When the luxury and refinement of Courchevel’s chalets meet the wealth of landscapes at the gateway to the Vanoise, your summer mountain holidays are looking exceptional.
The villages of Courchevel, with their warm atmosphere, come alive throughout the summer with lively traditional festivals where you will discover Savoyard cultural heritage and renowned gastronomy.
If you don’t know what to do in Courchevel in summer, be tempted by this renowned family destination for lovers of luxury, nature and culture:
- The discovery of the traditional or designer architecture of Courchevel’s chalets,
- Recharging walks through the superb verdant landscapes of forests, lakes and alpages at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park
- The diversity of summer mountain sports, relaxation activities and unusual activities,
- And meeting our passionate partners who will be eager to introduce you to the beauties of Tarentaise and Savoie heritage.
When to visit Courchevel in summer? Discover the opening dates of Courchevel’s summer season
With altitudes ranging from 1,300 m in the village of Courchevel Le Praz to summits of more than 3,000 m, you can come to Courchevel all year round.
The 2026 summer season runs from 4 July to 30 August, a period during which the Trois Vallées ski lifts are open 7 days a week. They are accessible to walkers and MTB, easing access to the summits to discover the mountain in all its facets.
The opening hours of the main ski lifts are as follows:
- Saulire cable car: 9.30am – 4.30pm
- Verdons gondola: 9.30am – 4.40pm
- Praz gondola: 9.30am – 4.45pm
- La Tania gondola: 9.30am – 12.30pm / 1.30pm – 4.45pm
Pointe de Sel arranges all-inclusive bespoke mountain stays for you in Courchevel in any season.
What to do in Courchevel in summer at the cultural level?
You will be charmed by the wealth of Courchevel’s cultural heritage.
Traditional festivities in Courchevel
Village festivals dot the summer and bring lively traditional events to the villages of Courchevel.
Fête des Bûcherons (Lumberjacks Festival): 19 July 2026 in Courchevel La Tania. Watch exciting lumberjack competitions, try your hand at axe throwing and discover traditional wooden games.
Madelon festival: 25 and 26 July 2026 in Courchevel Le Praz. Enjoy local crafts, a market, live music, entertainment, traditional games, the famous communal soup and accordion performances.
Notre-Dame des Neiges festival: 2 August 2026 in Courchevel Moriond.
Tovets festival: 15 and 16 August 2026 in Courchevel 1850, featuring a large shopping fair organised by local retailers.
Courchevel Village festival: 22 and 23 August 2026.
The chance for you to discover a traditional, festive mountain atmosphere near your chalet rental in Courchevel.
What to do in the Vanoise and in Courchevel for a nature summer?
Courchevel opens up access to the Plan de Tuéda nature reserve, which extends across the Trois Vallées area (Les Ménuires, Méribel and Courchevel) in Tarentaise, over 1,112 hectares. The varied altitude between 1,650 m and 3,153 m favours the diversity of fauna and flora, with 545 plant species and around 400 animal species present, including 65 protected species. Mountain guides will introduce them to you and share their knowledge with passion. The species you will most certainly come across on the mountain paths is the marmot, growing ever plumper as summer goes on.
If you have the chance to climb to the top of the summit of La Saulire (2,700 m altitude), you will enjoy a spectacular panoramic view: admire Les Trois Vallées, Mont Blanc, the glaciers of the Vanoise, La Grande Casse, etc. The location is ideal for cooling off in case of heat or simply to gain some height!
The Lac de la Rosière is very accessible and perfectly suited to discovering the mountain as a family.
The Rocher or Col de la Loze, a magnificent vantage point over the Vanoise glaciers and Mont Blanc at 2,274 m altitude, is accessible on foot and by bike.
The Vanoise park is also home to 2 refuges easily accessible from Courchevel:
- The Lacs Merlets refuge:
At the heart of the Avals valley and near the Lacs Merlets, you will discover two cabins lost in the middle of nature. With a 14-bed capacity, peace and quiet are guaranteed. - The Saut refuge:
Discover what nature offers at its most beautiful: a plateau surrounded by water, colourful rocks and flowers. The Saut refuge is perfect for trying the experience of a night in a refuge as a family.
You may also enjoy our guide What to do in La Plagne in summer, another ideal base for discovering the spectacular landscapes of Vanoise National Park.
