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Courchevel Activities - Summer
| Summer Activities in Courchevel |
The majority of things to do in Courchevel relate to being outdoors, and whilst there are many organised activities, getting out there is mainly what it is about - at a leisurely pace or at warp speed, it's up to you.
The list of activities available in the summer is endless and there is always something to suit everyone; whether it be families with small children, seasoned hikers, thrill-seekers or simply those who want to get away from it all and try something new.
Don’t forget to make use of the ‘Forfait Loisirs’ or Leisure Pass. Available from the Tourist Office and the swimming pool this can be purchased for either 5 or 7 days and offers free or reduced access to a wide variety of activities – including some ski lifts! |
| 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 |
| Archery |
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Practice your Robin of Sherwood target skills in the tranquil forest setting of the hunters’ circuit at Les Grand Combes. Beginners can learn from scratch and those with more experience can benefit from the advice of instructors from the French Federation. |
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last updated 25-Jan-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 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 |
| Fishing |
With 7 designated fishing sites Courchevel is an angler’s haven! The area boasts 6 breathtaking mountain lakes and a river, Lac du Praz and Lac de la Rosière being popular spots.
Fishing supervision is managed by Didier Malgouyres (tel: 06 15 20 66 19 or 04 79 08 11 51) and a respectful approach to fishing is appreciated to help maintain the balance of nature. Local authorities request that all anglers fill in catch declarations and pay their fishing dues.
Fishing licences can be bought from all Courchevel Tourist offices, Olympic Sport in 1330/Le Praz and at the police station. These licenses are compulsory and only one person is allowed to use each licence.
The regulations of all Courchevel fishing lakes are as follows:
Open: from July 14th 2007 (except Lac Bleu and Pêtre from July 1st)
Close: on October 7th 2007.
Timetable: 30 minutes before sunrise, 30 minutes after official sunset.
Number of fish caught: 3 fish in all the mountain lakes except at "Merlet Supérieur" where only NO KILL fly fishing is authorised.
Fishing licences: compulsory (regular checks do take place), as is declaration of fish caught.
For further terms and conditions please contact Courchevel Tourist Office. |
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last updated 25-Jan-2008 |
| Flying Tours |
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Enjoy the fabulous view from a bird’s eye perspective! Various companies within Courchevel offer tourist flights in helicopters or small aircraft. You can also book flying lessons with qualified instructors if you fancy taking the controls. |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Glacier Walking |
For a truly unique experience, clamp on your crampons and go hiking on one of the many glaciers in the Three Valleys area. The breathtaking views and spectacular crevasses make this an incredible adventure. There are a number of glacial hikes, of varying difficulty, in this region of the Alps. Most mountain guiding companies will run organised excursions to the most accessible.
To read more about glaciers and the environment please go to our Glacier Meltdown article. |
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last updated 8-May-2008 |
| Golf |
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Courchevel Golf Course is going from strength to strength with regular competitions, prize givings and a welcoming atmosphere for tourists and residents alike. Enjoy the spectacular views across the fairways, or take the opportunity to brush up your skills with some private tuition with resident pro Greg Ruffier. |
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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 |
| Hot Air Ballooning (Vol en Montgolfiere) |
Hot air ballooning looks serene, but there are moments of excitement; once the creaking wicker basket rises off the ground you are uncomfortably reminded that you are suspended hundreds of metres above the ground in a small twig structure! The views are stunning, and as you glide over the forests you may see deer and other animals normally hidden from view. The pilot controls the height but the wind determines which direction you take, so the flight can take anything from one to two hours, depending on when a suitable landing site comes into view.
There are a number of local companies that can arrange your ballooning trip. |
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last updated 22-Apr-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 |
| Mountain Biking in Courchevel |
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A number of ski shops become mountain bike shops in the summer (for example Olympic Sports in Le Praz). During July and August a number of the major lifts open and allow the carriage of mountain bikes to the top. From there it’s a long way down and you don’t need to touch the pedals (good brakes however are imperative)! ... see "Courchevel Mountain Biking" for more |
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last updated 25-Jan-2008 |
| Paintball |
This exciting activity offers fun for groups of all ages. A variety of scenarios are offered at the beginning of all games, with each game lasting approximately 2 hours; the ultimate aim is to shoot your oppenents with paint pellets and capture their flag before they get hold of yours.
Les Grand Combes paintball area has 3000m of designated forest in which to pretend you are Jack Bauer (or PJ from Byker Grove) with lots of natural obstacles to dive behind, jump over and fire from! Equipment is supplied and teams of 5-7 players are supervised by an instructor. |
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last updated 22-Apr-2008 |
| Panoramic Helicopter Tours |
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Sit back and admire the mountains from even higher up! Daily panoramic helicopter flights are available (weather permitting) with a number of local flight companies or some mountain guide companies. Relax and enjoy the stunning views as you fly over the snowcapped mountain tops, glaciers and alpine forests of the Three Valleys. |
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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 |
| Rock Climbing |
To hone your skills Courchevel has an indoor climbing wall in the Forum in 1850, rising up through the centre of the shopping arcades.
For those who want to experience the real thing there is plenty of natural rock throughout the Three Valleys, to tackle under your own steam or under the watchful eye of a guide. The near proximity of the Vanoise National Park opens up a range of climbing options. |
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last updated 23-Apr-2008 |
| Summer Activities in Courchevel |
The majority of things to do in Courchevel relate to being outdoors, and whilst there are many organised activities, getting out there is mainly what it is about - at a leisurely pace or at warp speed, it's up to you.
The list of activities available in the summer is endless and there is always something to suit everyone; whether it be families with small children, seasoned hikers, thrill-seekers or simply those who want to get away from it all and try something new.
Don’t forget to make use of the ‘Forfait Loisirs’ or Leisure Pass. Available from the Tourist Office and the swimming pool this can be purchased for either 5 or 7 days and offers free or reduced access to a wide variety of activities – including some ski lifts! |
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last updated 25-Jan-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 |
| 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 |
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