In short
Saint-Tropez is at its busiest in July and August, while Courchevel's 2026-2027 ski season runs from 4 December 2026 to 18 April 2027. From Nice, a helicopter reaches the Courchevel Altiport in about 65 minutes, and a plane in about 39. Riva photographs you on the Riviera in summer and on the snow in Courchevel in winter, with first photos within 48 hours.
You spend July in Saint-Tropez, and this winter you are planning a ski week in Courchevel. The two seasons barely overlap: the coast peaks in summer, and the resort only opens in December. This guide covers the 2026-2027 calendar, the trip from the Riviera to the Alps, and what changes for your photographs between sea and snow.
When is high season in Saint-Tropez, and when in Courchevel? (2026-2027)
Saint-Tropez peaks in July and August, and Courchevel's 2026-2027 ski season runs from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 18 April 2027. The Saint-Tropez Tourism Office names July and August as the busiest months, with dense traffic and full car parks. It recommends spring and September to October for a calmer village.
Many hotels on the peninsula are seasonal. In 2026, the Byblos opened on 22 April and closed on 11 October.
In the Alps, Courchevel opens one day before the rest of Les 3 Vallées, which follows on Saturday 5 December 2026. High-season lift prices apply from 19 December to 9 April. The busiest weeks follow the French school holidays.
- Christmas holidays: 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, for the whole country.
- Winter holidays: staggered by zone between 6 February and 8 March 2027.
- Quieter weeks: early December, January, and late March to mid-April.
Saint-Tropez in summer, Courchevel in winter: the 2026-2027 calendar
| Period | Saint-Tropez and the Riviera | Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées |
|---|---|---|
| April to June | Hotels reopen (the Byblos on 22 April in 2026), calm village, long evenings | Closed after 18 April 2027 |
| July and August | Peak season: dense traffic, full car parks, crowded port | Closed for skiing |
| September and October | Warm days, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez; the Byblos closed on 11 October 2026 | Closed for skiing |
| 4 and 5 December 2026 | Quiet winter village | Courchevel opens on Friday 4 December, the full 3 Vallées on Saturday 5 December |
| 19 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 | Christmas on the coast | French Christmas holidays, high season starts on 19 December |
| 6 February to 8 March 2027 | Winter season on the Riviera | French winter school holidays, staggered by zone: the busiest weeks |
| 9 April 2027 | Last day of high season prices | |
| 18 April 2027 | Spring, hotels getting ready to reopen | Last day of the season in Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées |
Ski area dates from the official Courchevel ticket office, school holidays from Service-Public.fr, Saint-Tropez seasons from the Tourism Office, hotel dates from Golfe de Saint-Tropez Tourisme. Checked October 2026. Lift openings always depend on snow.
How do you get from the Riviera to Courchevel?
The fastest way is by air, straight to the Courchevel Altiport above Courchevel 1850. Monacair lists about 65 minutes by helicopter from Nice or Monaco, and 75 minutes from Saint-Tropez. Alpine Airlines lists about 39 minutes by plane from Nice or Cannes, and 40 minutes from Saint-Tropez.
“Courchevel Altiport is conveniently located in the middle of the ski slopes.”
Alpine Airlines
The Altiport sits at 2,007 metres. Its runway is 537 metres long, with a slope of up to 18.5%, according to the town hall. It has been cleared of snow continuously since 1971. The town says this makes it the only altiport in Europe open all winter.
Mountain flights still depend on the weather, so keep a road option in reserve.
From the Riviera to Courchevel: published flight times (2026)
| Departure | Helicopter (Monacair) | Plane to the Altiport (Alpine Airlines) |
|---|---|---|
| Nice | 65 min, from €4,800 | 39 min (Nice/Cannes) |
| Monaco | 65 min, from €4,800 | Not listed |
| Cannes | 70 min, from €4,800 | 39 min (Nice/Cannes) |
| Saint-Tropez | 75 min, from €4,900 | 40 min |
| Geneva | 30 min, from €3,100 | 18 min |
Flight times and indicative starting prices published by Monacair and Alpine Airlines, checked October 2026. Confirm the final price and weather conditions with the operator.
By road and rail, the resort's access page assumes you arrive from the north. Courchevel Tourism gives 95 km from Chambéry (1 h 15), and about 2 hours from Lyon Saint-Exupéry or Geneva airport. The nearest railway station is Moûtiers, below the resort.
If you drive, French rules require 3PMSF winter tyres or snow chains in designated mountain areas. The rule applies from 1 November to 31 March.
What changes for a photoshoot between summer and winter?
Three things change: the length of the day, the light and the logistics. On 21 June, the sun sets at 21:17 in Saint-Tropez after 15 h 23 of daylight. On 21 December, it sets at 16:53 in Courchevel after 8 h 43.
A summer session is built around sunrise or the golden hour before dinner. A winter session is built around the slopes in the morning and the last hour of light, in mid-afternoon. By 15 January the sun sets at 17:16, and by 15 March at 18:39.
Snow also changes the light itself.
“Fresh snow is a particularly good reflector and almost doubles a person's UV exposure.”
World Health Organization
The WHO adds that UV levels rise by about 10% with every 1,000 metres of altitude. In photographs, that means bright faces even in the shade, but also squinting and glare at noon. We plan portraits on the slopes when the sun is lower, and keep sunglasses for a few frames only.
