Le Praz Resort Guide
Ski chalets located in the picturesque resort of Courchevel Le Praz…
Where is Courchevel le Praz?
Courchevel le Praz is the prettiest of the six villages that make up the legendary French ski resort of Courchevel.
Courchevel is a big ski area in itself, but is also part of the biggest in the world: the Three Valleys.
The mountains you’ll be skiing on here are the French Alps, and they’re high – very high. The highest point in the Three Valleys is 3230m above sea level and 85% of the ski area is above 1,800 metres.
Interesting fact: Courchevel Le Praz was the location for the Olympic ski jumping in the 1992 Albertville Olympics, and the Olympic torch is still located at the main crossroads.
Courchevel and the Three Valleys are known for having a huge number of ski slopes, of all different levels of difficulty, which means good skiing for everyone from beginners, to intermediates, experts, freestylers and snowboarders.
Before the development of skiing, Courchevel Le Praz was a farming village, and it has retained its alpine charm, with low-rise stone chalets and cobbled streets.
There are two fast lifts running from Le Praz’s snowfront – a 6-person chairlift called Foret which takes you in the direction of La Tania and Meribel La Loze, and a new gondola lift which starts in the Alpinium building and takes you in under six minutes to Courchevel 1850.
Courchevel le Praz suits skiers and snowboarders who are looking for good value accommodation in a French ski village, to make a base from which to explore the exceptional skiing in the Three Valleys.
Choose a chalet in Courchevel Le Praz
Link to: Chalet Chez Mamie
CHALET CHEZ MAMIE
Catered | For 8 guests | Sunday arrival
Link to: Chalet Chu Lo Dou
CHALET CHU LO DOU
Self-catered | For 10-12 guests | Saturday arrival
What do I need to know about skiing Courchevel Le Praz?
Because of its north-facing slopes and high altitude, the snow in Courchevel stays in good condition to ensure it is skiable from early December until late April.
On top of these natural advantages, Courchevel is renowned for having beautifully groomed pistes, in fact the art of piste maintenance began on these very slopes!
Watch this brilliant video of piste grooming in the early days!
The majority of skiing in Courchevel is above 1800m altitude. There are also snow cannons in place on all lower runs to top up the natural snow and ensure that the pistes remain in good condition for the whole season.
It is very easy to navigate in Courchevel, with plenty of signage to help direct you between areas. The lift system is excellent, with regular investment meaning that the lifts are quick and queues are therefore minimal.
The two Courchevel le Praz ski lifts are just a short walk away from the village centre where the accommodation is located.
SKI HIRE LE PRAZ
Let us come to you! One option for ski equipment hire when you’re staying in a Ski Magic chalet in Courchevel le Praz is that our ski technician visits you in the chalet to fit your boots and provide suitable skis. Our prices are competitive and it makes the process smooth and easy.
LE PRAZ SKI LIFT PASSES
Most of our guests opt for us to deliver lift passes to their chalet ready for their arrival.
All you need to do is choose between a Courchevel or Three Valleys pass, and we can help to work out the best price option for each member of your group. We then collect the passes for you and deliver them straight to the chalet.
You can pay in advance or in resort, and the payment is collected in euros, in cash or by card. The price you’ll pay is the same whether or not you use our free service, and in fact we always get the ‘tribu’ pass price which is the best adult ski pass price. If you prefer to visit the lift pass office yourself when you arrive in resort, you’ll find it in the village centre, and the team usually speak English if required.
Courchevel map image by https://piste-maps.co.uk/france/three-valleys/courchevel
THE BEST COURCHEVEL LE PRAZ SKI SCHOOLS
At Ski Magic we work with several local ski schools, and can help you to find the right one for you, whether that’s for a week of children’s group lessons, half day private beginner lessons, a day or two intermediate coaching, or ski guiding for an off piste adventure.
Local ski instructors will normally meet you in Courchevel 1850, which is easy to get to on the Praz gondola or on the free buses. New Generation’s meeting point is at the top of the gondola, and the other ski schools are located at the front of the Croisette building, on the snow below the Verdons/Chenus gondola lifts. The ESF children’s village is just across the piste from the top of Praz gondola.
Prices vary depending on whether you want a week of lessons, a full day or a half day. As a price guide, five days of children’s half day lessons with ESF cost around 220€.
NEARBY SKI SCHOOLS INCLUDE:
Learn to ski in an exciting resort of gondolas, bars and restaurants.
Courchevel Le Praz Weather & Snow Report
During the winter season, you can expect that Courchevel’s temperatures range between -5 to +15 degrees in the village of Le Praz, which is at 1350 metres.
