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Courchevel Activities - Families & Kids
| Families & Kids Activities in Courchevel |
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There are a multitude of activities to keep everyone busy in Courchevel, whether outdoor, indoor, on land, in water or even in the air! So many popular sports have been adapted to enable children or beginners to experience a ‘taster’ in a safe and fun environment, so there is no reason not to get stuck in and try something new! |
| Arbre Aventure |
Swing through the trees high above the mountains on a circuit of zip lines, monkey bridges , ladders and ropes. You can travel through the forest without touching the floor, safely strapped into a harness and attached to a secure safety line. These eco-friendly adventure parks are created around the trees without damaging them in any way and can be dismantled if necessary, leaving the forest as though untouched.
The Guides Tyrolean Rope Traverse at Les Grandes Combes 1550 is open every day from 3pm-6.30pm for your to put your tarzan skills to the test. Both adults and children can enjoy this activity with different circuits for different ages and abilities. |
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last updated 8-Apr-2008 |
| Canyoning |
A not-so-gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day! You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course.
Not suitable for very young children, but anyone over the age of about 8 can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. You can choose from short beginners’ routes or longer ones for the more adventurous.
Hydrospeed is an alternative to rafting where you shoot down the river on a kind of inflatable body-board. Half-in half-out of the water you are closer to the action and guaranteed a soaking!
Different companies will have their own policies on age limits but usually, unless they are booked onto a children's activity course, anyone under the age of about 14 years old will have to be accompanied by an adult. A basic level of swimming ability is required for safety reasons.
Chardon Loisirs offers 4 descents a day down the Doron River (level 4) and there are a number of other local companies that offer a similar range of water activities. |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Children's Climbing |
Courchevel Bureau des Guides encourages children to discover the fun of climbing from an early age with a variety of adventure playgrounds and beginners climbing courses. All activities are carried out with safety helmets and harnesses under the watchful eye of the guides.
The Squirrels’ Route is suitable for all adventurous children over the age of 5. They will climb through the trees in safety via a route of monkey bridges, a Nepalese bridge and a Tyrolean traverse.
At Les Grandes Combes 1550 you will find The Guides Tyrolian Rope Traverse, which will put your little monkeys’ climbing skills to the test! |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Children's Entertainments |
Courchevel offers a number of organised entertainments for children throughout the summer. Highlights include: the Village des Enfants where children of all ages can take part in a wide range of cultural and sporting activities; festivals such as the ‘Teenities’, which is a large scale event for families aimed mostly at children between 7-14 years, the programme includes cinema screenings, sports, comics, shows and video games; the Teenag’games. For festivals and other entertainments enquire at the Tourist Office for details or check our What’s On Calendar to see what is happening when.
Aires de Jeux are typical children’s playgrounds with climbing frames, slides and suchlike. They are aimed at children under the age of 13 and can be found in Saint Bon, Courchevel 1300/Le Praz, 1650 and 1850. Entry is free and they are open from June until the end of October.
There are also trampolines at the Espace Ludique in Place du Tremplin, Courchevel 1850. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Cinema |
There are four cinemas throughout the various levels of Courchevel, each showing the latest French and international films. If you want to see an English-language film find out beforehand whether it is being shown in French, English (version originale) or with subtitles (sous-titres). Watching a film with subtitles can be a great way to learn a few new French phrases - their usefulness will depend entirely on the kind of film you are watching though!
For contact details and film schedules please see here. |
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last updated 5-Jun-2008 |
| Funny Track Mountain Biking |
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Mountain biking needn’t be too hardcore for the kids (or the parents!) La Saulire’s new ‘Funny Track Itinerary’ is a 4.5km downhill route with 6 different tracks to put you through your paces. It has been designed with families in mind and is suitable for all abilities. |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Hiking & Walking |
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There is plenty of exploring to be done in Courchevel, particularly in La Vanoise National Park, which was established in 1963 and was France’s first national park. Abundant in local flora, fauna and a number of beautiful mountain lakes there is so much to see. Why not visit a market in the morning for local cheeses, meats and fresh bread and take a picnic into the meadows? The Courchevel Valley has hundreds of kilometres of beautiful, marked walking trails and maps and guides are available from the Tourist Office. To reach the higher trails you can buy a Pedestrian Lift Pass; from a higher elevation you can see the most spectacular views. For the more adventurous, try longer hikes into the Vanoise National Park, perhaps staying overnight in a refuge. The local Mountain Guides Office offer guided group walks, walks on a glacier, and private, longer trips.
