The Season
Courchevel runs roughly mid-December to mid-April. The window for best snow is narrower than the full season — and the window for lowest prices is narrower still.
The season at a glance
Season opening
≈ 5 December 2026
Les 3 Vallées has announced an early-December opening for 2026/27, in line with the last two seasons (lifts opened 6 December 2024 and 5 December 2025). Lower pistes can be thin until the next big snowfall; the Val Thorens glacier opens earlier.
Christmas & New Year
20 Dec – 4 Jan
The most expensive weeks of the season. Book hotels by August. Crowds are heavy; queues at peak lifts can exceed 20 minutes.
January
5 – 31 January
The quietest, cheapest skiing of the year. Snow is at its driest and coldest. Smaller crowds, full kitchens — the editor's pick.
February half-term
8 Feb – 8 Mar
French, British and Italian school holidays overlap. Peak crowds and peak prices. Snow tends to be at its deepest.
March
9 – 31 March
Long days, soft afternoon snow, sunlit terraces. Prices drop sharply from mid-March. Often the editor's second pick after January.
Season closing
≈ 19 April 2027
Courchevel's own lifts closed on 21 April 2025 and 19 April 2026; the linked Trois Vallées area is scheduled to close around 16 April 2027. The glacier above Val Thorens stays open into early May.
Recent seasons — when the lifts actually ran
Courchevel’s published opening has landed in the first week of December for three seasons running, with lifts turning through mid-to-late April. The 2026/27 calendar follows the same pattern.
| Season | Lifts open | Lifts close |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/27announced | ≈ 5 December 2026 | ≈ 16 April 2027 |
| 2025/26 | 5 December 2025 | 19 April 2026 |
| 2024/25 | 6 December 2024 | 21 April 2025 |
Courchevel-village lift dates; the linked Trois Vallées area and the Val Thorens glacier run a few days wider at each end. The 2026/27 dates are the announced calendar, subject to early-season snow. For the record: French ski lifts stayed shut for the entire 2020/21 winter under COVID restrictions — the only blank season on file. Sources: Les 3 Vallées, seecourchevel.com.
Frequently asked
When does Courchevel open for the 2026/27 ski season?
Les 3 Vallées has announced an early-December opening — around 5 December 2026 — matching the last two seasons, which opened on 6 December 2024 and 5 December 2025. Final dates depend on early snow and are confirmed by the resort in the autumn.
When does Courchevel close for the season?
Mid-to-late April. Courchevel's lifts closed on 21 April 2025 and 19 April 2026; the full Trois Vallées linked area is scheduled to close around 16 April 2027.
What is the best month to ski in Courchevel?
January for cold, dry snow and quiet pistes; February for the deepest cover and the full social scene; mid-to-late March for long sunlit days and the year's best value.
When is the cheapest week to ski in Courchevel?
The week after Epiphany (early January) and the last week of March, before Easter. Both can be 40–60 % cheaper than peak February weeks.
Can you ski in Courchevel in April?
Yes — through to the third week. Lower pistes get patchy from mid-April, but the high lifts at the Saulire and above Méribel still ski well.