Courchevel 1300 Luxury Chalets

You’re unlikely to need a car in Courchevel Le Praz. Regular buses link all 4 villages, and you have lift-linked access to both Courchevel 1850 and Meribel.

Travelling by car

If you want the freedom of your own car during your stay, there are a selection of car parks on the outskirts of the village. Driving to Courchevel from nearby airports is a straightforward experience, but make sure you’re confident driving on mountain roads and in snowy conditions.

Travelling by train

The train can be a relaxing and eco-friendly way to get to Courchevel. The nearest train station to Le Praz is Moutiers, with connections to major transport hubs like Paris and London. From here you’ll be just a 20-minute taxi ride from the resort.

Airports

There are several international airports close to Courchevel but Geneva offers the most regular flights and widest choice of airlines.

Geneva (GVA) – 139km
By car –  2 hours
By train – 4 hours 44 minutes

Chambery (CMF) – 107km
By car – 1 hour 20 minutes
By bus – 2 hours 37 minutes

Lyon (LYS) – 186km
By car – 2 hours
By bus – 3 hours 27 minutes

Grenoble (GNB) – 177km
By car – 2 hours
By train – 3 hours 30 minutes

Private transfer

There are a number of private transfer companies and chauffeurs who will deliver you to Courchevel from major transport hubs. To start your trip in style, why not arrive in Courcheval via helicopter or private jet? At 2,007m, the Courchevel Altiport is the highest runway in Europe.

Apres ski in Courchevel Le Praz is a sophisticated but relaxed affair. And if you can’t tear yourself away from the party in 1850, there are lifts running back from here to Le Praz until 11:30 pm.

In Courchevel, you have the luxury of an on-mountain après ski experience across the four villages and Meribel. Just make sure you don’t miss the last lifts.

• Nobody can deny Folie Douce is one of the most infamous apres ski spots across the Alps. Stomp your boots on the table at the lavish afternoon cabaret show to the backdrop of sweeping mountain vistas.
• Head to La Tania and check out the rowdy Pub Le Ski Lodge. With live music three days a week, their huge sun terrace is always packed out. If you want to stretch the party into the evening, there are regular buses back to Le Praz.
• Grab a Vin Chaud and wrap yourself in a fur snug by the outdoor log burners at Fire & Ice. This stylish spot in 1650 has happy hour from 4:30 pm and is famous for their ice shots.

Looking for a nightcap before you retreat back to your Courchevel Le Praz ski chalet? You’ll find a few intimate spots to wrap up the evening in style.

• Set in an ambient wine cellar, La Cave Des Lys is a dreamy place to curl up for the evening. The relaxed wine bar serves up a sophisticated selection of wine and craft beers alongside indulgent grazing boards.
• Snuggle with a glass of wine by the fireplace at Le Norby’s. Hotel Les Peupliers provides this lively apres ski spot with lots of sofas and cosy corners.

For a week of epic clubbing experiences, you’d be better off basing yourself in 1850. But for a couple of later nights in great company, Le Praz will keep you satisfied.

• L’Elephant is a fun sports bar by day and a bustling live music bar by night. Unwind after a few hours on the slopes with pizza and pool. Then ramp things up a notch with a vodka freeze while you wait for the first act.
• Bar La Descent is a friendly spot with great cocktails and snacks. They keep the atmosphere relaxed for most of the week but stay open until 2 am on weekends and host fun events like karaoke.

With dreamy runs through the trees and sweeping views all the way to Mont Blanc, Courchevel is a picturesque place to ski. Long and wide pistes are a pleasure to explore and you have the world’s largest interconnected ski area at your fingertips. Whether you’re planning on cruising between mountain restaurants or pushing your ability to the next level, you’ll find plenty of terrain to inspire and delight.

The perk of staying in Courchevel Le Praz is that you’re away from the heavy traffic while still having quick and easy access to the rest of Courchevel, Meribel, and Les 3 Vallees. Head to the frozen lake and hop straight on a modern lift in the morning. Then enjoy the tranquil runs back to your Courchevel Le Praz luxury accommodation at the end of the day.

The ski area

Within the Courchevel ski area, you’ll find 150km of piste reaching up to 2,738m. Unless you’re a beginner, we highly recommend buying a 3 Vallees ski pass for at least one day of your trip so you can experience the wider 600km of piste.

From Le Praz, you’re in a prime position to reach La Tania and Meribel via the Foret lift. Or you can reach 1850’s excellent transport hub in just 6 minutes via the Le Praz bubble. From here, efficient lifts will whisk you away to some of the best surrounding terrain.

From Courchevel Le Praz, these are the main areas you’ll be skiing:

• As the biggest resort in the valley, Courchevel 1850 has something for everyone. Enjoy the best selection of ski schools and nursery areas, a glorious choice of intermediate slopes, and challenging advanced and off-piste terrain.
• Courchevel 1650 is the ultimate cruising spot, with long intermediate runs and some fun backcountry when you’re feeling adventurous.
• La Tania is packed with fun intermediate, expert, and backcountry routes. If you’re looking for extra action, you can hop on a lift from here and explore Meribel.

