Courchevel Slopes

With 150km (93 miles) of pistes, the Courchevel Valley makes up a quarter of the Trois Vallées ski area, with its total of 600km (373 miles) of runs and nearly 200 lifts – but the local area on its own has much more than most resorts can offer.

Beginners need not pay out for a lift ticket from day one as there are a dozen lifts operating free of charge for first timers on nursery slopes near to the resort's various bases. Beginners can then progress on to ideal terrain (wide blues and greens) further up the ski area.

Average ability skiers will find more lift-linked skiing for them in Courchevel and the Trois Vallées than anywhere else on the planet, with 237 blues and reds. It's worth noting that the lifts are all now powered by renewable energy as the area is one of the greenest, as well as the biggest, ski areas.

Experts also have a huge choice, including the famous ‘Ugly Sisters' couloirs and steep mogul fields such as Jean Blanc. Heli-skiing over into Italy (it’s illegal in France but the border is nearby), off-piste tours and many other advanced-level ski activities can be organised through the local ski schools or the mountain guides’ office.

The ski season in Courchevel runs from early December to the end of April.