Simon’s Season: Courchevel and the 3 Valleys
At Erna Low HQ we’ve been asking our team members to write guest blog entries on anything ski related! Simon in the sales team was happy to oblige and here he gives us the low down on where to ski and be seen in the ever stylish Courchevel and the 3 Valleys… with insider tips like these you can’t go wrong!
Courchevel
After working a couple of seasons in Courchevel, I cannot recommend this resort highly enough. One of the great advantages of this little piece of heaven on Earth is not only the variety of skiing, but also that it has extensive slopes for beginners as well as intermediates and advanced skiers and boarders.
Courchevel 1850
I worked my first season in Courchevel 1850 and though it has changed significantly since then, it provides a great base with immediate access into the main skiing area and into the 3 Valleys beyond. This is the most expensive part of the resort, as the designer shops and Porsche 4×4’s will testify to – but there are still some good value options available – for a premium residence try Les Chalets du Forum, which sell out quickly due to their excellent location or for more value Les Ecrins, which is still in the centre of the action.
There are great off slope diversions in 1850, including a bowling alley, climbing wall and amazing tobogganing course which descends to Courchevel 1550, 300 m below. You can rent toboggans in the sports shops and do as many laps as you can handle, returning to 1850 via the Grangettes bubble lift (included in your lift pass)
There is some excellent advanced skiing to challenge you here, including the couloirs on the Saulire as well as some long black pistes down to Le Praz, which are also normally very quiet. The pistes down to La Tania are also excellent and a good stop for a quick drink before returning to the adventures above.
Cable car to top of Saulire, Courchevel 1850
Some other favourite runs include Marmottes, an undulating and very long run all the way down to Prameruel (which is the main link to Courchevel 1650) and Suisses, a real leg burner!
Fields of powder all to ourselves – Courchevel (Loze sector)
For beginners, the excellent Jardin Alpin area allows access to a varying length of green runs which allow good progression and the chance to feel like you are really skiing the mountain. By the end of your first week, because of the excellent linked skiing, you should be able to ski over to Courchevel 1650 for lunch and back again.
Courchevel 1650
I am a big fan of Courchevel 1650 – it offers a more relaxed and ‘village’ feel compared to 1850, as well as some great value accommodation. If you have a large group, Les Montagnettes – Les Chalets de la Mouria are a great option. For smaller families, couple or small groups of friends, great value can be found in the Maeva Le Moriond apartments. For those wanting to splash out, Le Portetta Lofts offer amazing luxury (but with a price tag to match).
There is a great array of blue and red slopes here and I would always find myself skiing here more than any other part of the valley as it was always so deserted. The Signal and Chapalets are both modern lifts and allow to you ski various runs endlessly – I never bored of this area and the views over to the Vanoise Parc National will take your breath away. There is also an excellent restaurant at the top of the Ariondaz bubble lift called the Bel Air, by Courchevel standards it offers good value and has a much appreciated 3 tier terrace, perfect for lounging in the sun with a beer. Another great little restaurant/bar in the centre of Courchevel 1650 is La Boulotte, which offers great fresh food and hospitality.
Empty slopes in Courchevel 1650
Courchevel 1550
The smallest of the 3 Courchevel resorts but also the best value. It is linked straight into 1850 by the Grangettes bubble lift and has a great local bar, called The Bar, which is a very popular and entertaining place for a night or two. We have two good value residences in 1550, Les Brigues and Les Grangettes as well as a lovely family run hotel Les Ancolies.
Further afield
From Courchevel, you have two access points into the 3 Valleys, the largest linked ski area in the World. I generally always accessed the other parts of the 3 Valleys via the Saulire, as this gives you the option of heading into either Meribel Mottaret or Meribel Centre, which is where the main onward lifts depart from. Also the pistes from the top of the Saulire are great fun too!
Some of my favourite areas of the 3 Valleys, outside of the Courchevel Valley are:
Meribel
Mont du Vallon – 2 mega red runs descending from the highest point in Meribel. I always warmed up on the piste to the right of the lift as you look up, before the main event to the left. There is also some amazing off-piste around here (always hire a guide!).
Olympic/Tougnette – an under visited part of the Meribel valley – quiet blue and red runs with good snow conditions.
Cote Brune – similar to the Mont Vallon area – great fast red runs and the main return route from Val Thorens – leave some energy in the tank for the return.
Venturing further afield - Top of Mont du Vallon, Meribel
Val Thorens
Pointe de Thorens – the highest point of the Val Thorens resort, offers a fantastic red and generally good snow as it is on a glacier. Watch out for the high winds!
Cime de Caron – an amazing journey to the top by cable car and even more mind blowing descents.
Grand Fond – various fast red pistes.
La Folie Douce – the only need for ski or board boots here is for dancing on the tables. If you have been to the Val d’Isere version – this is much more fun (remember your fancy dress).
Orelle – the magic 4th Valley. I always accessed via the Grand Fond lift as the pistes from here to the Plan Bouchet, where the Orelle lifts head up from will made you scream for joy. The highest point in the 3 Valleys (or should we say 4 Valleys) is here and is a must for any strong intermediate/advanced skier.
La Folie Douce, Val Thorens – a great place for friends, music, beer and bananas!
Les Menuires / St Martin de Belleville
Jerusalem – this red run into St Martin just keeps on going and giving.
There are a lot of great cruising runs in Les Menuires that are fantastic for the afternoon sun, but the one stand out area for me is La Masse – a huge hulking piece of mountain that nobody seems to bother with (so keep it quiet). Long red and black runs are the order of the day here and some great off piste opportunities too. Just beware the run back towards Les Menuires gets narrow and moguled towards the bottom.
La Masse – don’t tell anyone
