Courchevel 1850
The smartest address in the Three Valleys, and arguably in the Alps. If you want polished, ski-in-ski-out family skiing with three Michelin stars on your doorstep, this is it.
Altitude
1850m
Pistes
600km
Season
Early December – Late April
Family rating
●●●●●
Overview
Courchevel 1850 is the most luxurious ski resort in the French Alps and one of the most rewarding family ski destinations in Europe. Sitting at altitude in the Three Valleys, the largest linked ski area in the world, it offers genuine ski-in-ski-out access to 600km of pistes, the best children's ski school in the Alps (Le Village des Enfants), and an evening offering that runs from family pizzerias to three-Michelin-starred tasting menus, all within a five-minute walk of where you are staying.
A Courchevel 1850 family ski holiday is right for you if you want:
- The most polished ski-in-ski-out experience in the French Alps
- Access to 600km of Three Valleys skiing for confident intermediates
- The Alps' best children's ski school (Le Village des Enfants and the ESF)
- Evening dining as serious as the skiing itself
- Snowsure conditions from early December through to late April
Is it worth it?
Let's get the obvious out of the way: a Courchevel 1850 family ski holiday is expensive. It is the most expensive resort in France, and at the smartest end (Le K2 Palace, Cheval Blanc, Les Airelles) it is one of the most expensive holidays you can take anywhere in the world. We mention this upfront because there is no point pretending otherwise, and because the question we get asked most often about Courchevel is whether it is worth it for a family.
Our answer, after many seasons there with our own children, is that for the right family, in the right week, it absolutely is. What you are paying for is not really the skiing (though the access to the Three Valleys is unbeatable). You are paying for an entire mountain village engineered around making your week effortless: ski-in-ski-out access from your luxury chalet or hotel, ESF instructors who handle five-year-olds like they have been doing it for decades (because they have), and a level of polish on the ground that genuinely shows in how relaxing the week feels.
If your family includes confident intermediate skiers, your Courchevel ski holiday also includes unrestricted access to the Three Valleys: 600km of pistes, three valleys to explore, and properly snowsure conditions from early December through to late April. Courchevel 1850 sits at altitude, faces north-east, and tends to hold its snow better than most.
For first-timers or families with very young children, the lower-altitude Courchevel resorts (1650 Moriond, 1550 Village, 1300 Le Praz) offer a softer landing at considerably lower cost while still sharing the same lift system. We would rate them highly too. But if you have one Courchevel week in you and want the full luxury family ski holiday experience, 1850 is where to spend it.
Best for
- Luxury hotels
- Ski-in-ski-out
- Excellent ski school
- Fine dining
- Snowsure altitude
The ski area
Courchevel 1850 connects directly to the largest linked ski area in the world, and the lift system that joins Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens, Saint Martin de Belleville, and the smaller satellites is genuinely seamless. From the centre of 1850 you can be in Val Thorens for lunch via four lifts and a couple of pistes, or in La Tania via the Loze ridge in about half an hour.
The home runs
Courchevel 1850 itself sits in a natural bowl with skiing in three directions. The Verdons and Pralong gondolas take you up to the Saulire and Vizelle peaks for the long, north-facing reds and blacks back to resort. The Loze chair takes you over to La Tania and the wider Three Valleys system. The cluster of nursery and easy-blue terrain at Pralong and the Bellecote area gives beginners and younger children plenty of space to find their feet within sight of the village.
Best for confident intermediates
Strong intermediates will get the most out of skiing in Courchevel. The blue and red runs from Saulire down through the Combe de la Saulire are some of the most enjoyable cruisers in the Alps, and the Creux bowl on the Meribel side is a proper big-mountain blue when conditions are right. Confident reds skiers can ski the Three Valleys end-to-end in a day, which we would recommend doing once even if you do not usually venture far from base.
Off-piste and advanced terrain
It is a quieter resort for advanced skiers than its neighbours; Val d'Isère and Tignes have more obviously serious terrain on the doorstep. But the off-piste off the back of Saulire (heading towards Meribel) and the couloirs above La Vizelle reward the confident, especially after fresh snow. A mountain guide is non-negotiable.
Dining highlights
Courchevel takes its dining seriously. There are seven Michelin stars across the resort, and the on-mountain restaurants are some of the best in the Alps. A few we keep going back to:
On the mountain
Le Cap Horn at the top of the Pralong gondola is the classic high-altitude lunch spot, with proper white tablecloths, attentive service, and views straight down the bowl back to 1850. Pricey but worth it for one lunch in the week. La Soucoupe at Loze is a more relaxed alternative, and a good one for families: classic Savoyard food, sun terrace, easy ski back down to either Courchevel or La Tania.
In the village
For an evening with children, La Mangeoire in 1850 is a long-running favourite. The Genepi (Italian, family-friendly, generous portions) is another reliable choice. For something special, Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc holds three Michelin stars and is genuinely worth a babysitter night, but you will need to book months ahead.
Family-tested casual
Le Tremplin is the Courchevel staple: pizza, salads, brasserie food, the whole resort drifts through at some point. Bistrot Le C is more bistro-than-brasserie and consistently good value. Pralong's chocolate shop and the boulangerie next door (which opens at six) are essential for early-morning provisioning.
After the lifts close
At the bar
Apres-ski in Courchevel 1850 is more glamorous than rowdy. The classic stop is Le Cap Horn (yes, the lunch place) for late-afternoon champagne on the terrace. The Schuss bar in the village picks up later. For something more relaxed with children, the gelato at Le Chabichou or hot chocolate at any of the patisseries does the job nicely.
Off the slopes with children
Beyond the bars, the village offers an ice rink in the centre (free for children, lovely after dark), the Aquamotion complex (a serious indoor pool, slides, a wave pool, a wellness centre, all of it; expect to spend half a day if it is your rest day), and an evening luge run with floodlights from the Foret restaurant. Toboggan rentals are available at the bottom; under-12s love it.
Getting there
By plane
From the UK, Geneva is the obvious airport: 2h 15m flying, then a 2h 30m to 3h transfer depending on traffic and time of arrival. Chambery and Lyon are the alternatives, and both are slightly closer (around 2h transfer) but with fewer flight options. From mid-week peak season, Saturday transfers from Geneva can be slow; aim for a Friday or Sunday flight if you can.
By train
If you would rather not fly, the Eurostar Snow Train from London St Pancras runs direct to Moutiers in season; a quick 25-minute taxi or transfer takes you up to 1850 from there. We have done it with children: the door-to-door time is similar to flying once you account for transfers, the carbon footprint is dramatically lower, and you start the holiday in a much better mood than you would after a security queue.
By car
Driving from Calais via the Channel Tunnel is doable in a day if you set off early; it is roughly 750km and around 7-8 hours. Worth considering if you want to take ski kit and do not fancy paying airline ski-bag fees.
In pictures
Courchevel 1850
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