Courchevel ski guide
France · Editorial review: 9 November 2026.
Early answers
Courchevel is the Saint-Bon valley part of Les 3 Vallées, which the area's own site calls the world's largest ski area: 600 km of linked slopes, 337 runs and 169 lifts. Courchevel's villages (1850, Moriond 1650, Village 1550, Le Praz and La Tania) sit in the northern part and connect to Méribel and Val Thorens on skis. Treat Les 3 Vallées figures as area-wide, not as Courchevel-only numbers. Courchevel: Les 3 Vallées, checked 2026-11-09.
Key takeaways
- Les 3 Vallées is published as 600 km of pistes, 337 runs (50 green, 137 blue, 113 red, 37 black) and 169 lifts; 85% of the area is above 1,800 m.
- Courchevel connects with skis to Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin and Orelle, according to the Courchevel tourist office.
- The area operator says it has been able to guarantee opening from early December to end of April for 20 years, helped by over 2,800 snowmakers covering 55% of the area.
- Third-party monthly averages show the snowiest months as December to February, with base depth peaking in March.
- Courchevel-only run, lift and altitude figures vary between sources, so this guide quotes the area-wide official numbers.
| Who it suits | High-altitude gateway to Les 3 Vallées, suited to intermediates and up who want to link several valleys on skis. Read the assessment |
|---|---|
| Daily budget | No resort prices are published here; use your own amounts. |
| Pass | not verified yet |
| Weekday / weekend / holiday waits | not verified yet / not verified yet / not verified yet |
| Monthly snow evidence | Third-party averaged monthly snowfall and base depth, see the snow section. |
Verified photo not available yet
No generic mountain is presented as Courchevel.
Snow statistics
Historical published figures for Courchevel. These are not a forecast, live report or guarantee of open terrain.
third-party aggregated average monthly snowfall and average base depth. Measured at: Not stated by the publisher. OnTheSnow historical snowfall page, seasons 2012–13 to 2025–26 to date; the page does not state the measurement elevation or how the figures are collected.
Line chart of typical snow depth in centimetres. Each point is labelled with its cm value. The line breaks across months with no data. Hatched marks mean no data, not zero.
- Verified monthly value
- No data (not zero)
Scroll sideways to see every month. Hatched slots are no data, not zero snow.
Bar chart of monthly snowfall in centimetres. Each bar is labelled with its cm value. Hatched slots mean no verified data, not zero. Full cm and inch values are in the table.
- Verified monthly value
- No data (not zero)
Scroll sideways to see every month. Hatched slots are no data, not zero snow.
Monthly snow statistics for Courchevel (centimetres, with inches in parentheses). No data means not verified — it is not zero snowfall.
Swipe or scroll sideways to see every month.
| Metric | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly snowfall | 116 cm (45.7 in) | 96 cm (37.8 in) | 66 cm (26 in) | 33 cm (13 in) | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | 37 cm (14.6 in) | 103 cm (40.6 in) |
| Typical snow depth | 91 cm (35.8 in) | 123 cm (48.4 in) | 132 cm (52 in) | 126 cm (49.6 in) | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | No data | 26 cm (10.2 in) | 56 cm (22 in) |
Season length
Typical season: December to April. Confirm the current operating calendar with the operator before you travel.
Snow reliability
Strong December–February snowfall on third-party multi-season averages, supported by snowmaking and an operator opening guarantee
Based on: OnTheSnow multi-season averages for Courchevel (annual average 418 cm; seasons from 109 cm to 821 cm). Operator states opening guaranteed early December to end April and snowmaking on 55% of the area. Measurement elevation not stated by the aggregator
Sources for these snow figures
- OnTheSnow — Courchevel historical snowfall — retrieved 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm). Period: OnTheSnow historical snowfall page, seasons 2012–13 to 2025–26 to date; the page does not state the measurement elevation or how the figures are collected.
- Les 3 Vallées — opening guarantee and snowmaking — retrieved 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm). Period: Operator statement, current page.
A historical average is not a forecast or a guarantee of open terrain.
How should I plan lift tickets at Courchevel?