On snowy days (which we call ‘powder days’!) skiing in Le Praz and La Tania is a great choice as it’s so pretty in the forest, and visibility is better on the ski slopes that are lined by trees. Bitterly cold days are unusual, and often if it’s very cold it’s also clear, bright and sunny. We rarely get windy days, except sometimes at the top of the mountains.
Courchevel can also be gloriously sunny and feel very warm, particularly at Easter and in March. Winter in the French Alps means the weather can vary even day to day, but we have put together some
packing advice to cover every kind of Courchevel weather.
THE BEST TIME TO SKI LE PRAZ
Courchevel’s winter season starts in early December and ends in late April.
The best value time to ski is late or early season, when lift pass prices are cheaper, for instance in early December for ‘First Tracks’. January is also usually a good value month to ski in Courchevel if you are skiing on a budget. In school holidays, Easter ski trips are ideal for children because it’s reliably sunny and warm. Christmas and New Year both offer a magical festive atmosphere, with fireworks on the slopes. February half term is also a popular option for families to ski, with good snow and the ski lifts opening a little later (eg. at 5pm instead of 4.30pm). March skiing offers a great mix of good snow and sunshine.
Three Valleys Facts
Total ski area: 600km
Resort height: 1300-3200m
Number of lifts: 166
Number of marked runs: 328
Percentage of blues and greens: 57%
Percentage of reds and blacks: 43%
Number of snowparks: 3
Longest run: 12km
LE PRAZ SKI MAP
The Courchevel piste map shows all the marked pistes with the four different colours (green, blue, red and black) and all the lifts, so you can easily work out how to get around.
Pick up a piste map from your chalet and take it with you when you head on on the slopes. There are also big piste map signs dotted around the slopes in useful places, as well as plenty of signage. You can also access a live map online. It shows which lifts and slopes are currently open.
The two lifts that skiers and snowboarders staying in Courchevel le Praz can take in the mornings are the Praz gondola or the Foret chairlift.
At the top of Praz gondola (or ‘bubble’), you can access the whole of the Three Valleys and the other parts of Courchevel. For instance you can choose to ski down to Courchevel Village on a blue run, or to Saint Bon on a red, or head back down to Le Praz on the red, green or red run. You could also head further up the mountain on Plantrey, Verdons, Chenus, Jardin Alpin or Bellecote. From there you can ski all of the 1850 runs, down to La Tania, or over to Courchevel Moriond. From the top of La Saulire (accessible in various different ways) you can go into the Meribel valley, as long as you have a Three Valleys ski pass.
If you choose to go on the Foret chair from Le Praz village then you will be taken to the mid station of La Tania. You can ski all the way down to the village on a green, red or blue run, or take one of two chairlifts to go higher up and towards Courchevel 1850, or into Meribel from Loze.
THINGS TO DO IN COURCHEVEL LE PRAZ
Aside from the skiing and snowboarding, there are lots of other things to do in Courchevel.
Winter mountain holidays are not just for whizzing around on the ski slopes, there’s a host of activities away from the pistes, whether you want an adrenaline rush or simply to chill out and relax. And let’s not forget trying local dishes and dancing at apres-ski!
The village of Courchevel le Praz is not just full of skiers and snowboarders, there are plenty of local residents who live here all year round. You’ll find people sipping coffee in the sunshine in the mornings, or enjoying lunch in one of the many restaurants.
LE PRAZ RESTAURANTS
For a small village, Courchevel le Praz has a lot of good restaurants! Enjoy Michelin-star tasting menus at L’Azimut , or pizzas, burgers and veggie options at the Elephant. The Bistrot du Praz has an inventive menu and if you’re a meat-eater then meat cooked on an open fire is the specialty at La Petite Bergerie and it’s also an atmospheric spot to try a fondue.
Local dishes are often based on mountain cheeses. Things to look out for on the menus are:
Cheese fondue – sometimes also with wild mushrooms stirred in – is where you dip chunks of bread into a pot of melted cheeses such as Beaufort, Emmental and Gruyère. It’s officially Swiss in origin, but in France we have adapted our own version. Usually served with cured meats and salad.
Raclette – scrape melted ‘raclette’ cheese onto your potatoes, salad and cured meats.
Tartiflette (potatoes) or croziflette (‘crozets’ – small square pasta shapes) are mixed with lardons, cream and topped with melted reblochon cheese. No it isn’t healthy, yes it is amazing.
Pierrade – a ‘hot stone’ is brought to your table, on which you cook strips of duck, pork, chicken and beef. Served with sauces and salad.
Diots – the least cheesy option. These are fat sausages often served with polenta (which probably has cheese in!)
