How to Get to Courchevel

Courchevel is located in southeast France, in the department of Savoie, part of the Rhône-Alpes region. It sits at the heart of the Three Valleys, the world's largest ski area with 600km of runs across the Vanoise massif, in the Tarentaise Valley.

What’s the best way to get to Courchevel?
Whilst there's no denying the convenience of flying, we would encourage you to at least consider the alternatives. We're not just going to give you just one route to Courchevel, and below you'll find what we think are the main pros and cons:

Flying and Airport transfer
In our experience, the best way to get to Courchevel is to fly to Geneva and then get an airport transfer.

• Pros: 
  Fast – You can't beat flying for pure speed. Geneva airport also offers the greatest selection of airlines, most frequent flight times and lowest prices while airport transfers are the fastest way to reach the ski area – you’ll be at your accommodation’s doorstep in 1h15.
• Cons: 
  Carbon footprint – To be honest, we should all feel bad about flying these days. There are numerous ways to off-set your carbon, and increasingly transfer companies are putting on larger vehicles and hybrid/electric transfer vehicles are becoming a common sight on Alpine roads.  

Train to Moûtiers
Ski trains from London and high-speed TGV trains from Paris stop at Moûtiers, around one hour from Courchevel.

• Pros:
  Eco-friendly – Carbon footprint can be reduced by as much as 90% when travelling by train. 
  Comfortable – Trains have generous legroom, allowing you to relax and enjoy the ever-changing scenery, and even take a stroll along the aisles or visit the onboard café. 
• Cons: 
  Speed – Takes longer than flying. However, transfers from Moûtiers are much shorter so you'll catch up time, plus you won't have to wait at the airport.

Driving
The extensive network of European motorways makes it easy to come to Courchevel by car.

• Pros: 
  Convenience – you'll have a car to move around resort and even visit neighbouring ski areas.
• Cons: 
  Time-consuming – It can take quite a long time to reach the Alps and depending on where you're coming from you may wish to split your journey into more than one day. 
  Pollution – As an area that suffers from high levels of air pollution, you should consider the impact of your car's emissions on the environment.
  Challenging conditions – Your vehicle will need to be equipped to drive on snow and/or in inclement weather. From 1st November until 31st March, it is mandatory to have snow chains in the boot of your car or winter tyres fitted.
  Parking – Getting a parking space in resort or at the foot of the slopes can be difficult during peak seasons. 

Coach / Long-distance bus
Probably the least popular option, it is possible to get to [resort] on a coach or long-distance bus.

• Pros: 
  Price – Usually the cheapest alternative.
  Environment – Coaches are more environmentally friendly than flying, releasing seven times less CO₂ per person.
  Sociable – Buses can be quite sociable, so you may make new friends before you set foot on the slopes.
• Cons: 
  Less comfortable – Buses aren't the most comfortable places to sleep, so you'll likely be quite tired when you reach the pistes.
  Time-consuming – Depending on which city you are travelling from, it can take up to 20 hours to reach [resort].

Our experience has taught us that flying is the most convenient way to travel to Courchevel – it’s faster, easier and sometimes cheaper than any other means of transport. However, there's no denying the environmental cost is huge.

Which airports are near Courchevel?
Geneva offers frequent flights to and from many European destinations, including cities all around the UK, as well as capital cities from across the world. Flight times to Geneva airport from most cities in Europe are under two hours, with London just 1h40 away and Paris even closer, at 1h10. Bear in mind that some flight options will only be available during the high season with frequency increasing during the peak holiday periods.

At a glance, these are the main travel hubs for Courchevel. Times and distances are approximate and can be affected by snow, bad weather or peak holiday times:

There are several ways to make the trip, including airport transfers, regular buses and even trains.

From Chambery airport
Chambery is the nearest airport to Courchevel with a transfer time of 1h30. There are also regular bus services connecting Chambery airport to Courchevel during the winter season, changing at Moûtiers. The bus transfer time from Chambery is around 2h40.The easiest and fastest way to get to Courchevel is to book an airport transfer, these run throughout the season. 

From Geneva airport
The Geneva to Courchevel transfer time is around 2h25, but will be longer on snowy days and in peak weeks, such as Christmas, New Year, school holidays and Easter. Learn more on our Transfers Guide page.

