Courchevel ski resort review

Courchevel sits to the left on the piste map and is made up of five key residential centres; Courchevel 1850 is the resorts heartbeat; Courchevel 1550 is a cheaper base feeding directly into 1850; and Courchevel 1650, a calmer alternative on the fringes of the three-valley network.

Courchevel is the most glamorous section of Les Trois Vallees, with a private airstrip (altiport) that spits out a constant stream of celebrities and Parisan high society throughout the season. However, though you could spend your mortgage deposit in a week of glamorous excess here, there are many cheaper accommodation and culinary alternatives, even in Courchevel 1850, though prices drop considerably in the other 3 valleys resorts. The atmosphere is certainly not stuffy and remains resolutely more French than the thorough anglicised Meribel across the hill.

Courchevel skiing

Most seasoned 3 valley veterans would agree that Courchevel has the best breadth and variety of skiing of the ski resorts in the 3 valleys. Starting with the magnificent couloirs from the top of the Saulire (2,738m / 8,983ft) down to some tremendously characterful woodland runs down to Le Praz and La Tania, it also encompasses secluded powder bowls, intermediate favourites and high quality nursery slopes.

The heart of Courchevel skiing is the area directly above 1850, leading up the twin peaks of Vizelle and Saulire, from where there are some excellent steep reds and a number of steep sided couloirs. Heading skiers right takes you down the ever popular Creux, from where you can continue up Chanrossa before dropping down into 1600′s wonderfully secluded reds around Bel Air.

The main beginners area is Pralong which has recently been specially customised to focus almost wholly on beginners, with rope tows and other short lifts designed to help novices maximise their time with their instructors. There are also good beginner facilities at 1650.

Though the slopes are primarily north facing (meaning good snow conditions) there is great variety. Skiers left of 1850, gentle runs feed back to the centre, while looping around the underside of Loze opens up an entire flank of excellent runs pirouetting out from 1550 all the way around to La Tania. The blacks of Jockeys and Jean Blanc are sensational runs in good conditions, as are all the reds and blues dropping down into La Tania. Above here is the Col de la Loze, which us one of the two points where you can drop into Meribel, the other being off the back of Saulire.

Key Facts – for the whole Three Valleys
Pistes   600km / 379miles
Lifts  200
Green Runs 17%
Blue Runs 34%
Red Runs 37%
Black Runs 12%
Snowmaking 90km
Resort   1300 – 3230m /4270 – 10600ft
   
Other on snow activities

Cross Country
Snow-shoeing
Tele-marking
Paragliding
Disablity Skiing
   
   
Courchevel Ski Schools

ESF Courchevel 1550 http://www.esf.net/en/ecoles/index.php?
Rue des Rois
73120 Courchevel 1550
tel :479082107
fax :479081731

ESF Courchevel 1850 http://www.esfcourchevel.com/index.php
La Croisette / BP 38
73122 Courchevel Cedex 
Tel. +33 (0)4 79 08 07 72
Fax. +33 (0)4 79 08 14 59

ESF Courchevel 1650 http://www.esfcourchevel1650.com/en/accueil/
Maison de Moriond
73120 Courchevel 1650
Phone. 33 (0)4 79 08 26 08
Fax 33 (0)4 79 08 03 27
E-mail : esf-courchevel-1650@wanadoo.fr

Supreme Ski and Snowboard School http://www.supremeski.com/default.asp
3 rue des verdons, Courchevel 1850, 73120, France.
Tel: (Courchevel or La Tania) 0479 08 27 87
UK booking tel: +44 (0)1479 810 800
info@supremeski.com

Ski Excel for private ski lessons http://www.skiexcel.com/
E-mail : skiexcel@skiexcel.com
Phone : +44(0)7949387699

Courchevel Creches

Maison des Enfants http://www.esf-courchevel.com 
ESF 1550 Rue des Rois
73120 Courchevel 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 21 07
Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 17 31
contact@esf-courchevel.com

