Courchevel 1850 is well-known for its glamour and class, whilst its lower villages each have their own personality with a slightly more laid-back feel. Courchevel perfectly embodies the French passion for l’art de vivre. With numerous major sporting and cultural events, over 8 Michelin-starred chefs who have chosen to work in this resort, as well as high-end shops and chic boutiques lining the snowy roads, Courchevel is like no other.
Courchevel is part of the Three Valleys ski area, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, which makes it a ski destination that will suit everyone. The main access route to the Three Valleys is via the Verdons gondola, leading to the La Vizelle gondola and the La Saulire cable car.
With 85% of the area above 1,800m and one of the largest snowmaking operations in France, you can be sure of you will enjoy pristine snow conditions all season. The skiing in Courchevel is excellent for all abilities. Both Courchevel 1850 and 1650 have a good selection of beginner and nursery slopes around Pralong. Intermediates will find a variety of long cruisey blues in the Pyramides and Grand Bosses areas, as well as some challenging reds. And for adrenaline seekers, they can try and tackle the famous Grand Couloir.
Across Courchevel’s 5 different villages, there is an abundance of easy and wide slopes, ideal for beginners. Be sure to head to one of the ‘ZEN’ areas which are marked on the Courchevel piste map (there is one in each village), as they are designated beginner zones with gentle slopes for learning.
The best village to head to as a beginner is Courchevel 1850. This area has the biggest concentration of free ski lifts, 5-6 green pistes and the same number of blue pistes heading back into the resort centre. Across the rest of Courchevel, 23% of the pistes are graded green and 35% are graded blue, making Courchevel one of the best resorts for all abilities.
KEY FACTS
- Altitude: 1,350 M - 2,738 M
- 150 KM of slopes
- Three Valleys: Méribel, Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, La
- Tania, Saint Martin de Belleville, Brides les Bains & Orelle
- 109 Ski Runs: 21 Green, 41 Blue, 36 Red, 11 Black
- 63 Ski Lifts: 1 Cable Car, 10 Gondolas, 20 Chairlifts, 29 Drag Lifts, 3 Magic Carpets
- 70 Restaurants
- Best for Beginners: Pralong Zen area & Golf Zen area
- Best for Off-Piste: Saulire
- Best Snow Park: The Plateaux Snowpark
- Longest Run: Creux
- Hardest Run: Le Grand Couloir
