Chalet Alta

Everything a first-time visitor, a family or a group needs to know before booking a ski holiday in Courchevel – written by people who work in the Alps, with the questions guests actually ask us.

Which Courchevel? The villages explained

“Courchevel” is really five villages stacked up one mountainside, and the number after the name is roughly its altitude in metres. They share one lift system, but they feel very different to stay in.

• Courchevel 1850 – the highest and most famous village, and where Chalet Alta is. Designer boutiques, Michelin-starred restaurants, the main ski lifts at La Croisette and the altiport. If you want to walk to everything and ski straight out, this is the one.
• Courchevel Moriond (1650) – sunnier, more relaxed, with its own quieter ski area that is ideal for improving skiers. A 10-minute bus or ski down to 1850.
• Courchevel Village (1550) – quieter and more residential, home to the Aquamotion water park. A quick gondola up to 1850.
• Le Praz (1300) – the original farming village with the Olympic ski jumps, a small lake and some of the best value restaurants.
• La Tania – a small, car-free, family-friendly village in the trees between Courchevel and Méribel.

The skiing: Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées

Courchevel is one corner of Les 3 Vallées, the largest linked ski area in the world with around 600 km of marked pistes across Courchevel, Méribel, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle. Courchevel’s own area is about 150 km and is famous for immaculate grooming, wide tree-lined blues and a north-facing aspect that holds snow well.

• Beginners – the gentle green runs at Pralong, Bellecôte and the Jardin Alpin, right above 1850, are among the best learning slopes in the Alps. Several lifts in the beginner “Zen zones” are free.
• Intermediates – this is Courchevel’s sweet spot: long, wide, perfectly groomed blues and reds such as Creux, Combe de la Saulire and the runs down to Moriond. From the top of Saulire (2,738 m) you can ski over into Méribel and on to Val Thorens.
• Advanced – the Grand Couloir off Saulire, the Suisses run, the Jockeys and Jean Blanc blacks down to Le Praz, and easy access to the whole 3 Vallées for a big-mileage day.
• Snow reliability – 1850 sits high for a French resort with lift access to over 2,700 m, plus extensive snowmaking. Val Thorens (3,230 m) is within reach on a 3 Vallées pass for late-season snow.

Getting to Courchevel

• By air – Geneva (about 2 h 30 by road), Lyon (about 2 h 15), Chambéry (about 1 h 45) and Grenoble (about 2 h 15). Courchevel also has its own altiport at 1850 for private aircraft and helicopter transfers, minutes from Chalet Alta.
• By train – high-speed trains to Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains, then about 35 minutes by road up to 1850. Direct trains from Paris take around 4½ hours; from London, change in Paris or Lille.
• By car – Courchevel is roughly 9 hours from Calais. Winter tyres or chains are required by law in the Savoie in winter, and the road up from Moûtiers can be slow on Saturday changeover days.

Our advice: book a private transfer for the last leg so nobody drives on mountain roads after a flight. We can arrange this for you.

When to go

The season usually runs from early December to mid-April. Christmas and New Year and the February school holidays are the busiest and most expensive weeks, and the best chalets are booked a year ahead. January is quiet with excellent snow and shorter lift queues. March brings longer, sunnier days, lively terraces and still-reliable snow on the higher slopes; it is our favourite month for families and groups who want a bit of everything.

Courchevel for families

• Ski school – the ESF and several English-speaking independent schools run children’s classes from around age three, with meeting points at La Croisette a short walk from Chalet Alta. Book lessons at the same time as the chalet for peak weeks.
• Beginner areas – the free Zen zones and magic carpets at Pralong and Bellecôte mean little ones can learn without a full lift pass.
• Off the slopes – the Aquamotion water park at Courchevel Village (wave pool, slides, surf simulator and a spa for parents), the outdoor ice rink at 1850, the 3 km Moriond Racing toboggan run at 1650, and sledging areas in each village.
• At Chalet Alta – two bunk rooms with en-suite showers, a cinema room for tired legs after skiing, and a chef who is used to cooking for children early and adults later. Babysitting and childcare can be arranged through the concierge.

Courchevel for groups and celebrations

A catered chalet is the easiest way to holiday as a big group: one house, one team, one bill, and nobody cooks. Chalet Alta dines twelve at one table, has a wine cellar, a cinema and a private spa, and the residence bar opens from 4.30pm for après-ski without leaving the building. For mixed-ability groups, Courchevel’s layout is ideal: everyone can meet for lunch at a mountain restaurant on the Saulire side whatever they have skied that morning.

If you don’t ski

Courchevel is one of the best Alpine resorts for non-skiers. Pedestrian lift passes let you ride up to the mountain restaurants for lunch with the skiers, there are marked winter walking and snowshoe trails, the residence spa and Aquamotion for a full day of wellness, an outdoor ice rink, dog-sledding and scenic helicopter flights from the altiport. Courchevel 1850’s boutiques and galleries are a pleasant afternoon on their own, and the Forum centre has a bowling alley and climbing wall.

Lift passes, ski school and equipment

• Which pass? A Courchevel-only pass covers 150 km and suits beginners and families who will stay on this side. A 3 Vallées pass unlocks all 600 km; confident intermediates and above will want it for at least a few days. Passes can be upgraded day by day.
• Equipment – the residence's ski room at La Croisette has rental, a ski technician and heated boot racks, so skis and boots never come back to the chalet. A five-minute walk or two-minute shuttle from Chalet Alta.
• Lessons – private instructors and guides for the 3 Vallées can be arranged through the concierge or through us.

Eating out and après-ski

Courchevel has more Michelin stars than any other ski resort in the world, including Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc with three stars and Le Chabichou with two at the time of writing. On the mountain, the slope-side restaurants around Saulire and Chenus are an institution, from white-tablecloth lunches to sunny terraces with a plat du jour. Après-ski ranges from live music at the bars on La Croisette to a quieter glass of Savoie wine on the chalet terrace. Ask us for current recommendations and we will book the tables.

What to pack

• Layers: a warm mid-layer and a waterproof shell beat one heavy jacket. Courchevel is high and north-facing, so January can be cold.
• High-factor sunscreen and lip balm, sunglasses and goggles – the altitude sun is strong even in cloud.
• Helmets for everyone (rentable), a small backpack for the mountain, and ski socks that go above the boot.
• Something smart for dinner: Chalet Alta’s chef will cook a proper dinner most nights, and Courchevel 1850 restaurants dress up in the evening.
• Swimwear and flip-flops for the spa and pool, and slippers for the chalet.

A sample week at Chalet Alta

1. Saturday – transfer up from Geneva or Moûtiers, ski hire fitted at La Croisette, welcome dinner from your chef.
2. Sunday – ski school for the children at 9 am; adults warm up on the blues off Verdons and Vizelle. Lunch on the mountain together.
3. Monday – over the top of Saulire into Méribel for the day. Cinema night at the chalet.
4. Tuesday – spa morning, then the sunny Moriond side in the afternoon. Dinner out in 1850.
5. Wednesday – the big one: Courchevel to Val Thorens and back on a 3 Vallées pass, or a guided off-piste day.
6. Thursday – non-skiers try snowshoeing and Aquamotion; skiers do the blacks down to Le Praz. Fondue night.
7. Friday – last laps, toboggan run at Moriond, farewell dinner from the chef.