Clare from Ski Magic gives us the lowdown on her home and favourite place to be!
Courchevel Le Praz has a loyal fan-base of snowboarders and skiers who love the chic French vibe and the picturesque forested slopes as well as the easy access to the enormous Three Valleys ski area. Here are 5 reasons to make it the next choice for your ski holiday…
- Two high-speed lifts: The brand new Alpinium building (opened in December 2019) houses a speedy new gondola which whizzes up to Courchevel 1850 in just 5 minutes 50 seconds. The covered Foret chairlift, installed in 2014, takes you to the Bouc Blanc above La Tania from where you can head over to Meribel in just one more chairlift.
With Courchevel Le Praz as your base you’re at a great starting place to access the Three Valleys ski area:1 lift – Le Praz bubble = you arrive in Courchevel 1850
2 lifts – Foret and Dou des Lanches chairs = ski straight down into Meribel. - Pretty forest setting: The tree-lined runs of Le Praz are an ideal place to play in snowy weather, the trees allowing greater visibility than higher up on more exposed pistes. Being amongst the trees is also great for secret powder stashes which don’t get tracked out so quickly as more popular haunts. (Shhh, don’t tell everyone!) The chalets and village are on a plateau beneath the slopes and have incredible views across to the other side of the valley and the mountains of the Vanoise National Park.
- A real French village: With strictly low-rise chalets and apartments, you really feel as though you’re part of an authentic French ski resort when you stay here – Le Praz is very popular with French skiers who have holiday homes in the village and very few British skiers have cottoned on to this charming mountain village resort, despite the towering ski jumps which were built for the 1992 Albertville Olympics and are Le Praz’s famous landmark. You can often spot daredevils training on the jumps from the Murettes piste.
- So many restaurants! With atmospheric vaulted wine bars, posh Michelin star dining, burgers and chic hotel restaurants, you’re spoilt for choice on chalet night off. Meander the winding streets and your tummy will be rumbling as you read the restaurant menus… Prices are often more reasonable for a lunchtime menu than the mountain restaurants, so it’s possible to try out several during the week! For après-ski, try a vin chaud or two in the sunshine outside the Table de Mon Grand-Père (Ski Magic’s director claims it to be the best in Courchevel!) or dance to one of the live bands in L’Elephant.
- A new perspective on a ski holiday: Take a couple of hours away from the pistes and try something new. How about:
– Cross Country (Nordic) skiing– there’s a lovely track winding through the peaceful forest and you can hire equipment from the local ski shop. Start from the track opposite the bottom of the ski jumps and enjoy a peaceful couple of hours discovering this graceful sport, seeing the scenic village and surrounding mountains from a viewpoint that not many visitors experience!
– Ski touring – why use the lifts when you could walk up the mountain?! If you enjoy a challenge then this is the sport for you – the ‘ski de randonnee‘ track takes you into 1850 or even higher if you’re still feeling energetic… You’ll need special equipment including ‘skins’ for the bottom of your skis, which can be hired locally. If you’re in training for a summer event then this could help you keep your fitness levels up during your holiday!
– Tandem paragliding– You’ll be blown away by the bird’s eye view of the Courchevel ski area – the white peaks go on for miles and miles… Landing in Le Praz you’ll also be just a moment away from the Table de Mon Grand-Père terrace!
All in all, Courchevel Le Praz is a fantastic way to experience the enormous ski area of the Three Valleys, with plenty of activities, lovely walking trails for non-skiers, a friendly village atmosphere and scenic views…
At Ski Magic there are two Courchevel Le Praz chalets to choose from, both in our flagship range which include swimming pools which make them perfect for 3G family ski trips. What's more Le Loup Blanc still has some availability for March - so why not try a luxury spring ski holiday in this amazing resort!
Le Loup Blanc with private swimming pool in Courchevel Le Praz.
