Nobody flies straight into Courchevel. There is no airport in the resort itself, so the trip starts at Geneva, Lyon, Chambéry or Grenoble, and the drive up the mountain decides how your first day goes. Done well, the last leg ends in the calm first evening a luxury ski holiday in Courchevel should start with. Done badly, it is a six-hour door-to-door slog. For groups who would rather not deal with it, AR Privé in Courchevel arranges the whole journey, airport to chalet.
Getting to the Resort
Airport and Rail Options
You have four airports to pick from, and the choice usually comes down to your departure city and your patience for the drive at the other end. Chambéry is nearest, barely 75 kilometres away, though a bad afternoon of winter traffic can eat into that. Most groups land at Geneva instead. It is roughly 140 kilometres out, two to three hours by road depending on the day. Grenoble is a similar distance, near 145 kilometres, with much the same drive. Lyon is the long way round at about 185 kilometres, but its far wider choice of flights earns it a place for anyone coming from further afield. And if you would rather take the train, Moûtiers is the nearest station, 25 kilometres and roughly 40 minutes out.
One warning. Saturday is changeover day across the Alps, so every transfer takes longer then.
The Altiport and Flying In
Courchevel also has one of the oddest airstrips in Europe. The altiport is up at around 2,000 metres, on a runway so short and steep that aircraft land uphill and leave downhill. Only specially qualified pilots may use it, which keeps it to private aircraft and helicopters. For anyone used to luxury travel in Courchevel, the helicopter is the shortcut. A road transfer of two and a half hours or more becomes a flight of thirty to thirty-five minutes.
When to Book, and What to Check
Peak weeks go early. Christmas, New Year and the February half-term book up first, transfers and instructors included, and booking late means a thinner choice of vehicles and drivers. A few things need checking before you travel. The vehicle should fit the group and the luggage, with a driver set up for winter roads. The chalet’s exact address helps on the final climb, because some of the upper lanes are tight. AR Privé confirms all of it and times the pick-up to the flight.
The First Evening
A good arrival gives the group time to unpack and enjoy the first night without a transport decision left to make. For a luxury ski holiday in Courchevel, the airport you pick, the timing of the transfer and the access to the chalet each deserve a look before you leave home. That is the piece AR Privé in Courchevel takes off your hands, from the airport straight through to the chalet door.
