Ski area in Courchevel

Worth knowing

Situated in the Tarentaise Valley, within the Savoie department of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, Courchevel is part of the Three Valleys. 

Courchevel ski area

Initially developed as a summer destination, it wasn't until 1945 Courchevel made the decision to create a ski resort, with its first lift in Moriond. By 1959, the resort boasted a cable car, six drag lifts, and accommodations for 3,000 guests. Today, it comprises five villages with diverse terrain for all skill levels.

Courchevel (1850)

• Ideal for beginners, with lower slopes and dedicated beginner zones.
• Excellent for intermediate and advanced skiers, offering steep runs from Saulire and Europe’s steepest black run the Grand Couloir.
• Family-friendly features like the ever-expanding Family Park, including ski cross courses, kickers, and an igloo to explore.
• Powder and off-piste terrain includes Saulire couloirs and Creux Noirs bowls.

Courchevel Moriond (1650)

• Known for its sunny, mellow reds and blues, ideal for honing your technique.
• Off-piste highlights: tree skiing at Roc Mugnier and Gravelles; advanced terrain on Roc Merlet face and Les Avals valley.
• Suitable for white-out days with plenty of tree-sheltered runs.

La Tania

• Varied slopes include the challenging Dou des Lanches black run and the winding blue Folyeres.
• Beginner-friendly green run Plan Fontaine provides easier access back to the resort.
• Off-piste thrills on the Freeride Face at Rocher de la Loze and under Dou des Lanches lift.

Courchevel delivers diverse skiing experiences, making it a standout destination in the Three Valleys.

The Three Valleys ski area

Three Valleys overview

The Three Valleys is a vast ski paradise with 319 pistes (600km total), 200 lifts, and 1,500 snow cannons. Its eight resorts: Courchevel, La Tania, Méribel, Brides-les-Bains, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, Orelle, and St Martin de Belleville offer terrain for all abilities. 

You can buy ski passes for each resort, but to get the most out of a trip here we'd recommend you buy a Three Valleys ski pass which covers the whole area

Key Three Valleys statistics:

• Pistes: 51 green, 132 blue, 106 red, 32 black
• Terrain: Glaciers, tree skiing, powder bowls, beginner zones, and top-tier snowparks
• Lift System: Modern, fast, and efficient

Méribel

• Pistes: 64 total (8 green, 25 blue, 24 red, 7 black) ranging from 1,100m to 2,952m.
• Snowpark: Among Europe's best, with features for all levels, from beginner lines to a superpipe.

Advanced skiing in Meribel

• Face Run: 1992 Olympic downhill course, ideal mid-morning.
• Mont Vallon Reds: Long, steep, and mogul-filled.
• GoPro Couloir: Narrow, steep (37°), and for experts only.

Off-piste in Meribel

• Loze Express to Dent du Burgin: Powder plains and tree runs.
• Côte Brune and Olympic Express: Fresh tracks with some hiking required.
• Roc de Tougne: Powder-filled off-piste options on both sides of the drag lift.

Courchevel

Situated on the northern side, Courchevel has 150km of pistes and stunning views of Mont Blanc. It’s known for challenging terrain and off-piste options.

Advanced skiing in Courchevel

• Couloirs: Grand Couloir and Saulire offer steep, technical runs.
• Chapelets Red: A favourite early morning run freshly groomed run.
• La Tania Area: Includes Dou des Lanches black and the Freeride Face.

Off-piste in Courchevel

• Les Avals Valley: Over 1,000m of powder runs.
• Saulire Couloirs and Roc Merlet: Steep and technical.
• Dou des Lanches Area: Varied terrain with powder, cliffs, and tree skiing.

Snowpark in Courchevel

The Family Park at Courchevel 1850 caters to all freestyle levels with small, gentle features perfect for progression.

Val Thorens ski area 

Val Thorens combines world-class snow, diverse terrain and modern amenities, making it a popular ski destination for all skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.

