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Courchevel 1850 : the pinnacle of winter sports

Updated on September 10, 2026

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In the heart of Les 3 Vallées, Courchevel is a vast playground for winter sports enthusiasts. The resort has a whole range of experiences to choose from, including skiing, ski mountaineering, snowshoeing, extreme sports and family activities, in an outstanding natural environment.

At the summit of the French Alps, one name is on everyone’s lips: Courchevel 1850. The resort is an integral part of the Les 3 Vallées and the embodiment of a certain conception of what the mountains can be, in which winter sports are raised to the level of an art. Here, high performance and elegance come together to make unforgettable experiences, from legendary pure white slopes to the most exclusive of adventures. Embrace its vision of excellence.

Quintessential snow sports & a resort made for excellence

Snow sports are a culture in their own right here. From legendary pistes to freestyle spaces via the sinuous paths of Nordic skiing, the resort is a unique playground for every snow sport.

Alpine skiing’s legendary pistes

As soon as you have made it to your hotel, you are ready to slip your skis on and dive into the biggest ski area in the world, featuring 600 kilometres (or 375 miles) of some of the most prestigious pistes. With Courchevel 1850 as your base, you can spend the morning in Méribel, then climb to the top of Caron in Val Thorens and head back via Les Ménuires. Thanks to the magic of Les 3 Vallées, you can spend a day on the slopes without ever taking the same ski lift twice. It’s an unrivalled playground for superb skiing holidays sheltered by the peaks of La Vanoise and the imperious outline of Mont Blanc.

Snowboarding and freestyling : an endless playground

Alternative snow sports enthusiasts consider Courchevel to be the ideal blank canvas. Feel the intoxicating thrill of tackling wide, groomed pistes. And if you want to experience nature at its rawest, the Liberty Rides spaces are untouched but kept safe, so that you can get a taste of skiing on a light covering of fresh snow with total peace of mind and in delicious silence. The Family Park is a real French-style children’s club with carefully tailored learning modules. It’s the ideal place for perfecting your rotations or upskilling your grabs while looking out over the mountain tops.

Nordic skiing: elegance & endurance

Go Nordic skiing and breathe in the silence of the forests and snowy meadows, a world away from the more frenetic aspects of Alpine culture. Pistes wind for 50 kilometres (30 miles) between Norway spruces draped in white, from the heights of the Col de la Loze to the sheltered tracks of the altiport. Whether you are a classic cross-country skier or a skater, take some time out in the heart of unspoilt nature. It’s a whole other way of experiencing the mountains combining endurance with the elegance of your technique.

Courchevel 1850 : a historic center

Being both pioneering and iconic, Courchevel 1850 stands out from the five other villages in the resort. At an altitude of 1,850 metres, it offers direct access to the pistes and a good place to start your journey to the mountain tops. It was here that much of Courchevel’s recent history was written from the moment it was founded in 1946 with the ambition of designing the ultimate ski resort. It is now a leading international base for winter sports.

Beyond the pistes: wilderness adventures

To reconnect with yourself, sometimes you have to get away from the pistes. Expect experiences in which exertion and contemplation balance each other out, so that you can really commune with the Alpine landscapes in all their majesty.

Exploring snowy paths on snowshoes

To understand the mountains’ subtleties, you have to know how to slow down. With your snowshoes strapped to your feet, head off into the quiet of the forests or along the ridges to catch a glimpse of rarely seen panoramas. As you stride across the fresh snow, your gaze rises skywards and time seems to slow down. Special routes around Courchevel 1850 offer gentle walks through voluptuous landscapes and plateaux that seem to hang mid-air, leaving you the space to observe and immerse yourself in the scene.

Ski mountaineering: a privileged view of the summit

Ski mountaineering in Courchevel is quite the exclusive experience. Slip on your ski skins and climb to unspoilt ridges via marked trails wreathed in an almost monastic silence, or during a freerando session with a professional. As you go higher and higher, you start to read the terrain more acutely and get into a rhythm, the experience getting more intense with each metre. The journey only makes getting to the summit all the more moving. All that remains to do then is the descent and the rare privilege of leaving tracks in fresh snow, in the heart of a strikingly beautiful natural environment.

