It's a hard life when you're an intermediate skier at Courchevel - you could easily waste a morning just trying to choose a run from the multitude on offer. This is some of the best mid-level skiing in Europe, and you can pretty much cruise around the entire valley on meticulously groomed wide slopes. Try setting off from the top of Roc Merlet out of 1850 and glide all the way down to 1650 via the Pyramide and Indians pistes. From 1850 you can also head right up the Chenus Gondola to access long tree-lined runs down to both Courchevel 1550 and Courchevel 1300. Favourites for boarders include Verdons, Saulire, and Loze. Many of the runs will suit you, but the top end of some of the reds can be hard if there's ice, so check the conditions.

Deep powder fields, steep chutes and cliff drops will keep your calves burning and your mouth dry, runs ranging from a bit of a challenge to clearly suicidal. The fast narrow chutes and thick powder fields leading down from the Vizelle peak and the Suisses Chairlift are a good place to start. Most of the advanced runs are high altitude, so you could also start with some of the high red mogul runs or the powder runs through the trees towards Méribel to ward off altitude sickness. The Chaplets trail on the far left hand side of the Courchevel Valley is sheer and usually left in its natural state; if you make it out of there alive, progress to three couloirs sometimes called the Ugly Sisters on Saulire. From the valley these look like white fingers reaching up into the rocky ridge - take your pick of Grande, the easier couloiur, or hit the narrower upper arm that's steepest.

Courchevel is a great place to master the basics, or to grab a few pointers to take you to the next level. There are seven ski and snowboard schools in the Courchevel Valley with more than 650 instructors speaking 25 different languages. The ESF in each village are truly international ski schools, while Guides de Courchevel will take you off the beaten track. Le Centre de Pralong and the Magic Snowsports Academy are also highly recommended. There are some great programmes for the mini-me skiers in your family - kids of all ages have a huge range of fun lesson options to choose from, beginner to competition class.

Office du Tourisme de Courchevel
Address:  La Croisette F - 73120 COURCHEVEL
Tel:  +33 (0)4 79 08 00 29
Fax:  +33 (0)4 79 08 15 63
E-mail:  pro@courchevel.com

Like everything at Courchevel, après-ski action varies widely from village to village. Courchevel 1850 boasts the most exciting, glamorous atmosphere. Gourmet restaurants, pumping bars and sleek clubs that stay open into the wee hours tempting even the weariest bones to head out. See and be seen at Les Caves and The Grange, or try something a little more casual at the Kalico; the focus here is more on live music, cocktails and fun. More down-to-earth are the lower villages, with a quieter, more family-orientated scene.  All villages are home to fantastic eateries (two Michelin-starred); there are 11 restaurants on mountain and many more nearby. Cuisines range from Gastronomique, Creperie and French to Italian, Seafood and West Indian. In the Courchevel 1850 village L'Altibar Restaurant serves traditional French and Savoyard gourmet cuisine in a casual setting, and La Creperie Du Moulin is a pancake restaurant serving speciality crepes, cheese fondue and raclette. In the Courchevel 1650 village the traditional Le Petit Savoyard Restaurant makes delicious homemade wood fired pizzas and Savoyard specialities. Courchevel 1550 has Les Flocons Restaurant which uses only the freshest local ingredients to produce traditional French meals. The Bristrot du Praz Restaurant in the 1300 village has a warm atmosphere serving gourmet French pub meals.

If you like to mix up your skiing with a few other activities, or you've just gone so hard on the slopes that you're forced into taking a break, there's a lot on offer. For the adrenaline-orientated: swimming, ice skating, snow mobiling, snow rafting, squash, snowshoeing, torch-lit descents and a crazy new 2km toboggan run. If you enjoy actually slowing down a bit on your holiday, check out the ten pin bowling, horse-drawn sleigh rides, beauty and massage treatments and over 100 shops ranging from big name brand clothing to delicious regional produce - don't miss the bakeries selling sweet and savoury delights and the takeaway crepe stores in the villages.

Nestled in France's Three Valleys, the largest ski area in the world connected only by ski lifts and slopes, Courchevel is at the heart of the Rhone Alps. No matter how you're travelling, it is easy to get to, with many viable transport options. The resort is just two hours from the Genève Cointrin and Lyon Saint Exupéry international airports, and 30 minutes from the railway station at Moûtiers Salins. Once you get there, take advantage of the many covered car parks, bus and taxi services to park your car or get around easily.

Most people fly into Genève Cointrin and Lyon Saint Exupéry airports, both approximately two hours from Courchevel. Regular flights depart from London Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and City airports. Flight time from London to both Lyon and Genève is around 2 hours 30 minutes. Other options include Chambery/Aix Les Bains (international airport, 110km from Courchevel) and Aeroport Grenoble (international airport, 130km). British Airways, easyJet, Air France and Lufthansa offer flights from throughout the United Kingdom.

Courchevel-taxis will provide either a van or 8-seater minibus (according to your needs) for individuals or groups, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, pick up from Genève, Saint-Exupéry, Grenoble, Chambery and Annecy airports. Book over the phone on 00 33 (0)4 79 00 3000, or email info@courchevel-taxi.com. Altibus offer buses from all of the main airports and train stations. Book online at http://www.altibus.com/

By train you can head to Geneva Station then on to Moutiers Station. Moutiers is the town at the base of Les 3 Vallees. Then catch a bus or taxi directly to your village in Courchevel. It's also possible to catch the Eursotar overnight from London to Moutiers Station. Free shuttle buses operate between the different villages at Courchevel. By fast TGV train, Paris to Moûtiers-Salins takes just over four hours, followed by a 40-minute drive to Courchevel by taxi or private car.

SNCF, Moûtiers Salins station
Tel. +33 (0)892 35 35 35
ttp://www.sncf.com/
You can transfer from Moûtiers to Courchevel by bus with altibus, http://www.altibus.com/, or by taxi:
Courchevel-taxis
Ph.: 00 33 (0)4 79 00 3000
Email: info@courchevel-taxi.com
Arolle Taxi
Tel.: +33 (0) 479 01 09 99
Mobile: +33 (0) 612 28 59 05
jean-hubert.melin@wanadoo.fr
http://www.arolle-taxi.com/
To book coach transfers from Eurostar at Moutiers, contact Gare Routiere de Moutiers on 00 33 4 79 24 24 46 (manned during ski season only).Alternatively, you can contact Transavoie the coach company which operates services from Moutiers on
00 33 4 79 24 21 58

Courchevel is about 2 hours 25 minutes from Lyon, and to drive there, head west from Lyon towards Chambery / Grenoble, exit towards Albertville and then again towards Brides les Bains / Meribel / Courchevel.
From Grenoble, head along A41 towards Montmélian and Albertville, then onto A430. Take the D915 exit towards Brides-les-Bains / Meribel / Courchevel. The trip should take about 1 hour 30 minutes.