Courchevel: is it worth the hype?
Courchevel is a French ski resort that sets the global standard for luxury ski tourism. We can confirm that Courchevel is absolutely worth the hype, and you don't need to arrive by private jet to enjoy it. The resort has five of France's 33 Palace hotels, a three-Michelin-star restaurant with only five tables, and a direct link into Les 3 Vallées, the 600 km ski area it shares with Méribel and Val Thorens. And the same lift system starts in quieter villages, where a ski-in apartment for six can cost around €640 for the week in early December.
This guide covers what Courchevel is famous for, where the luxury lives up to its reputation, how to ski here on a normal budget, and one famous run we would swap for a better one.
As part of our Courchevel research we interviewed Nicol Gastaldi, an Olympic ski racer who now plans Courchevel holidays with Alpina Travel.
What is Courchevel famous for?
Courchevel is famous for luxury ski tourism. It is one resort made up of six villages in the Tarentaise valley in Savoie: Saint-Bon (1,100 m), Le Praz (1,300 m), La Tania (1,400 m), Courchevel Village (1,550 m), Moriond (1,650 m) and Courchevel 1850. When people say "Courchevel", they usually mean 1850: the Palace hotels and the designer boutiques around La Croisette.
The reputation goes back a long way. Courchevel 1850 was built from scratch on an empty plateau after the Second World War. Its architect, Laurent Chappis, designed the resort so you could ski straight from your door, and the ski-in/ski-out idea took hold here.
The luxury lives up to its reputation
Palace hotels. Atout France, the French tourism agency, gives its Palace distinction to just 33 hotels in the whole country. Five of them are in Courchevel: Airelles Courchevel, Cheval Blanc Courchevel, Fouquet's Courchevel, L'Apogée Courchevel and Le K2 Palace. No other French ski resort has more than one.
Michelin dining. Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc, Yannick Alléno's restaurant, holds three Michelin stars in the 2026 guide and seats just five tables. Three more Courchevel restaurants hold two stars: Baumanière 1850, Le Sarkara at Le K2 Palace, and Sylvestre Wahid – Les Grandes Alpes.
The skiing itself. The glamour sits on top of a serious mountain. Courchevel's own sector has 150 km of pistes, and it connects to all 600 km of Les 3 Vallées. Émile Allais, the resort's technical director from 1954, brought the first snow groomer to France, and Courchevel is still known for its grooming. The new Saulire cable car opened in December 2024 and carries 160 people at a time up to 2,700 metres.
The 2026/27 season runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027.
Courchevel has more Palace hotels than any other ski resort, a three-star table, and skiing that matches both.
How to ski Courchevel without a Palace budget
The Palace hotels are in 1850, but the lift system is shared. Le Praz, La Tania, Courchevel Village and Moriond all connect to the same slopes. A guest in a La Tania apartment and a guest at Cheval Blanc can share a chairlift by 10 am.
Stay in different villages, ski the same mountain. La Tania is car-free and sits in the spruce forest at 1,400 m. A two-room apartment there for six people costs about €636 for the week of 5 December 2026, compared with €1,215 at the start of February (Agence Saulire, 2026/27 rates). Moriond (1650) is sunny and relaxed, with good choices for families. Hotel Écrin Blanc is a ski-in/ski-out four-star just below the village and across from Aquamotion. Moriond also has its own five-star, Manali Lodge, with 18 suites. Emerald Stay Courchevel offer a selection of chalets and apartments across Courchevel's different villages - from apartments for couples to luxury chalets for larger groups.
Get around for free. Free shuttle buses link all six villages. The Praz gondola takes six minutes from Le Praz up to 1850 and runs until 23:30 in winter, so you can have dinner in 1850 and still sleep in the village.
Buy the pass you'll use. A six-day Courchevel pass costs €385 for an adult in 2026/27, and the full 3 Vallées pass costs €421. If you only want one day in Méribel or Val Thorens, a 3 Vallées extension costs €49.50 on top of the Courchevel pass.
Eat Michelin in the value village. Le Farçon in La Tania has held a Michelin star since 2006 and sits right on the slopes. In Le Praz, Le Bistrot du Praz by the lake is listed in the Michelin Guide.
Plan a day off the slopes. Aquamotion, between Courchevel Village and Moriond, is billed as Europe's largest mountain aquatic centre. It has pools, slides, a spa and an indoor surf wave, and the free shuttle stops there.
The lower villages give you the same skiing at a different price, and the luxury of 1850 is only a gondola ride away.
Overrated: the Grand Couloir. Better: L'Éclipse
The Grand Couloir off La Saulire is Courchevel's most famous steep run, and strong skiers come to tick it off. It makes a great photo. But the hardest part is often the narrow ridge you traverse to reach the entrance. The steepest pitch lasts around half a dozen turns, and then it opens into a wide mogul field.
