Skiing with a mountain guide in Courchevel takes you to the best itineraries in the Three Valleys, away from the marked runs, with someone who reads the snow and the weather for you. With us, a freerando day (ski touring meets freeride) in a small group of 3 to 6 people costs €170 per person, safety gear included. On a private outing, a half-day of ski touring starts at €430 for the guide, for up to 6 people.
The Three Valleys piste map fits on a single sheet of paper. Everything else doesn’t appear on it: the bowl that still holds its powder three days after the storm, the slope you avoid once the wind has turned, the little pass you can’t see from below. That “everything else” is where we work. High-mountain guides spend the whole year up there, summer and winter, and you feel it from the very first turn.
Are you here to ski, or do you look after people who are, in a hotel, a chalet, a concierge desk? Here is why we think a day with a guide can change a whole week.
Five reasons to ski with a mountain guide
1. We know today’s snow
Every slope, every bowl in the Three Valleys and well beyond: a guide has skied them dozens of times, in every kind of condition. He or she picks the route according to the snow, the aspect, the weather and the group’s level. You ski where it’s good today. Not where it was good last week.
2. Bad weather? There’s always a plan B
Storm, fog, lifts closed: on paper, the day is a write-off. In practice, there’s plenty to do. Ski touring among the trees, a snowshoe walk to the Lac de la Rosère, a bit of ice climbing. Clients come back frosty, glad they stepped outside, and the hot bath or the spa feels even better for it.
For a concierge, it’s simple: no more “sorry, there’s nothing to do today.”
3. After a first off-piste day, the groomed runs feel tame
Many good skiers spend a first day off-piste with a guide and never quite look at the pistes the same way again. They seem narrower, busier, more repetitive. Not everyone, of course. But enough that a first outing often turns into a habit, winter after winter.
It’s also what brings a guest back to your property.
4. Safety, without thinking about it all day
On your own, off-piste makes you hesitate, and that’s healthy. With a guide, the question changes. He or she looks at the snowpack, the weather, how busy the area is, how the group is doing, then decides on the route. Sometimes that means staying on the piste for the day. Your guide also provides the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as zero risk in the mountains. But a trained professional who is out on the terrain every day is still the best way to reduce it. That way you can look at the scenery instead of over your shoulder.
5. Service, too
Our guides are used to an international clientele, sometimes a demanding one, and most of them have travelled far beyond the Alps. They know how to lead a group, make a call and keep spirits up when the fog rolls in. Entrusting your guests to a guide means entrusting them to someone who knows how to handle all that.
What does it cost?
A few benchmarks taken from our 2027 brochures, for dates, availability and quotes, the most reliable source is the website or a phone call.
Small group (3 to 6 people)
|
Outing |
Who it’s for |
Duration |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Freerando day |
Comfortable on all pistes, some ski touring experience |
1 day |
€175 / person |
|
Ski traverse |
Some ski touring and off-piste experience |
2 days, 1 night in a mountain hut |
€390 / person |
|
WinterCamp (ages 13–20) |
Comfortable on all pistes, some off-piste experience |
3 days |
€580 / person |
Guiding by a high-mountain guide and the loan of safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe) are included.
Private
Ski touring, up to 6 people per guide:
|
Option |
Hours |
Price / guide |
|---|---|---|
|
Full day |
9am–4:30pm |
€670 |
|
Extended morning |
9am–2pm |
€565 |
|
Afternoon |
2pm–5pm |
€445 |
And if you want to go bigger:
- Gébroulaz, the Vanoise’s “Vallée Blanche”: €670 per guide, up to 4 people. One of the finest descents in the Three Valleys.
- Mountain coaching: €690 per guide, up to 6 people. To get better in the mountains, not just on skis.
- Ice climbing: €320 per guide for 2.5 hours, up to 4 people, from complete beginner to experienced climber.
- Heli-skiing, in the Mont Blanc massif: price on request.
- Expeditions and alpinism: for more than 30 years our guides have been going further afield (Japan, Greenland, Norway, Antarctica) and climbing the Alps’ legendary peaks. If you have a dream like that, let’s talk.
Not into skiing? Winter walks
-
Not into skiing? Winter walks
You can love the mountains in winter without anything strapped to your feet. Snowshoes, light crampons, yoga, or fondue in an igloo: plenty of ways to see Courchevel away from the bustle of the resort.
Option
Price / guide
Morning (3h)
€370
Long morning (5h)
€450
Full day
€520
Afternoon (3h)
€300
Snowshoes and poles provided, up to 8 people per guide, meals extra if you want them.
- Group snowshoe walk: €60 per person, 5 to 8 people, equipment provided. Dates vary, so ask us.
- Panorama outing: we climb to a summit for a view over the Three Valleys and Mont Blanc.
- The secret igloo: a snack, an aperitif or a fondue around a brazier, inside an igloo. Open to everyone, on request.
- Alpine walk without snowshoes: light crampons and poles provided, on groomed trails, through forest, along streams or by a lake.
- Nordic’Yoga: walking and adapted yoga poses with an experienced instructor.
Your questions
How much does an off-piste day with a guide cost in Courchevel? In a small group (3 to 6 people), the freerando day is €175 per person. Privately, a full day of ski touring is €670 for the guide, 9am to 4:30pm, up to 6 people.
Do I need to bring my own safety gear? No. On our small-group outings, the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe are lent to you and included in the price.
What level do I need? Be comfortable on all pistes, and for freerando, have tried ski touring at least once. WinterCamp (ages 13–18) asks for the same piste level and some off-piste experience.
What if the weather is bad? We adapt: ski touring, snowshoeing, ice climbing, the igloo. There is almost always something beautiful to do.
Can a hotel or concierge book for their guests? Yes, and it’s quite common. Call or write to us and we’ll put together a tailor-made outing.
Find us
Bureau des Guides de Courchevel, Maison de la Montagne, 110 rue de la Croisette, 73120 Courchevel, France.
- Phone: +33 (0)6 23 92 46 12
- Email: guides.courchevel@gmail.com
- Booking: www.guides-courchevel.com