What's on in Courchevel (Les Trois Vallées), France through the year

Peak crowds — Ski season, Christmas and New Year

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Ski season (4 Dec – 18 Apr), Christmas and New Year (19 Dec – 4 Jan)

Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, French half-terms

• Holiday

  French half-terms

  7 Feb – 8 Mar · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Three rotating zones of French school holidays run back to back through February, which is the fullest month of the season: full pistes, full ski school, and Saturday transfers up the valley in convoy. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (4 Dec – 18 Apr)

Peak crowds — French half-terms, Ski season

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: French half-terms (7 Feb – 8 Mar (usually)), Ski season (4 Dec – 18 Apr)

Peak crowds — Ski season, Spring holidays in France

• Closure

  Between the seasons

  20 Apr – 25 Jun · usually

  Once the lifts stop the resort closes properly: hotels, most restaurants and the ski buses go until the summer opening in July. The road is clear and there is nothing at the top of it. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (4 Dec – 18 Apr)

Busy — Spring holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Between the seasons (20 Apr – 25 Jun (usually))

Quiet — travelers describe it as quiet, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Between the seasons (20 Apr – 25 Jun (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Summer lifts open

  4 Jul – 30 AugTrail season

  A handful of gondolas run for walkers and bikes for about eight weeks from the start of July. It is a different resort in summer: cheap, half-shut, and the high trails are the whole point. Source ↗

Busy — Summer holidays in France, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Summer lifts open (4 Jul – 30 Aug)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Closure

  Autumn shutdown

  1 Sep – 5 Dec · usually

  Once the summer lifts stop at the end of August, most hotels, restaurants and shops close until the ski season. September still suits hiking; the first skiing in the 3 Vallees is usually at Val Thorens from late November, about an hour's drive. Source ↗

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Larches turn gold

  10 Oct – 5 Nov · usuallyAutumn colour

  The larch forests on the slopes around the resort and in the neighbouring Vanoise turn yellow from mid-October; the walking trails are empty while the resort is shut, but check that a cafe or shop is open before you go.

Still on: Autumn shutdown (1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually))

Busy — All Saints (autumn) holidays in France

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Autumn shutdown (1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually)), Larches turn gold (10 Oct – 5 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Ski season, Christmas and New Year

• Season

  Ski season

  4 Dec – 18 AprCrowded

  The lifts turn from the first weekend of December to the middle of April, with the Trois Vallees link open across the whole run. Early December is thin cover and half the village still shuttered. Source ↗

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  19 Dec – 4 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The dearest fortnight of the year up here, booked a season ahead, with the altiport busy and the chalets let by the week only. Snow cover in late December is the gamble you are paying for. Source ↗

Still on: Autumn shutdown (1 Sep – 5 Dec (usually))