The C&TH Guide To Courchevel
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12 hours ago
Where to stay, what to do, what's new
Brits have been enchanted by Courchevel for nearly 80 years now, with the French resort marking its oak anniversary in 2026. Tessa Dunthorne shares the inside scoop on what to expect if you’re planning a trip this winter season, what to do, where to stay, and what’s new.
The Inside Scoop On Courchevel
The Basics: What (And Where) Is Courchevel?
Courchevel is located in the Three Valleys, which is the world’s largest connected ski area. It’s generally considered the uber-luxe end of the French Alps (whilst its neighbouring Meribel is beloved by families and Val Thorens is the student party hub).
Within Courchevel, there are five ski resorts: La Tania, Courchevel Le Praz, Courchevel Village, Courchevel 1650 Moriond and – the highest – Courchevel 1850. If you were to imagine Courchevel, it is probably 1850 that your mind conjures, beloved as it is by the oligarchs and mega-rich, its streets lined by designer boutiques and Michelin-starred restaurants. But the other villages are equally as characterful and each holds a unique charm.
What’s The Skiing Like?
With a ski season that runs from early December to mid-April, and fair snow guaranteed due to its elevation, Courchevel is a popular destination for snowfiends. It has it all: well-groomed pistes, harrowing cliff-faces, pretty tree-lined vistas, and a sweetie-box assortment of runs that suit every level of skier. More specifically, a 600km network of runs, as a typical lift pass here benefits from access to the entire Three Valleys. Most visitors can expect to visit here for up to a week without ever doubling tracks. And the central hub of La Croisette offers a sociable meeting point should your ski party split up during your trip.
Image courtesy of Courchevel Tourism board
Novice skiers are well-catered for. There’s a plethora of ski schools, the largest of which is the ESF, as well as plenty of seasonaires offering guide services. A number of transformations have been installed to improve beginner skiing for the anniversary, too. For total beginners, the nursery slopes at 1850 have replaced trickier gondola lifts with a long magic carpet (also fitted with lights and sound, making it suitable for private events hire). And the slopes are dotted with new ‘easy skiing’ signs, pointing the way to Courchevel’s plentiful green and blue slopes.
The resort is a total treat for intermediate and advanced skiers, too. You can experience a true top-to-bottom run via the Combe de Pylones (all the way to Le Praz), or test your metal on the Grand Couloir, a legendary 340m run that hits a maximum 80 percent incline.
Importantly, the lifts are very reliable – and, this year, even faster. The main lift at La Croisette has had a huge upgrade to make queuing speedier. At the Verdons summit, the arrival station has been made more spacious and there’s an additional panoramic terrace to soak in the incredible views.
How’s The Food Scene?
You’ll hardly go hungry: Courchevel 1850 holds the highest concentration of Michelin stars of any ski resort in the world, with seven different restaurants holding the award. There’s the three-star Le 1947 by Yannick Alléno, as well as a clutch of one- and two-starred joints.
But the choice of midday snacking is almost to the point of overwhelm. We’d be foolish not to mention Cap Horn, the oldest restaurant at Courchevel 1850, with its DJ lunchtime sets and freeflowing champagne. Then there’s Bel Air at 1650 with its reasonably priced plat du jour (but be warned: it claims to be booked every day of the year – so call ahead). For evening feasts, La Saulire (Courchevel 1850) offers traditional Savoyard cooking – think fondues with the garnishment of Mickey Mouse ears made of truffle – to romantic candlelight in a traditional Alpine chalet. And down the road, there’s the less traditional Loulou at Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges, the Alpine outpost from the fancy Parisian bistro of the same name with refined Italian-gone-Piedmont fare.
New for this year is the reimagining of the former Le Gaulous boutique in Courchevel 1650 as the Grenier des Alpages, a café-restaurant. Here punters can expect mouthwatering raclette sandwiches and apple omelets, as well as the chance to take-away gourmet hampers or employ home catering services.
What’s The Après-Ski Like?