Village des enfants http://www.esfcourchevel.com
La Croisette
BP 38 – 73120 Courchevel
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 08 47
Fax : +33 (0) 479 01 18 24
ski@esfcourchevel.com 

Les Pitchounets http://www.esfcourchevel1650.com
Maison de Moriond Rue du Marquis
73120 Courchevel 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 26 08
Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 03 27

Courchevel Restaurants (a selection)

ALPES HOTEL DU PRALONG – Courchevel 1850   http://www.hotelpralong.com
Alpes Hôtel du Pralong – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 24 82 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 36 41
reservation@hotelpralong.com 

AZIMUT – Le Praz
Immeuble l’Or Blanc – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1300/LE PRAZ
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 79 06 25 90 – Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 06 29 44 

LA CREPERIE DU TREMPLIN – Courchevel 1850 (shown right)http://www.letremplin-courchevel.com
Place du Tremplin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 10 90

CARLINA – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hotelcarlina.com
Hôtel Carlina – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 00 30 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 04 03
message@hotelcarlina.com

CREPERIE TITINE ET LILOU – Courchevel 1650
Résidence 1650 – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 95 53
titinelilou@wanadoo.fr 

IL VINO D’ENRICO BERNARDO – Courchevel 1850 http://www.ilvinobyenricobernardo.com
La Porte de Courchevel – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 29 62 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 31 91
info@ilvinobyenricobernardo.com 

L’ALAMBIC – Courchevel 1650
Place du Marquis – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 01 18 93

L’ETERLOU – Courchevel 1650
Rue du Marquis – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1650
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 25 45
jacquesetfrancoise@free.fr 

L’OEIL DE BOEUF – Courchevel 1550
Rue des Rois – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 22 10 

LA CAVE D’A COTE – Le Praz
Rue de la Chapelle – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1300/LE PRAZ
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 42 90
infos@lespeupliers.com 

LA SIVOLIERE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hotel-la-sivoliere.fr
Rue des Chenus – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 4 79 08 08 33 – Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 08 15 73
lasivoliere@sivoliere.fr

LA TABLE DU LANA – Courchevel 1850 http://www.lelana.com
Hôtel Lana Route de Bellecôte – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 01 10 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 36 70
info@lelana.com

LE 1947 – Courchevel 1850 http://www.chevalblanc.com
Hôtel Cheval Blanc Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 50 50 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 50 51
info@chevalblanc.com 

LE CAVEAU – Courchevel 1550 http://www.caveaucourchevel.com
Rue des Rois – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1550
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 09 42 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 01 08 32
info@caveaucourchevel.com 

Courchevel Bars (a selection)
 
BAR LE JUMP – Courchevel 1850 http://www.hoteldelacroisette.com
Hôtel de la Croisette Place du Forum – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 09 00 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 35 58
hotel.croisette@wanadoo.fr 

BAR LE WHITE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.chevalblanc.com
Hôtel Cheval Blanc Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 50 50 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 50 51
info@chevalblanc.com 

HÔTEL COURCHENEIGE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.courcheneige.com
Piste de Bellecôte – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 02 59 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 11 79
info@courcheneige.com

BAR DES AIRELLES – Courchevel 1850 http://www.airelles.fr
Hôtel Les Airelles Le Jardin Alpin – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 00 38 38 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 00 38 39
info@airelles.fr 

LE FUN HOUSE – Courchevel 1850 http://www.funhouse-courchevel.com
Le Forum – 73120 COURCHEVEL 1850
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 08 34 80 – Fax : +33 (0) 479 08 34 80

Thinks to do in Courchevel off skis

Toboganning
Walking
Ice Skating
Mountain Flying
Bowling
Cinema
Climbing
Torchlit Descent
Gym
Spa
Helicopter flights
Air ballooning
Skidooing
Paragliding

We have written a series of posts about travelling to the Three Valleys, read more about driving to, flying to and getting the train to Courchevel ski resort.