Behind its immaculate groomed pistes, Courchevel hides some of the richest off-piste terrain in the Northern Alps: north-facing bowls that keep cold snow, serious couloirs off the Saulire, and larch forests above Le Praz for bad-weather days.
The classic routes
- —The Grand Couloir from the Saulire: the famous one, steep and demanding
- —Les Creux Noirs: a wide north-facing bowl that holds cold snow
- —Vallon du Plan Mugnier: long open route back towards 1550
- —Le Praz forest: well-spaced trees, perfect in flat light
- —The Méribel side of the Saulire: best early in the morning
When to go
The best conditions come between mid-January and early March, when the snowpack is settled and temperatures stay cold. After a snowfall, waiting 24 to 48 hours is often wise: the first day is the most beautiful but also the riskiest, and steep sectors need to purge.
Do not go alone
A mountain guide or off-piste instructor is essential in Courchevel. Expect €450-550 per day for a guide, shared between up to six skiers. They choose the terrain based on the day's avalanche bulletin, which no app replaces.
- —Transceiver, shovel and probe for everyone, and the skills to use them
- —Airbag pack recommended on steep slopes
- —Check the Savoie avalanche bulletin each morning
- —Never enter a couloir alone
Heliski and big days
Heli-drops are not allowed from French soil, but day trips to Italian drop zones are organised from the 3 Valleys. Other classics include the traverse to the Vallée des Encombres or the north face of the Mont du Vallon from Méribel, best planned with a guide across a week.
Back at the chalet
After a committing day, the indoor pool and sauna do more for recovery than a noisy après-ski. We can book your guide before you arrive and have safety equipment ready for the whole house.