Resort Guide La Tania
Ski Chalets located in the friendly resort of La Tania…
Where is La Tania?
La Tania is one of the six villages which make up the famous French ski resort of Courchevel.
Courchevel is a big ski area in itself, but is also part of an even larger ski area (the biggest in the world!) called 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.
Quick fact: you can see Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc, from the Three Valleys, although you’re actually looking at its Italian side.
La Tania, 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.
La Tania has a reputation for being friendly and having good value accommodation, bars and restaurants. As a small, pedestrianised resort, with a choice of ski schools, it is also great for family ski holidays.
There are some apartment buildings, but most visitors to the resort stay in catered ski chalets of different sizes, usually sleeping between 8-12 guests, so ideal for families and groups.
Catered Ski Chalet La Tania
Our catered chalet service means that your chalet host/s and the rest of the Ski Magic team are on hand during your stay to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Ski Magic’s half board catered service provides you with food every day at breakfast and afternoon tea, and for six nights during your seven night stay. On ‘chalet night off’, most of our guests head to a local restaurant.
Ski Magic half-board chalet catering includes:
Daily breakfast (continental plus 4 days with cooked option)
Daily afternoon tea (baguette & jam, hot drinks, cake/biscuits)
6 days evening meal (5 hosted dinner party evening meals plus 1 Raclette Evening)
House wine served with evening meals: red, white or rosé
Raclette Evening – all ingredients, equipment and wine provided for a relaxed, traditional Savoyarde night in!
There’s a set menu for the week, and we accommodate any food allergies our guests have.
In the chalet, the idea is to be a home-from-home for your holiday, so you have full use of the chalet, with bedding, towels and hairdryers provided. There’s WiFi, a bluetooth speaker, TVs and a ski room to leave all your equipment.
Before you arrive, we’re on hand to help with any questions, getting ski schools booked, organising ski hire and airport transfers well in advance. Once in resort you’ll be looked after by your chalet host/s and the rest of the support team.
Our La Tania Ski Chalets
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SKIING IN LA TANIA?
The advantage of skiing in La Tania is that it’s really easy to get around and walk between the slopes, the lifts, and the accommodation and the village: another reason it’s popular with beginners and families.
The Tania gondola is no more than a few minutes’ walk or ski from any of our La Tania chalets.
The village is friendly and welcoming, with good value restaurants and bars with live music at apres-ski and in the evenings.
As part of the gigantic Three Valleys, there’s plenty of skiing on offer for all levels, and the snow is reliable due to the high altitude.
La Tania usually opens for skiing on the second weekend of December and in the winter season the lifts stay open until the third weekend in April.
SKI HIRE LA TANIA
Let us come to you! One option for La Tania ski equipment hire when you’re staying in a Ski Magic La Tania chalet 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.
Alternatively, there is a local company called Ski Higher, who offer a hire service for skis, snowboards, boots and helmets in La Tania.
LA TANIA SKI 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 LA TANIA 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.
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 can all meet you on the La Tania snowfront, in the centre of the village.
NEARBY SKI SCHOOLS INCLUDE:
Experience the Three Valleys from this friendly village resort, known for great value accommodation.
LA TANIA WEATHER & SNOW REPORT
During the winter season, you can expect that La Tania’s temperatures range between -5 to +15 degrees in the village, which is at 1400 metres.
It sometimes snows, which we call a ‘powder day’. It’s a great time to ski in La Tania 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.
La Tania 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 La Tania weather.
THE BEST TIME TO SKI LA TANIA
La Tania’s winter season starts in mid December and ends in late April, so there are 18 weeks to choose from.
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 La Tania.
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. 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
THINGS TO DO IN LA TANIA
Aside from the skiing and snowboarding, there are lots of other things to do in La Tania.
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!
You’ll also find that La Tania – essentially a small village full of people enjoying themselves – is very friendly and welcoming! Whether they’re working in resort for the ski season or on holiday, there’s a nice buzz around the place. Kids go sledging after the lifts have closed, and you’ll find people enjoying a vin chaud or a hot chocolate on the many bar terraces. Just down the road in Le Praz, there’s a pony stables so you could even try Ski Joering.
LA TANIA RESTAURANTS
La Tania has several restaurants, and there’s something to suit all budgets, from pizza and crèpes to bistro and Michelin star dining.
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!)
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
La Ferme is a local favourite and is owned by the same people who run the Crèperie Les Chanterelles. On both menus you’ll find chips, soups, salad and croque monsieur (French ham and cheese toastie) alongside omelettes and pasta and local specialities. There are also savoury and sweet crèpes. Try and go a week without indulging in a chocolate crèpe… We bet you can’t!
