Guide to Courchevel, French Alps

Courchevel is the cream of the Three Valley resorts, with 4 separate linked bases at different levels: Courchevel 1850 is the highest and most sophisticated, Courchevel 1650 is cheaper and nice for families, Le Praz is a pleasant village and La Tania is newly built with attractive chalets. A free bus connects them all. You'll find 6 ski schools, fantastic tree-lined skiing, plenty of easy nursery slopes and experts will enjoy skiing down from La Saulire. The resort is linked to the other resorts of the Trois Vallees, Méribel, St Martin de Belleville, Les Menuires and Val Thorens. Over 100 varied pistes are included in the Courchevel ski pass.

Mountain Information Courchevel

	Resort Altitude	1850 - 1300 m
	Top Lift	3200 m
	Lifts	60
	Total Runs	124
	Longest Run	5 km
	Advanced Runs	11%
	Intermediate Runs	64%
	Beginner	25%
	Cross Country	150 km

Getting to Courchevel

The quick and cheap way to travel to Courchevel ski resort is to first find one of the many cheap flights to Geneva, Chambery or Lyon airport. The closest airports are Chambéry (70 miles), Geneva (85 miles) or Lyon (115 miles). Courchevel even has its own small mountain airport. From Chambéry airport, take a bus with Transavoie Transport. Buses and trains leave daily from Geneva airport to the resort. Satobus Alps coaches run from Lyon airport. Buses and taxis run from Moutiers train station to Courchevel. By hire car take the Autoroute to Albertville and the N90 to Moutiers, follow signs to Courchevel.

Accommodation in Courchevel

Every type of accommodation from luxury hotels and chalets to dormitories is on offer. Courchevel 1850 is by far the most expensive with many luxury chalets. Apartments vastly outnumber hotel beds, there are around 10 rental agencies in town or book with the Tourist Office, popular dates sell out fast. C.1650 has mainly chalets but the 3 star Golf Hotel has a superb position here. Prices go dramatically down towards Courchevel 1550 and le Praz, for example the Ancolies and Peupliers are pleasant and better value.

Bars, restaurants and apres ski in Courchevel

Food and drink is expensive on the slopes, but bars and cafes are good and people are friendly and helpful. Courchevel 1850 has the most exclusive and unaffordable restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Try Kalico's bar below the main lifts, good food, live bands and not too expensive. Le Bubble is the hub of C.1650 with lower prices. Le Praz offers a quiet night life centred round the local bars. Many restaurants are pricey, for cheaper meals try pizzerias, Tex-Mex restaurants and raclette or fondue eateries.

Activities in Courchevel

Shopping is a pleasure in Courchevel, with so much variety to choose from. There are Olympic ski jumps, slalom courses, floodlit skiing, a toboggan run. Courchevel has cinemas with English films, bowling alley, squash courts and an Olympic-sized skating rink. Also on offer are hang gliding, paragliding, snowshoeing, ice climbing, helicopter rides, horse-drawn sleigh trips, hot-air ballooning, karting on ice, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, archery.
For snowboarders there are 4 terrain parks and great freeriding. Ski schools and kindergartens for children are plentiful everywhere.