The Trois Vallées ski area is nestled in the heart of the Savoy region in the Northern French Alps. As the name suggests, the ski resorts of Les Trois Vallées are divided across three valleys. It's the largest linked ski area in the world, with 600km of ski slopes shared by 8 ski resorts: Courchevel, La Tania, Brides Les Bains, Méribel, Orelle, Les Menuires, Val Thorens and Saint Martin De Belleville! Such a versatile offer is hard to find elsewhere in the Alps. The Three Valleys ski area has more than 200 ski lifts and over 1200 snow cannons and you can ski on the powder snow in the skiing paradise of the Three Valleys until May. From every ski resort, lifts will take you up to high altitudes and some fantastic skiing and snowboarding in no time at all. Every skier and snowboarder, regardless of their budget and/or level, will find their ideal ski resort in Les Trois Vallées.
Snow is pretty much guaranteed in the vast Three Valleys ski area due to the high altitudes - 80% of the ski slopes are located higher than 1800m above sea level and the highest slopes are located at 3200m altitude. However, the best snow can be found on the slopes of Courchevel, as most of the slopes are north-facing. The ski slopes in the Three Valleys ski area are always immaculately groomed, even after heavy snowfalls. The lift system is ultra-modern and long queues at the ski lifts are rare - only to be seen during the highest peaks of the ski season. The Three Valleys ski area is so vast that you sometimes have the impression you are skiing on private ski slopes as there seems to be no-one else around! There are some fantastic facilities for snowboarders with some world-class snow parks, and you can get Michelin-starred views of the Mont Blanc and surrounding French Alps from the Cime Caron in Val Thorens. The Three Valleys is less than 2 hours from Lyon Airport, making it easy to reach from the UK.
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Mountain: 95 cm
Valley: 60 cm
This ski area can certainly boast some impressive statistics! Les Trois Vallées ski area is 4 times the size of the French capital of Paris, offers 100% ski-in, ski-out accommodation, and is home to 8 ski resorts each with their own individual character: Courchevel which is well known for its luxury chalets and stylish apres-ski, La Tania, a charming little ski resort with a pretty pedestrian centre, Brides Les Bains, the beautiful spa town with affordable accommodation, Méribel with its elegant architecture, Orelle, the little hidden gem at the end of the valley with its high-speed cable car taking you in minutes to 2300m altitude, family-friendly Les Menuires, Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe, and the authentic ski resort of Saint Martin De Belleville.The après-ski activities are numerous and varied in the Three Valleys, with something for all tastes. Whether you’re looking to dance the afternoon away on a sun-drenched terrace on the slopes in Méribel, pamper yourself in a relaxing natural spa in Brides Les Bains or try out something different like dog sledding in La Tania, you’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding which ski resort in Les Trois Vallées to choose for your next ski holidays.
In the high-altitude, sporty ski resort of Val Thorens in Les Trois Vallées, events move at high speed just like the skiers on the slopes, with events such as the Rock On Snowboard Tour, the Andros Trophy and Ski Cross World Championship, to mention just a few! In the chic resort of Courchevel, the Festival des Saveurs (Festival of Flavours) brings together chefs, many of which have been awarded Michelin stars, to celebrate fine food in the mountains. In the ski resort of Les Menuires, off-piste fanatics of all levels can discover the Liberty Ride area, an area of ungroomed terrain which has been secured for a 100% off-piste ski experience in the safest possible conditions in the heart of Les Trois Vallées. Those looking for a real adrenaline rush should try the giant ziplines in Val Thorens, with spectacular views over the Trois Vallées area – not for the faint-hearted!
