Three Valleys | NetChalets

Large ski area

Luxury destination

High altitude

Lively apres

Family friendly

about the three valleys

The one that all others in Europe look up to, the Three Valleys in France is a ginormous area with a truly excellent range of ski terrain to be explored. Les Trois Vallées area includes the resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, Meribel, Brides les Bain, Les Menuires, St Martin de Belleville, Val Thorens and Orelle, with the big three being Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens. It’s quite often the number one destination for the rich, famous, and those not looking to compromise on the quality of the skiing and snowboarding available. Quite simply one of the best, and largest, ski areas in the world.

This is however a pricey area. Courchevel has always has the reputation as being an expensive town, attracting the rich and famous, and here you’ll find plenty of luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and it’s own airport for those essential helicopter transfers. Meribel has always been a favourite with the Brits, and these days is no less luxurious. Here you’ll find some of the most luxurious chalets there are, check out Alpine Infusion for some seriously impressive chalets with the best possible service.

Val Thorens sits high up in the region at 2300m giving snow-sure slopes but can be prone to lift closures when the weather worsens. As you’d expect of a ski area of this calibre, the lift system is modern and fast.

The apres scene is lively at all three of the major resorts while the smaller areas such as La Tania and Les Menuires offer quieter more secluded places to stay but still give easy access to the vast Three Valleys ski areas.

need to know

Total ski area:600km
Pistes:321
Number of Lifts: 169

1 day area pass:€50
6 day area pass:€289

Official website
http://www.les3vallees.com

Linked areas:
Courchevel, Meribel, La Tania, Les Menuires, St Martin De Belleville, Val Thorens

GETTING THERE

By air
The closest airports are Lyon, Chambery and Geneva all are less than 3 hours away.
By road
The RN90 connecting Grenoble to the Petit Saint Bernard pass, will take you to Moutiers, from there Courchevel, La Tania, Brides-les-Bains, Méribel, Les Menuires, Saint Martin de Belleville and Val Thorens can be reached.
By train
Closest train station is Moutiers. A short transfer by bus or taxi to all resorts in the three valleys are within 25km form the station.

Towns and Resorts in Three Valleys

Meribel

Situated in the centre of France's huge Trois Valles ski region sits the very pretty "ski-village" town of Meribel, with its rather iconic chalet-style architecture. When linked with neighbouring Val Thorens and Courchevel, and more than 600km of pistes and accompanying unlimited off-piste skiing between them, it forms one of the largest connected ski areas in the world.

St Martin de Belleville

Saint Martin is a traditional Savoyard village complete with historic clock tower real charm and offers a taste of the more rural mountains, but happily with access to some of the best slopes in France.

Courchevel

There is no doubt that it provides great skiing and snow activities on quite well-balanced terrain, great restaurants, food, bars, shopping and an active après-ski and nightlife, and it does attract some of the rich and famous.

Val Thorens

At 2300 meters Val Thorens holds the title of the highest ski resort in Europe, and with that comes a huge expanse of off piste and glacier riding. Nearly all of Val Thoren’s slopes are over 2000m and there are no less than six glaciers in case you’re worried there might not be much snow.

Les Menuires

Les Menuires, at 1800m, is situated just down the valley from Val Thorens, in the huge Three Valleys area. It’s generally the best value place to the stay in the Three Valleys but with all the benefits of easy access to its more famous and well regarded neighbours.

La Tania

La Tania has managed to retain a fair amount of charm, which is no mean feat given the hugeness and popularity of the Three Valleys area in which it resides.

NetChalets