Looking for a pizza? Head to Les Marmottons and you’ll have a warm welcome and delicious pizza. You could even try the ‘flambée’ pizzas with Jack Daniels and steak, or chorizo and tequila..! There are veggie and vegan options.
At the Michelin starred Le Farçon, whose chef Julien Machet has maintained his rating since 2006, you can expect creative ways with local flavours, from our mountain cheeses to mountain hay! The tasting menus are at different prices and change, so there’s no ‘choice’ – it’s all a delicious surprise! Great for a treat when you want to linger over your meal.
From the same chef comes the Bistrot Machet, a more affordable dining option with hearty French choices from seasonal ingredients.
If it’s pub grub you’re after, then the Ski Lodge has burgers, chilli and rice, fish and chips, curry, tacos, etc… Open in the evenings is La Taïga, the bar is downstairs and serves cocktails, with regular live music. Upstairs is a gastro pub style restaurant with meat, fish and veggie options as well as local favourites.
Aside from these village restaurants, there’s also a great dining option at the top of the La Tania bubble: the Bouc Blanc. Not only is it one of the best value mountain restaurants, it is also very friendly and welcoming, and the food is good, with substantial portions!
LA TANIA BARS AND APRÈS-SKI
There may not be many choices for après-ski in La Tania, but you can’t say it lacks energy! The Ski Lodge is your main pit stop for jugs of beer, sport and live bands. Keep an eye on their Facebook or Instagram to find out what’s on (or ask your chalet host!) There are also shot nights and bands playing at 10pm if you’re heading out of your chalet meal.
Looking for cocktails? Try the Taïga’s happy hour from 5-7pm. There’s also live music on some nights during the week, either after skiing or late night.
Lots of Ski Magic guests also take the opportunity to prolong the glorious last run down into La Tania at the end of the day, and stop off in the Bouc Blanc for one of their mugs of hot chocolate or a cold drink on the terrace on a sunny day.
ACTIVITIES IN LA TANIA
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 Chalets La Tania FAQs
Is La Tania in Courchevel?
Yes, La Tania is one of the five villages that are included in the ski resort of Courchevel. The lift pass you can buy for Courchevel covers La Tania’s lifts, as well as all the lifts in Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Moriond, Courchevel Village and Courchevel Le Praz. You can get between all these villages either using the ski lifts, or on the free buses.
Is La Tania a good place for beginner skiers?
Yes! La Tania is well set up for beginners with a new nursery slope and ‘magic carpet’ lift which is on the snow front. Once you progress, you can use the gondola lift and try the long green run, then work up to the blue run.
Can you ski from La Tania to Meribel?
To ski from La Tania to Meribel you take the Tania gondola from the main village in 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. Make sure you have a Three Valleys lift pass before going to Meribel!
Is there a ski school in La Tania?
We are lucky enough to have a selection of ski schools in La Tania. We can help you to find the right one for you, whether that’s for group lessons, half day private lessons, single day coaching or ski guiding for an off piste adventure.
How high is La Tania ski resort?
The village of La Tania is at 1400m, the same as Meribel. In total, 85% of the runs are above 1800m in the Three Valleys. There are snow cannons on the runs down into La Tania and the other villages to keep the snow quality good throughout the season. Courchevel is renowned for its excellent snow conditions, because it faces North and has invested a lot into keeping the slopes nice and smooth.
Is La Tania just for families?
Not at all. Whilst it is a good option for families with children because it’s pedestrianised and easy to get around, it’s also popular with groups of friends with a mix of ski levels, and it makes a good value base for experienced skiers wanting to access the Three Valleys.
What kind of accommodation is there in La Tania?
There are some self-catered apartments, but La Tania is mostly known for being a pretty resort with low rise chalets, close to the slopes. A lot of these chalets are run as ‘catered’ properties, ie. ‘half board’ – breakfast and an evening meal are provided. At Ski Magic, we focus on catered ski chalets.
Is La Tania only for families?
Not at all. Whilst it is a good option for families with children because it’s pedestrianised and easy to get around, it’s also popular with groups of friends with a mix of ski levels, and it makes a good value base for experienced skiers wanting to access the Three Valleys.
Is there a ski school in La Tania?
We are lucky enough to have a selection of ski schools in La Tania. We can help you to find the right one for you, whether that’s for group lessons, half day private lessons, single day coaching or ski guiding for an off piste adventure.