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.
Courchevel has more easy blue runs than virtually any other major resort in the Alps — and thanks to the best piste grooming in the 3 Vallées, they are consistently maintained to the highest standard. Whether you're staying in 1850, 1650, or one of the smaller villages, there are excellent intermediate runs within reach. This guide covers the best blue runs in Courchevel across all sectors, from the gentle forest runs above 1650 to the high-altitude glacier blues at the Saulire summit.
Blue runs (12) tap any run to zoom in on map
Easy Blue Blue Blue+ (tough)
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.
Jardin Alpin chairlift (Courchevel 1850)
Jardin Alpin is one of Courchevel 1850's most charming blue runs — a wide piste that winds through the forest above the upper village. The Jardin Alpin chairlift is easily found from the La Croisette lift hub. The run descends through open and forested sections back toward the village.
A quiet, consistently gentle blue that is perfect for an afternoon cruise. The forest setting makes it feel completely different from the open high-altitude blues at the top of the mountain. One of the most pleasant easy runs in Courchevel.
Biollay chairlift (Courchevel 1850)
The Biollay chairlift is in the main Courchevel 1850 bowl, above the village. Biollay is a long blue that sweeps across the upper mountain with panoramic views of the valley below and the peaks of the Vanoise National Park. It connects well with the Vizelle area for a longer day of exploration.
One of the best views of any blue run in Courchevel — the panorama from this piste across the valley to the Vanoise peaks is spectacular on a clear day. Long, well-groomed, and satisfying.
Verdons gondola then Biollay lift (Courchevel 1850)
Pralong is one of the most popular easy blues in Courchevel 1850, sitting in the upper part of the main bowl and connecting the top gondola area with the mid-mountain. Wide, open, and very well-maintained. A good run for finding your rhythm early in the day.
A Courchevel classic for intermediates — this is the run that convinces people they are better skiers than they thought. Wide, consistent, and perfectly maintained. Best skied first thing in the morning before the crowds arrive.
Vizelle gondola (from La Croisette, 1850)
The Vizelle gondola from La Croisette takes you toward the Saulire summit. The Vizelle blue run descends from this high-altitude area back toward the mid-mountain, with sweeping views across the 3 Vallées. This run gives you access to the glacier and the Creux blue we already list — combining them makes a brilliant top-to-bottom descent.
Best known as the approach to the famous Creux glacier run, but Vizelle itself is a good blue in its own right — wide, high-altitude, with extraordinary views. Combine it with Creux for the best top-to-bottom experience in Courchevel.
Jardin Alpin or Biollay chairlifts (1850)
Marquise is in the upper part of the Courchevel 1850 bowl, easily accessed from several chairlifts above the main village. It is one of the most frequently skied blues in the resort because of its position right in the heart of 1850's skiing. Wide, consistently groomed and very accessible.
The run that most 1850 guests end up skiing five times before they realise it. Wide, perfectly pitched, and always in immaculate condition — Courchevel's grooming is the best in the 3 Vallées and Marquise is the proof of it. Perfect for getting your eye in at the start of a day.
Loze chairlift (from Courchevel 1850 upper area)
La Tania is a small, quiet village at the bottom of the valley between Courchevel and Méribel — reached via the long Folyeres blue we already list, or this alternative via the Loze chairlift. The Loze connector runs through forest all the way down to La Tania at the valley floor. It's a different feel from the high-altitude Courchevel blues — forested, sheltered, and quiet.
The best forest run in Courchevel — long, tree-lined, and quiet. La Tania itself is worth stopping in: a small, genuinely local French mountain village with a handful of excellent restaurants and zero pretension. Ski here for lunch and take the La Tania gondola back up.
Télémix Ariondaz (from Courchevel 1650)
Bellecôte is the main connecting blue between Courchevel 1650 (Moriond) and the upper Courchevel ski area. Take the Ariondaz telecabine from 1650, then follow the blue route toward the 1850 sector. This run makes it easy to ski between the two main villages during the day.
The most useful run for people staying in Courchevel 1650 — it connects you to the full 1850 ski area with a gentle, wide blue traverse. Well-groomed, rarely crowded, and gives you access to Courchevel's best high-altitude terrain from the cheaper village below.
Saulire cable car or Vizelle gondola
Rocher de l'Ombre (literally 'shadow rock') is a north-facing blue run in the upper Courchevel ski area, accessed from the Saulire area. Because it faces away from the sun it holds firm snow later into the day — valuable in spring when the south-facing runs soften early.
The run to head to when the other blues are getting slushy in the afternoon. North-facing means firm snow well into the afternoon. The contrast with the sunny Plein Sud and Biollay runs makes this a useful addition to any day in Courchevel.
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
Don't be put off by Courchevel's reputation for being expensive — that's only if you stay in 1850. Courchevel 1650 has the same slopes and a fraction of the price. The village number is just the altitude in metres — higher means pricier but also ski-in ski-out convenience.
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