The Perfect Ski Day In Courchevel 1850

Today we are going to take you onto the ski slopes of Courchevel 1850 for the perfect ski day with our partner ski school, Supreme Ski & Snowboard School.

The Fastest Way To Start Your Ski Day

When starting your day in Courchevel 1850 you will often find yourself in La Croisette – this is the primary meeting point for ski lessons and the home of the lift pass offices and 3 gondola lifts that will take you up the mountain. You may find yourself stuck in queues here if you arrive when the lifts open, however, if you are with a ski instructor you will be able to go in the priority lanes which will reduce your wait time.

If you want to avoid the gondola lifts at the start of the day you have the option of taking the path on the skiers left of the Chenus bubble. Follow the path under the bridge towards the left until you reach the Plantrey chairlift. This is a great option if you would like to avoid the busy gondola lifts and have a short warm up ski on a gentle path to start your day!

Getting Warmed Up

Courchevel is a huge resort catering for all levels of skier with over 150km of ski runs served by 52 lifts, which makes it hard to choose where to start! If you are starting in La Croisette, you will be able to take the Verdons gondola up to the middle station. As you come off the Verdons lift take a right and you will find yourself on the Verdons green run.

This is a very gentle run which is perfect as the first run to get your legs warmed up. When you come towards the end of this run you will find the slope forks off, take the right-hand path which will guide you straight to the Biollay chairlift.

Let’s Start Flying Down Those Slopes!

After warming up on the Verdons run and riding the Biollay chairlift, take a left at the top of lift and follow the Pralong ski run (marked with a blue gradient) until you reach the Courchevel Altiport. You might spot planes landing or taking off here, which is quite a spectacle! This airport is not for the faint-hearted, as it boasts Europe’s shortest runway!

Follow the Praméruel path (blue gradient) towards the right under the Altiport which will take you all the way to Courchevel Moriond. Here you will see 2 chairlifts, take the one on the lefthand side called Roc Mugnier to find your perfect hot chocolate spot.

Time For A Hot Chocolate?

Once you have arrived at the top of Roc Mugnier take a left off the top of the chairlift and follow the Gentianes run (blue gradient), taking the pathway towards the right when the run splits off. This will take you to the Signal area of Courchevel Moriond and here, at the top of the Ariondaz gondola, you will find The Bel Air restaurant.

This restaurant is the perfect mid-morning coffee spot. There is a beautiful south facing terrace benefitting from stunning views across the valley, perfect for a sunny day. You will also find a cosy fire indoors to sit round if the weather is less favourable.

A Mid Morning Blast Around The Slopes

From the Bel Air you can ski directly straight out of the restaurant towards the Petites Bosses path (green gradient), around the side of a natural canyon. When you get to the end of this path follow it around to the left and you will find yourself back at the 2 chairlifts where you took the Roc Mugnier earlier.

This time take the other chairlift, Aiguille Du Fruit, take a left at the top and take the short blue run named Rama, to the Marmottes chairlift. At the top of this chairlift, you will be at a stunning viewpoint and the second highest point of Courchevel 1850 (the highest point will be just above you called La Saulire). This is a popular spot for a photo, and you will often find stunning sculptures and installations here.

Our Favourite Lunch Stop

One of the top restaurants in Courchevel, La Caves Des Creux, is easily accessible from the top of the Marmottes chairlift you have just taken. Come off the chairlift and follow the path directly in front of you towards the Creux run (blue gradient). When the slope divides at the bottom take the left hand path onto Lac Creux which you should follow until you arrive at La Caves Des Creux.

This restaurant offers delicious traditional Savoyard cuisine and a fantastic ambiance, often with live music. It’s an absolute must on your next trip to Courchevel! This restaurant will be busy in peak times but the fantastic instructors at Supreme will be able to help with your reservations to make your visit as smooth as possible.

A Gentle Re-Start After Lunch

After lunch follow the Altiport run (blue gradient), stay towards the skiers left and follow the path towards the Bellecote run (green gradient). Ski down the Bellecote run into La Croisette, taking a left under the bridge towards the Plantrey chairlift. Take a right at the top of Plantrey and you will find yourself skiing towards La Tania, take the Arolle run and follow signs to the Dou Des Lanches chairlift to take you back to the top. If you want to do some extra skiing you can also follow the run and go all the way to the bottom of La Tania via the Folyeres (blue gradient) surrounded by trees.

OK, Maybe It’s Time For Some Après Ski

There are lots of great après ski options in Courchevel! You will find the famous La Folie Douce on the Meribel side of the valley which is possible to access from the top of the Dou Des Lanches chairlift you have just riden back from La Tania. Just make sure to check the time of the last lift as you will need to get yourself back over to the Courchevel valley before the end of the day. The ski down is on the Creux blue run, this is a long run and can get very bumpy by the end of the day so we would advise only the more experienced skiers in your group go for this option.

Alternatively, in the Courchevel valley you will find a similar style of après ski at Bagatelle, which is at the top of the Chenus gondola. This is a great option for meeting friends as the gondola comes straight in from La Croisette and so both skiers and non-skiers alike can party together! For a more relaxed après ski you will find Le Tremplin in La Croisette right next to the Jardin Alpin bubble where you will find a DJ and live music for après ski.

Ready For Your Prefect Ski Day?

Why not come and explore Meribel with us. We hope this guide has given you a better idea of what you can expect from a ski holiday to Meribel. If you’re looking for ski or snowboard lessons for your trip then Supreme Ski & Snowboard School is Luxury Chalet Book’s ski school partner.

Luxury Chalet Book’s in-house concierge team will be delighted to assist you with booking either group ski lessons or a private instructor for your next chalet holiday in Meribel.

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