The following routes and trails have been provided courtesy of Courchevel Tourist Office. ... see "Courchevel Hiking & Walking" for more
Read more about the Vanoise National Park
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last updated 18-Jun-2008 |
| Horse Riding |
Seeing the mountains from horseback is a great way to cover more ground and see more of the local wildlife. The Village des Poneys in Courchevel 1300 Le Praz offers short and long rides (from just 1 hour going up to a full day) to suit all abilities.
Prices without a guide (so children best not to be left unsupervised) are €10 for half an hour and €14 for an hour.
Alternatively, supervised activities with an instructor take place every morning between 9.30-12.00 and include beginners’ lessons, games and forest strolls. Reservation is advised. |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Le Forum |
Le Forum, opposite La Croisette in Courchevel 1850, houses an indoor climbing wall, an Olympic ice rink, a gym, a bowling alley, games machines, sports shops and boutiques. Details of all these activities can be found in our Action, Fun & Sports listings.
The gym or 'Centre de Remise en Forme' is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4pm to 9pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 2pm and from 4pm to 9pm.
Details of other gyms and fitness centres can be found on our Health & Fitness page.
The indoor climbing wall is hard to miss as it runs right through the centre of the shopping centre! There are instructors available to give lessons, should you need them.
The Ice Rink is open every day from 3-7pm and on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9-11pm. On days when bad weather keeps people off the mountains they sometimes open early at 2pm. Regular galas and special events are held at the rink so it is worth enquiring in resort or having a look at our What’s On calendar before you go.
The Bowling Alley is complete with 8 international competition lanes and is open every day from 2pm-2am (may open as early as 11am on bad weather days). Look out for their ‘disco bowling’ nights and other entertainments!
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last updated 9-Jul-2008 |
| Miniature Golf |
For some gentle exercise on a sunny afternoon Courchevel 1850 has a mini-golf course on Place du Tremplin in front of the Croisette at the Espace Ludique.
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last updated 22-Apr-2008 |
| Paragliding ('Parapente') |
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From the heights of the Courchevel mountains you can fly above the pistes for an alternative view of the valley. Glide back to the bottom on a tandem paraglider controlled by the instructor (a vertical distance of approximately 1000m). They manoeuvre the parachute while you, the passenger, enjoy the ride and fantastic views. Taking off is the only scary moment: once equipped with a helmet and an instructor strapped behind you, in a rather intimate way, both of you simply point your skis (or board, or run on foot) downhill, and carry on getting faster and faster until the wing lifts you into the air. Peacefully ride above the pistes for ten to twenty minutes, aiming to catch thermals to keep you up for longer. Landing is very gentle and no more of an impact than jumping off a step. ... see "Courchevel for Paragliding" for more |
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last updated 9-Jul-2008 |
| Snowshoe Walking ('Raquette à Neige') |
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Strap lightweight plastic snowshoes to your feet, and walk effortlessly through deep snow. You can obtain trail maps and daily updates from Courchevel Tourist Office, or you will find many guiding companies who can offer full or half day excursions. Snowshoe trails are clearly marked with a small sign showing a pair of snowshoes and a number.
Either set out on your own, or join a group led by a knowledgeable local guide and explore the hidden parts of the valley. On these outings you will get off the beaten track to follow animal footprints, discover mountain flora and fauna and learn the history of the valley. This is a perfect activity for bad weather conditions, or for non-skiers. Snowshoes and ski poles are usually provided, if not you can hire them from local ski and snowboard shops.
... see "Courchevel Snowshoe Walks" for more |
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last updated 9-Jul-2008 |
| Swimming Pool |
There is a public swimming baths at the Grandes Combes in Courchevel 1550 that offers a variety of classes for children and adults, as well as aquagym and diving flippers. It has 2 pools, one of which is partially out-doors. Free access with the leisure card 'Forfait Loisirs'.
