Private transfer from Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport to Courchevel 1300 3 Valleys

Courchevel 1300 is Le Praz, the lowest and oldest of the four Courchevel villages, sitting below 1550, 1650 (Moriond) and 1850. It kept a working-village feel: wooden chalets, a small lake, and the two Olympic ski jumps built for the 1992 Albertville Games, still a local landmark. It links straight into the Three Valleys ski area via the Praz gondola up to La Croisette. People who choose Le Praz tend to want quieter evenings and easy access to the slopes without the boutique bustle of 1850. Winter is the main season for skiers and families; in summer the lake, forest trails and mountain-bike routes draw walkers. The centre is compact, so chalets and small hotels are within a short walk of the lift and restaurants.

Most of the route is fast motorway. From the airport you take the A43 toward Chambéry, then continue on the A43/A430 toward Albertville, where the road becomes the N90 through the Tarentaise valley to Moûtiers. This stretch is straightforward, around two hours in normal conditions. At Moûtiers the character changes: you leave the valley floor and start the climb on the D915 then the winding Courchevel road, a series of tight hairpins that gain altitude quickly. Le Praz is the first Courchevel village you reach on the way up, before 1550 and 1850. The final section is slow and twisty, and can be busy on Saturday changeover days in winter. Expect roughly three hours in total, longer in snow or peak traffic.

Book a vehicle with winter tyres or chains from December to April; the road above Moûtiers is regularly snow-covered and checks do happen. Give your driver the exact chalet or hotel name and whether it's near the lake, the ski jumps or the Praz gondola, as Le Praz streets are narrow and some upper lanes are hard for larger vans. Saturdays are the busiest changeover day, so an early or late slot avoids the worst queues on the final climb. If you're heading on to 1550, 1650 or 1850, tell us in advance, since the same road continues upward past Le Praz. Keep boots, gloves and a warm layer in your hand luggage: the temperature difference between the airport and the village can be significant on arrival.