ultimate guide to courchevel for beginners
Having previously worked for a ski school I was often asked which of the many resorts we covered were best for beginners. Although we taught in some of the best resorts across the French, Swiss and Austrian Alps, invariably, the resort that I recommended for beginners time and time again was Courchevel. Here’s why….
5 reasons why Courchevel is great for beginners
Courchevel has a reputation for impeccable grooming - and rightly so. Plus, with a focus on the beginner areas, you’re literally guaranteed to have immaculate corduroy to ski during your stay
Courchevel has impressive snow making facilities, meaning that even if it’s not snowed in a while, the snow levels will be maintained with man-made snow, making conditions better and more enjoyable for beginners
It boasts extensive terrain for beginner skiers and boarders, with 18 green runs and 40 blue pistes, including dedicated beginner areas in Courchevel (1850), Courchevel Moriond (1650) and Courchevel La Tania
Courchevel is served by an efficient and high speed lift network, and a free bus service, interlinking all of its resorts, making it easy for beginners to meet up with others in the party for lunch or a spot of après at the end of the day
There are a whole host of other activities on offer, in case you want a rest day or to mix it up a little, including amazing restaurants, a large aqua centre and various spas, snow shoeing, ice skating and much more. This blog gives more info on what’s on offer
With the why covered, here are some of the more practical considerations for beginners, including where to stay, where the best skiing is at each level and some insider tips for beginner skiers and boarders heading to Courchevel.
Beginner skiing at each village
Courchevel (1850)
Possibly the best of the Courchevel villages for beginners, 1850 has a closed off and dedicated beginner area, with two magic carpets, served by the Jardin Alpin bubble. The lift has a number of stops though, so just make sure you get off at the G3 mid-station, rather than going all the way to the top on day one. While the magic carpets are free, you need a lift pass to take Jardin Alpin. Or, you could jump on the free ski bus if you’d rather.
Once you progress from the magic carpet area there are several gentle green and blues in the surrounding area including Bellecote (green), Jardin Alpin (green), Altiport (green) and Biollay (blue).
Courchevel Moriond (1650)
Courchevel Moriond has a small free area for beginners at the bottom of resort, served by the Mickey drag. Mickeys is a little steep though, and drags can be tricky for beginners, so the better option, especially for children, is taking the Ariondaz bubble up to the Western Ski Park, situated at the plateau on the top, with a covered magic carpet. Although the magic carpet area is free, you need a lift pass to take Ariondaz. A single ride pass is about 11€.
Then, after the first few days, once you gain confidence, there are some lovely greens and blues to try your hand at, including Belvedere (green), Petit bosse (green), Grange (blue) and Gentianes (blue).
Courchevel Village (1550)
Courchevel Village has a beginner slope served by the free lift Roys. With easy reaching distance to Courchevel 1850, the best option could be to take the Grangettes bubble up to Courchevel 1850 and then Jardin Alpin to the beginner area outlined above. Once you progress from the beginner area though, you’ll have the plentitude of greens and easy blues to explore in both Village and Courchevel 1850, including several gentle blues running back to resort.
Courchevel Le Praz
Courchevel Le Praz has a beginner slope near to the Envolée drag. However, with an absence of beginner runs leading back to resort, your best options could be to either jump on the free bus up to Courchevel Moriond, or take the Praz bubble up to Courchevel 1850.
Courchevel La Tania
La Tania has a designated beginner area right at the foot of the resort with two free magic carpets. Redesigned in recent years, its now totally closed off, making it a great place to learn without fear of faster skiers careering past. Once you progress from the beginner slopes you can take the La Tania bubble up with both green (Plan Fontaine) and blue (Folyeres) options back to resort.
Top tips for beginners in Courchevel
Whether you’re a beginner heading to Courchevel, or you have a beginner in your party, here are some of our top tips to make your holiday run smoothly:
Skiing can be tiring, especially when you’re starting out, so make sure you dress appropriately, laying up so you can add or remove layers as you warm up or cool down
Carrying ski equipment can be a faff. Most ski hire shops will allow you to store the equipment there which can be a good option if you’re not staying close to the piste. Alternatively, make life easy for yourself and rent a ski locker at any of the main ski hubs
Don’t overdo it. Just because everyone else is skiing ‘til last lifts, doesn’t mean you need to. Injuries happen when you get tired, so there’s no shame in taking the bubble down at the end of the day, or finishing at lunch time if you’re feeling the burn
Don’t be tempted to skip the lessons, or ask a friend or family member to teach you. Ski lessons are a great investment and will help you get better faster (as well as save your relationship!). There are lots of great ski schools to choose from in Courchevel, with affordable group lessons for beginners. These normally only run for 2-3hrs in a morning, leaving you plenty of time to ski with others in your party (or relax in your chalet)
If you have more advanced skiers in your party doing their own thing and you want to meet for lunch, you’ll want to choose a spot that is easily accessible to all. If you’d like lunch on the mountain some great options include Bel Air (top of the Ariondaz bubble, Courchevel Moriond), Bouc Blanc (top of the La Tania bubble), or Cave des Creux (on the slopes above 1850, but you can be collected from the road by a mini snow wagon)
Rather than investing in ski clothing, you might like to consider renting ski clothing. Not only will it save you money, but it’s also a more environmentally conscious decision. White Storm in Courchevel 1850 has a great fleet of rental ski clothing to choose from
Lift pass options for beginners
Lift passes in Courchevel aren’t cheap, but there are a few cost saving options available for beginner skiers:
Firstly, it’s worth noting that lift passes are free for under 5s and over 75s. Just make sure you take ID with you to collect those lift passes
Then, there are 12 free lifts in resort that you can use to begin with - as outlined above - before investing in a lift pass later in the week
In terms of paid lift passes, here are some cost-saving options available for beginners:
You can buy a mini pass, available for each of the villages or levels, covering a selection of lifts at a fraction of the cost of a full valley pass
Families can buy a family pass, whereby 2 adults and 2 children all ski at the child price
Small groups can buy a Tribu pass, that offers 3 people buying the same pass (same area, same duration) a reduction on their individual passes
So there you have it, a complete guide to Courchevel for beginners. If you have any questions or need more info then do get in touch and we’d be happy to help. And, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay, our modern ski chalet offers a stunning base for your ski holiday in Courchevel. Drop us a line to enquire.
