La Tania is a family friendly pedestrian ski resort in the Courchevel area of 3 Valleys. The village itself sits at 1400m among truly awe-inspiring scenery yet just 25 minutes' drive from Moutiers. Originally a small hamlet between midway between Meribel and Couchevel, La Tania is nestled in the heart of a fabulous spruce forest and has managed to be preserved with emphasis on wood and traditional materials.
La Tania is the youngest resort in the 3 Valleys and so the resort is entirely pedestrian with parking located on the outskirts.
La Tania was developed for the 1992 Albertville Olympics by the same award-winning team of architects responsible for Avoriaz, and who were once again determined to respect the natural beauty of the exceptional setting. Recent years have seen the six original timber-clad apartment blocks in La Tania’s traffic-free heart joined by smaller chalet-style developments, but the village retains its compact and cosy feel, and is largely hidden from the outside world by its peaceful, wooded setting.
Designed with skiing in mind this purpose built resort has a rather modern touch to it, as opposed to rustic alpine. It’s very practical for skiing with a lot of the accommodation being ski-in ski-out centred around the Front de Neige. However perhaps doesn’t demonstrate the alpine touch you may find in other resorts as it’s a relatively new purpose built ski resort (built in 1991) so lacks the history/style of old alpine villages.
The development of tourism in La Tania has been done in accordance with the environmental protection requirements constituting the most wooded area of the 3 Valleys. La Tania also has the Green Resort Award.
Probably the French Alps' best-kept secret, La Tania enjoys a fantastic location in the very heart of the world-famous Three Valleys ski area - the worlds biggest linked ski area. Unlike the rest of the 3 Valleys, La Tania has a wooded ski area in part. To link to nearby Courchevel is relatively easy.
While its illustrious neighbours Méribel and Courchevel grab all the media attention, La Tania quietly gets on with doing what it does best: providing skiers in the know with an attractive and affordable base from which to explore the immaculately-groomed and near-limitless terrain of the world’s largest ski area.
Additional ski fact info, main ski info in resort facts box at top of page.
La Tania/Courchevel
|
Km |
150 |
|
Lifts |
60 |
|
No. of slopes 96 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
35 |
|
|
34 |
|
|
8 |
LA TANIA SKI AREA
“A very attractive budget base for the vast slopes of Courchevel and Meribel – and not bad looking for a purpose built resort”. Ski Guide of Great Britain 2010.
A gondola from the heart of the village leads up to the slopes with the nursery slope on your doorstep. To return from the village in La Tania there is an easy slope but the journey back from Courchevel involves a blue. The slopes directly above La Tania are wooded so it’s ideal for bad weather (probably the best place in the 3 Valleys for this!). Go up a little further and the slopes are open.
From the main gondola you can then take chairlifts/draglifts to bring you into Courchevel 1550 or 1850m. There is a fast link to Meribel via Col de la Loze.
For children, La Tania/Courchevel also benefits from the ‘Magnestick’ lift system. See more information on the ‘Resort’ section above under Childcare.
Courchevel/La Tania/Méribel-Mottaret always on top of technology for skiers safety - three years after the development of Magnestick®KID - special safety for kids transportation on chairlift - La Société des 3 Vallées (S3V) who operates Courchevel / La Tania/ Méribel-Mottaret resorts will be the
first skiing area in the world with 100% of chairlifts equiped with the very new Magnestick®BAR.
Magnestick®BAR is the universal safety bar locking system. This innovative system can be adapted on all brands and all types of chairlifts. It works with the same "magnestism" technololy than Magnestick®KID. When the passenger pull down the safety bar, the bar locks automatically. It is then impossible to pull up the safety bar. It is automatically unlocked just before the arrival station. So no passenger can pull up the bar very far from the arrival and make other passengers uncomfortable.
The slopes at La Tania are North-East facing.
LA TANIA BEGINNERS
For beginners there is a new green run to the village meaning it’s now more attractive for beginners and timid intermediates. There are 9 free drag lifts in La Tania and surrounding areas – Troika in La Tania plus Envolée in Courchevel 1330-Le Praz, Roys in Courchevel 1550, Cospillot/Bellecote/Etoiles in Courchevel 1850 and Mickey/ Belvedere/ PetiteBosse in Courchevel 1650. There are also 4 practise ‘Zen Zones’ (La Tania, Courchevel 1300-Le Praz, Couchevel 1850 & Courchevel 1650). A beginners area opened at the top of the gondola served by a moving carpet recently.
LA TANIA INTERMEDIATES
For intermediates there are long rolling runs through woods back to the village. On the higher slopes you have a choice of 3 or 4 pistes. Both the red Lanches and black Dou des Lanches are challenging.
3 Valleys has extensive intermediate slopes with big lift networks.
LA TANIA EXPERTS
For experts, above La Tania the runs aren’t particularly challenging (although some of the blacks can be challenging just because of their length). There is good off piste terrain beneath the Col de la Loze ridge or try Courchevel.
Things to do on the piste:
Stop zone (Grandes Bosses piste, Courchevel 1650) – set off as quick as you can, see your speed displayed and find out whether you are able to fully control your skis.
Avalanche camp (Courchevel 1850) – learn and practise techniques in the event of an avalanche
Zone Zen (La Tania) – for novices, especially designed enclosed and safe for beginners and children. Free Troika lift in centre of resort.
Snow cross – banked bends with turns and whoops. Set off 4 at a time.
Family park (Courchevel 1850) – snowpark is underneath the Verdons gondola where you can also enjoy the Canyon fun area
Red indiens piste (Courchevel 1650) - explore the red indians village (actvities and games)
The nearest terrain park is in Courchevel.