Outfits follow the setting. On the coast, linen and light fabrics in white, navy and sand tones suit the stone and the sea. On the snow, a ski suit in a strong colour stands out against the white. Add one après-ski look in wool or knitwear for the village and the chalet.
Our month-by-month guide to Riviera photoshoots covers the summer side in more detail.
Summer on the Riviera vs winter in Courchevel: what changes for a photoshoot
| Summer, Saint-Tropez | Winter, Courchevel | |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight | 15 h 23 on 21 June, sunset at 21:17 | 8 h 43 on 21 December, sunset at 16:53 |
| Best light | Sunrise, then the two hours before sunset | Mid-morning and the last hour before sunset, which comes early |
| Main challenge | Hard midday sun and summer crowds | Snow glare and cold hands |
| Outfits | Linen and light fabrics in white, navy and sand tones | A ski suit in a strong colour, plus one après-ski look |
| Classic settings | Old harbour, La Ponche, Pampelonne, a yacht, a villa terrace | The slopes, the village streets, your chalet terrace, the Altiport |
Sunrise and sunset times from Calendrier solaire (Saint-Tropez) and Sunrise-Sunset.org (Courchevel). Checked October 2026.
How do you book Riva for both seasons?
Riva is a private luxury photography agency, and one WhatsApp number covers both seasons. In summer, our photographers work in the finest addresses of the Riviera, from Saint-Tropez to Monaco. In winter, Riva Photography Courchevel is your private ski photographer in Courchevel and across Les 3 Vallées. In both places, your first photos arrive within 48 hours.
Courchevel alone has 150 km of pistes, and Les 3 Vallées has 600 km across seven resorts. Your session is planned around where you ski. Typical winter sessions are a family morning on the slopes, a proposal at the top of a lift, or an evening portrait at the chalet.
Our page on the ski photoshoot in Courchevel explains how a session on the snow works. For the summer, our Riviera formats and pricing are online. If you stay on the coast this winter, our guide to the French Riviera in winter covers what is open.
Already thinking about both seasons? Write to us on WhatsApp with your dates, July in Saint-Tropez or February in Courchevel. We will suggest the right place and the right hour for your photographs.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Courchevel ski season start in 2026?
The Courchevel ski area opens on Friday 4 December 2026 and closes on Sunday 18 April 2027, according to the official ticket office. The full 3 Vallées area opens one day later, on Saturday 5 December 2026.
How do you get from Nice to Courchevel?
By helicopter, about 65 minutes from Nice to the Courchevel Altiport, from €4,800 indicative according to Monacair. By plane, about 39 minutes from Nice or Cannes with Alpine Airlines. Mountain flights depend on the weather, so keep a road option in reserve.
Can you fly from Saint-Tropez to Courchevel?
Yes. Monacair lists a 75-minute helicopter flight from Saint-Tropez to Courchevel, from €4,900 indicative. Alpine Airlines lists a 40-minute plane flight from Saint-Tropez to the Courchevel Altiport.
When is the best light for a ski photoshoot in Courchevel?
Mid-morning on the slopes, then the last hour before sunset. In Courchevel the sun sets at 16:53 on 21 December, 17:16 on 15 January and 18:39 on 15 March, so winter golden hour comes early.
What should you wear for a ski photoshoot?
A ski suit in a strong colour that stands out against the snow, with matching gloves and hat. Add one après-ski outfit in wool or knitwear for the village or the chalet. Most portraits work better without sunglasses.
Summer on the coast, winter on the snow?
Tell us your dates for either season. We plan the session around the best light, from the old harbour of Saint-Tropez to the slopes of Courchevel, with first photos within 48 hours.
Plan my sessionMore reading: the French Riviera in winter, the best time for a Riviera photoshoot and the Saint-Tropez photographer guide.
Sources
Times, rules and figures in this guide come from these official sources. Checked in October 2026.
- Courchevel official ticket office (S3V), 2026-2027 season dates for Courchevel and Les 3 Vallées and the high season period.
- Courchevel Tourism, 150 km of pistes in Courchevel, 600 km in Les 3 Vallées.
- Les 3 Vallées press guide, key figures: seven resorts, 600 km of pistes, two altiports.
- Courchevel Tourism, getting to Courchevel: road distances and times from Chambéry, Lyon and Geneva, Moûtiers station.
- Mairie de Courchevel, the Altiport today: altitude, runway, snow clearing since 1971.
- Monacair, helicopter flight times and indicative starting prices to Courchevel.
- Alpine Airlines, plane flight times to the Courchevel Altiport.
- Service-Public.fr, winter tyres and snow chains obligation in mountain areas, 1 November to 31 March.
- Service-Public.fr, French school holidays 2026-2027.
- Saint-Tropez Tourism Office, when to visit Saint-Tropez, summer crowds and traffic.
- Golfe de Saint-Tropez Tourisme, Hôtel Byblos, 2026 opening period.
- Calendrier solaire, sunrise and sunset times in Saint-Tropez.
- Sunrise-Sunset.org, sunrise and sunset in Courchevel, December 2026 (January and March 2027 on the same site).
- World Health Organization, UV reflection by snow and the effect of altitude.