There is another public indoor swimming pool in the Forum Centre in Courchevel 1850. For details and enquiries of the public swimming pools please see here.
If you fancy something a little more refined a number of hotels have pools that are open to the public; you may have to pay for spa facilities for the day so enquire directly to find out whether you can just pay for pool access or not. Hotels to try are Diamant Forme, Centre Bien Etre des Trois Vallées, Centre Bien Etre des Neiges and Les Thermes du Carlina. |
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last updated 2-Jun-2008 |
| Tennis |
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Courchevel 1550 has a 10-court tennis club with coach Nathalie Seybald on hand to impart some top tips. Tournaments are held on Thursdays and the club is open from 1st July - 31st August. You can play free of charge for 2 hours a week during off-peak times with the leisure card ‘Forfait Loisirs’. |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Toboganning |
Once night has fallen and the skiers have deserted the slopes you can still enjoy the thrill of whizzing down a mountain with the wind in your face – on a toboggan! At the edge of the Tovets ski run in 1850 is a 2km toboggan run that will take you all the way down to the Grangettes gondola in 1550. Floodlit from start to finish, allowing evening descents, the run is free of charge to all holders of a valid ski or pedestrian lift pass (€6 per ride without a lift pass).
There are also 2 specially designed and regularly maintained tobogganing areas for children at Les Grandes Combes, between 1550 and 1650, and (for very young children) on the snow front at La Croisette.
Sledges can be hired or bought fairly cheaply from most Sport Shops. |
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last updated 9-Jul-2008 |
| Tradition & Crafts |
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The summer is the ideal time to ramble through the picture-perfect Alpine pastures and visit some traditional dairy farms. The famous Beaufort cheese has been produced here since the Middle Ages (then known as ‘vachelin’) when monks and village communities farmed the land. These days the high alpine farms welcome visitors on to their guided tours and, of course, into their cheese shops. |
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last updated 5-Jun-2008 |
| Via Ferrata |
If climbing up sheer rock on the end of a piece of rope sounds a bit scary then Via Ferrata climbing offers an element of security that still allows beginners to enjoy the achievement of having scaled a mountain! This form of climbing was invented by Italian soldiers in the Dolomites who used it to enable them to scale vertiginous faces easily and quickly. These days it is a popular sport that makes the thrill of mountain climbing more accessible to children, beginners and those who want a bit more security when they climb.
Following marked routes through the mountains you are helped along by steps, bridges and ladders whilst being roped up for extra safety. Suitable for adults and children over the age of 8; guides can be arranged on request.
Beginners can take their first steps at Lac de le Rosiere, where you will find fairly easy routes on which to find your head for heights! There are more challenging routes at the Croix des Verdons, which can be reaches by taking the Verdons cablecar followed by the Sauliere cable car and then walking for 10 minutes from the top station towards a crest. The route itself is quite physically demanding, leading you down narrow passages and along steep ledges, but is well equipped. The full route should take around 2-3 hours. |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| White Water Rafting |
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If you haven't experienced this before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! Courchevel has a number of trained guides who will let you experience some of the best white water rafting available in the Alps. From the middle of May until September, the mountain rivers flow furiously as they are fed from the melt waters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a 3 hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint. |
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last updated 24-Apr-2008 |
| Winter Walking Trails |
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Just because they are under a great deal of snow it does not mean that the many hiking trails of Courchevel are inaccessible – far from it! 17km of marked and maintained paths offer a peaceful way to enjoy the splendour of the wintery mountains. You can obtain trail maps and daily updates from Courchevel Tourist Office, or you will find many guiding companies who can offer full or half day excursions. You can wear strong warm hiking boots on most of the trails, or don a pair of snowshoes to tramp through deep untouched snow.
The following winter walks all follow marked and maintained trails and have been provided courtesy of Courchevel Tourist Office, please visit before you set off for daily updates of weather and conditions. ... see "Courchevel Winter Walking Trails" for more |
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last updated 11-Jul-2008 |
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