• Beginner to Expert: Beginner areas, advanced glacier skiing, and a top-notch snowpark in the Plateau sector cater to all levels.
• Jerusalem Run: A popular blue run with stunning views, ideal for cruising to St Martin de Belleville.
• Pointe de la Masse: Offers sunny slopes, long blues, and challenging blacks like Lac Noir and Dame Blanche.
• Funitel Peclet Glacier: Great for sunset skiing with wide pistes like Lac Blanc and Les Vires.

Tips for optimal skiing

• Avoid the busy Méribel access lifts in the morning and late afternoon; midday is best.
• Explore quieter areas like Orelle’s Glacier de la Pointe Renod, offering serene runs and the challenging Combe de Rosael black.

Off piste and freestyle

• Extensive off-piste opportunities in Val Thorens and Orelle, with notable routes from Boismint and Méribel borders.
• The Plateau snowpark features kickers, rails, and boxes for all levels.

The Three Valleys offers something for everyone, from serene beginner areas to advanced pistes and off-piste challenges, all linked by an unparalleled lift system.

Orelle - the fourth valley

Orelle, located on the far side of Val Thorens, is home to the highest point in the ski area at 3,230m. It joined the Three Valleys in 1996 with the introduction of the Three Vallées Express gondola, a 5km link ascending 1,470m in altitude through forests and steep terrain.

Key highlights of Orelle ski area

New lifts:

• Orelle Gondola: Replaces the Three Vallées Express with faster, safer, and more comfortable rides.
• Orelle-Caron Gondola: Climbs 820m over 2.2km to Cime Caron in 7 minutes, featuring fully glazed cabins for panoramic views.

Ski slopes in Orelle:

• 11 green, 33 blue, 29 red, and 9 black runs between 900m and 3,200m.
• Coraia Red Run: The highest in the Three Valleys, starting at 3,230m, offers stunning views and a long, gentle descent.

Off-piste in Orelle:

• Best terrain is around the Bouchet lift, ideal for fresh tracks.

With excellent snow conditions, breath taking vistas, and advanced lift technology, Orelle is a must-visit for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

When is the ski area open in Courchevel?

The winter season usually runs from mid-December to mid-April, with any early lift openings depending on snow conditions (check ski lift opening dates for this winter openings). 

• January: Ideal for quiet slopes and fresh snow.
• February: Best for families with school holiday activities.
• March/April: For sunny pistes and relaxing on mountain restaurant terraces

If you're coming early or late in the season

It's a good idea to check which lifts are open in Courchevel. You might want to check the Courchevel webcams too, for up to the minute view of the conditions on the pistes.

Advanced areas in Courchevel

Courchevel is renowned for its challenging terrain, with steep black runs, mogul fields, and legendary couloirs that test even the most experienced skiers.

Courchevel 1850

• Saulire Area – Start your day on Combe Saulire before 09:30 for the best snow and fewer crowds. The Grand Couloir, the easiest of the famous couloirs, still offers a serious challenge, while the GoPro Couloir leads into Méribel. Other couloirs, though no longer official pistes, remain thrilling options for expert skiers.
• Creux Noirs and Saulire – High-altitude, steep reds and blacks with tough moguls. Great advanced skiing can be found from the Suisse lift, Vizelle telecabine and Saulire top station.
• Chapelets – A quiet run that feels like backcountry skiing. Starts steep, then mellows out, making for an exhilarating descent, especially when freshly groomed.

Courchevel-Moriond 1650

• Ideal for advanced skiers looking for a more relaxed run in stunning scenery. Even during peak weeks, this area stays uncrowded. Try Grandes Bosses and Gentiane for quiet, easy cruising.

Courchevel Le Praz

• Bouc Blanc – A challenging black run through the trees, perfect for low-visibility days or stunning views in clear weather.
• Jean Blanc – A fast, technical black run with off-piste opportunities and large moguls.

La Tania

• Dou des Lanches – A steep and fast black piste above La Tania, perfect for a final challenge.

With a mix of legendary descents and hidden gems, Courchevel delivers some of the best advanced skiing in the world.

