How to get by car to the dangerous Altiport de Courchevel in the Alps?

# Courchevel Altiport: Where Mountain Flying Meets Alpine Adventure

Tucked in the heart of the French Alps, Courchevel Altiport sits at a jaw-dropping 2,014 meters (6,607 feet) above sea level—and it's earned its reputation as one of the world's seven most dangerous airports. Located in Saint-Bon-Tarentaise within the Tarentaise Valley, this little-known gem serves the famous Courchevel ski resort, part of the sprawling Les Trois Vallées area.

What makes this place legendary? The runway is genuinely bonkers. At just 537 meters (1,762 feet) long with an insane 18.5–18.6% upward gradient, it looks more like a ski slope than an actual airport—which is exactly why it starred in the opening of James Bond's GoldenEye. Pilots need special certification to land here, and they're flying on pure visual navigation with zero instrument approaches or runway lights. Once you commit to landing in this steep alpine valley surrounded by mountains, there's no going around—you either stick it or things get very real, very fast.

Only smaller aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 and Cessna 208 Caravan can handle it, though helicopters dominate traffic during winter, accounting for about 70% of movements.

Getting to the airport itself is an adventure too. The fully paved Rue de l'Altiport climbs 12.2 kilometers (7.58 miles) from Le Praz, gaining 754 meters of elevation. The average gradient hits 6.18%, but certain sections spike to 9.7%—steep enough that the Tour de France actually uses it as a finish line for race stages. It's an unforgettable alpine ascent with unbeatable scenery.