Discover the rural heritage of Courchevel in summer
Discover, on a visit to the alpage of Ferme de Pralong, the transformation of milk from 110 Tarine cows into summer Beaufort cheese in the production chalet. The farmers welcome you as a family and offer free farm visits as well as themed “Awakening of the Senses” tours with a farm snack, or meetings with the alpine farmers followed by a farmhouse aperitif (calling all gourmets!).
Don’t miss the Chez Pépé Nicolas alpage farm in Val Thorens (near Courchevel) either, which has been a true institution in Les Trois Vallées for several generations. You can witness the daily life of the alpine farmers, watch the manual milking of goats and the mechanised milking of cows, discover cheese-making and feast in the traditional restaurant chalet.
Finally, we recommend a detour via the Ferme des Saveurs in Courchevel 1650, which offers an authentic and warm setting, a vast choice of artisan mountain charcuterie, Savoie cheeses and specialities like raclette and Savoyard or Burgundy fondue, La Pierrade.
What to do on the baroque trails in Courchevel in summer?
The baroque trails were created in 1992 for the Albertville Olympic Games. They bring together 80 sites of Savoie Baroque art, mainly chapels and churches. By discovering these well-preserved jewels of Savoie heritage, you will discover the harsh life of the mountain folk in the 17th and 18th centuries, who sold their products — including their cheeses — to fund the embellishment of their places of worship.
The Sainte Madeleine chapel at the heart of the village of Courchevel Le Praz houses a colourful tabernacle and statues. The unusual decoration of its leather “Cordoba”-style altar comes from one of the many goods that circulated, on muleback, across the Alpine passes.
For the record, Courchevel Le Praz is a very old village in the commune of Courchevel set right in the middle of a level patch. This is rather rare in the mountains, since flat places were generally reserved for crops and villages were therefore built apart, on the slope. The large extent of the plateau at Le Praz allowed the installation of both and led to a place of passage favouring monetary donations for worship.
The village is known for its historic “Madelon” festival celebrated in July in honour of its patroness — Mary Magdalene (see above for the dates of traditional village festivals).
The two churches of Saint-Bon and La Perrière, adorned with bright colours and gold emblematic of the baroque movement, are also worth the detour.
As a family, let yourself be told the astonishing story of Saint-Bon and Savoyard baroque by experiencing an unusual sensory tour mixing all the senses. The experience is all the more rare on a night-time visit and will let you discover the baroque church and its lavish decor in an original way, with lighting, baroque music, the scent of incense, arolla pine wood and drinks.
A guide-lecturer from the Pays d’art et d’histoire des Hautes vallées de Savoie with the Fondation Facim offers night-time tours on:
Sensory night-time tours are offered:
- 9 August 2026: at the church of La Perrière.
- 16 August 2026: at the church of Saint-Bon: at Saint-Bon church (registration with the Courchevel Tourist Office).
Street Art in Moutiers
Change of scenery and style. Immerse yourself in the exotic, colourful world of street art on the Moutiers Street-art trail near Méribel. Around forty monumental murals, stencils, graffiti or collages colour the streets of the former capital of Tarentaise.
What to do in Courchevel in summer in terms of activities?
No fewer than around thirty mountain, relaxation or sports activities await you in Courchevel in summer, for every taste and fitness level. Will you be tempted by white-water activities (rafting, canyoning, etc.), aerial activities (paragliding, climbing, via ferrata, etc.), more or less extreme activities (downhill mountain biking or electric MTB, deval bike, etc.), or more zen ones (mountain yoga, contemplative or sporty hikes, hiking, a night at the Saut refuge, mountain golf, etc.).
As an unusual, fun exclusive in Courchevel, you can also try indoor surfing at Courchevel’s Aquamotion.
To live an exceptional week with no booking stress and discover exclusive activities in exceptional conditions, discover our chalets to rent in Courchevel with Pointe de Sel and live a turnkey, bespoke experience of distinction.
The top 6 summer sporting events in Courchevel?
Catch the highlights of the summer season in Courchevel. Will you be participants or spectators at these sporting events, some of them extreme and spectacular and others intensely recharging?
Paragliding with Courchev’Ailes
On 9 and 10 May 2026, around sixty paragliders will fill the skies above Courchevel during this friendly free-flying event.
Millet XTrail Courchevel
Push your limits on 25 and 26 July 2026 at the Millet XTrail Courchevel. The race village opens on Saturday, while the races take place on Sunday in the heart of the Vanoise mountains. This unique event features a single start with six possible distances (11, 22, 33, 44, 55 or 66 km), allowing runners to choose their distance during the race depending on their fitness and the time cut-offs.
