How to reach Pas des Chapelets from Courchevel?
France, europe
8 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Cruising through the French Alps? You've GOT to check out the climb from Courchevel up to Pas des Chapelets. It's tucked away in the Savoie, right in the heart of the Tarentaise Valley, inside the stunning Vanoise National Park.
Okay, so getting there isn't exactly a Sunday drive. We're talking around 8 kilometers of serious switchbacks – like, FIFTEEN hairpin turns that'll keep you on your toes! The road starts paved, but heads up, it turns to gravel as you climb towards the ski station. A bit of ground clearance on your vehicle is a major plus for those final, bumpy stretches.
Keep in mind, this is primarily a service road for the ski lifts, so it's a no-go in winter when it's covered in snow and skiers. But in summer? The views are absolutely unreal from the top. At over 2,300 meters, you’ll be overlooking the whole of Vanoise National Park with views of jagged peaks and alpine meadows. Seriously breathtaking. The air gets thin up there, and the weather can flip on a dime, so be prepared!
Heads up on the hazards: the gradients are STEEP. Plus, the road gets narrow, and you might be sharing it with maintenance trucks, mountain bikers, and hikers. Those hairpins demand your full attention, and the gravel sections can be a bit loose. Definitely give your brakes a check before heading down; that descent is a long one!
Road Details
- Country
- France
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 8 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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