Luxury Chaletsin Le Praz (1300)

Le Praz is where Courchevel began: a farming village of stone and larch long before the resort was built above it. It sits at 1300 metres, beside the ski jumps used for the 1992 Olympic Games, and has kept a character that the higher villages, built for skiing, never set out to have.

Our chalets here suit those who value authenticity over display. Most have an indoor pool, a spa and an open fire, and several offer daily housekeeping and a ski shuttle. Higher Courchevel stays close by, and the wider 3 Vallées is easy to reach, but in the evening you come back to a real village, with its forest and some of the resort's most traditional tables.

In figures

• 10 properties
• 3–6 bedrooms
• Up to 14 guests
• From €3,900 per week
• 2 ski-in, ski-out
• 9 with a pool
• 9 with a spa, hammam or sauna

• Altitude: Le Praz lies at around 1300 metres, the lowest of Courchevel's villages.
• On the slopes: A lift from the village rises into the Courchevel ski area and on to the 600km of the 3 Vallées.
• The village: An old Savoyard hamlet of stone and wood, where the Olympic ski-jumping hill stands.
• Getting there: Chambéry is about 1 h 45 by road, Geneva about 2 h 30, with helicopter transfers to the Courchevel Altiport.
• The season: The lifts of Courchevel usually run from early December to mid-April.

Our concierge's advice

Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays in Le Praz are often booked by early autumn, so it is worth settling your dates well ahead. For those weeks, ask our concierge to reserve ski instructors and restaurant tables before you arrive.

Our properties

• Grand Alpine: Grand Alpine: Elevated luxury in Courchevel, where panoramic views meet unparalleled slope-side access and wellness.
• Chalet Dauphine: Over 500 m² in Le Praz, with Dent du Villard views, a pool, saunas and Japanese baths
• Chalet Cormontaigne: Five levels served by a lift in Le Praz, with valley views, a pool and a private cinema
• Chalet Colbert: Five levels served by a lift in Courchevel Le Praz, with a terrace facing the valley
• Chalet Clotilde: A family chalet in Le Praz with a swim spa, a lift and wide windows onto the valley
• Chalet Clignancourt: An indoor pool and an ethanol fireplace in the heart of Le Praz, minutes from Courchevel 1850
• Chalet Cherche Midi: On the lakeshore at Courchevel Le Praz, with an outdoor hot tub and room for fourteen
• Chalet Châteaudun: A south-facing terrace looking out to the Olympic ski jumps of Courchevel Le Praz
• Chalet Chartres: Grey stone and pale wood on a pedestrian lane in Le Praz, with an infinity pool
• Chalet Charonne: A south-facing chalet in the heart of Le Praz, with an indoor pool and a private cinema

On the slopes

The Le Praz lift takes you from the village into the heart of the Courchevel ski area, where the network opens onto the full 3 Vallées. The north-facing slopes hold their snow well through a season that runs from early December to late April. Many of our chalets have a ski room with boot heaters, and most offer a shuttle, so the start of each day is unhurried.

Village and tables

Le Praz has kept its old lanes and the calm of a place that was lived in before it was skied. The Olympic ski jumps rise above the chalets, a reminder of the 1992 Games. The village is known for some of Courchevel's most traditional restaurants, where Savoyard cooking is taken seriously. It is a setting for those who prefer substance to spectacle.

Arriving and moving

Geneva is the usual gateway, about 2 h 30 by road, with helicopter transfers available, and Chambéry is closer still. Helicopters land at the Courchevel Altiport, a short drive from the village. Once you are settled, our concierge arranges drivers, ski passes, instructors and tables at the higher villages, so moving between Le Praz and the rest of Courchevel needs no planning on your part.

Frequently asked questions

How does Le Praz compare with Courchevel 1850?

Courchevel 1850 is the most exclusive and lively level, with its boutiques and Michelin-starred dining. Le Praz is quieter and more authentic, an original village rather than a purpose-built resort. It suits those who want the same ski area without the scene at their door.

How easy is it to reach the slopes from Le Praz?

The Le Praz lift links the village to the wider Courchevel ski area and the 3 Vallées. Most of our chalets offer a ski shuttle, and many have a ski room with boot heaters. Our concierge can also arrange a private driver for the day.

Is Le Praz a good choice for families?

Le Praz is often described as Courchevel's family village, with a calm, residential feel. Our chalets offer indoor pools, spas and daily housekeeping, and several welcome pets. It is a restful base after full days on the mountain.

What is the best way to get to Le Praz?

Geneva Airport is the most common gateway, about 2 h 30 by road, and helicopter transfers to the Courchevel Altiport can be arranged. Chambéry is closer at around 1 h 45, and Lyon is about 2 h 30. Our concierge can organise every transfer, by car or by air.

When is the best time to come to Le Praz?

The lifts of Courchevel usually run from early December to mid-April, so the whole winter is open to you. Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are booked first, often by early autumn. In those weeks, restaurant tables and ski instructors are best reserved before arrival.

What are your properties in Le Praz like, and what does the concierge arrange?

Our properties in Le Praz are all chalets, and nearly all have a pool and a spa, hammam or sauna, while some are ski-in ski-out. Staff are not part of these chalets, so our concierge arranges a private chef on request. A driver, transfers, ski passes and ski instructors can all be organised in the same way.

Courchevel

• Courchevel
• Courchevel 1850: The highest of Courchevel's villages: chalets on the pistes of Jardin Alpin and Bellecôte, a short walk from La Croisette.
• Courchevel Village (1550): A lived-in village just below 1850, with direct lift links to the 3 Vallées and a calmer, more personal rhythm.
• Moriond (1650): Courchevel's sunniest village, with direct piste access and an easier, family-minded pace than 1850.