Courchevel 1650 (Moriond): A Guide to the Sunny Village (2026-2027)

Where is Courchevel 1650 and what is it called now?

Courchevel 1650 is today called Courchevel Moriond. It is one of the ski villages of the commune of Courchevel, in Savoie, and the town hall lists it at 1,650 m, between Courchevel Village (1,500 m) and Courchevel itself, the village long known as 1850 (1,850 m). Courchevel Tourism notes that it was long identified under the name Courchevel 1650, which is why both names are still in use.

The tourist office describes it as perched on a large, naturally sunny balcony, with a lively and relaxed atmosphere in winter and summer, real village life and accommodation close to the slopes. The booking platform of the tourist office goes further and gives it a nickname: l'Ensoleillé, the sunny one.

Why was Courchevel 1650 renamed Courchevel Moriond?

The resort dropped its altitude-based names in the 2011-2012 season. The Wikipedia entry for Courchevel describes the rebranding as a move away from the association with altitude: Courchevel 1850 became simply Courchevel, 1650 became Courchevel Moriond, 1550 became Courchevel Village and 1300 became Courchevel Le Praz.

Moriond also has a claim to history. Courchevel Tourism's booking platform states that Courchevel's first ski lift, named Sainte-Agathe, was built here in 1945, ten years after the first ski school opened with five instructors.

What is the skiing like in Courchevel 1650?

Courchevel 1650 skiing is mostly wide, sunny cruising terrain with direct access to the rest of the resort. Les 3 Vallées describes Moriond's blue slopes as wide and long, ideal for families and intermediate skiers, with fewer crowds. Courchevel Tourism states that the village has direct access to the Courchevel ski area, with lifts easy to reach from the accommodation.

Les 3 Vallées singles out a few runs in the sector:

• Rochers, a red run that winds between rocks in a valley, for skiers who want to carve harder.
• Pyramides and Gentianes, two blue runs that combine into a smooth descent.
• The Natural Canyon, terrain presented as an adventure for children.
• Le Signal, at 2,250 m, reached by the Chapelets or Signal chairlifts, with Mont Blanc visible in the distance on clear days.

Beyond Moriond, the Courchevel ski area has 150 km of marked slopes, according to Courchevel Tourism, and Les 3 Vallées lists 600 km of interconnected slopes, 169 lifts and a top altitude of 3,230 m. Les 3 Vallées adds that 85% of its area lies above 1,800 m, so the higher snow is never far away.

Is Courchevel 1650 good for beginners?

Yes. Courchevel Tourism names the Ariondaz area, above Moriond, among the places with wide green and blue slopes for learning, alongside Pralong and Bellecôte. It also describes Easy Rider zones across the resort: wide, gently sloping and secure areas designed for first turns, accessible from all villages.

The village's ski school is ESF Courchevel 1650 Moriond, on the snow front. Its Courchevel Tourism listing gives 130 instructors, daily opening from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027 between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm, and lessons in eight languages including English. Children's programmes start with the Club Piou Piou for ages 3 to 5, and adults can book private lessons.

For more on travelling with children, see our guide to Courchevel with kids.

Who is Courchevel Moriond best for?

Moriond suits families, beginners and intermediate skiers who want sun, wide slopes and a relaxed village. Courchevel Tourism describes an offer designed for family stays as well as for skiing and outdoor enthusiasts, with a more relaxed pace while staying connected to the whole Courchevel area. Evenings bring regular entertainment around its bars and restaurants.

Guests who want palace hotels, the main luxury shopping street and Michelin-starred dinners on foot will usually prefer Courchevel 1850. Our Courchevel villages guide compares all five in more detail.

How do you get from Courchevel Moriond to Courchevel 1850?

Without skis, take the free shuttle. Courchevel Tourism states that a free bus serves all the villages of Courchevel in winter and summer, running continuously, with real-time tracking in the Mobilité Courchevel app. It also says you can stay in Moriond without a car because the village is well served by these shuttles.

