articles > 3 Valleys Guide

FOR CARVING

Courchevel

• Combe de la Saulire. One of the star pistes in the Three Valleys and a historic one too. Groomed to perfection every night by an army of piste bashers, the Combe de la Saulire is a carvers’ paradise.
  
• Biollay
  
• Les Chapelets. From the top of Le Signal chairlift this is a lovely piste down to Courchevel 1650 in quiet, wild surroundings.
  
• Les Lanches and Les Folyères (to La Tania). A winding piste that snakes down between the trees like a sledging run.
  
• Les Jockeys. A little-known forest run down a varied, steep slope that comes out at Le Praz.

Meribel

• La Combe du Vallon. A long piste with a steep drop to the side that is always in perfect condition. One of the valley’s must-skis.
  
• La Niverolle
  
• La Mauduit. An impeccable long piste. It’s hard to stay the distance! One of the key sections in the 3 Valleys X-Wing Rally. It runs from the top of La Combe ski tow down to La Chaudanne, with a vertical drop of more than 1200 m.

Les Menuires

• La Covili, named after one of the resort’s champions. Steep and challenging.
  
• Grand Lac
  
• Les Allamands (from the top of La Becca chairlift) This little-known piste takes you through some lovely scenery and follows the natural contours, making it great for broad turns.

Val Thorens

• La Mauriennaise. The piste that runs down to Orelle in the Maurienne. Its advantages? A pleasant gradient and little used.
  
• Boismint and Plan de l’Eau. Boismint is a rare piste, partly because of the route it takes, all accelerating sections and even bends that follow the terrain, and partly because of its views, overlooking the entire Belleville Valley and beyond.
  
• Piste du Col
  
• Marielle. Named after Marielle Goitschel. This south facing piste is a lovely place to get warm in January or to have great fun racing down in the soft spring snow.

FOR FAMILIES

Courchevel

• Les Indiens. A piste with kids’ entertainment featuring a Western decor and atmosphere. A real Indian awaits you!
  
• Les Verdons. One of France’s premier fun areas, or how to ski with a smile!
  
• The Stop Zone. Near 1650, designed to teach people how to stop. After getting up speed you measure how long it takes you to stop. An educational area at 1650.
  
• Sledging run between 1850 and 1550. Starts at the top of Les Grangettes gondola lift. Floodlit in the evening, this is a must for all the family.

La Tania

• Plan Fontaine, a new beginners’ piste that runs down through the fir trees to La Tania.

Meribel

• Le Blanchot
  
• The Zen Zone. A very windy piste a bit like a boardercross course(only much more accessible), designed for beginners. Accessed from Le Rossignol piste.
  
• Le P’tit Moon: a snowpark for children only!

Val Thorens

• Espace Junior, a piste with a quiz about mountain animals.
  
• "Le Toboggan" sledging run, the longest in France, 45 minutes long with 6 km of bends. For children over 8. Starts at the top of the Péclet Funitel.

Les Menuires

• Chat Frères. A gentle piste running down through pastureland to Saint Martin.
  
• Biolley
  
• Les Boyes fun zone
  
• Two rubber ring toboggan runs in the centre of the resort, also open in the evening. GASTRONOMIC Places where skiing is just a pleasant excuse for getting from one great meal to the next. A selection of the best restaurants in the ski area.

Courchevel

• Le Chabichou (2 Michelin stars). An institution in Courchevel.
  
• Le Bateau Ivre (Hôtel La Pomme de Pin) (2 Michelin stars) Both of these restaurants can be reached on skis along the green piste that runs between Le Stade chairlift and Plantrey chairlift.

La Tania

• Le Farçon. At the bottom of Les Folyères piste, this restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star (see page 36) and offers a menu featuring modern versions of Savoyard cuisine.

Meribel

• Le Blanchot. Next to Le Lapin piste.
  
• L’Adray Télébar. On Le Doron piste next to the bottom of L’Adray chairlift.

Les Menuires

• La Bouitte. With one Michelin star, Messrs Meilleur (father and son) propose a very inventive menu full of surprises, which changes every season. Located in the village of Saint Marcel (a free shuttle service picks skiers up).
  
• L’Etoile des Neiges in the centre of the village of Saint Martin, a guaranteed treat.

Val Thorens

• Le Fitz Roy. Nowhere does buffets better. In the hotel of the same name in the centre of the resort.
  
• L’Oxalys. Young chef Jean Suplice offers Michelin-starred cuisine in the residence of the same name.

