France
Savoie, France
The gateway to the world's largest ski area. Courchevel has more blue runs than almost any resort in the Alps — 142 blues across the 3 Vallées — and from any village you can reach Val Thorens, Méribel and Les Menuires without ever touching a red run.
Blue runs (4) tap a name to zoom in on map
3 Vallées chairlift (upper mountain, Courchevel 1850)
Plein Sud means 'Full South' in French — this run faces directly south, which means it gets the most sun of any run on this side of the mountain and the snow softens beautifully in the afternoon. It sits in the upper part of the Courchevel ski area, accessed via the 3 Vallées chairlift from the Courchevel 1850 main lift hub at La Croisette. Wide, open terrain with views across the valley.
One of the best afternoon runs in Courchevel — the south-facing aspect means the snow is often at its best from midday onwards when it has had time to soften. Wide, long, and consistently gentle. The kind of run you do repeatedly because it just feels good.
Plantrey chairlift or Chenus gondola (Courchevel 1850)
Folyeres is a long, flowing blue that runs from the upper mountain all the way down through forest to La Tania — one of the smaller, quieter Courchevel villages at the bottom of the valley. Take the Chenus gondola from La Croisette then follow the blue signs toward La Tania. You can ski back up via the La Tania gondola or the Plantrey chairlift.
A local favourite and frequently cited as one of the best blues in all of Courchevel. The forest section keeps the snow sheltered and quiet even on busy days. Long, continuous, and very satisfying — you arrive at La Tania village at the bottom feeling like you have really skied somewhere.
Ariondaz telecabine (Courchevel 1650 / Moriond)
Indiens is the main blue run above Courchevel 1650 (Moriond) — the quieter, better-value village. Take the Ariondaz telecabine from the centre of 1650, pass the Signal chairlift and follow the Indiens piste back through the trees into the village. It is the natural return run to 1650 and feels completely separate from the busy 1850 side.
The best run to access if you are staying in Courchevel 1650. Tree-lined, sheltered, and quiet even on busy days. The forest makes it an excellent option in bad weather when visibility higher up is poor.
Saulire cable car or Vizelle gondola (from La Croisette, 1850)
Creux starts from the top of the Saulire — at 2,700m, the highest point in the Courchevel ski area. Take the Verdons gondola from La Croisette then the Vizelle gondola to the Saulire summit. From here the blue runs spread out across a huge open bowl. Creux is the main blue route back toward Courchevel 1650 — wide, high-alpine, extraordinary views of Mont Blanc and the Grande Casse on a clear day.
The most dramatic blue in Courchevel — you start at 2,700m on a clear high-alpine plateau with Mont Blanc visible on the horizon. The scale of the landscape up here is extraordinary. Best done on a clear morning as the first run of the day.
The destination
Courchevel is actually six separate villages stacked at different altitudes — the number after the name is the altitude in metres. Courchevel 1850 is the most famous (and most expensive), with designer boutiques and helicopter pads. Courchevel 1650 (also called Moriond) is quieter, friendlier, and much better value while still having excellent slope access. Courchevel 1550 and Le Praz (1300m) are even more affordable. For a first visit on a budget, 1650 is the sweet spot.
Glamorous 1850 · Great-value 1650 · Family-friendly · Best-groomed runs in the Alps
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