For a longer thrill, ski L'Éclipse. It was built for the men's races at the 2023 World Championships. The run starts near the Col de la Loze at 2,234 m and drops about 945 vertical metres over 3.2 km, through dense forest, before it comes out in Le Praz at 1,300 m. The trees give you contrast on flat-light days, when the open bowls up high turn grey. And the run finishes a short walk from lunch in Le Praz.
Intermediates have their own alternative. Skip the crowded summit and ride Vizelle or Saulire for the Creux, a long red under the Aiguille du Fruit (3,051 m). It is a classic cruise for confident intermediates.
The Grand Couloir is a proud tick, but L'Éclipse and the Creux are the runs you'll want to ski twice.
Hidden gems from Nicol Gastaldi of Alpina Travel
We interviewed Nicol Gastaldi, a former Olympic alpine ski racer who represented Argentina at the Vancouver 2010 and PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. She grew up following her ski-instructor father from season to season, and she spent almost two months in Courchevel with the Argentine national team before the 2018 Games. "Being able to experience everyday life here, rather than just visiting for a few days, made me appreciate everything Courchevel has to offer," she told us. Today she plans tailor-made ski holidays with Alpina Travel. These are her three favourite Courchevel tips.
Watch a World Cup race
Nicol recommends catching a World Cup race, even if you don't follow ski racing. You watch the best skiers in the world on the same slopes you ski, see how they prepare, and might spot them walking through the village later. "Having been on the other side of those competitions myself, I know how much work goes into every single run," she says. This season, the women's World Cup slalom comes to the Stade Émile-Allais in Courchevel 1850 on Tuesday 22 December 2026.
Après-ski, Courchevel style
Nicol's perfect day starts early on freshly groomed pistes, with a mid-morning coffee stop and skiing until about 2 pm. Then the second half of the day begins: a long lunch with friends at Cap Horn, the oldest mountain restaurant in Courchevel 1850, with good food, music and, before long, dancing on the tables. "It's not just about the party, it's about the whole day leading up to it," she says. For a bigger party lunch elsewhere in Les 3 Vallées, La Folie Douce has terraces in Méribel and Val Thorens.
Day trip to Annecy
For a change of scenery, Nicol takes a day off the slopes in Annecy, often called the Venice of the Alps, about two hours' drive from Courchevel. Walk the old town's canals and bridges, browse the boutiques and stop for a coffee by the lake. "I honestly can't imagine a trip to Courchevel without making time for Annecy," she says.
Can you rent ski clothes in Courchevel?
Yes. Cirkel Supply rents premium ski clothes and delivers them to your chalet, hotel or apartment in Courchevel before you arrive. When your holiday ends, leave the order at reception and we collect it. You can hire ski jackets, ski pants, ski suits, midlayers and gloves for men, women and children.
Our Courchevel skiwear rental suggestions fit the resort. Halfdays, Rudsak and WHITESPACE bring a polished look that suits a lunch in 1850. Patagonia covers adults and children, and Hestra GORE-TEX gloves keep hands warm on the Saulire cable car.
Layering matters here. Skiing in Courchevel runs from 1,300 m in Le Praz to 2,738 m at La Saulire, so the first lift of the day can be bitterly cold while a sunny terrace at lunch calls for lighter layers. Our guide to layering for skiing explains how to build an outfit for both.
Hiring your skiwear also leaves space in your luggage, and you don't buy a full outfit for one week a year. Head to our Courchevel ski clothing rental page to learn more.
Is Courchevel worth it? Our verdict
According to our local expert, Nicol Gastaldi, Courchevel is certainly worth the hype. The Palace hotels and Michelin tables are all phenomenal, and so is the skiing. The best part is that the resort works at two price points: book 1850 for the full experience, or stay in La Tania, Le Praz, Village or Moriond and ski the same 600 km of pistes for a much lower spend.
Thanks Nicol! We loved hearing your tips and tricks for a marvellous Courchevel ski vacation.
Courchevel FAQs
Is Courchevel part of Les 3 Vallées?
Yes. Courchevel is one of the resorts of Les 3 Vallées, alongside Méribel and Val Thorens, with 600 km of linked pistes.
Which Courchevel village is best on a budget?
La Tania, Le Praz, Courchevel Village and Moriond cost less than 1850 and connect to the same lift system. La Tania is car-free and ski-in/ski-out, and Moriond suits families.
When does the 2026/27 Courchevel ski season open?
Courchevel opens on 4 December 2026 and closes on 18 April 2027. Moriond and La Tania close a week earlier, on 11 April 2027.
