Courchevel in summer, a short season worth planning
When the lifts run, which walks and lakes to choose, where to swim, what to do with children and on a wet afternoon, and how a summer chalet stay works.
Courchevel in summer is a high-mountain resort on the edge of the Vanoise National Park, with lift-served walking, high-altitude lakes above 2,300 metres, lake swimming at Le Praz, a 9-hole golf course, road and mountain biking up to the Col de la Loze and a large aquatic centre. The season is short: in 2026 the lifts were open to walkers from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 30 August. Several of the chalets we represent can be rented for summer weeks, on request.
The resort is spread over six villages, from Le Praz at the bottom of the valley to Courchevel 1850 at the top, and in summer the official tourist office says you can move between them on free shuttles or on the lifts that run for the season. That matters more than it sounds: a lake in the morning, lunch higher up and a concert in the evening can all be done without a car.
This page is the summer counterpart to our winter guide to skiing in Courchevel. It sticks to facts published by the tourist office, gives figures only where they are on record, and ends with how we arrange a chalet for July or August. Our team has been arranging Alpine stays from Paris since 1989, and every chalet we propose has been visited in person.
The summer season in six verified facts
Checked against official sources, so you can plan with confidence.
In 2026, the mountain was open to pedestrians from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 30 August, with day or multi-day pedestrian passes for the summer lifts.
Source: courchevel.comAfter the summer, the resort reopens for the winter season from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027.
Source: courchevel.comThe lower Lac Merlet lies at 2,391 m and the upper lake at 2,450 m, at the edge of the Vanoise National Park, below the Aiguille du Fruit.
Source: courchevel.comThe botanical trail and Cascade des Poux loop from Lac de la Rosière is 4.8 km, about 1h45, with 230 m of ascent, and is open from 1 May to 31 October, weather permitting.
Source: courchevel.comThe Col de la Loze, the climb used by the Tour de France, is reached by a route reserved for bikes that tops out at 2,304 m.
Source: courchevel.comCourchevel’s golf course has 9 holes, on the Les Verdons plateau at the foot of La Saulire, in Courchevel 1850.
Source: courchevel.comWhen Courchevel is open in summer, and what runs when
The question most people ask first is whether Courchevel is open in summer at all. It is, but not everything opens at the same time. The lifts, which turn the resort into a walking and biking area, run for roughly eight weeks in July and August. Bathing at Le Praz and La Tania is limited to July and August too. Waymarked trails at lower altitude, on the other hand, open well before and close well after, and the high lakes are free to visit whenever the weather and the snow allow.
The dates for summer 2027 had not been published when this guide was written. The tourist office announces them on courchevel.com, and we confirm them with every guest before suggesting arrival and departure days. If you want lifts and lake swimming in the same stay, aim for a week that sits entirely inside the published lift window.
| What | When (2026 season) | What it means for your plans |
|---|---|---|
| Summer lifts for walkers | Saturday 4 July to Sunday 30 August | The window for high walks, the Lacs Merlet route from Les Granges and lift-assisted biking |
| Bathing at Lac du Praz and La Tania outdoor pool | July and August only | Lake swimming and the heated outdoor pool fit the same eight weeks |
| Cascade des Poux loop from Lac de la Rosière | 1 May to 31 October, weather permitting | A good early-summer or September walk when the lifts are closed |
| Lacs Merlet | Open every day, all year, weather permitting | Without the lifts the approach is much longer; snow can linger early in the season |
| Winter season | 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 | For skiing, see our winter guide and the month-by-month advice |
Source: courchevel.com. Dates change each year; always check the current season before booking travel.
Hiking in Courchevel: three walks, three levels
The tourist office describes walks where forest and pasture give way, as you climb, to high-altitude landscapes with views over the Vanoise massif. Its own suggestions include Lac de la Rosière, the Lacs Merlet, the Avals valley and the heights of La Saulire. Mountain guides and accompanying leaders run themed outings (wildlife, flora, natural heritage or more sporting hikes), and printed walking guides and a trail and via ferrata map are available from the tourist office reception desks.
One rule surprises many visitors: dogs are prohibited in the Vanoise National Park, even on a lead, and camping, fires and picking plants are regulated there. If you are bringing a dog, keep to the trails outside the park, such as the Cascade des Poux loop, where the tourist office states that animals are accepted.
| Walk | Start | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical trail and Cascade des Poux | Lac de la Rosière car park (or shuttle line H) | 4.8 km loop, about 1h45, 230 m up, top point 1,645 m | Families, a first day at altitude, walks with a dog |
| Lacs Merlet | Courchevel Moriond, up the Les Granges lift, then via Petit Pralin, Mont Bel-Air and the Col de la Platta (2,408 m) | A proper mountain day; the route reaches the lakes at 2,391 m and 2,450 m, with a refuge beside the lower lake | Confident walkers; can be split over two days with a night at the refuge |
| Avals valley and La Saulire heights | Ask the tourist office or a guide for the day’s route | Varies with the itinerary chosen | Walkers who want to go with a guide and learn about the park |
Distances and times are those published by the tourist office. Check the weather the evening before any high walk.