Bad weather areas in Courchevel

When the snow is falling and visibility is poor, head for tree-lined pistes where the trees provide contrast and definition, making skiing and snowboarding easier.

Le Praz – The Jockeys and Jean Blanc black runs, as well as the Brigues red, are all set among the trees, offering better visibility.

La Tania – The long blue Folyeres run is a great choice, with tree cover and lower altitude often keeping it clearer than higher slopes.

Courchevel and Courchevel Moriond – Some lower runs here are tree-lined, making them a good option when conditions worsen. Try the red Loze, green Verdons, and various blue runs leading down to Moriond.
 

Before heading out, check the webcams for up-to-date mountain conditions.

Beginner areas in the Courchevel valley

The whole area above Courchevel Moriond and Courchevel itself, from the Verdon bubble towards the resort are a paradise for beginners. Wide and shallow as they approach the lower part of resort and with a selection of different greens. These slopes give you the opportunity to get back to resort without losing your nerve, even when tired at the end of a long day on the mountain. 

Courchevel has a seven Easy Rider zones and 12 free lifts spread around the Courchevel Villages. Designated and created for beginners, some of these areas are known as 'ZEN' (Zones for the Evolution of Novices).

Courchevel Moriond (1650)

Mickey ZEN: A fenced off area exclusively for beginners serviced by a free drag lift called Mickey. 
The Western Ski Park

Courchevel 1850

Pralong ZEN/The Altiport: Two dedicated tows, this large beginners area makes for a great place to start. Begin on the shorter Ferme drag, then try the slightly longer Altiport drag. Other free lifts in the area are Bellecôte, Etoiles and Cospilot. 
Golf ZEN/Jardin Alpin: A little smaller than Pralong ZEN, there are three magic carpets here.

Courchevel Village (1550)

Les Roys: Free magic carpet and the Grand Combes chairlift is free.

Courchevel La Tania

Two magic carpets: Grizzly and Brown Bear, plus Mon Tania at the top of La Tania gondola.

Courchevel Le Praz

Envolée ZEN: located next to the Envolée drag lift.

Courchevel ski area has plenty of cruisey blue pistes, perfect for novices developing into intermediate skiers, as well as some more challenging red runs. 

Best pistes in Courchevel

The ski area is vast and it can be difficult to know where to start, so we have put together some of our favourite runs throughout the Courchevel ski area, whether you're into moguls, steep and long descents or simply beautiful, quiet pistes with great snow. 

Off-piste areas in Courchevel

The easiest and safest off-piste is the Bel Aire area above Courchevel Moriond, either side of the Pyramide, Signal, and Chapelets.

The tree areas in Courchevel are great for catching some fresh snow and playing off-piste.

With a short hike from the famous Grand Couloir piste, there is excellent off-piste skiing in the Petit couloir or in the Croix de Verdons couloir if you don't mind climbing a little further. Also, the Equinox pitch, a 15-minute hike from the top of the Chanrossa chair, is one not to be missed out on a powder day.

There are also the well-known off-piste areas of Col du Fruit and Vallée des Avals, that will take you far away from any pisted areas. 

Always make sure you are prepared before embarking on any off-piste skiing or snowboarding. Check out our Avalanche Safety guide. It's always advisable to hire an off-piste guide who will have extensive knowledge of the area and the mountains.

Snowparks in Courchevel 1850

Courchevel has a park with gentle, small features as well as a park for those looking to progress their freestyle skills. With boxes, rails and kickers suitable for most abilities and a big air, there's something to suit everyone. 

The Family Park, Courchevel 1850

Located alongside the Verdons piste just above the village at 1850, the park is sure to entertain all levels of freestyle rider. The novice freestylers can try their hand at the gentle snowcross course, the speed gun and an array of green kickers and boxes. 

The red kickers in the "Big Air" section are closer to black grade than red. The blue boxes, quarter pipe and swimming pool give ample opportunity to get the legs popping and the skis and boards spinning.  

There's the airbag to test out all those gnarly new tricks without the fear of injury. 

More inspiration...

Take a look at this year's ski pass prices or, if you're not sure which pass to buy.