PANORAMIC

Courchevel

• Top of Le Signal, panoramic and wild view of the Portetta mountains.

Meribel

• Top of Le Mont Vallon. Right at the end of the Allues Valley, this 2952m peak provides a vast view of the Vanoise.
  
• Roc de Fer, a 360° view of the 3 Valleys and Tarentaise Valley.

Les Menuires

• Top of La Masse, one of the best views in the Belleville Valley. From there you can ski down either into the Vallon du Lac du Lou (a wild route that will take you to the bottom of the ski lifts), or towards the Vallée des Encombres on a lovely descent where there are no ski lifts, making it necessary to leave a car at the bottom to get back to the resort.

Val Thorens

• Cime de Caron. The highest skiable point in the Three Valleys(3200 m) and a magnificent view as far as the Ecrins and Italy. From the viewing table there is an unimpeded view of the entire massif.

Orelle

• Top of the 3 Valleys pistes via Le Bouchet chairlift with a view of the glacier.
  
• Top of Le Col chairlift (Chavière Glacier). You ski on the edge of the glacier, with a view plunging down to the Maurienne on one side and Val Thorens on the other. A highly original piste.

Piste junctions

• Mont de la Chambre. The point from where you can access the pistes at Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Meribel. A spectacular panorama of La Meige and the Aiguilles d’Arves.
  
• Top of La Saulire cable car. At an altitude of 2738 m, the top of La Saulire is a superb belvedere with views to the horizon and over to the Vanoise National Park and its glaciers. One of the points where you can ski between Meribel and Courchevel.
  
• Col de La Loze, between Courchevel, Meribel and La Tania, with a view of the entire Tarentaise Valley and the northern Alps, from La Pierra Menta to Mont Blanc.

ENERGETIC

Courchevel

• Les Suisses. At the foot of La Vizelle, a series of tight turns: for strong thighs only!
  
• Le Grand Couloir: for skiers who like it steep and deep.
  
• Chanrossa. Located below the Aiguille du Fruit, Chanrossa is a must ski for good skiers.
  
• The M piste, steep from top to bottom.
  
• Jean Blanc, a former world cup downhill course featuring an impressive vertical drop through the forest that comes out near Le Praz.

La Tania

• Dou des Lanches, the local freeriders’ hangout.

Meribel

• La Tetras, from the top of the Col de la Loze down to the altiport.
  
• La Face
  
• La Bartavelle. A mogul field on Le Roc de Tougne. Keep your rhythm grit your teeth!

Les Menuires

• Lac Noir. On the side of La Masse, the Lac Noir is aptly named. This piste is just a succession of bends, twists, turns, mogul fields and breaks. Great fun!
  
• Les Enverses
  
• Léo Lacroix. A downhill piste that runs from Le Mont de la Chambre down to the centre of the resort. The upper part is the best bit.
  
• La Masse. An out-of-the-way but fun area. The first part of the piste is the toughest.

Val Thorens

• Combe de Caron. Good vertical drop and a long steep slope.
  
• Arolles
  
• Cascades. THE mogul piste in the home of former moguls star Eric Berthon. Short but intense, it’s a kneecap special!
  
• Jean Béranger
  
• Combe de Rosaël

LAID-BACK

Courchevel

• Near 1550: Pralong - Cospilllot - Provères. A cruise through the forest and between the chalets.
  
• Near 1650: Grandes Bosses. A lovely route with a view from Le Signal of La Portetta and the peaks of the Vanoise

La Tania

• Les Folyères. For a gentle ski through the forest down to the resort. Meribel
  
• Lapin. A wonderfully quiet run through the woods (fir and apple trees) that finishes among the chalets and barns of Meribel-Village.
  
• Pic Noir . Provides a panoramic view of the lower Tarentaise Valley.
  
• Doron
  
• Choucas. From the ridge it offers a central view of the 3 Valleys. This north facing piste ensures good snow.
  
• Biche
  
• Grive and Lièvre. For an unimpeded view of Meribel.

Les Menuires

• Descent to Saint Martin. Easy-going slopes, not too many people, snowmakers to guarantee snow cover: this is really peaceful skiing.
  
• Mont de la Chambre

Val Thorens

• Pluviomètre. A piste that ensures that the highest resort in Europe is accessible to anyone.
  
• Les Gentianes. On the Orelle side, this piste has a superb view of the Maurienne Valley.
  
• Le Peyron
  
• La Moraine. Below the renowned summits of Péclet.