Lakes and swimming in summer
Courchevel has no beach, but it is a surprisingly watery place in July and August. Lac du Praz, in Courchevel Le Praz, is the resort’s natural bathing spot: swimming there is free, stand-up paddle is on offer, there are tennis and beach-volleyball courts beside it, pets are allowed and you can fish. Close by, at the Olympic ski jumps of Le Praz, an inflatable buoy slide is another summer attraction for children.
Higher up, Lac de la Rosière is the gentle family lake, with a small pond where alpine newts can be watched; the tourist office reminds visitors that the species is protected and vulnerable, so keep quiet and keep your distance. The Lacs Merlet are a different world: the upper lake, fed by snowmelt and by a rock glacier at the foot of the Aiguille du Fruit, is described by the tourist office as the deepest lake in the Vanoise.
For heated water, La Tania has an outdoor panoramic pool at 28°C with a lawn looking over the forest (swimming trunks or briefs only, no pets). In Courchevel Village, the resort’s aquatic centre brings together pools, slides, an indoor surfing wave, a climbing area and a spa; the tourist office calls it Europe’s largest mountain aquatic centre. It is also the answer to the question every summer guest eventually asks: what to do in Courchevel when it rains.
Things to do in Courchevel in summer, beyond walking
The official summer programme is broad. The list below keeps to what the tourist office publishes; bookings for guides, instructors and flights are made with local professionals, and our concierge can arrange them for you.
- Cycling: road riders follow the Tour de France up to the Col de la Loze; mountain bikers have enduro trails and descents such as La Louza; e-bikes and gravel bikes are also catered for. A helmet is essential, with extra protection recommended for downhill riding.
- Golf: a 9-hole course on the Les Verdons plateau, at the foot of La Saulire, with golf lessons among the summer courses.
- Vertical and white water: via ferrata, via cordata, tree-top courses at Lac de la Rosière, outdoor climbing, canyoning and rafting.
- In the air: paragliding, and panoramic plane or helicopter flights from the altiport above Courchevel 1850. Our guide to the Courchevel altiport explains how it works and when flying in makes sense.
- For children: the Olympic ice rink at the Forum, summer courses (fencing, golf, field hockey and first swimming lessons) and the resort’s family label.
- Slower days: fishing at Lac du Praz, heritage tours, yoga, an orienteering course, picnic and barbecue areas and pétanque courts.
Courchevel summer events, month by month
Summer here has its own calendar, much of it outdoors. The tourist office lists the following recurring events; exact dates are published in its online agenda each season, so treat the timing below as a guide rather than a booking date.
| Timing | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Early July | A custom motorcycle festival with bike shows and open-air rock concerts | La Croisette, Courchevel 1850 |
| Early July | A rowing, mountain-bike and trail-running triathlon finishing at the altiport | Across the resort |
| 13 July | The Bastille Day eve ball, followed by fireworks over the mountains | Courchevel 1850 |
| Mid-July to mid-August | Classical concerts of the Savoie music festival, including the Alpine Garden auditorium | Courchevel 1850 and other venues |
| End of July | The two-day Madelon festival: craft market, cheese-making, folk parades and a dance | Courchevel Le Praz |
| Late July to early August | A theatre festival | Courchevel 1850 auditorium and La Tania |
| Early August | A trail-running festival with six distances from 11 to 66 km, through pastures and the national park | Across the resort |
| Early August | A magic festival with evening shows and children’s workshops | Courchevel 1850 and La Tania |
| August | A cycling event with road, mountain, e-bike and enduro formats | The villages of Courchevel |
| Each summer | Ski jumping competition on the Olympic jumps; a skating gala at the Forum | Courchevel Le Praz; Courchevel 1850 |
Source: courchevel.com summer events page. Some events are free; check each one in the official agenda.
Planning a summer week from a chalet
In winter, the choice of village is about the slopes. In summer it is about what you want on your doorstep. Courchevel Le Praz puts you next to the lake and the ski jumps; Courchevel Moriond is closest to the Les Granges lift for the Lacs Merlet; Courchevel Village has the aquatic centre; Courchevel 1850 has the golf course, the altiport and the evening events. The Courchevel chalets we represent are in Courchevel 1850, Courchevel Moriond and Courchevel Village.
