Why you Should Come to Courchevel this Ski Season

Courchevel is split into Courchevel (1850), Courchevel Moriond (1650), Courchevel Village (1550) and Le Praz (1330). You can ski between all three of these villages very easily, as well as having easy access to the rest of the 3 Valleys, for example Val Thorens is only four lift rides away!

Le Praz is located around the same height as La Tania, just slightly further around the mountain. It is home to the World Cup ski jump that is very impressive to watch. It is also used throughout the summer for training as there is plastic matting at the bottom to replace the snow. The lift up from Le Praz used to be quite slow but it has just been replaced with a high speed chairlift so skiing between the different parts of the Courchevel Valley is now easier than ever.

Courchevel (1850) is 400 metres higher than the centre of Meribel so benefits from a better snow fall throughout the whole season. The Saulire peak of the Meribel Valley is also the highest point of the Courchevel Valley. 1850 is home to the World Cup Stade which this year will host the Ladies World Cup on the 13th and 14th of December and a Ladies Europa Cup on the 16th and 17th of December. They're definitely great shows to watch if you are lucky enough to be around!

Aside from excellent skiing Courchevel has a lot more activities to offer including an amazing sledge track which is free to use in the evening. Sledge rental is cheap and I went numerous times last season to do this family fun activity, it’s made even more fun when they turn the lights on the sledge track out around 9pm!

You can also try out activities like microliting, sled dog tours, piste basher driving, hot air ballooning and ice climbing to add a special spark to your holiday (more winter activities here). For more relaxing activities, Courchevel has some amazing spas, notably Spa Le Saint Roch and the Clarins spa, Lana Spa. The newest attraction in Courchevel is the aquatic park, Aquamotion, located in Moriond (1650). This park will boast slides, pools, a spa, a wave pool and outdoor pools heated to 34°C to be enjoyed surrounded by snow. The project is set to be finished up for this winter season!

Courchevel has some of the best shopping in the Three Valleys. You can find all the top designers like Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Dolce and Gabbana alongside very chic mountain clothing shops with brands like Moncler, Colmar, Moon Boots, UGG and Bogner. There are also lots of little souvenir shops with the usual nick knacks that will keep the kids happy!

There are lots of lovely restaurants in resort too; to experience the best of French traditional cuisine in a warm and cosy environment head to La table de mon grand pere in Le Praz. On the pistes don’t miss the famous Cap Horn for great food, exquisite wines and even a little dancing. A visit to the oldest bakery in Courchevel located in the Forum, is also worth taking time out for. It's located just across the road from the pistes in 1850 and is a great place to pick up lunch for a picnic on the edge of the piste.

Courchevel will open for the winter on the 6th of December, that’s only a few weeks away and with snow falling heavily all over the Alps the countdown to the winter has definitely begun!