Going with a mountain Guide in Courchevel: 10 Myths, True or False

No, you don’t need to be an athlete to head out with a mountain guide in Courchevel. You just need to be comfortable on all pistes and ready to have fun. The guide picks slopes to suit your level, lends you the safety gear (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe) on our small-group outings, and knows what to do when the weather turns. Below are the ten myths we hear most often, and what’s really true.

What we promise you

Our team brings together high-mountain guides and state-certified ski instructors, all of them highly experienced. 

Trust. You get the benefit of all our skills and know-how, and you ski with a clear head, because someone else is taking care of the snow, the weather and the route.

Freedom. Your time, your pace, your wishes: you set the tone. Activity, level, even the mood, we adapt, from a gentle outing to a more sporty day.

Adventure. Helping you progress safely while showing you places, sensations and landscapes you wouldn’t have found alone: that’s our job. A day with a guide is often the best day of the trip, and sometimes a chance to discover a new side of yourself.

10 true-or-false questions before heading out with a guide

1. “Off-piste is super dangerous!”

False, or nearly. Off-piste does carry risks, that’s true. What’s really dangerous is going there alone, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. The guide chooses slopes that suit your level and the day’s snow, so the day stays safe,  beautiful and calm.

2. “If you want to try ski touring, you’re better off with a guide.”

True. Guides are experts: no more gear headaches, no more fear of getting lost. People who take the leap rarely regret it, and they get to enjoy the mountains far from the crowds on the pistes.

3. “Guides only ski in extreme couloirs.”

False. Guides adapt to everyone’s wishes and level. For them, your safety and your enjoyment come first.

4. “Guides are the off-piste specialists.”

True. They ski off-piste all winter, from December to May, and they know the terrain better than anyone. It’s their daily life, not their weekend hobby.

5. “If I don’t train like an athlete all year, I can’t go ski touring.”

False. There are plenty of easy routes with little elevation gain where you can try ski touring in the Three Valleys.

6. “Guides are rough around the edges and don’t speak English.”

False. They’re less boorish than the yeti, and they speak English as well as the dahu does (the Alps’ mythical creature, if you were wondering). Legend even has it that they have a sense of humor.

7. “To ski with a guide, you need a lot of experience.”

False. Being comfortable on all pistes is enough. The rest is mostly the wish to have fun.

8. “Guides are less good teachers than ski instructors.”

False. Many guides are also ski instructors. All of them are patient, attentive and very well trained.

9. “If the weather is bad, my guide will have a solution.”

True. Snowshoeing, an introduction to snow science, an indoor climbing session: there’s always something to do, even on stormy days.

10. “Guides are in the mountains all year round.”

True. Mountaineering and rock climbing in summer, ski touring and off-piste in winter. Living the dream, really.

What does it cost, and how does it work?

A few benchmarks taken from our 2027 brochures (current prices and availability are on the website):

On our small-group outings, guiding by a high-mountain guide and the loan of safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe) are included.

Ready to go?

Write to us or give us a call and we’ll tell you what suits your level and your wishes, even if the answer is “start with a walk.” Book online or find us at the 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
• Website: www.guides-courchevel.com