- Fix your dates inside the lift window
Check the published summer dates first. A Saturday to Saturday week in mid-July or early August keeps lifts, bathing and most events within reach.
- Choose the base village for your priorities
Lake and young children: Le Praz or Village. High walks: Moriond. Golf, events and flights: 1850. The free shuttles link them all.
- Plan the arrival
The tourist office gives about 30 minutes by road from Moûtiers station, about 1h30 from Chambéry and about 2 hours from Lyon airport. A chauffeur or a helicopter transfer can be arranged.
- Book the guided days early
Mountain guides, canyoning, paragliding and flights depend on weather and availability in peak weeks. We reserve them before you arrive.
- Keep one day flexible
Mountain weather turns quickly. Keep a high walk for the clearest forecast and the aquatic centre, the ice rink or the chalet’s own spa for a wet afternoon.
Chalets for Courchevel in July and August
Chalets with terraces, outdoor hot tubs or fire pits for long mountain evenings; summer availability and conditions are on request.
The summer chalets side by side
Guests, bedrooms, bathrooms and surface at a glance; we confirm which services are offered for a summer stay.
| Residence | Guests | Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Living area | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalet FlysCourchevel | 15 | 8 | 9 | 680 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
| Chalet OscoCourchevel | 14 | 8 | 9 | 520 m² | Heated Pool, Nordic Bath, Hammam, Sauna, Gym |
| Chalet DaceCourchevel | 14 | 7 | 6 | 600 m² | Cinema Room, Hammam, Sauna, Jacuzzi, Garage |
| Chalet OrisCourchevel | 12 | 6 | 7 | 518 m² | Indoor Pool, Cinema Room, Wine Cellar, Hammam, Sauna |
Rates are on request and depend on dates and services. Your advisor confirms availability and the final details of every residence.
How we arrange a summer chalet
Summer rentals are rarer than winter ones, so most of the work happens before the booking.
We check who opens in summer
Not every owner rents outside winter. We ask each one directly and also propose residences that are available without being published online.
Outdoor spaces first
In July a terrace, a barbecue or a hot tub with a view counts for more than a ski room. Chalet Osco, Courchevel, for example, has a dining terrace for ten, a barbecue and a fire pit.
Dates matched to the lifts
We align your stay with the published lift and bathing dates, so the week you book is the week the mountain is fully open.
Days arranged for you
Mountain guides, a refuge night at the Lacs Merlet, a scenic flight or a golf lesson: our concierge books them with local professionals.
Courchevel in summer: your questions
Anything else? Our team in Paris answers personally, usually within the day.
Ask our teamIs Courchevel open in summer?
Yes. The resort runs a summer season in July and August. In 2026 the mountain was open to walkers from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 30 August, with lifts linking the villages, and bathing at Lac du Praz and La Tania limited to July and August. Some lower trails, such as the Cascade des Poux loop, are open from May to October, weather permitting.
What are the best things to do in Courchevel in summer?
Most visitors combine a high walk to the Lacs Merlet or an easier loop from Lac de la Rosière, a swim at Lac du Praz, a ride up the Col de la Loze, a round on the 9-hole golf course and an afternoon at the aquatic centre in Courchevel Village. Via ferrata, canyoning, rafting, paragliding and scenic flights from the altiport complete the list.
When does Courchevel open for skiing?
After the summer season, Courchevel reopens for winter on 4 December 2026, and the season runs until 18 April 2027, according to the tourist office. For the best weeks to come, our advice on the best time to rent a chalet in Courchevel goes through the season month by month.
Can you swim in Courchevel in summer?
Yes. Lac du Praz is the resort’s natural bathing spot, free to use, with stand-up paddle nearby. La Tania has an outdoor panoramic pool heated to 28°C. Both are open to bathers in July and August only. In Courchevel Village, the aquatic centre has pools, slides and an indoor surfing wave.
Can I take my dog hiking in Courchevel?
Only outside the national park. Dogs are prohibited in the Vanoise National Park, even on a lead, which rules out routes such as the Lacs Merlet. The tourist office lists animals as accepted on the botanical trail and Cascade des Poux loop from Lac de la Rosière, and at Lac du Praz.
Can you rent a luxury chalet in Courchevel in summer?
Yes, on request. Fewer chalets are offered in summer than in winter, so availability depends on each owner. Tell Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your dates and group size, and they will tell you which residences are open, which services are included and what the conditions are, usually within the day.
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Plan Courchevel in summer with us
Send Nathalie Nguyen or Adam Haddad your dates, the number of guests and what you would like to do: they will tell you which chalets open for the summer, including some that are not published online, and arrange the guides, transfers and tables around your week. WhatsApp +33 7 80 98 05 43 or contact@lutetia-group.com; we usually reply within the day.