Helicopter Alps

In winter most helicopter flights in the Alps are transfers from Geneva, Zurich or Sion to ski resorts, and heli-ski drops for off-piste skiers. Flights land at altiports such as Courchevel, Méribel and Megève, at heliports such as Zermatt and Courmayeur, and at airports such as Sion and Samedan for St Moritz.

Flight times

Published by the operators: Geneva to Megève 25 minutes, Geneva to Courchevel or Méribel 30, Geneva to Sion or Gstaad 30, Geneva to Val d'Isère 35, Geneva to St Moritz 90 (MONACAIR). Zermatt to Sion about 15 minutes, to Verbier about 20, to Geneva about 45, to St Moritz about 55 and to Zurich about 60 (Air Zermatt). Courchevel to Megève or Val d'Isère takes 15 minutes. By road, Geneva to Courchevel is about two and a half hours.

What you can book

• Private transfers from Geneva and Zurich to French and Swiss resorts with MONACAIR, Mont Blanc Hélicoptères, Air Zermatt, Air Glaciers and Swiss Helicopter
• Heli-skiing in Switzerland with Air Zermatt, Eagle Valais (Sion) and Heli Bernina (St Moritz), in Italy with Sky Aviation (Courmayeur) and in Austria with Wucher Helicopter (Lech Zürs)
• Ski days between resorts, such as St Moritz to Ischgl, Klosters, Lech or Zermatt (Heli Bernina)
• Scenic flights around the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and the Bernina range

Prices

Prices published by the operators in October 2026:

• Private transfer from Geneva: Megève from €2,750, Sion or Gstaad from €2,800, Courchevel or Méribel from €3,100, Val d'Isère from €3,200, St Moritz from €7,100 (MONACAIR, indicative, per helicopter)
• Courchevel to Megève from €1,450, Courchevel to Val d'Isère from €1,700 (MONACAIR)
• Heli-skiing: from CHF 80 per person (Air Zermatt); CHF 160 per person, minimum 3 (Heli Bernina); EUR 540 to 600 per flight for 3 skiers plus guide, guide paid separately (Wucher, Lech Zürs)
• Ski day by helicopter from St Moritz: from CHF 2,300 per helicopter (Heli Bernina)
• Scenic flights: Matterhorn CHF 230 or CHF 330 per person (Air Zermatt); Mont Blanc from Megève €249 per person, shared (Mont Blanc Hélicoptères); Bernina 20 minutes CHF 230 per person (Heli Bernina)

Many transfers and heli-ski drops are quoted on request. Prices change, so check with the operator before you book.

Heli-skiing rules by country

• France: banned. Leisure drop-offs in the mountains have been illegal since the Loi Montagne of 1985 (now Article L363-1 of the Code de l'environnement), and laws in 2021 and 2022 added leisure landings and advertising. French operators such as Mont Blanc Hélicoptères fly skiers to Switzerland or Italy instead.
• Switzerland: allowed only on designated mountain landing places above 1,100 m. The federal plan of 2015 lists 42 sites, 32 of them usable for heli-skiing. Glacier runs need a certified mountain guide.
• Italy: allowed under regional rules. In the Aosta Valley heli-skiing is limited to set areas, such as Courmayeur, La Thuile, Valgrisenche and Cervinia, and skiers must go with a mountain guide.
• Austria: only at Lech Zürs am Arlberg, with a guide, booked through the local ski schools, and not at weekends or on public holidays.

Altiports

Courchevel altiport (LFLJ) sits at about 2,008 m. Its runway is 537 m long with a slope of 12.5% to 18.66%: aircraft land uphill and take off downhill, and only pilots with a mountain rating or a site authorisation may use it. Méribel altiport (LFKX) has its own published arrival and circuit rules for helicopters.

Common questions

How long is a helicopter from Geneva to Courchevel? About 30 minutes, against about two and a half hours by car.

How much is a helicopter from Geneva to Courchevel? MONACAIR publishes an indicative price from €3,100 per helicopter, one way.

Can you heli-ski in France? No. Drop-offs are banned in France, so skiers fly to Switzerland or Italy.

Where can you heli-ski in the Alps? On designated sites in Switzerland (Zermatt, Verbier area, Gstaad, St Moritz), in the Aosta Valley in Italy, and at Lech Zürs in Austria.