Best for Families (Courchevel 1650) |
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 If you want a resort where you can drop off the kids at 9am and be back - after a hard days powder skiing - to pick them up at 3pm, then Courchevel 1650 is the place to be. Not only is the skiing on the door step but the door step is quite and offers easy access to one of the biggest ski playgrounds in the world. |
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Courchevel 1650 is a superb resort for families. The resort has a friendly, community feel, and very convenient access to the slopes.
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1650 has some of the widest, longest, and more importantly quietest slopes in the 3 Valleys (perfect for young skiers) and untracked powder is just around the corner.
Luckily for parents, the years of miserable French ski school domination have passed, Courchevel has some top quality schools to entertain and teach your children.
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Keep the kids happy |
Magic in Motion (0033 (0)4 79 01 01 81, courchevel@magicinmotion.co.uk, www.magicinmotion.co.uk) are renowned as the best ski school for the under 18s. They have a ‘Magic Dragon’ mascot who skis around to entertain the younger kids and the instructors (British and French – all English speaking) are guaranteed to be fun and charismatic.
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 Better still the lessons run for 6 days, with 4 x 4 hour mornings and 2 x full ‘adventure days’, allowing you 2 full days of backcountry adventures without feeling too guilty about leaving your children in ski school all day every day. The week’s course costs €350-395 depending on your start day.
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Courses include ‘Kid’s Fun Factory’ (ski or snowboard), which has small, English-speaking groups of up to 8 children (grouped into 6-9yrs or 10-13yrs) and special teenager classes for 13-17 year olds.
Teenagers have options to try jumps, moguls, half pipe, rails, and off-piste. This is available for skiers (twin-tip skis required) and snowboarders. |
Parents escape to the backcountry |
 And while the kids are in class, you can get skiing. Many people use 1650 as a convenient portal to access 1850 and the rest of 3 valleys. Those who leave the area hastily however, are missing out, as Courchevel 1650 has some of the best off-piste in the Trois Vallées area. Also, it doesn’t get as busy as 1850, so there are less people to share the powder with. In 1650, the Chapelets area has some great off-piste riding in-between the trees, just off the piste and the snow always keeps well here.
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The hidden valley is another firm favourite with the locals - and is perfect if you can only escape for a morning. This huge bowl leads down to the bottom of the Roc Mugnier chairlift and there are loads of different lines, some more challenging than others.
It’s better to do this run in the morning before it gets too much sun, otherwise the snow can get heavy and has been known to slide.
At the top of 1650 is the Equinox face, nicknamed after it was shown avalanching and taking three skiers out on the documentary programme Equinox. This is only recommended in the right conditions. There’s a pisteurs’ hut at the top of the Chanrossa chair where you would start your 10–15 minute hike to the top of the face and we recommend you ask if it’s safe before you try it.
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 In 1850 you will find some nicely accessible couloirs at the top of the Saulire cable car and you can choose depending on your ability.
The Telepherique couloir is slightly less challenging than the rest and the Grand Couloir is wide but has the tendency to transform into a mogul field in the absence of fresh powder.
Arguably some of the finest powder in Courchevel can be found on the Roche de Loze. This is the site of the classic Courchevel Freeride competition, one of the best big-mountain freeride events in Europe. It takes a good 45 minutes to hike to, and is for experts only.
Les Avals Valley could also be done in a morning but you might be pushing it. Hike up from the top of the Chanrossa chairlift to enter the valley and prepare yourself to be astounded by the breathtaking scenery and wide sections of untracked snow. The only drawback to this awesome trip is a fair amount of flat terrain that you have to push and walk out of. However, it is well worth all the effort and yields sufficient respect when you recount your adventures in the bars later.
In the ‘Where to Ski and Snowboard’ guide, Manu Gaidet (one of the World’s top freeriders and regular winner of the Freeride World Championship) names Les Avals as one of his favourite routes. It is essential to research snow conditions and weather fully before you attempt the Les Avals Valley. |
Where to stay |
Four separate resorts come under the name of Courchevel: 1850, 1650, 1550 and 1300, also known as Le Praz.
Courchevel 1650 is less cosmopolitan than its Russian-favoured companion, 1850 and we prefer it. We love 1650’s friendly community, superb skiing and convenient access to the slopes.
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For the ultimate in convenience take an apartment in the Golf hotel overlooking the slopes (self catered directly through the hotel or catered through a catering company).
Good value and well placed hotel accommodation can also be found at the Edelweiss and there are some great chalets available. Just check that they are in the town centre, some tour operators seem to use the ‘1650’ label a little too liberally. |
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| Prices: Not bad for France (and bargain basement compared to 1850!) |
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