Ski in 3 Vallees

Why ski in the 3 Vallees?

Situated at the peak of the Alps, the 3 Vallees ski area consists of eight resorts eager to host you during your holidays with family or friends. This area is renowned for its easy accessibility, boasting kilometres of interconnected pistes serviced by cable cars. With the 3 Vallees ski pass, you can explore the entire area freely.

Les 3 Vallees fun facts:

• The largest ski area in the world.

• There are 25 accessible summits

• 600 km of pistes

• 7 village resorts: Courchevel, Brides-les-Bains, Meribel, Orelle, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Saint-Martin-de-Belleville

• There are 321 downhill ski runs, including:

  • 51 green runs for beginners

  • 132 blue runs for the intermediate

  • 106 red runs for the more experienced

  • 32 black runs for the advanced

• 169 ski lifts including 3 cable cars, 4 funiculars, and 32 gondolas

• 130 km of cross-country ski trails

• A single ski pass for all the resorts

Where to ski in the 3 Vallees?

The 3 Vallees ski area is a great destination for winter holidays, offering a range of pistes suitable for beginners, children, and experienced skiers.

It's no coincidence that Les 3 Vallees is the number one destination for winter sports enthusiasts. With 342 pistes covering a total of 600 kilometres, the area offers countless possibilities.

Set in the heart of the mountains, Les 3 Vallees offers breathtaking panoramic views of the highest peaks and a wide range of ski pistes for winter sports enthusiasts from around the globe. The most popular are:

• La Jerusalem - the blue run at Saint-Martin-de-Belleville - surrounded by magnificent scenery - is an easy run with lots of bumps.

• The Grand Couloir - the black run at Courchevel - is the run par excellence! Once you're on it, there's no turning back! Never groomed, it offers a wall of incredible bumps.

• The Combe Du Vallon - the red run at Meribel Mottaret - with a vertical drop of 1,000 metres and an altitude of 2,952 metres, offers a great descent to the bottom of the Mottaret slopes at 1,750 metres.

And then there's L'Éclipse - the black run at Courchevel-Le Praz! Located at the top of the Loze at an altitude of 2304 m, it is the longest run in the resort, and its 3.3 km descent offers a complete panoramic view of the valley! In fact, it's where the 2023 World Championships were hosted.

With the kids

At Les 3 Vallees, children make the rules! Everything is designed to cater to young children and teenagers. They can learn to ski or enjoy fun activities in the snow. The resort offers group ski and snowboard lessons, allowing them to learn together and make new friends. We also have Piou-Piou creches for the little ones, where they can safely discover snow and practice sliding in designated areas.

Meribel has received the "Family Plus" label. With its 42 enjoyable and themed runs, it pays special attention to children and their parents, enabling families to enjoy as many skiing adventures as possible together.

From the age of 6, children can enjoy a variety of fun and themed runs at this resort. The Arcticross course offers an exciting experience, featuring tunnels, slaloms, whoops, and banked turns. It’s a fantastic holiday adventure! Additionally, for those who want to experience life like the Inuit, the Family Cool area at the Altiport provides a Great North atmosphere, welcoming young skiers to interact with penguins and seals.

In the same area, on a green slope, your little ones can become explorers, searching for clues and footprints to discover the various animals in the valley. After that, it's off to the Great Himalayas, following the trail of the Blue Yeti, where your children can enjoy a wide range of activities, including playing the Himalayan trumpet.

In Courchevel, your young skiers can immerse themselves in the Western Ski Park, a designated area with gentle and safe slopes where they can learn all aspects of skiing. Just a bit further is the Stop Zone, a space dedicated to teaching children how to brake properly in various situations.

Version freeride

Accompanied by a qualified instructor, treat yourself to a freeride excursion in the powdered snow. A moment of total freedom to discover the mountains off-piste. Explore the riches of the 3 Valleys, off the beaten track and in close contact with nature. Freeride offers unique panoramas and a good dose of adrenaline.

To ensure your success on the slopes, instructors from the French Ski School will guide you in practising freeriding safely. Before embarking on an off-piste excursion, it’s important to prepare by checking the weather conditions in the area, as well as the status of the slopes and lifts. Once all these checks are complete and your course is booked, you're ready to head into the snowy paradise!

The best freeride spots in Courchevel, from easy to most difficult:

• The Avals route (the most accessible)

• The Pyramide or Creux Noirs runs (for beginners)

• The Saulire, Nord du Fruit and Lauze couloirs (for the more experienced)

Other snow sports

Today, tourists are not just interested in skiing; they want to experience different activities during their time in the mountains. Fortunately, the 3 Vallees ski area offers plenty to cater to those looking for unique experiences. The resorts offer a diverse range of activities, each more memorable than the last.

Experience dog sledging through the forest, enjoy 4 km of winding toboggan runs, try ice diving, and explore snowshoe trekking in the area.

For those seeking more excitement, the 3 Vallees offers seven snow parks and dedicated areas for snowboarders and skiers. In Courchevel, the Family Park and Wood Park cater to all skill levels, featuring easy obstacles and rails. Val Thorens boasts the VT Fun Ride, a 900-meter course ideal for both beginners and advanced snowboarders. Additionally, the BK Park Snowcross in Les Menuires is open to everyone, providing another great option for winter sports enthusiasts.

Nordic version

Are you a fan of Nordic skiing? The 3 Vallees ski area features 90 km of cross-country tracks at an altitude exceeding 1850 m, situated between the villages of Courchevel and Meribel.

Several areas are available for cross-country skiers, including Courchevel-Le Praz, where the combined events took place during the 1992 Olympic Games. Depending on your skill level, you can choose from circuits of 1.5 km, 7 km, and 8.5 km.

For more experienced skiers, we recommend longer runs through the forest or exploring Lac du Lou, a high-altitude lake located in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, which is traversed by a torrent. Beginners can enjoy several trails, such as the one around Lac de Tueda in the Meribel Valley. Whether you're an experienced skier or just starting, and whether you prefer forest walks or hilly trails, the Nordic ski trails of the 3 Vallees are waiting for you.