Fat bikes : riding snowy paths on a mountain bike

Grab a fat bike and take off on an energetic and unusual ride along snowy forest paths. With their out-sized tyres, these extra-muscly mountain bikes offer amazing grip. When the pistes close or night has fallen, brave visitors can experience an all-new type of thrill and try an exceptionally fun hybrid snow sport.

Out-of-the-ordinary experiences: exclusive thrills

If you would like to test your boundaries, Courchevel has exclusive experiences to get your adrenalin pumping. Unique moments like these make your skiing holiday unforgettable.

Ice climbing: vertical fun

If you would like to try an even more unusual winter sport, why not defy gravity on the ice wall at Courchevel 1850 altiport? It is 16 metres tall, no less! Alternatively, you can climb a raging river transformed by the cold into a real ice waterfall. In the company of a guide, you will learn how to understand the ice’s structure, spot its blue-tinted nuances and test its solidity before you land your ice pick and crampons. It is equal parts intense and unforgettable.

Heli skiing: the ultimate freeriding experience

Fly over the border to live an absolute dream experience. Your adventure starts with a spectacular panoramic flight from Courchevel altiport over glaciers and razor-sharp ridges. You are on your way to the wild peaks of the Aosta or Piedmont Valley. Once you have landed, you can soak up the ultimate luxury of wide open spaces. You are about to leave your mark on pristine slopes for the first time as you descend down endless fresh snow in legendary style.

Sports to enjoy with others

Enjoy lots of euphoric fun with family or friends and make memories for you all to share packed with laughs and thrills.

Sledging: new ways to descend the slopes

At 1850, sledging is all about having fun with family and friends. You don’t have to leave the resort to try some fun challenges with family or friends on the slopes of the Jardin Alpin or Les Verdons. Thrill-seekers will want to test their mettle on the legendary two-kilometre run. The spectacular track is fully lit on a night and links Courchevel 1850 to Courchevel Village. This chic, exhilarating snow sport is guaranteed to get your heart racing.

Ice skating: a breath of fresh air

For a break with a luxury lifestyle feel, go to Le Forum. This ice rink is a legacy of the 1992 Olympic Games. It is right at the centre of Courchevel 1850, so don’t miss your chance to let go and skate to the beat of an exciting playlist. When you have a bit of downtime between shopping sprees, come have fun on the ice or enjoy the galas and hockey matches. Take a break in an elegantly festive convivial ambiance.

Courchevel 1850 is both an exceptional ski resort and a base for all kinds of things to do deep in nature, making it the ultimate destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Whatever your ability level or preferences, it is overflowing with experiences and opportunities to try new things.

FAQ – Courchevel 1850 in winter

How can I get to Courchevel 1850 ?

By car: Take the A430 motorway to Albertville, then continue on to Moûtiers and finally Courchevel
By train: Moûtiers station has direct high-speed connections to Paris and major cities in France and Europe; the resort is a 30-minute drive away (by taxi or shuttle)
By plane: Courchevel 1850 altiport is in the middle of the resort for private transfers to and from the region’s airports (including Lyon, Chambéry and Geneva) as well as multiple destinations

Where should I learn to ski in Courchevel 1850 ?

There are several ski schools in Courchevel 1850 suitable for all abilities. Both the ESF (École du Ski Français) and independent schools provide group and private lessons for children and adults. Some also offer more one-to-one guidance with private instructors to help you learn quickly, go off-piste or try new sports such as freestyling and ski mountaineering.

When is the best time to stay in Courchevel 1850 in winter ?

The winter season runs from early December to mid-April. The best time to visit depends on your priorities:

December (Christmas and New Year period): a festive atmosphere and plenty of snow
January: quieter, with optimal snow
February: very busy because of the school holidays
March to mid-April: longer days, pleasant sunshine and still some quality snow at higher altitudes