On skis, Moriond is part of the same lift network as the rest of Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées. As an example of how the sector connects, Les 3 Vallées gives a route from Méribel that crosses the Saulire with the Saulire Express gondolas, follows the blue Creux piste and arrives in Moriond with the Roc Mugnier chairlift.

Where can you eat and drink in Courchevel 1650?

Most of the restaurants and bars sit close to the snow front, according to Courchevel Tourism. These Courchevel 1650 restaurants are listed by official tourism sources:

Opening periods and hours change each season, so call ahead or check each listing before you go. For starred dining across the resort, see our Courchevel restaurants guide.

What else can you do in Moriond besides skiing?

Moriond Racing is the headline activity. Courchevel Tourism describes a 3 km toboggan run with turns, straights and eight tunnels, reached with the Ariondaz gondola using a ski pass or pedestrian pass. Children under 1.10 m are not allowed, and those between 1.10 m and 1.25 m must ride with an adult. The Les 3 Vallées 1-day pedestrian pass costs 31.40 € in 2026-2027 and includes access to Moriond Racing.

For a quieter outing, the La Rosière lake loop is a 3.5 km snowshoe trail rated red (hard), with 180 m of climb and an average of 1 hour 45 minutes. It starts on foot from Moriond or from the Roc Sabal shuttle stop and runs beneath the Dent du Villard, open from 1 December to 30 April, conditions permitting.

Where are the best photo spots in Courchevel Moriond?

Three settings stand out. Le Signal, at 2,250 m, is the viewpoint Les 3 Vallées chooses for Mont Blanc; keep it for a clear day. The Ariondaz plateau works well for relaxed family shots on easy slopes, with lunch at the top. Lac de la Rosière, under the Dent du Villard, gives wilder winter scenery for active couples willing to snowshoe.

Riva Photography Courchevel connects visitors with private photographers who ski, and a session can start at your chalet or residence in Moriond and continue on the pistes. The photographer's lift pass is added to the quote at the public price for sessions on the slopes. See our Courchevel Moriond photographer page, our ski photoshoot page and the wider photo spots guide.

How does Moriond compare with the other Courchevel villages?

Moriond sits in the middle of the resort in altitude and atmosphere. Altitudes below are from the Courchevel town hall; former names from the 2011-2012 rebranding.

The practical point: Moriond's lifts close on 11 April 2027, a week before the main area. If you plan to ski the last week of the season, you can still ride the shuttle up and ski from higher in the resort. Lift pass details are in our season dates and lift pass guide.

How do you book a photo session in Courchevel Moriond?

Write to Riva Photography Courchevel on WhatsApp with your dates, the number of people and where you are staying. Sessions start at 590 € for 1 hour and 30 photos, all taxes included, with the first photos within 48 hours and the full gallery within 7 days. A free weather reschedule is available if requested more than 72 hours ahead. Full rates are on our pricing page.

To check availability for your stay in Moriond, message us via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Courchevel 1650 the same as Courchevel Moriond?

Yes. Courchevel 1650 was renamed Courchevel Moriond in the 2011-2012 season, when the resort moved away from altitude-based village names. Both names refer to the same village at 1,650 m.

Is Courchevel 1650 good for beginners?

Yes. Courchevel Tourism names the Ariondaz area above Moriond among its wide green and blue learning slopes, Easy Rider beginner zones are accessible from all villages, and ESF Courchevel 1650 Moriond teaches from the snow front.

When do the Moriond lifts open in 2026-2027?

Les 3 Vallées gives 5 December 2026 to 11 April 2027 for Moriond, one week shorter at the end than the main Courchevel area, which runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027.

How do you get from Moriond to Courchevel 1850 without skis?

Take the free shuttle bus. Courchevel Tourism states that free buses serve all the villages of Courchevel in winter and summer, with real-time tracking in the Mobilité Courchevel app.

Is Courchevel Moriond sunny?

Courchevel Tourism describes Moriond as a naturally sunny balcony, its booking platform calls it l'Ensoleillé, and Les 3 Vallées refers to it as sunny Moriond.