Six unmissable experiences beyond the ski slopes of Courchevel

Not everyone’s idea of a holiday involves whizzing around the ski slopes all day… In our Courchevel and La Tania chalets we have many guests who either don’t ski at all (but are accompanying family who do) or simply fancy half a day at a quieter pace, to appreciate the mountains and the winter wonderland from a different perspective.

What is there to do in Courchevel except skiing?

Plenty!

Here are six tried and tested trips for guests to experience another side of Courchevel, one for every day of your holiday:

1. Picture perfect Lac de la Rosière

Most skiers never even realise that this stunning spot in Courchevel exists.

The snow-clad pines and peaks surrounding this turquoise alpine lake are reflected in its still, clear waters. Lac de la Rosière will honestly take your breath away, it’s so beautiful.

You can walk all the way around the edge of the water and across the boardwalk. The walk itself takes a couple of hours, not including the bus rides, so it’s a day’s activity. Stock up on picnic things from La Tania’s supermarket, Le Praz boulangerie or the bakery or supermarkets in Courchevel Moriond, or try the cute restaurant “Chalet de la Rosiere” near the lake. Get cosy by the log burner or soak up the rays on the terrace. Open for lunches or crêpes and coffee!

Good for: Hikers, photographers and crêpe fans!

How to get there: Look at a bus timetable to find one that takes you to Courchevel Moriond. From there you can take a bus (from outside the Tourist Office) which goes to Roc Merlet Zenith. Get off and walk down the wide but snowy track until you get to a car park and a trail that leads around the lake. You’ll need to take this same route to get back to the chalet afterwards, but let us reassure you that if you’re a keen walker, it’s well worth the hike and bus ride.

What do I need? Some decent waterproof shoes or boots with good grips, and if there’s fresh snow, you might find it easy on snow-shoes. Also take ski poles for stability, and water, plus suncream if it’s sunny. The weather can change quickly in the mountains so a backpack with spare warm things including hat and gloves is a must. Don’t forget a well-charged phone/camera, you’ll be taking plenty of snaps!

Credit: Alexis Cornu

2. The best place to swim in Courchevel

Floating peacefully in a heated pool surrounded by snowy mountains feels very luxurious, so don’t forget to pack your swimming kit for your winter holiday in the Three Valleys, especially if you’re staying in one of our chalets with hot tubs, or Chalet Loup Blanc which has its own swimming pool and steam room.

If you’re looking for a larger swimming pool then you should know that a few years ago, Courchevel invested in a huge swimming centre called ‘Aquamotion’ which sits in the valley between Courchevel Village and Courchevel Moriond.

Easily-accessed using the free buses, it’s a popular spot but quite quiet during the day time. In the main part of the pool, you’ll find a separate lanes pool, plus a warmer pool with bubbly bits and massage jets which leads to an outdoor section with a lazy river and more bubbly/massage sections. There’s a fun place with a slide for smaller kids, and two other separate slides, as well as diving boards. This is all open to all, no matter what age. For over 18s there is also a spa with saunas, hammams, plunge pools and indoor/outdoor pools. You’ll also find a surf/wakeboard zone and a café which is available to pool users and the general public. You’ll also find beauty treatments, massages etc. and there’s a great indoor climbing wall too!

Good for: Swimmers, surfers, climbers and people who like relaxing in spas!

How to get to Courchevel Aquamotion: Take one of the free buses from your nearest bus stop, and get off at the Aquamotion stop.

Credit: @greg_rosenke Unsplash

3. Follow animal tracks on a snow-shoe walk

Away from the hustle and bustle of the lifts lies a network of walking trails for humans which are criss-crossed with the tracks of deer, hare, boar, foxes, even wolves… Meandering through the forest is a magical experience, whether the sun is glinting through the pines and the birds are twittering, or the snow is softly falling and settling on the branches. Snow-shoes aren’t completely necessary as there are marked walking paths (use a map from the Tourist Office) which are quite well trodden, but if you fancy show-shoeing then there are special signposted routes, or ask us for details of a local snow-shoe guide. (P.S. Wolves aren’t spotted in the day time so you don’t need to be concerned!)

Good for: Walkers and wildlife lovers

How to find walking routes: Take a free walker’s map from the Tourist Office, or simply look for the sign-posts around resort, which lead into the forest. There are walks from each of the Courchevel villages and the free buses are easy to use. You can hire snow shoes at local ski hire shops. Ask us if you need advice on walks in Courchevel.

What do I need? For heading out on a walk you’ll need waterproof shoes or boots with good grips (whether you’re hiring snow shoes or not). Take ski poles for stability, and a bottle of water. The weather can change quickly in the mountains so a backpack with spare warm things including hat and gloves is a must, and pop a snack in your pocket too.

• Contact Mark at Simply Savoie to book a guided snow-shoe walk.

4. Explore Courchevel’s villages

For a quieter day, simply mooching around the villages and soaking up the atmosphere is a lovely way to spend your time. It’s easy to get around using the free buses, or you can buy a pedestrian lift pass and use the bubbles/gondolas.