LE PRAZ APRÈS-SKI AND BARS
La Descente is a new tapas bar with outside seating and a vintage interior and shows sports matches. The Elephant also has sport as well as regular live music and is Le Praz’s most popular après-ski spot
For a more cosy/romantic spot for cocktails, try the cellar bar in the Peupliers Hotel. The same new(ish) owners (local ski hero Alexis Pinterault’s family) also now run the Étable des Lys, a vaulted wine bar/restaurant with bags of atmosphere.
ACTIVITIES IN COURCHEVEL LE PRAZ
There are lots of things to do aside from skiing and snowboarding during your La Tania holiday.
Here are five of our favourites:
Snowshoe walks: Take some time away from the slopes and explore the ancient forest paths to see the mountains from the perspective of the local wildlife. Find the latest walking map here.
Swimming: Hop on a free bus and head to Aquamotion in Courchevel Village 1550 for a swim in the indoor-outdoor pool, whizz down the slides and take time to relax in the spa.
Culture: Explore the history and farming traditions of a pre-skiing era of Courchevel, not even 100 years ago. Dotted around the various public spaces and tourist offices you’ll find posters and displays which share Courchevel’s past.
Sledging: Hire a sledge from one of the many ski hire shops and try out the free toboggan run from 1850-1550 (use the gondola to return to the top). Full of hairpin bends, it’s a wild ride! Or go for the full formula 1 version in Moriond (1650). Get a ticket from the lift pass office, grab your sledge and helmet and whizz through tunnels, round bends and steep tracks for 3km.
Ice skating: In Le Forum in 1850 you’ll find Courchevel’s indoor ice skating rink, home to a local ice hockey team and open to the public for all levels of skating.
Your winter getaway awaits
Experience the ultimate ski holiday in our cosy chalets. With breathtaking mountain views and unbeatable comfort, its time to make your winter dreams come true.
CATERED SKI CHALES LE PRAZ FAQs
Is Le Praz in Courchevel?
Yes, Le Praz is one of the six villages that are included in the ski resort of Courchevel. The lift pass you can buy for Courchevel covers Le Praz’s lifts, as well as all the lifts in Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Moriond, Courchevel Village and Courchevel Le Praz. There is a piste down to Courchevel Saint Bon but no lift, however it’s served by the bus route which runs between all the Courchevel villages.
Is the snow good in Courchevel Le Praz?
Yes, you can ski into the village of Courchevel Le Praz throughout the season. The snow is topped up by the snow cannons located on Amoureux and Eclipse to ensure that the runs stay open until mid April.
Can you ski from Le Praz to Meribel?
To ski from Le Praz to Meribel you have two options: 1) take the Foret chairlift to La Tania, then once you’re at the top, look right to see a chairlift going to the top of the mountain. It’s called Dou des Lanches and it takes you to Loze, where you can ski down the other side of the mountain, which is Meribel. 2) Head up Praz gondola, change in 1850 to take Verdons and Vizelle, then head over from the top of Saulire to ski down to Meribel. Make sure you have a Three Valleys lift pass before going to Meribel!
What are the best runs in Courchevel?
The run down to Le Praz – Eclipse – is one of the most famous runs in Courchevel because it was where the top skiers raced for the 2023 World Ski Championships. Otherwise Combe de la Saulire is another classic red, and Biollay is a gorgeous blue run in 1850. We also love Dou des Lanches black and Folyeres blue runs in La Tania. Over in Moriond, Chapelets is a gorgeous tree-lined red. Skiing down to
Is Le Praz good for families?
Le Praz makes a good value base for families wanting to access the Three Valleys. We find that lots of skiing families enjoy Le Praz because of the friendly village which is all flat (good for pushchairs!) and because there’s also the lovely mediatheque for younger children, as well as walks in the snow and warm places to sip hot chocolate. Lots of three generation families stay in our Chalet Loup Blanc because of the swimming pool. Equally for parents skiing half days each, meeting up in 1850 to swap babysitting duties is easy with the direct gondola.
What kind of accommodation is there in Le Praz?
Le Praz is low rise with limited apartments and one hotel, and a lot of pretty chocolate-box chalets around the village. Most of these ski chalets are self-catered but Ski Magic run one of the few catered chalets in Le Praz.
Is Le Praz good for families?
Le Praz makes a good value base for families wanting to access the Three Valleys. We find that lots of skiing families enjoy Le Praz because of the friendly village which is all flat (good for pushchairs!) and because there’s also the lovely mediatheque for younger children, as well as walks in the snow and warm places to sip hot chocolate. Lots of three generation families stay in our Chalet Loup Blanc because of the swimming pool. Equally for parents skiing half days each, meeting up in 1850 to swap babysitting duties is easy with the direct gondola.