Courchevel Luxury Ski Holiday: How to Plan Your Week

A Courchevel luxury ski holiday works best when four things are booked in the right order: the dates, the chalet, the ski school and the transfer. For the 2026/27 winter, Courchevel opens on 4 December and closes on 18 April, and the busiest weeks are Christmas, New Year and the French February school holidays. Get those decisions right early and the rest of the week runs itself.

Order matters because what sells out first is not what most people book first. In peak weeks good chalets and private instructors go months ahead, while flights and transfers can usually wait. This planner covers what to decide, what it costs where official prices exist, and what to ask before you pay.

When is the best time for a Courchevel luxury ski holiday?

There is no single best week. It depends on who is coming and what you want from the snow.

The French school holiday dates come from the official French government calendar. Zone C is off from 6 to 22 February 2027, Zone A from 13 February to 1 March, and Zone B from 20 February to 8 March. If you can avoid the weeks when two zones overlap, the lift queues and the ski school meeting points are noticeably calmer.

[MARIO: Which winter season will Sol Courchevel Chalets first take guests for, 2026/27 or 2027/28, and which weeks do you expect to book up first?]

Which part of Courchevel should you stay in?

Courchevel is not one village. The resort lists six: Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Village, Courchevel Moriond, Courchevel Le Praz, Courchevel La Tania and Courchevel Saint Bon. They share one lift system, but each has a different feel, a different price level and different access to the slopes.

The questions that matter: can you ski to and from the chalet door, or will you need a driver each morning? How far is the ski school meeting point? Do you want restaurants on foot, or quiet? Decide this before you look at chalets, because it narrows the choice faster than budget does.

How far ahead should you book, and in what order?

Here is the order we recommend for peak weeks. Off-peak weeks can be booked later, but the order stays the same.

1. Fix your dates and your group. Count adults, children and their ages, and anyone who will not ski. This decides the size of the chalet and the lift passes.
2. Book the chalet. For Christmas, New Year and February, start looking in late spring or summer of the year before. Ask what is included: chef, daily housekeeping, driver, ski room, boot warmers, spa.
3. Book ski school or private instructors. Courchevel has several schools, including ESF and smaller independent schools that offer private lessons. Private instructors with good English book up fast for school-holiday weeks. Book once the chalet is confirmed.
4. Book transfers and flights. Know your arrival airport and time before you book a driver or a helicopter.
5. Order lift passes and equipment. Passes can be bought online and posted to you. Equipment can often be fitted at the chalet or at a rental shop near the slopes.
6. Book restaurants for the big nights. Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and the most popular mountain restaurants on peak days need reservations well before you arrive.

What does a Courchevel lift pass cost in 2026/27?

Courchevel is part of the linked Les 3 Vallées ski area. The official 2026/27 prices from Les 3 Vallées are below. They cover the whole linked area, not Courchevel alone.

Two details are worth knowing. First, the Family Flex pass lets the whole family ski at the child rate: it needs at least three people, a maximum of two adults aged 18 to 74 and at least one child aged 5 to 17. For a family of four that saves real money compared with buying adult passes. Second, the official site says passes bought online can be cancelled free of charge until your first ski day, as long as no lift has been used.

Prices and rules change, so check the official Les 3 Vallées website before you buy. We have not listed a Courchevel-only pass because we could not confirm its 2026/27 price from an official source.

How do you get to Courchevel, and how long does it take?

Courchevel's official website gives these road distances and times:

These are clear-road times. Saturday is a common changeover day for chalets, and on peak-season Saturdays the valley roads can be much slower. If you can arrive on a weekday, or early on Saturday, do.

Your main choices:

• Private driver from Geneva or Lyon. The simplest option for families with luggage and ski bags. The car should have winter tyres or chains (see below).
• Train to Moûtiers, then a car. Good if you are already in France. Taxis and the Altibus coach service run from Moûtiers to Courchevel.
• Helicopter. Flights run to Courchevel from several nearby airports, weather permitting. Always have a road plan as back-up.
• Courchevel Altiport. The resort's own airstrip, which the resort says accommodates certain private and commercial flights. Not every aircraft or pilot can use it, so ask your jet operator early whether they can land there.

