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One of the most famous resorts in France - and arguably the world - Courchevel is known for its amazing skiing.
Its outstanding snow record means it ranks safely among Iglu Ski’s top snow-sure resorts in France, while its access to a world record 600km of pistes is another major drawing point.
Don’t let its reputation for glitz and glamour put you off - there’s plenty of accommodation and activities for a range of budgets, while Courchevel’s après-ski offerings are also brilliant and varied.
As a big town, there’s a range of hotels, nice chalets, or more simple apartments to stay in. Have a look at our top Courchevel ski deals to see if anything catches your eye.
We’ve talked to the Courchevel experts - among whom include some of our sales staff who have done seasons there - to easily come up with nine key reasons why it’s a great ski resort.
READ MORE: If you're looking for a large ski area, Les Arcs could be a great alternative. Find out all the reasons why Les Arcs is a great ski resort.
1. It’s one of France’s highest resorts (meaning lots of snow!)
Skiing in Courchevel ranges from 1,300m to 3,000m, making it one of the highest resorts in Europe. In addition to the strong altitude, most of Courchevel’s slopes are north-facing, meaning they’ll be far less likely to turn slushy on a sunny day.
It also receives a plentiful supply of snowfall, with an average of 32cm of snow per week in December over the past 11 years. January’s average was 30cm, while February, March and April took 23cm, 24cm and 15cm respectively.
Meanwhile, there were roughly 3 snow days per week during each month of the ski season in the past 11 years, meaning you’ll most likely get some skiing in snowfall when you visit.
2. Instant access to the largest ski area on Earth
Courchevel is one of the three main resorts of the Three Valleys ski area, alongside Val Thorens and Méribel.
With a whopping 600km of pistes, amounting to 160 runs, there’s an insane amount of skiing to be done. Whether that’s pretty, tree-lined trails, or cruising around the open bowls above tree level, you simply won’t get bored here.
The area spans a stunning seven resorts (Brides-Les-Bains, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-De-Belleville and Orelle, in addition to the three listed above), while 85% of the area lies above an eye-watering 1,800m.
The whole area is completely interlinked with chairlifts, gondolas and cable cars - meaning you can visit any of the above resorts without having to take a bus anywhere.
3. It’s ideal for mixed-ability groups
Courchevel is a great resort if you’re in a big group with a mixture of beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers.
The local area of just Courchevel includes 27 beginner runs, 82 intermediate runs and 10 advanced runs, while there are also 12 free lifts which serve beginner pistes - making it a handy way to possibly save money while you learn the ropes.
Meanwhile, the entire ski area of the Three Valleys has 53 greens, 136 blues, 113 reds and 35 blacks to tackle - it would be quite a task to tick it all off in just a week, such is the enormity of the area.
Good runs for beginners in Courchevel include the Gentianes Blue for spacious carving, the Folyeres Blue for a pretty tree-lined trail, and the Biollay Blue for its gentle gradient and gorgeous views.
Intermediates will like the quiet Murettes Red which snakes through the trees, or the Chapelets Red which has a steep start and then flattens out with lovely views.
Advanced skiers will need to get out to the steep Chanrossa and Jean-Blanc blacks. Le Grand Colouir also awaits - we’ll get to that later!
Remember, the above examples are just in Courchevel - there’s plenty more to be discovered in the Three Valleys.
4. Home to the ‘hardest run in Europe’ - and other amazing off-piste skiing
As we’ve just mentioned, Courchevel and the Three Valleys offer such a variety of skiing - and the off-piste stuff is no different.
Perhaps the most famous of the lot, the Grand Couloir in Courchevel is a famous off-piste run which is often dubbed the toughest in the whole of Europe.
You’ll have to jump off the Saulire Express lift, before shuffling along a narrow ridge. The run begins at 2,700m and has a maximum gradient of 85%, with an average of 55%. It lasts for over 600m, and you’ll descend 340m of altitude.
Other top picks for off-piste in the Three Valleys include La Grande Rosière in the Meribèl Valley. On this, you’ll descend more than 1,000m of brilliant terrain and unique views.
