a view looking past a gondola down to courchevel

the top of courchevel's mountains in summer still snowy

walking paths and trails in courchevel in summer

Courchevel's Summer Season Has Started

Summer lifts give you access to some great hiking & mountain biking

featured in News & reviews Author Gemma Hunt, Courchevel Reporter Updated 21 January 2016

The Courchevel Summer season is now underway! The heat wave is not letting up and the sun shone brightly for walkers and bikers this weekend taking advantage of the lifts opening.

In Courchevel this Summer both the Verdons bubble and the Saulire cablecar are open for July and August from Sunday-Friday. The Verdons lift is open from 9.30am-4.45pm and Saulire 9.30am-4.40pm. The lift is also open in Le Praz the same days/times. The La Tania lift is the only free lift in the Three Valleys this summer, open Sunday-Friday but note that there is lunchtime closing; 9.30am-12.30pm then 1.30pm-4.45pm. All providing plenty are opportunity to explore the Summer mountains. [Find all 3 Valleys lift opening dates & times here].

Without the snow Courchevel looks like a totally different resort. The view at the top of Saulire is absolutely stunning. It was really nice to be strolling around up there is shorts and t-shirt rather than winter jacket, hat and gloves!

You really need to grab a summer trails map for all the walking and mountain bike trails available. The routes are graded similar to the winter piste map in terms of difficulty and beware they’re not messing about with the grading! I personally thought how difficult can a ‘black’ walk be, it’s just a walk surely? I was proven wrong as I ended up on hands and knees crawling along a tiny track! Walking at altitude can also prove more difficult so make sure you have plenty of water and also extra clothes. Despite the lovely sunshine you have to remember you are in the mountains and temperatures and conditions can change rapidly, particularly if you are walking as there’s not a quick descent so just be aware of timings.

There were some brave folk at the weekend tackling the via ferrata just under the Saulire lift at Croix des Verdons. There are plenty of guides available to provide the kit and to show you the way. A great way to literally climb that mountain.

A great event coming up this weekend is the 3 Valleys Addict Tour on 11th and 12th July. There are several mountain biking events taking place in/around Courchevel for all levels. At the top of Saulire on Saturday there is the ‘3 Valleys Free Bike’ covering 20km with a 2000m descent! Young cyclists don’t miss out either with the 3 Valleys Kids event starting in Courchevel 1850 with two age groups 9-13yrs and 14-17yrs accompanied by an instructor. On Sunday there is the 3 Valleys Free Rando (10yrs +) with a maximum of up to 80km to cover if you’ve got the legs for it!

All in all plenty going on this week for a pretty active time in Courchevel.

Read more about summer lift prices and options.