Do you need winter tyres or chains to drive to Courchevel?

If you hire a car or bring your own, yes, plan for it. Under French mountain rules, from 1 November to 31 March, vehicles in designated mountain areas must either carry removable anti-skid devices (chains or snow socks) for at least two wheels, or be fitted with four winter tyres. Only tyres with the three-peak mountain snowflake mark (3PMSF) count. The rule covers mountain areas in 34 French departments, including the Alps; the prefect of each department sets the list of towns, and signs mark the start and end of each zone.

Check the official French government page before you travel, and ask your rental company in writing what the car comes with. Do not assume a car hired at an airport is equipped.

What should a catered chalet week include?

This is where a ski week is won or lost. Before you confirm, ask for these in writing:

• Chef and meals. Is a chef included every day, or only some days? Breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner? Is there a night off, and if so, who books the restaurant?
• Dietary needs. Send allergies and preferences before arrival, not on the first evening.
• Driver. Is there a chalet driver for ski school drop-offs and evenings, or do you need to book taxis?
• Ski room. Boot warmers, storage for every guest's skis, and space to dry gloves.
• Equipment fitting. Can the rental shop come to the chalet on arrival day?
• Housekeeping and staff hours. Daily, and what time staff finish in the evening.
• Children. Cots, high chairs, stair gates and, if you need it, a qualified babysitter.
• Spa and wellness. Pool, sauna or hammam, and whether a massage therapist can come to the chalet.

What does a well-run week look like, day by day?

A simple shape that works for most families and groups:

1. Arrival day. Transfer, equipment fitting at the chalet, early dinner in.
2. Day 2. First ski school morning. Adults ski nearby and meet children at lunch.
3. Day 3. Explore further across Les 3 Vallées while children are in lessons.
4. Day 4. A slower day: late start, long lunch on the mountain, spa.
5. Day 5. Big ski day for confident skiers; something off the slopes for non-skiers.
6. Day 6. Last lessons, a family ski together, a dinner out.
7. Departure. Equipment collected at the chalet, transfer timed to avoid peak traffic.

Multigenerational groups need a little extra care, because grandparents and toddlers rarely want the same day. Our guide to multigenerational luxury travel covers how to plan for different ages under one roof.

Quick answers

When does Courchevel open for the 2026/27 season?

According to the official Les 3 Vallées website, Courchevel opens on 4 December 2026 and closes on 18 April 2027. The wider Les 3 Vallées area opens on 5 December. Opening can depend on snow, so check the official site in late November before you travel.

How much is a 6-day ski pass in Courchevel?

The official 2026/27 price for a 6-day adult Les 3 Vallées pass is €421, and €345 for a child aged 5 to 17. Children under 5 ski free. Families of three or more can buy the Family Flex pass, which puts everyone on the child rate of €345.

What is the nearest airport to Courchevel?

Chambéry is the closest, at about 95 km and 1h15 by road. Geneva and Lyon are both about 2 hours away and have more international flights. Courchevel also has its own altiport, but only some private and commercial flights can land there.

How early should I book a chalet for Christmas or February?

For Christmas, New Year and the French February holidays, start looking in the spring or summer of the year before. These weeks have the highest demand. Book the chalet first, then ski school, then transfers, because good chalets and private instructors are the first to go.

Do I need snow chains to drive to Courchevel?

From 1 November to 31 March, French mountain rules require either chains or snow socks in the car, or four winter tyres marked 3PMSF. Check the official French government page before you travel and confirm in writing what your rental car comes with.

Planning a winter week with us

Sol Courchevel Chalets is planned for 2027 and is not taking chalet bookings yet. If you are thinking about a future winter in Courchevel, visit our Courchevel page and follow along as we open. If you are travelling as a larger party, our notes on planning a group trip without tension or overspending apply just as well in the mountains. And if your next trip is summer in the Aegean, send a request and our team will find the right villa in Mykonos.