Meanwhile, the Lac du Lou in the Belleville Valley is a vast open expanse with brilliant quality of snow and the chance for less able skiers to have a go on the easier routes it offers.
5. Courchevel has multiple villages to choose from
There are four villages in Courchevel for you to stay in, meaning you can choose whichever one suits the atmosphere you’d like most.
At the top, there’s the upmarket Courchevel 1850 (the number refers to the metres in altitude), which attracts the rich and famous from around the world. Famous guests have included David Beckham and Prince William, and there’s plenty of expensive shops and hotels here.
Next up is Courchevel Moriond 1650, which welcomes plenty of Brits and is the joint liveliest of all the villages, despite 1850 being the main town. Moriond 1650 has lots of cafes, bars and nightclubs, although there are also plenty of quiet spots. Overall though, it’s a great shout for younger groups - and older ones if you’re up for some fun!
Courchevel Village 1550 is a quieter town which is ideal for families who want something a bit more peaceful. The same goes for Courchevel Le Praz 1300, which is a traditional village with very peaceful roads and tracks.
All the villages can be skied to, and they all have excellent interlinking lifts, meaning you can get around the whole resort very easily. There’s also plenty of regular buses, too.
6. Great après-ski, bars and nightlife
The skiing isn’t the only exciting part of Courchevel. Thanks to it being such a major resort, you can also have a wild time once you click out of your skis.
As we’ve mentioned before, Courchevel 1850 is where the upmarket clubs and bars are, but there’s plenty more down in Courchevel Moriond 1650 if you’d prefer bars a bit more down to earth.
Top names in the latter include Funky Fox - which is where you’ll find the seasonaires and ski instructors - and Le Pelican, with its near-constant live music and great food.
Of course, Courchevel’s ski slopes are also blessed with a Folie Douce, where live music and dancers whip up the crowd from the early afternoon right through until the last gondola home at about 5pm.
Have a look at our Courchevel bars and après-ski guide for more information.
7. Courchevel is home to some outstanding restaurants
If you like the occasional fancy dinner, then you’re in for a treat when you visit Courchevel. Its world class gastronomy has earned the town a collective 14 Michelin Stars, spread across eight incredible restaurants.
One of those - Le 1947 in the Cheval Blanc - has a whopping three stars, with its Head Chef Yannick Alléno ‘celebrating finesse and playful innovation’ and ‘creating adventure after adventure for curious palates’.
The other top restaurants to look out for include
- Le Chabichou (2 Michelin Stars)
- Kintessence in K2 Palace (2 Michelin Stars)
- Sakara in K2 Palace (2 Michelin Stars)
- Le Montgomerie in Le K2 (2 Michelin Stars)
- Baumanière in Le Strato Hotel (1 Michelin Star)
- Azimut (1 Michelin Star)
- Le Farcon (1 Michelin Star)
8. There’s loads of non-skiing activities to do
Families will be relieved to know that drinking isn’t the only thing to do off the slopes!
One major attraction is Courchevel’s Aquamotion, a waterpark with slides for the children, and wild rivers and a quieter swimming pool for those who want to get some lengths in. There are also wild rivers. The complex also has a spa, as well as indoor surfing, a climbing wall, and a gym.
Meanwhile, you can also pop along to the cinema, which shows some films in English (look out for the VO films - meaning version orginale).
Courchevel is safely in Iglu Ski's top 10 French family resorts to visit.
Of course, if you’re not able to do downhill skiing, you might still enjoy nordic skiing. Also known as cross-country skiing, there are 67km of really nicely groomed tracks in Courchevel which are largely loops starting and finishing in Courchevel. This is much easier on your knees if you have an injury, but you still get to feel the snow and really be part of the mountains.
Discover how great Courchevel is for yourself
If this resort sounds like the perfect destination for your ski holiday, then check out our best ski deals for Courchevel. There are plenty of bargains to be had online - there’s a reason we’re the biggest ski travel agency in the UK.
You can also call - all of our sales team have done seasons in the mountains, so their expert advice can really help you curate the ideal getaway for you and your friends or family.
If you’re the designated booker, then have a look at our guide for booking a group ski holiday for all the best tips.