Boarders

Snowboarders will have a fantastic time in Courchevel, with wide, north-facing slopes and some of the best-groomed pistes the Alps have to offer.

Keep in mind that the resort can be crowded, especially during school holidays, so it may not be the best option for less confident riders. Total beginners may want to avoid the drag lifts in 1650 and opt for the travelator at Biollay.

The Family Park at the top of the Verdons piste keeps growing every year. Show off your moves on boxes, rails, and kickers separated by ability, reach new heights on the giant airbag, and get competitive on the boardercross. If you want to mix things up, you’ll find more snow parks in Meribel and Val Thorens.

Freeriders will appreciate a good selection of accessible backcountry, especially the routes through the trees in Le Praz on bad weather days. Get your heart racing on the steep cliff drops in 1650 or ignite your inner adventurer with a day discovering the off-piste around Val Thorens.

Beginners

If you’re clipping on your skis for the first time, Courchevel is an excellent place to learn. There are dedicated ‘Zen’ areas to keep things relaxed while you build your confidence, and free lifts serving the beginner slopes spread across the valley.

The lift from Le Praz will drop you right next to the school meeting point in 1850. While there are some good nursery slopes at 1650, 1850 offers much more variety and excitement as you begin to progress. The fun network of greens here will have you feeling like you’ve done some serious exploring for your first week on the slopes.

There’s a beginner zone in Le Praz next to the Envolee drag lift. But there are no easy runs back to the village, so you’ll need to head back into 1850 to get home. La Tania also has limited options for beginner skiers but the only green here is a long one that’s a lot of fun.

Our recommended ski schools:

•   New Generation have schools in 1650 and 1850. They offer group lessons in skiing, snowboarding, freestyle, and off-piste. They also have separate lessons for teenagers.
•   ESF Courchevel offers lessons in 1550, 1650, and 1850. Their kid’s lessons are in small groups to enable fast progression. They offer group and private lessons for all levels and ages.
•   Supreme Ski use friendly and knowledgeable instructors to teach skiing and snowboarding, with only 6 children or 4 adults to a group lesson.

Intermediates

Le Praz is an ideal spot for confident intermediates, with a fun choice of reds back to the village. Nothing beats riding the long Brigues run home after an epic day on the slopes.

In the rest of the Courchevel valley, and across the wider 3 Vallees domain, there are endless options to keep you entertained. Build your confidence on the blues in 1650 and 1850. From the top of Vizelle, you can embark on an endless route of blues from 2,660m all the way back to Courchevel village. Les Indiens in 1650 is one of the most popular blues in the valley. It weaves through the woods where you can stop for a photo at a Native American camp.

But the stunning collection of reds is where Courchevel really shines. If you’re just progressing from blues, the Chapelets run in 1650 is a great place to start, with quiet gentle slopes and rolling terrain. Won’t be satisfied until your legs are still burning at apres? Spend the morning working your way through the reds at the top of Vizelle, then take the Chanrossa lift over to the Jean Pachod run.

Advanced

To really go out in style, you can take the long Jean Blanc black back towards Le Praz. Or for ultimate bragging rights, get home via the World Cup l’Eclipse run. If your legs can take it, you can even join from the top of Dou Des Lanches and round off the day with almost 1,000m of black terrain in one go. Les Suisses from Vizelle is one of the more challenging black runs in the valley, but you can ease yourself into it by trying the quieter M piste first.

Overall, you’ll find the best backcountry around 1650 or over in Val Thorens. For outstanding and accessible off-piste, take the Saulire lift to the Grand Couloir. Once you’re confident on the piste, you can choose between three challenging red itinerary runs. To really get the most out of your time freeriding, we recommend hiring a mountain guide for at least one day. They know the area like the back of their hands and will help you to find those hidden gems.

85% of the runs in the 3 Vallees are above 1,800m. Paired with premier snow-making facilities, they are able to offer a snow-sure experience from early December until the end of April. Courchevel’s slopes are excellent at holding the snow and a strong dedication to grooming delivers satisfying corduroy pistes all season.

December
December sees Courchevel packed out for the festive season and you’ll need to book well in advance. Opening parties and adorable Christmas events make this one of the liveliest months of the year to visit.
Average snowfall: 76cm
Snow days: 6

January
The days are cold and short in January, so you’ll spend lots of time warming up with live music and vin chaud. This is the best time of year to visit if you’re looking for good snow and quieter pistes.
Average snowfall: 89cm
Snow days: 8

February
February is busy with various school holidays across Europe. As well as the romantic Valentine’s atmosphere, you can enjoy fun events like the International Fireworks Festival.
Average snowfall: 61cm
Snow days: 6

March
Long days on the slopes, apres ski in the sunshine, and lively St Patrick’s Day parties make March one of the most fun months to visit Courchevel.
Average snowfall: 61cm
Snow days: 6