Decide whether you need access only to Courchevel's own sectors or the whole of Les 3 Vallées, and confirm with the ski-area operator which product covers that. Enter only the access you will actually use into your own trip plan; equipment, food, transfers and lodging are separate categories and are not estimated here. Les 3 Vallées: the world's largest ski area, checked 2026-11-09.
| Item to check with the operator | Amount shown here |
|---|---|
| Adult day ticket | Not published |
| Multi-day ticket | Not published |
| Rental equipment and helmet | Not published |
| Meals and drinks | Not published |
| Complete day total | Not calculated from resort data |
How busy is Courchevel on weekdays and holidays?
Separate weekday, weekend and holiday waiting times have not been verified for Courchevel.
| Visit context | Measured waiting time |
|---|---|
| Weekday | not verified yet |
| Weekend | not verified yet |
| Peak holiday | not verified yet |
The area operator says you "barely ever queue" in Les 3 Vallées; that is a marketing claim, not a measured queue time, and is not used as a figure here.
Who should consider Courchevel?
- Beginners: The area publishes 12 beginner zones across Les 3 Vallées and 50 green runs; confirm which beginner zone is near your lesson meeting point.
- Intermediates: Blue (137) and red (113) runs make up most of the published run count, and the Courchevel tourist office describes a no-shuttle connection to Méribel and Val Thorens.
- Experts: The Courchevel tourist office points to the Saulire couloirs and other off-piste areas; off-piste conditions and avalanche risk need a same-day check.
What is the terrain like at Courchevel?
The table records area-wide official wording, since Courchevel-only figures differ between sources.
| Published field | Exact source wording | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Area size | "600 km" of pistes, "337 slopes" | Les 3 Vallées by the numbers — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Run split | "50 green, 137 blue, 113 red, 37 black" | Les 3 Vallées by the numbers — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Lifts | "169 ski lifts" (the Courchevel tourist-office page also says 155 in one FAQ answer) | Les 3 Vallées and Courchevel — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Altitude | "1,100 metres and 3,230 metres" (the press figures sheet says 1,300 m minimum) | Les 3 Vallées and figures — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Share above 1,800 m | "85%" | Les 3 Vallées — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Snowmaking | "over 2,800 snowmakers covering 55% of the ski area" | Les 3 Vallées — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Courchevel villages | 1850, Moriond (1650), Village (1550), Le Praz, La Tania | Courchevel — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
| Opening guarantee | "guarantee opening from the beginning of December to the end of April" | Les 3 Vallées — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm) |
Published specifications do not establish which terrain or lifts are open today.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the ski area around Courchevel?
Courchevel gives access to all of Les 3 Vallées, published as 600 km of pistes, 337 runs and 169 lifts. Courchevel-only totals are quoted differently by different sources and are not used here.
Can I ski from Courchevel to Val Thorens?
The Courchevel tourist office says you can go from Courchevel to Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Saint-Martin and Orelle on skis without a shuttle. Allow for the time and check that the connecting lifts are open.
When does the ski season run?
The area operator says it has been able to guarantee opening from the beginning of December to the end of April for 20 years. Confirm the current calendar directly; the guarantee statement is not a forecast for your dates.
How much snow does Courchevel get per month?
On OnTheSnow's averages, snowfall is 103 cm in December, 116 cm in January and 96 cm in February, with 66 cm in March. Average base depth peaks in March at 132 cm. These are third-party aggregates without a stated measurement elevation, not a forecast.
How much of Les 3 Vallées is high altitude?
The operator says 85% of the area is above 1,800 m and 25 summits are reachable by lift, 10 of them above 2,500 m.
Sources and limits
- Courchevel: Les 3 Vallées — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: Courchevel villages, connections, area figures; one FAQ answer quotes different counts (347 trails, 155 lifts).
- Les 3 Vallées: the world's largest ski area — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: area size, lifts, altitude, snowmaking and opening guarantee.
- Les 3 Vallées by the numbers (PDF) — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: run split, summits, bed capacity; lists a 1,300 m base elevation and includes a published ticket price that this guide intentionally does not reproduce.
- OnTheSnow: Courchevel historical snowfall — checked 2026-11-09 (Europe/Stockholm). Scope: third-party monthly and seasonal averages; measurement elevation not stated; the page also shows an implausible 8,180 cm maximum base depth in one season, so max-depth figures are not used.
This Courchevel assessment interprets the listed sources; it is not a first-hand visit report. Confirm the current operating calendar with the operator.
Plan the next step
Plan your Courchevel budget. Compare: Val d'Isère, Chamonix.