International TV presenter Kristina Guberman shares with Monaco Life Premium Subscribers her favourite hotspots at luxury ski resort Courchevel.
When you imagine a weekend in Courvhevel, it’s natural to picture a pair of skis gliding smoothly on crisp white snow, curving around the most picture-perfect mountains that offer incredible views at every turn.
Although I enjoy the scenery, I’ve never really been a fan of skiing. I can manage a few hours at most, before retiring for the day to enjoy the plethora of other activities I’ve discovered in Courchevel over the years. I imagine I’m not alone, so I’ve decided to share my top five things to do in Courchevel for the not-so-confident skiers.
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Snow Shoeing
In French, they call these shoes ‘racquettes’, and they do kind of resemble racquets! You put them over your hiking boots and the metal grips on the soles allow you to hike in deep, slippery and steep conditions without ever feeling like you’re going to fall. My amazing guide from First Tracks took me to a woodland area not far from 1850. We were the only people there, which is unbelievably hard to achieve in Courchevel during peak season! What a relaxing morning – listening to the sounds of nature whilst walking down to a crystal clear lake in between two mountains, and then back up using a different path, admiring various flora and fauna along the way. I’m not gonna lie: the first few steps feel weird. But then you forget you’re wearing shoes at all, and the enjoyment is hard to describe. I highly recommend!
La Cendree
I always say the simplest foods are the hardest to get right, and La Cendree has earned a reputation for serving the best pizza, pasta and fondue in Courvhevel. Even if you go for something like a Margherita or pasta with tomato sauce and burrata, you will still feel like you’re in a family owned restaurant in Italy where everything is homemade with the best of flavours. My favourite part is the fondue dessert: molten Lindt chocolate surrounded by fresh fruit. Yum!
L’Ecorce
L’Ecorce concept store is more than just a place to shop. You can easily spend a whole afternoon there, sipping coffee and nibbling on pastries in their cosy cafe or admiring views of the elegant 1650 from their restaurant. And when you DO feel like shopping (and at L’Ecorce it’s impossible not to), you will find a curated selection of unique home decor, skis, accessories and clothing from some of the top niche brands. What caught my eye most was British brand number 35 who design chic tailored clothing made in London, but also offer a one of a kind leather jacket painting service. This has been so popular, in fact, that L’Ecorce are doing a whole event around it on 27th February. Don’t miss out!
Cap Horn
Located on the slopes, this restaurant is known as Courchevel’s main daytime party spot. Common sights include guests dancing on chairs as confetti comes down from the ceiling, champagne showers as the latest club hits blast away on the sound systems, and truffles sprinkled on virtually everything. Food-wise, I recommend the burrata. Other than that, it’s all about the atmosphere here! I didn’t think I would like it, but it has surprisingly turned out to be one of my favourite spots. Never say never!
Spa
When all that shopping and eating gets tiring (*cough*), there’s no better way to relax than a spa. Favourites include Cheval Blanc spa that only uses Guerlain products, La Mer spa which oozes luxury and serenity whilst also offering mani/pedi/hairdressing services, and Chabichou & Spa, where non resident guests are also welcome.
You can follow my global travels as a TV presenter through my website or instagram: @kristinaguberman https://kristinaguberman.com