Ski School in Courchevel: ESF, Independent Schools and Private Instructors (2026-2027)

Which ski schools operate in Courchevel, village by village?

The French ski school, ESF, has a branch in four of the five villages, and Courchevel Tourisme lists around ten independent schools alongside them. Each ESF branch is run separately, so ESF Courchevel 1850, ESF Courchevel 1650 Moriond, ESF Courchevel Village and ESF La Tania have their own websites, prices and meeting points. The table below covers the schools whose village, lesson types and languages we could confirm on Courchevel Tourisme or on the school's own site in October 2026.

Courchevel Tourisme's list also includes Ecole de Ski Prestige, Optima Ski School, ESA Black Ski and The One Courchevel, plus Courchevel Mountain Guide for guided off-piste and ski touring. With roughly 500 instructors, ESF Courchevel 1850 describes itself as the largest ski school in Europe; ESF Moriond has 130.

Should you book group lessons or a private ski instructor?

Group lessons suit children and beginners who enjoy learning with others; a private instructor suits families, mixed levels and anyone who wants to choose the pace and the runs. ESF Moriond puts it simply: a private lesson can be taken alone, with family or with a small group of friends, and the instructor adapts to your level and wishes.

• Group lessons: fixed timetables and meeting points, a set level for each group, and a lower cost per person. ESF Courchevel 1850 warns that if fewer than 4 students enrol, it may merge groups by level or cancel the lesson with a refund.
• Small groups: Oxygène caps its children's groups at 6, and ESF Courchevel 1850 runs a "Top 6" children's format with a maximum of 6 children per lesson.
• Private lessons: priced per instructor rather than per person, so a family sharing one instructor divides the cost. Oxygène accepts up to 8 people in a private lesson.

For a first week with young children, many families combine the two: group lessons in the morning for the children, then a private session together in the afternoon.

How much does a private ski instructor cost in Courchevel in 2026-2027?

At ESF Courchevel 1850, a private instructor costs from 250 euros for 1 h 45 to 770 euros for a premium 8-hour day, with slightly higher rates in peak weeks. These are the school's published 2026-2027 prices, per day and per instructor, and the school notes they are subject to change.

Peak season covers 27 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 and 14 to 20 February 2027. Your lift pass is not included in the lesson price. For the other schools, rates were not published in a form we could verify, so ask each one for a quote with your dates, group size and level.

At what age can children start ski lessons in Courchevel?

Ski lessons start at age 3, and ESF Courchevel 1850 also takes toddlers from 18 months in its nursery. Courchevel Tourisme gives 3 as the starting age for lessons across the resort.

• ESF Courchevel 1850: nursery for ages 18 months to 3 years from 235 euros, a Children's Village for ages 3 to 5 from 368 euros, then lessons for ages 6 to 12 and teens 13 to 17.
• ESF Courchevel 1650 Moriond: Club Piou Piou for ages 3 to 5, and camps for ages 8 to 11 and 12 to 18.
• ESF Courchevel Village: Piou Piou Club from age 3, then group courses from Flocon to Étoile d'Or.
• Oxygène: group lessons for ages 3 to 12, 6 children maximum.
• First Tracks Ski Coaching ESI: listed from age 3.

ESF Courchevel 1850 strongly recommends a helmet for all children's lessons and makes a helmet and back protector mandatory from the Étoile d'Or level upwards. Our guide to Courchevel with kids covers the rest of a family stay.

How do you find an English speaking ski instructor in Courchevel?

Every school in the table above lists English, so the real question is whether you want an instructor who is a native speaker or simply fluent. ESF Courchevel 1850 advertises professional English speaking instructors, and Oxygène, ESF Moriond and First Tracks ESI each list at least six languages. If English is your family's first language, say so when you book a private instructor and ask the school to match you with someone who teaches in it every day. The same applies to other languages: ESF Moriond lists Dutch and Russian, and First Tracks ESI lists Chinese and Catalan.

When and how should you book ski lessons in Courchevel?

Book as soon as your dates are fixed, online on each school's website or directly in the resort. Courchevel Tourisme recommends booking in advance during busy periods, and notes that nursery ages, conditions and opening periods vary, so families should enquire and plan ahead. Christmas, New Year and the February half-term weeks are the busiest, which is why ESF Courchevel 1850 charges its peak rates in those periods.

• Season: ESF Courchevel 1850 is open from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027; ESF La Tania's listing gives 6 December to 12 April. See our season dates and lift pass guide.
• On the day: ESF Courchevel 1850 asks you to arrive early at the meeting point on your lesson card, to bring your lift pass and to carry the lesson card at every session, private lessons included.
• Insurance: the same school notes that participants are not covered by ESF insurance and suggests Carré Neige cover.

How do you choose the right ski school in Courchevel?

Start with your village, then check the age range, group size and language you need.

1. Village: a meeting point a few minutes from your chalet matters more than any brochure. Our Courchevel villages guide helps if you have not chosen yet.
2. Age and level: check that the school runs a programme for each child's age, especially under 5.
3. Group size: if small groups matter, Oxygène and the ESF 1850 Top 6 format both cap children's groups at 6.
4. Language: confirm the instructor's teaching language in writing.
5. Price: compare like for like, per instructor and per hour, and check whether your dates fall in a peak week.

Can you have photos taken during a ski lesson in Courchevel?

Yes, if you plan it with the school: a photographer can follow part of a private lesson or meet you at the end of it. Riva Photography Courchevel connects visitors with private photographers who ski. The photographer is neither an instructor nor a mountain guide and does not teach or lead on the slopes, so ask your ski school first whether it is happy for a photographer to join a private lesson. The simplest option is often the last half hour of the lesson, or a session straight afterwards on a gentle slope near your meeting point.

A one-hour session with 30 photos costs 590 euros and a two-hour session with 60 photos costs 790 euros. For sessions on the slopes, the photographer's lift pass is added to the quote at the public price. First photos arrive within 48 hours and the full gallery within 7 days. See our ski photoshoot in Courchevel page, our family ski photoshoot guide and the full pricing.

To plan yours, write to us on WhatsApp at +33 6 30 85 92 05 or through the contact section with your dates, your village and the time of your lesson.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main ski school in Courchevel?

The French ski school, ESF, is the largest. It has four branches in Courchevel: Courchevel 1850, Courchevel 1650 Moriond, Courchevel Village and La Tania. ESF Courchevel 1850 alone has around 500 instructors.

How much is a private ski instructor in Courchevel?

For 2026-2027, ESF Courchevel 1850 charges from 250 euros for 1 h 45 to 770 euros for a premium 8-hour day, per instructor, with slightly higher prices in peak weeks. Other schools quote on request.

At what age can children take ski lessons in Courchevel?

From age 3. ESF Courchevel 1850 also runs a nursery from 18 months, and its Children's Village takes ages 3 to 5.

Are there English speaking ski instructors in Courchevel?

Yes. Every ESF branch and the independent schools listed by Courchevel Tourisme include English among their languages. ESF Courchevel 1850 advertises professional English speaking instructors.

Is the lift pass included in ski lessons in Courchevel?

No. ESF Courchevel 1850 states that the lift pass is not included in lesson prices, so you need to buy it separately.