Zen altitude
From 8 to 23 August 2026, treat yourself to a mountain wellness retreat. Enjoy outdoor yoga sessions, massages, mindful and energising walks, cooking workshops and many other activities designed to help you relax and recharge.
Méribel Golf Show
From 16 to 20 August 2026, watch some of the best professional and amateur golfers compete at the Méribel Altiport Golf Course, just a few minutes from Courchevel. This friendly event takes place on one of the most beautiful mountain golf courses in the Alps.vel, in a friendly, festive spirit. The event takes place on the Altiport golf course, one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Alps.
So see you soon for your holidays in Courchevel in summer!
Get in touch as well to book your next ski holidays in the Alps. We offer luxury chalet rentals in Courchevel, Méribel, La Plagne and Les Arcs, and arrange your bespoke stay in the French Alps so that you can make the most of your holidays.
Experience Courchevel in summer
With its spectacular scenery across Les 3 Vallées, hiking trails in Vanoise National Park, charming Alpine villages, vibrant summer events and exceptional outdoor activities, Courchevel offers one of the finest ski holidays in the French Alps.
To make the most of your stay, Pointe de Sel offers a carefully curated collection of luxury chalets combining privacy, comfort and premium facilities. Heated indoor swimming pools, saunas, spacious living areas and personalised concierge services allow you to enjoy a truly bespoke Alpine experience.
Browse our collection of luxury chalets in Courchevel and let us create a tailor-made mountain holiday you’ll never forget.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best family activities in Courchevel during the summer?
Courchevel is an excellent destination for families. Easy walks around Lac de la Rosière, scenic hikes made accessible by the summer ski lifts, Aquamotion, mountain farms, traditional village festivals and a wide range of summer activities ensure that visitors of all ages can make the most of their Alpine holiday.
When is the best time to visit Courchevel in summer?
July and August offer the widest choice of activities, with the ski lifts in operation, traditional village festivals, sporting events and entertainment taking place throughout the resort.
June and early September are ideal for visitors looking for quieter hiking trails and a more peaceful mountain atmosphere.
Are the ski lifts open during the summer?
Yes.
Several ski lifts operate throughout the summer season, providing easy access to hiking trails, mountain bike routes and some of the most spectacular viewpoints across Les 3 Vallées.
What can you do in Courchevel when it rains?
Even if the weather is less favourable, there are plenty of enjoyable indoor activities.
You can relax at Aquamotion, discover the Baroque churches of the Tarentaise Valley, visit traditional Alpine farms, sample Savoyard specialities or enjoy shopping and cafés in Courchevel’s different villages.
Courchevel or Méribel: which resort is better in summer?
Both resorts offer an exceptional Alpine experience.
Courchevel is renowned for its luxury atmosphere, outstanding events and spectacular mountain scenery.
Méribel is famous for its traditional Savoyard architecture, beautiful forests and authentic village charm.
👉 Discover our guide: What to do in Méribel in summer
Courchevel or La Plagne: which should you choose for a summer holiday?
Located in the heart of Les 3 Vallées, Courchevel is known for its elegant atmosphere, luxury accommodation and exceptional services.
La Plagne is particularly popular with families thanks to its many villages, easy access to Vanoise National Park and extensive range of outdoor activities.
👉 Read our guide: What to do in What to do in La Plagne in summer
Can you enjoy Courchevel in summer without taking part in sporting activities?
Absolutely.
Many visitors come simply to enjoy the mountains at a slower pace, exploring traditional villages, discovering Savoyard gastronomy, visiting Baroque heritage sites, browsing local markets, relaxing in wellness facilities and taking in the breathtaking Alpine scenery from the comfort of a luxury chalet.
Which accommodation should you choose in Courchevel during the summer?
A luxury chalet is undoubtedly one of the finest ways to experience Courchevel.
Heated indoor swimming pools, saunas, private jacuzzis, home cinemas, spacious living areas and bespoke concierge services create the perfect setting for an unforgettable holiday with family or friends.
Prepare your summer holiday in the French Alps
Still deciding which Alpine resort is right for your next holiday?
Explore our complete destination guides:
- 🌲 What to do in Méribel in summer
- 🥾 What to do in La Plagne in summer
- 🚵 What to do in Les Arcs in summer
- 🏊 Discover the finest luxury chalets with swimming pools in the French Alps
- 🏡 Which luxury chalet with a swimming pool should you choose? Compare our collection of nine exceptional Alpine chalets.
