 25km from Courchevel. During the winter, buses, taxis and private transfers are available outside the station, with the journey to the resort taking approximately 30 to 40 minutes, depending on which Courchevel village you're staying in.

Whatever option you choose, it's worth booking your transfer well in advance, particularly for peak holiday weeks. If you've booked accommodation through Chalets Direct, your chalet owner or property manager can often recommend a reliable local transfer company or help arrange your journey from the airport or railway station.

Yes. While Courchevel doesn't have its own railway station, it's easy to reach the resort by train and transfer.

The nearest station is Moûtiers–Salins–Brides-les-Bains, around 25km from Courchevel. During the winter ski season, the station is served by regular TGV services from Paris, along with international services on selected dates, making rail travel a convenient option for visitors from across Europe. Moutiers is also one of the stations served by the Eurostar Snow Train, meaning that during the winter you can get direct trains from London to Moutiers, then it's a short transfer up to resort.

From Moûtiers, you can complete your journey by shared shuttle, private transfer, taxi or scheduled bus. Depending on which Courchevel village you're staying in and traffic conditions, the transfer usually takes around 30 to 40 minutes.

Travelling by train can be a relaxing alternative to driving, particularly during busy weekends and school holidays when the roads into the Three Valleys can become congested. It's also a good choice for anyone looking to reduce the environmental impact of their journey.

If you're travelling from North America or another long-haul destination, flying into Geneva or Lyon and taking a transfer is usually the quickest option. However, if you're already in France or travelling around Europe, the train is a comfortable and scenic way to reach Courchevel.

Hiring skis in Courchevel is easy, with a wide choice of rental shops across Courchevel 1850, Moriond (1650), Courchevel Village (1550), Le Praz and La Tania. You'll find everything from well-known chains such as Skiset, Intersport and Sport 2000 to excellent independent ski shops, all offering a good selection of equipment for beginners through to expert skiers.

Our top tip is to book your ski hire online before you travel. Most rental shops offer discounts for advance bookings, and you'll usually have a better choice of skis and boots, particularly during the busy Christmas, New Year and February holiday periods.

The standard of rental equipment in Courchevel is generally excellent. Most shops carry modern, well-maintained skis from leading manufacturers, with a choice of standard, performance and premium packages. If you're an experienced skier, you'll often be able to hire high-performance or all-mountain skis, and many shops are happy to let you swap skis during the week if conditions change. That means you can enjoy wider skis after fresh snowfall or try different models before deciding what to buy.

When collecting your equipment, pay particular attention to your ski boots. Comfortable, well-fitting boots will have a bigger impact on your skiing than the skis themselves. Your boots should feel snug and supportive without causing pain or pressure points. If they don't feel right after your first run, don't hesitate to return to the shop—most rental providers are happy to adjust the fit or exchange them for a different size or model.

Many shops now offer the latest rental boots, including models with the BOA® Fit System or easy-entry designs, which many skiers find more comfortable and easier to adjust. If you're new to skiing, it's worth asking what's available and whether a particular boot would suit your ability and foot shape.

Several rental companies also offer ski delivery, bringing your equipment directly to your chalet, apartment or hotel and collecting it again at the end of your stay. This can be a great option for families, larger groups or anyone who wants to avoid spending time in a busy rental shop on their first day. Many shops also provide free overnight ski storage, so you don't have to carry your equipment back and forth each day.

If you've booked your accommodation through Chalets Direct, your chalet owner or property manager may also be able to recommend a trusted local ski hire shop, and some even offer guest discounts.

Take a few extra minutes when you're fitted for your equipment and don't be afraid to ask questions. Choosing the right skis and, above all, making sure your boots fit properly will make your time on the mountain far more enjoyable.