Out-of-the-ordinary activities in Courchevel : unusual experiences in the heart of Les 3 vallées

Activities that take you higher: zero-gravity Courchevel

To get a sense of how immense the Alps really are, sometimes you have to step back from them. Leave terra firma behind, get a fresh perspective and you will be able to embrace your majestic surroundings.

The ballet of the skies: hot air ballooning over the mountains

Your experience starts in the cool dawn air of the altiport. Although the resort is only just starting to stir, your hot air balloon is drifting up and away in a silence only broken by the gentle hiss of the burner. Slowly, the village disappears, leaving in its place an immense white landscape. You will gaze upon a striking panorama as the sun’s rays start to creep over the ridges of La Vanoise. And there it is, standing majestic right in front of you: Mont Blanc. When you get up close to Europe’s most elevated point, time stands still. In these moments of serenity, you become a privileged spectator in a land of giants, carried aloft with the currents of air.

Total freedom: paragliding & speed riding over legends

In our next activity, the power of burners and rotors gives way to the power of the wind. Ski paragliding offers the gentlest of take-offs and silent flights. All of a sudden, there you are, gliding over the wooden chalets and Norway spruce forests like a bird of prey. Skiers looking for high-paced experiences will relish speed riding’s radical combination of snow sports and flying. As you experiment with the terrain, going from phases of rapid contact with the snow to vivid flight, you will descend the slopes in three dimensions. This is a dynamic and technically demanding way to get to grips with Les 3 Vallées ski area in all its grandeur, transforming the mountain into an ever-changing, unlimited playground.

A white odyssey: the call of the dog sledding pack

In the uppermost reaches of the resort, where the Praméruel plateau fans out into immaculate valleys, you take on another kind of epic adventure through the boreal forests. Take the reins of a dog sled or simply let yourself be guided by the pack at an altitude of 2,000 metres and follow in the footsteps of Jack London’s Call of the Wild. Either comfortably seated in the nook of a sled or upright on the runners if you would like to try mushing, you will dash along, carried by the sled’s contact with the fresh, powdery snow. Being in tune with the animals is the important thing here, rather than any mechanics, giving you access to pristine landscapes and hitherto inaccessible hidden trails. This wild way of travelling is the legacy of great explorers and lets you live purely in the now, for a unique communion with the elements.

The art of living at altitude, the art of living in Courchevel

In Courchevel, snow sport isn’t the only way to feel amazing. The resort’s unique lifestyle nurtures a sense of elegance, conviviality and wellbeing every moment of the day, and always with the same high expectations for quality.

Shared adventures, precious memories

Courchevel holds a privileged place in many people’s memories, and there is no better way to rediscover that carefree childhood feeling than on the legendary sledging slope between Courchevel 1850 and Courchevel Village. This two-kilometre (one and a quarter-mile) route winds from the wooded edges of the Jardin Alpin through the forest, the way lit by floodlights as dark falls to make your nighttime experience even better. Go with friends or family for the simple delight of laughing together under the stars. Visitors with a playful sense of fun will be drawn to the mountain yurt, where they will solve their very own mystery. At an altitude of 2,000 metres, dive into an immersive role play and use teamwork to work out the puzzles before an avalanche comes crashing down the mountain. Soak in a cosy atmosphere as you share in the suspense.

Absolute serenity: yoga & baroque treasures

As you gaze out onto great white landscapes, yoga seems beautifully befitting to the silence of the Alps. As you commune with the mountains, your breathing adjusts to the altitude of Les 3 Vallées. What a special setting for regaining a sense of calm and harmony. Every pose becomes an active meditation and an invitation to slow down, as the pure mountain air and sunlight sharpen your awareness of your own being. This quest for peace takes on an almost spiritual dimension by torchlight as you head towards Saint-Bon church. Once you have stepped through this baroque gem’s doors, a sacred silence reigns and, in the quiet of the night, the golden sculpted retables reveal that an ancient sense of devotion has not been lost.