From Grenoble airport 
The bus transfer time from Grenoble to Moûtiers is around 2h15. From Moûtiers, there are local buses to all the Courchevel resorts (for more information on how to get from Moûtiers to Courchevel, see our guide on how to get to Courchevel by train). Or book an airport transfer. The transfer time is around 1h45, but will be longer on snowy days and in peak weeks, such as Christmas, New Year, school holidays and Easter. Learn more on our Transfers Guide page.

From Lyon airport
Private transfers run from Lyon airport throughout the season. The bus transfer time from Lyon to Courchevel is around 3h40, changing at Moûtiers.

Travelling to Courchevel by train is a really easy option and it is proven to be considerably more eco-friendly than flying. Whilst your train journey will inevitably include changing trains, it will allow you to carry more luggage without additional charges, avoids long waiting times in airports, and certainly for a trip from London it doesn't take much longer when you take into account transfer times. 

How do you get to Courchevel by train?
Moûtiers is the closest train station to Courchevel, located 24km from the ski resort (around one hour by bus). Regular high-speed trains to and from London (Ski train) and Paris (TGV) stop here. The total train travel time from London to Courchevel is around nine to eleven hours. We've compiled a very comprehensive guide with everything you need to know to get to Courchevel by train.

Bringing your own vehicle with you to Courchevel can be a good choice if you want to have more flexibility once you’re here, even if you don't really need a car in winter to get around resort thanks to the free shuttle buses.

How do you get from the UK to Courchevel by car?
It's not a short trip from the UK to Courchevel but it can be done in a day, depending on where you leave from. Most people driving from Britain to France will need to cross the English Channel from Dover to Calais, the nearest French town. The Calais to Courchevel driving time is around 9h30 for a distance of just under 920km. The most direct route is via the French motorways A26, A5, A39, A31, A6 and A43.

You can cross to France from Folkestone to Calais by Eurotunnel in 35 minutes, or take a Channel ferry from Dover to Calais in around 90 minutes. We recommend you book tickets in advance. There are also ferries from Portsmouth and Poole to Caen, Cherbourg and St. Malo in the north of France, while from Hull you can travel by ferry to Zeebrugge in Belgium and then make your way down to Courchevel.

Another thing to take into consideration when bringing your car to Courchevel is that the road on the way up to resort from Moûtiers is around 25km long (a 35-minute drive more or less) and quite winding in places. Even though snow clearers operate every day in winter, driving conditions can be challenging. For the winter season (from 1st November until 31st March), it is mandatory to have snow chains in the boot of your car or winter tyres fitted, and local police carry out regular spot checks.

Read our Driving to Courchevel Guide and find more information on our Parking in Courchevel page once you’ve arrived.

Getting to Courchevel by coach takes considerably longer than flying. However, it’s also usually cheaper, making it a good option when travelling on a low budget. There are a number of international coach companies that travel between the largest cities in Europe and Lyon, Grenoble and Geneva, from where a bus or transfer will take you to Courchevel. These include FlixBus, Eurolines, BlaBlaBus and RegioJet.

Are there any regular coach services from the UK to Courchevel?
Yes. There are regular coach services from London Victoria Coach Station to Moûtiers in the winter, stopping at Folkestone and operated by Snow Express. The London Victoria to Courchevel coach travel time is around 20h15. These coaches run every week, leaving on Friday evening and returning on Saturday evening, travelling through the night to allow you to spend more time on the slopes.

Airlines, trains and transfer companies are well versed in catering for customers who travel with their own sports equipment. Each company will have its own individual policy terms and conditions depending on the type of gear you are transporting so it’s well worth checking the details in advance. Here's a snapshot of the different transport options and a guide to their restrictions:

Plane
Most airlines charge a fee for taking skis, snowboards, bikes, golf clubs, parachutes and mountaineering equipment on board, so check before you book. However, a few airlines, such as Swiss, will fly the first set of skis or snowboard for free. Also, make sure you pack your gear well and ensure it falls within the packaging guidelines specified by the carrier.

Train
On Eurostar trains you can take one pair of skis or one snowboard onboard for free with you, in addition to your standard two-bag luggage allowance. Skis are also allowed for free on TGV trains. Bikes can be transported on French trains, either in special luggage carriages or in passenger carriages when stored in a bike-specific carrying case, although fees may apply so check before you book.

Airport transfers
Transfer buses are usually well equipped to transport sports equipment, but it’s always important to let them know exactly what you’re bringing so that they can ensure they have sufficient capacity. Sports equipment may be subject to a surcharge, please ask when booking.