The closest airport to Courchevel is Chambéry, about 100 km by road — but it is a small airport with mostly weekend winter flights. For most travellers the practical answer is Geneva, 150 km away, with by far the most flights. Lyon and Grenoble come next, and Turin only makes sense for some trips. Tignes follows the same order, a little further from each airport. Below: road distances from our price list, what each airport is good for, and how the last part of the journey works.
Airports for Courchevel and Tignes compared
| Airport | To Courchevel 1850 | To Tignes | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc (CMF) | ~100 km | ~140 km | closest; mostly weekend winter flights |
| Geneva (GVA) | 150 km | 160 km | most flights; border crossing into France |
| Grenoble Alpes-Isère (GNB) | 185 km | 215 km | mainly winter charter flights |
| Lyon Saint-Exupéry (LYS) | 190 km | 215 km | large airport with its own TGV station |
| Turin (TRN) | 250 km | 265 km | via the Fréjus tunnel (toll) |
| Courchevel Altiport | in the resort | — | small private aircraft and helicopters only |
Distances are road kilometres from our price list; Chambéry to Tignes is approximate. Flight programmes change every season, so check with your airline.
Ski transfer fares from Geneva Airport
Chambéry: the closest airport
Chambéry Savoie Mont Blanc airport sits beside Lac du Bourget, north of Chambéry. Our price list records 100 km to Courchevel; Tignes is roughly 140 km. The drive is short and mostly motorway and dual carriageway to Albertville and Moûtiers. The catch is the flights: Chambéry is a small, seasonal airport whose winter programme is built around weekend ski flights, many of them from the UK. If a flight from your city lands there, it is usually the quickest way in. We drive between Chambéry Airport and Courchevel from €210 per vehicle.
Geneva: the most flights
Geneva has flights from almost everywhere, every day, which makes it the default airport for the 3 Vallées and Tignes. Courchevel 1850 is 150 km away and Tignes 160 km; the route crosses into France and follows the motorway to Albertville. Every passenger needs a passport or ID card for the border. Private transfers start at €380 for Courchevel and €455 for Tignes, with a higher rate on peak Saturdays.
Lyon: the big alternative
Lyon Saint-Exupéry is a large airport with its own TGV station and a wide choice of flights. It is 190 km from Courchevel and 215 km from Tignes, almost all of it motorway past Chambéry and Albertville. It is a good fallback when Geneva fares are high or flights are full. Transfers start at €395 for Courchevel and €425 for Tignes.
Grenoble: winter charters
Grenoble Alpes-Isère airport, at Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs, mostly handles winter charter flights. Courchevel is 185 km away and Tignes 215 km. It suits tour-operator packages; independent travellers rarely choose it first. Transfers start at €365 for Courchevel and €430 for Tignes.
Turin: through the Fréjus tunnel
From Turin the road goes through the Fréjus tunnel, which charges a toll, and then down the Maurienne valley towards Albertville. In winter the Col de l’Iseran and the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass are closed, so there is no shortcut to Tignes or Val d’Isère: the price list records 250 km to Courchevel and 265 km to Tignes. Turin is worth it mainly if you are already in northern Italy. Transfers start at €495 for Courchevel and €515 for Tignes.
Courchevel Altiport and helicopters
Courchevel has its own altiport, a very short and steep runway at about 2,000 m, but it only takes small private aircraft and helicopters flown by specially qualified pilots — there are no airline flights. Helicopter transfers from Geneva or Chambéry depend on the weather in the mountains and have strict luggage limits, so most skiers still arrive by road.
Which airport should you choose?
- Your flight lands in Chambéry: take it — it is the shortest drive to both Courchevel and Tignes.
- Flexible on flights: Geneva, for the widest choice of airlines and times.
- Geneva is full or expensive: Lyon, about 40 km further, with a TGV station on site.
- Package holiday on a charter: Grenoble or Chambéry, whichever your tour operator uses.