A truly authentic, traditional ski village, Courchevel Le Praz is a beautiful resort set amongst alpine forests and surrounded by the iconic peaks of the neighbouring mountains. Dominating the village, the 1992 Winter Olympic ski jump reminds visitors of the region’s long history at the forefront of snowsporting excellence. Recent investment in resort has opened it up to the wider Three Valleys ski area and its 600km of pistes, whilst luxury ski chalets in Courchevel Le Praz are popping up as owners grow to appreciate the combination of exceptional mountain access and authentic alpine village live.
Les Trois Vallées needs little introduction, and Courchevel Le Praz enjoys excellent access to both the Courchevel and Meribel valleys. A direct gondola to Courchevel 1850 means guests can enjoy the famed corduroy pistes and the huge range of intermediate skiing above 1850 in a matter of minutes. The experts will want to head to the couloirs at the top of Saulire for a challenge, or the World Cup L’Eclipse black piste that drops down into Courchevel Le Praz; perfect for bad visibility days. For beginners, heading up to 1850 is the best option for ski schools and nursery slopes. The gondola drops passengers almost directly at the ski school meeting point and operates into the evening, so visitors have ample opportunity to explore the myriad restaurants, bars and shops of this world-famous resort.
In the other direction towards the heart of the 3 Valleys, a covered chairlift deposits skiers at the top of the gondola up from La Tania, from where it’s an easy hop over the Col de la Loze into the Meribel Valley. Thanks to recent investment and the development of a reservoir built purely to service the snow cannon network between Courchevel 1850 and Le Praz, snow conditions are now reliable all the way down into the resort.
Cobbled streets and wood-cladded chalets epitomise the authentic style of a luxury ski holiday in Courchevel Le Praz. This quiet village is a haven for families and groups looking to enjoy excellent skiing and great value for luxury. With the recent upgrades made to the bubble up to Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Le Praz is well connected to the world-famous dining, shopping and nightlife of it’s glamourous neighbour, but visitors to Le Praz can escape the hubbub as they wish. A free local bus service also runs between the four Courchevel villages, so it’s possible to explore the unique character of each.
For a small town, restaurants in Courchevel Le Praz are well-regarded, in addition to which there are cafes for a warming chocolat chaud and some French patisserie. Whilst this is not a resort for wild nights out, there are several bars are dotted around the village centre for an enjoyable aperitif with friends before retiring to one of Courchevel Le Praz’s luxury catered ski chalets.
A Courchevel Le Praz ski holiday is an excellent choice for anyone looking to combine, top-class skiing with a luxury ski chalet in the Three Valleys, excellent value, and traditional village charm. Easy access over to Meribel truly opens up Europe’s largest ski area for those who want to experience the huge variety of skiing on offer here. This easy access continues when considering the all important food and drink side of a ski holiday, as visitors can easily enjoy the delights of Courchevel 1850 without the price-tag.