Le Praz: Explore the narrow streets and peruse the restaurant menus or stop for a coffee, then meander around the lake and towards the ski jumps where you might spot some ski jumpers whizzing down and flying into the air. You might also see some tandem paragliders landing near the Alpinium building. Heading towards La Tania you will climb a little towards a car park on your right, which has a great view of the Grand Bec mountain. It’s not too far to walk to La Tania along the road from here, probably 10-15 minutes depending on your speed (or you can get the bus from opposite the bottom of the ski jumps.)

La Tania: Walking trails in La Tania https://www.latania.co.uk/resort/MAP/ResortMaps2020/HikingMap.pdf  include the Teppes walk up to a picnic spot with benches and fabulous views, which is around an hour’s walk. It’s through the snow so advisable to take poles and wear decent boots. Stop for a drink in one of the bars afterwards, or even see some live music (yes, you can do apres-ski even if you haven’t been skiing!)

Courchevel Moriond: A bit larger than Le Praz and La Tania, there’s a good selection of little shops in the main street of Courchevel Moriond, with several options for lunch or a drink. Take the escalator beside the Tourist Office to get to the snow front, and you can walk along the left (eastern) side of the Mickeys and Belvedere ski slopes to get as far as Granges or even Chapelets, which is a pretty spot with cross country ski tracks and little stone huts.

Courchevel 1850: There’s a whole different vibe up in this part of the resort, with designer boutiques and swanky restaurants. If the weather’s not so good, head to the Forum which has a number of cute little shops including the Chocolaterie Piste Noire or Prends ta Luge for cool ski wear. There’s also an ice skating rink and climbing wall, open in the afternoons. On the snow, you can walk up Jardin Alpin, or take the gondola of the same name, to check out the smart hotels and enjoy the forest setting. If you feel thoroughly inspired by the winter wonderland, you could step it up a notch and take a ride in the horse-drawn carriage, bedecked in fur (take your own tiara )

Further afield you could also take the free bus down as far as Saint Bon and explore the narrow streets and authentic village houses, or even down to Bozel, which is a nice place to walk around, with its lake, river and variety of shops and bars.

Credit: @piotrfotodigital on Unsplash

5. Meeting up with skiers at a mountain restaurant

The good thing about Courchevel is that there are several mountain restaurants which make good meeting spots for walkers and skiers to have lunch together, or meet for a drink. Even better, the Courchevel lift system offers cheap option for pedestrian users. You can choose to get a one-trip pass (going down again is free) or a week’s pass, depending on your plans.

The places below are suitable to take small children to, but it’s best to take a front or back carrier rather than a pushchair.

Good for: Hungry and thirsty people!

The best restaurants to meet up with skiers in Courchevel? Well, we might go on about it a bit too much, but you can’t beat…

• Le Bouc Blanc! It’s very friendly, reasonably priced and is easy to get to. The staff are really relaxed and accommodating, so you don’t feel bad taking your time over a coffee or lingering over a late lunch. Portions are big – be warned!

Hot chocolate Bouc Blanc La Tania

The other options for places to meet skiers in Courchevel are:

• Bel Air for its friendly service, sunny terrace or a cosy spot by the fireplace (take the bus to Courchevel Moriond, then the Ariondaz bubble). From here you can also try the “Moriond Luge run” if you’re brave! Or take children to the beginners’ ski area with Indian Teepee.
• Polar Café in the Croisette, 1850 (take the lift from Le Praz, or the free bus to 1850) – lunchtime and late afternoon are busy and service can be slow but it’s a nice buzzy spot and not too expensive.
• Cabane des Skieurs, 1850 (take Verdons lift from the Croisette in 1850) is a fast food spot in the Saulire telecabine building. Pop and look at the vintage Courchevel pictures while you’re there.
• Fire and Ice terrace. You don’t even need a lift pass, just take the bus to Moriond! Snuggle into a blanket and sip a hot chocolate on the terrace, or maybe treat yourself to an espresso martini during happy hour!

6. Discover Courchevel’s food, art & history

Before becoming a world class ski resort, the mountainside was mostly occupied by cows munching the meadow grasses to make our famous cheeses. Since the first hotel was built in 1910, and the first lifts post-WWII, the resort has changed dramatically, in terms of architecture, technology and fashion!

Over the last few years, Courchevel has collated some fab old photos and installed info boards around the villages:

Courchevel Moriond: the Tourist Office has a collection of farming tools and early ski equipment. Just imagine flying down ungroomed slopes on wooden planks with leather boots in just a woolly jumper and some tweed trousers!

Courchevel 1850: Celebrating the different decades of Courchevel, there are retro posters and photos in the Croisette area, just down the steps from the merry-go-round, near the art gallery (and public toilets!) There are various little galleries around 1850 worth a look, as well as huge sculptures located at the tops of gondolas. In the building which houses the Saulire cablecar, you’ll also find old photos of the original engineering project and the installation of this iconic ski lift.

Whilst all these advances in technology (clothing, skis, lifts etc) have led to Courchevel as we know it today, one thing has remained as delicious now as it always has: the cheese. Head to the Beaufort Cooperative in Le Praz or Chez le Gaulois in Moriond to satisfy any urges you have for marvellous mountain cheeses. And don’t forget that in our catered chalets, you’ll have a raclette night on one evening during the week!

Credit: Claudio Schwarz Unsplash

Looking for a holiday in Courchevel this winter?
Contact us for a quote for your group.