Now that it’s November, the leaves have almost all but come off the trees and the evenings are closing in, it’s time to start really start thinking about winter. And what better way to start than with a healthy dose of what’s new in Courchevel for the 2018 / 19 season? Courchevel is one of Alpine Lodges’ original resorts, and it just keeps getting better and better. Ideally situated at the edge of the Three Valleys, there’s always something new to get excited about in the winter, be it a new lift or another fun attraction. Here’s what we can look forward to this winter.
Free Aquamotion Pass with Your Lift Ticket
Staying in Courchevel Moriond this winter? This is the offer for you! If you buy a lift pass for the duration of two days or more, you’ll get one free entry to the amazing Aquamotion water park. With plenty of water-based fun, spa facilities and fitness options for adults and kids, Aquamotion is one of the best places to spend an evening. Many of our Three Valleys developments are in Courchevel Moriond, which is within easy walking distance of Aquamotion!
Aquamotion is one Courchevel’s main winter attractions – aside from skiing of course! Photo: Aquamotion
Ariondaz by Night XXL
Another treat for Courchevel Moriond-dwellers. Every year Courchevel hosts the Festival International d’Art Pyrotechnique, an international fireworks competition, where the best fireworks artists in the world compete against each other by putting on spectacular displays to the public. This year, Courchevel invites to a night of festive night skiing on the Ariondaz gondola in Courchevel Moriond to watch the fireworks from the slopes. Could you imagine a more perfect evening? Since last year, there’s a public vote, so you can have your say on Facebook about which fireworks you thought were the best, and the winner will receive a public choice award !
New Grangettes Gondola
Courchevel’s latest addition to the piste map is a shiny new replacement of the Grangettes gondola. Taking skiers and pedestrians from Courchevel Village at 1550m to Courchevel 1850 and providing all-important access to higher terrain, more shops and restaurants, and one of the resort’s longest sledging runs, the new Grangettes takes two minutes, thirty five seconds to reach Courchevel 1850 and transports over 2400 people per hour. That’s over twice as fast and over three times as more people than the old model. The new ten-seater Grangettes will be open from 08:35am until 7:20pm.
Courchevel’s Festival International d’Art Pyrotechnique is always a spectacular event. Photo: Patrick Pachod
Automatic Chairlift Selfies
If you’ve always tried to take pictures of your ski crew on the chairlift, you’ll know how difficult it is to get everyone in shot and not drop your phone! This year, Courchevel has taken all the hassle out of chairlift selfies by adding an automatic camera to the Biollay chairlift. It takes your picture on the way up and you can view and collect it when you get to the top. Genius !
FIS Ladies Alpine Ski World Cup: Slalom Returns to Courchevel
The Ladies Alpine Ski World Cup is a major event in the ski racing circuit, but also a huge event for Courchevel. After hosting the giant slalom seven times, and slalom three times, both events are returning to Courchevel over the course of one weekend, bringing with them double the competition and double the fun. This year will be the first time Courchevel has hosted a singles slalom (last year it held a parallel slalom race) event since 2013 so we’re very excited! Courchevel also announced at the end of last winter that it’s going to be hosting the 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships, a huge honour in the ski racing world and an event that’s sure to bring lots of new visitors to the resort!
The FIS Ladies Alpine Ski World Cup is always a huge event for Courchevel. Photo: Patrick Pachod
Green Initiatives in Courchevel Moriond
This is something you might not notice over the winter, but will definitely improve your views come summer! Courchevel has been busy realising its biodiversity objectives and last summer spent lots of time re-seeding the areas of Courchevel Moriond that were affected by development in the ski area. The new seeds are local to the area and have been specially developed to withstand the Alpine climate, so look out for more green spaces when the snow starts to melt!
We currently have two properties under construction in Courchevel. Canyon Lodge, a collection of three premium chalets, and Manali Lodge, a piste side development of fifteen luxury apartments with an in-house spa, pool, restaurant and ski shop. For more information and the chance to reserve off-plan, get in touch with our team.