Though it’s not as party-hard as Val Thorens, Courchevel offers a great – if dressier – après-ski. Long lunches with wine are on the menu, as are after-dark cocktails at lively restaurants and chalet bars. Of course, you can still enjoy the Folie Douce Méribel-Courchevel (which serves both resorts) where drinks are delivered to VIPs by zip-wire across the dance floor. But if sparkling conversation is more to your taste, Le Bar de L’Apologée in 1850 boasts incredible views, its own cigar lounge, and a vintage champagne collection to enjoy alongside live music.
Is It Suitable For Families?
It absolutely is, made only easier by the myriad nannying services in the ski resort. Scott Dunn has this year launched its Explorers nannying service in leading French resorts, with rates starting at £1,350 for six days of support. This includes the management of every detail from ski school drop-off to pick-up, as well as age-appropriate activities such as sledging, swimming and snowman-building.
How Is Courchevel For Sustainability?
It’s hard to talk about skiing these days without also mentioning climate change. Courchevel was awarded a Green Resort label in 2017, a third-party certification that recognises where tourist destinations have met high sustainability standards. The preservation of fir forests in La Tania were a key factor in the achievement of this award. The new work on lifts and arrival stations in La Croisette and Verdons, too, have built-in sustainability considerations, such as the creation of 400 sqm of solar panels, a rainwater recovery system, and specific actions taken to protect biodiversity, including reseeding building-impacted areas.
Where To Stay In Courchevel
Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Aplin
The first property in the French Alps from the iconic Rosewood brand opens in December 2025. An exclusive mountain retreat, visitors can expect 51 guest rooms and suites, a boutique and ski rental shop, a cigar room and bar lounge, as well as a spacious spa, all-day brasserie, and kids club. It is being designed by Tristan Auer, and will reflect contemporary alpine luxury.
Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges
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C&TH tried and tested: Les Neiges is a proper five-star outfit. Sat on the Bellecôte run, with rooms enjoying views of the pistes, it’s one of the best for ski-in, ski-out access in the area. The team will lay out your skis and warm your boots from the boot room (which doubles as a chichi boutique, should you happen to forget to pack any gear) each morning, and there’s afternoon tea waiting in the wings here on the daily. Its spa is phenomenal, with Biologique Recherche treatments, a heated pool, and Nordic ice bath to loosen your joints after a long day. The menu at Loulou, its restaurant, boasts truffle pizzas and chartreuse scallops, as well as a dizzying all-you-can-eat dessert bar. Not to mention that, at the end of a long day, it has exceptionally comfy beds. Tessa Dunthorne.
From €1,900 for a double room with breakfast. Read our full review.
Les Airelles
C&TH tried and tested: An unashamed Austro-Hungarian fantasy right in the heart of the Jardin Alpin, Courchevel’s most exclusive enclave, Les Airelles is charmingly snow-capped with hand-painted slopeside balconies. It has a buzzy lounge and an exceptional selection of restaurants run by exec chef Adrien Trouilloud (previously at the Dorchester). La Tables des Airelles is the one with the famous day-to-night buffets – think just-baked pastries and perfectly done eggs as well as a bountiful dinner full of fresh seafood and succulent meats in the evening. Its suites and rooms are beautiful, with on-theme wood carvings, stained glass and enough floor space to lock down in. Felix Milns.
From €1,600 for a double room. Read our full review.
La Sivolière
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C&TH tried and tested: Sara Copeland redesigned the interiors of this bijou, family-run hotel in Courchevel 1850. Just dotted on the edge of the Dou du Midi piste, the hotel has the feel of a large chalet, with 35 rooms and suites that imagine the ultimate alpine bolthole. The central staircase is littered with antique mirrors and drawings of ski tech patents, while the lighting is made from driftwood. A feature fireplace in the restaurant, La Table de Madame – with a menu that prizes Savoyard tradition – is decorated with bronze sculptural leaves. Le Bar de Madame here is a little naughty, but offers a complimentary chauffeur service to safely return non-resident guests at the end of the night. Unusually, it’s a dog-friendly hotel, with its own canine room service menu. Felix Milns.
From €590 in a superior room, bed and breakfast for two people. Read our full review.
The official Courchevel ski season for this winter runs from December 5 to April 19, 2026. Ski lift passes cost €409 for an adult for six days.
